Image forming apparatus
US10095150B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 9, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G21/0064
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging member, a charging voltage source, an electrostatic image forming portion, a developing device, a developing voltage source, a transfer portion, a transfer voltage source, and a controller. During image formation, the toner remaining on the image bearing member after transfer is collected into the developing device while forming an image. In a cleaning operation performed during non-image formation, while rotating the image bearing member, the controller transfers the toner from the charging member onto the image bearing member, passes the toner through the developing portion in an urged state, reverses a charge polarity of the toner to a normal polarity at a charging portion, and then transfers the toner reversed in charge polarity from the image bearing member onto the developing member at the developing portion to collect the toner in the developing device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.