Image forming apparatus having cleaning device for cleaning intermediate transfer member
US5732310A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/1652
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus a toner image is transferred onto a transfer material using an intermediate transfer member. The image forming apparatus has an image bearing member; a toner image forming unit for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member movable along an endless path in contact with the image bearing member; a bias voltage applicator for applying a bias voltage to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member at a first transfer position of the intermediate transfer member; and an image transfer device for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer material at a second transfer position of the intermediate transfer member, a residual toner charge for charging residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after image transfer therefrom, to a polarity opposite from a regular polarity of the toner to permit the residual toner to transfer back, simultaneously with a next image transfer at the first transfer position, to the image bearing member when the residual toner passes through the first transfer position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.