Image forming apparatus and method with cleaning features
US5966564A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/1661
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus and method are provided that effectively remove inversely charged toner and normally charged toner attached to a transfer medium by employing two cleaning modes of operation. In a first cleaning operational mode, in which a transfer belt is brought into contact with a non-charged photosensitive body and a transfer bias is applied thereto from a bias roller, the inversely charged toner attached to the transfer belt is fully transferred onto the photosensitive body. Furthermore, in a second cleaning mode of operation, the transfer belt is brought into contact with the non-charged photosensitive body and the transfer bias is not applied hereto, as a consequence the normally charged toner attached to the transfer belt is fully transferred onto the photosensitive body.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.