Image forming apparatus and device for applying a lubricant to an image
US6160977A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G21/00
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus of the type sequentially executing charging, exposure, development and image transfer, a device for applying a lubricant to the surface of an image carrier includes a lubricant applying member rotatable in contact with the image carrier for applying, at a position where the lubricant applying member contacts the image carrier, the lubricant to the surface of the image carrier while deforming its contour in accordance with a bite of the surface of the image carrier. A lubricant feeding unit feeds the lubricant to the lubricant applying member and includes a lubricant providing unit having a preselected thickness t. The surface of the image carrier bites into the lubricant applying member by an amount T while the lubricant providing unit bites into the lubricant applying member by an amount t' smaller than the amount T, but substantially equal to or slightly greater than the thickness t. The device has a low cost, compact configuration and can use up the lubricant without any waste while desirably applying it to the image carrier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.