Image forming apparatus to form uniform nip
US6845223B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/1685
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus having a uniform nip between a photosensitive body and a transfer body. The image forming apparatus has a photosensitive unit on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developer feed unit to feed a developer onto the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image, and a transfer unit. The transfer unit has a curved side of a semi-hollow tubular shape that contacts the photosensitive unit, and a planar side opposite the curved side and secured at a support member, to transfer the visible image formed on the photosensitive unit to a recording medium. The curved side of the transfer unit has a uniform radius of curvature in an axial direction. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus can not only maintain a constant nip in relation to electrical resistance and contact pressure, but can also adjust the electrical resistance of the transfer unit by appropriately setting factors such as volume resistivity of the conductive elastic member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.