Cleaning device and image forming apparatus using the cleaning device
US6987944B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 17, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/021
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a charging device that charges a surface of the image bearer, a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on the image bearer, a developing device that develops the latent image on the image bearer with a spherical toner into a toner image, a transfer device that transfers the toner image to a transfer material, and a cleaning device that removes the spherical toner remaining on the image bearer after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material. The cleaning device including a cleaning roller that removes the spherical toner on the image bearer while rotating and contacting the image bearer and which has a greater coefficient of static friction than the surface of the image bearer. An electric field is formed between the cleaning member and the image bearer by applying a voltage to the cleaning member so that the spherical toner adhered onto the image bearer is electrostatically attracted to the cleaning member. The cleaning member may also include a brush roller having bristles planted in a specific configuration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.