Patent · US Expired

Image forming apparatus and process cartridge including lubricant applying device that prevents waste of lubricant

US7035582B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
27References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 2004
Grant dateApr 25, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 7, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2221/0042
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a moving member, a cleaning device that removes toner attached onto a surface of the moving member, and a lubricant applying device that is provided at the outside of the cleaning device and applies a lubricant onto the surface of the moving member to decrease the coefficient of friction between the surface of the moving member and a substance in contact with the surface of the moving member. The lubricant applying device includes a casing having an opening facing the surface of the moving member and having an inner wall surface. A closed space is formed by being surrounded by the inner wall surface of the casing and the surface of the moving member, and the lubricant applying device accommodates the lubricant in the closed space and applies the lubricant to the surface of the moving member in the closed space.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.