Patent · US Active

Imaging apparatus, and toner and process cartridge used in the imaging apparatus

US7386257B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
6References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 17, 2006
Grant dateJun 10, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G21/0035
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An imaging apparatus that is capable of realizing good cleaning characteristics and transfer characteristics, and obtaining a high quality image using toner having a high average roundness is provided. The imaging apparatus includes an image carrier, a charge unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit. The transfer unit may directly transfer a toner image onto a recording medium that is carried by a transfer belt, or transfer the toner image onto the transfer belt first to then transfer the toner image onto the recording medium from the transfer belt. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning blade and a brush roller. The toner used in the imaging apparatus has an average roundness Ψ within a range of 0.93˜0.99, and a friction coefficient μs of the image carrier satisfies a condition, friction coefficient μs≦3.6−3.3×average roundness Ψ.

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