Patent · US Active

Lubricant supplying device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus

US9383715B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
20References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 6, 2015
Grant dateJul 5, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 6, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G21/0094
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A lubricant supplying device includes a lubricant supplier contacting an image bearer, a solid lubricant contacting the roller, a detector detecting a lubricant amount, and a controller controlling a supplying of the roller based on a detector detection. The detector outputs to the controller a first signal of a near-end state when the amount reaches a first amount, a second signal of an end state when the amount reaches a second amount smaller than the first amount, and a third signal of an absolute end state when the amount reaches a third amount smaller than the second amount. The controller temporarily stops the supplying when the second signal is output, cancels a roller temporary stopped state even when lubricant replacement is not completed after this state, stops the supplying when the third signal is output, and maintains a roller stopped state until the replacement is completed after this state.

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