Electrophotography – Internal machine environment – Particle or contaminant control
Reexamination Certificate
2008-01-25
2010-10-26
Porta, David P (Department: 2884)
Electrophotography
Internal machine environment
Particle or contaminant control
C399S071000, C399S099000, C399S354000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07822356
ABSTRACT:
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which the cleaning performance of a cleaning brush is preserved over time while affording a smaller apparatus main body. During a print job, toner recovered from a charging roller to a cleaning brush is transferred from the cleaning brush to a cleaning auxiliary roller, thereby preventing excessive accumulation of toner in the cleaning brush. During non print job times, toner accumulated in the cleaning brush is transferred to the charging roller directly and via the cleaning auxiliary roller, whereby the cleaning brush becomes clean while preserving its cleaning performance. Also, toner transferred to the charging roller is transferred to a photosensitive unit is recovered into a developing device, which does away with the need for a dedicated recovery toner holding portion for recovering residual toner, thereby reducing the size of the apparatus main body.
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Fujita Tetsumaru
Nagatomo Yuji
Sakagawa Yoshio
Eley Jessica L
Oblon, Spivak McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.
Porta David P
Ricoh & Company, Ltd.
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