Method for removing deposit from image substrate and image formation apparatus using the method

Patent 6560438 Issued on May 6, 2003. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 17, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Kosuge, Akio

Assignee

Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Application

No. 978097 filed on 10/17/2001

US Classes:

399/350, Blade399/71Control of cleaning

Examiners

Primary: Tran, Huan

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

Foreign Patent References

0 926 559 EP. 06/21/1999
5-107991 JP. 04/21/1993
5-181295 JP. 07/21/1993
6-67500 JP. 03/21/1994
10-91049 JP. 04/21/1998
11-219086 JP. 08/21/1999
2000-39819 JP. 02/21/2013
2000-47545 JP. 02/21/2013

International Class

G03G 021/00

Foreign Application Priority Data

2000-10-18 JP

Abstract

An image formation apparatus contains (1) an image substrate, (2) a rotating unit that rotates the image substrate, (3) a bias applying unit which applies a charge bias to the image substrate, (4) a development unit that supplies a toner onto the image substrate, and (5) a cleaning blade that removes the material deposited on the image substrate, and the image formation apparatus is used for a deposit removal operation which is performed at a predetermined time while no charge bias is applied. The deposit removal operation includes rotating the image substrate, supplying the toner to the image substrate to an extent that an upcurve of the cleaning blade is not caused, and removing the deposited material.