Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9690250-B2
Application number	US-201615016129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2016
Priority date	Feb 5, 2015
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a charger to charge a surface of the image bearer; an exposure device to expose the surface of the image bearer and form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearer; a developing device to adhere electrically charged toner to the electrostatic latent image on the image bearer, to thereby form a toner image; a microprocessor to control rotation of the image bearer; and a sensor to detect temperature and humidity. In a state of suspended rotation of the image bearer, the microprocessor controls the image bearer to rotate a predetermined amount at a predetermined interval and determines whether a rotation operation of the image bearer is to be performed, based on a detection result of the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearer;
a charger to charge a surface of the image bearer;
a microprocessor to control rotation of the image bearer; and
wherein, in a state of suspended rotation of the image bearer, the microprocessor controls the image bearer to rotate a predetermined amount at a predetermined interval, and determines whether a rotation operation of the image bearer is to be performed, based on a use history of the image bearer;
wherein the rotation operation of the predetermined amount of the image bearer is performed when the use history of the image bearer is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold amount;
wherein the microprocessor initiates the rotation operation of the predetermined amount of the image bearer at a shorter interval the longer the use history of the image bearer.

2. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of rotation of the image bearer ranges from 90 degrees to 270 degrees.

3. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearer;
a corona charger to charge a surface of the image bearer by corona charging;
an image bearer cleaner to remove a residual toner remaining on the surface of the image bearer;
a lubricant applicator to coat a lubricant on the image bearer;
a mode to remove the corona products accumulated on the surface of the image bearer; and
a microprocessor to rotate the image bearer a predetermined amount in a standby time of the image forming apparatus,
wherein the microprocessor changes a time to perform a rotation of the image bearer based on a number of prints from when a previous corona products removal mode has been performed to when a next corona products removal mode is performed;
wherein the microprocessor shortens an interval of the rotation of the image bearer immediately after an end of printing and lengthens the interval the longer the standby time.

4. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the microprocessor shortens an interval of the rotation of the image bearer the larger the number of prints from when the previous corona products removal mode has been performed to when the next corona products removal mode is performed.

5. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the microprocessor changes an interval of the rotation of the image bearer in accordance with the standby time of the image forming apparatus.

6. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the lubricant applicator is driven simultaneously with the rotation of the image bearer.

7. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the developing device includes a developer bearer to bear toner, and the developer bearer is driven simultaneously with the rotation of the image bearer.

Assignees

• Saito Tomohiko
• Satoh Toshiya
• Kudoh Norio
• Uenishi Hiroyuki
• Tomita Daisuke
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Saito Tomohiko
• Satoh Toshiya
• Kudoh Norio
• Uenishi Hiroyuki
• Tomita Daisuke

Classifications

• G03G21/203

  Humidity · CPC title

• G03G21/0094 Primary

  fatigue treatment of the photoconductor · CPC title

• G03G15/5008

  Driving control for rotary photosensitive medium, e.g. speed control, stop position control · CPC title