Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9804533-B2
Application number	US-201615220818-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2016
Priority date	Jul 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

An image forming apparatus including an image bearer to bear toner; a developer bearer includes a first seal on one end of the developer bearer in a direction of axis and a second seal on another end of the developer bearer in the direction of axis, to supply the image bearer with the toner; a supply member disposed within a range between the first seal and the second seal in the direction of axis, to supply the developer bearer with the toner; and a transfer member opposed to the image bearer. The transfer member has a width shorter than a width of the supply member in the direction of axis. The transfer member is disposed within a range between one end and another end of the supply member in the direction of axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearer to bear toner;
a developer bearer including a first seal on one end of the developer bearer in a direction of axis of the developer bearer and a second seal on another end of the developer bearer in the direction of axis of the developer bearer, to supply the image bearer with the toner;
a supply member disposed within a range between the first seal and the second seal in the direction of axis of the developer bearer, to supply the developer bearer with the toner, a width of the supply member extending between outer edges of the supply member; and
a transfer member opposed to the image bearer, the transfer member having a width between outer edges thereof shorter than the width of the supply member in the direction of axis of the developer bearer,
the transfer member disposed within a range between the outer edges of the supply member in the direction of axis of the developer bearer, and
the width of the transfer member is shorter than a supply width of the supply member over which the supply member supplies the toner to the developer bearer.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the developer bearer is in contact with a surface of the image bearer.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer member is a foamed roller.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer member is an endless belt.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of pressing members to press each end of the transfer member in a width direction perpendicular to a direction of rotation of the transfer member.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the image bearer and the transfer member are rotatable, and
wherein a peripheral speed of the image bearer differs from a peripheral speed of the transfer member.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
a contact portion of the supply member which is a portion of the supply member that contacts the developer bearer is within the range between the first seal and the second seal in the direction of axis of the developer bearer.

Assignees

• Yamashita Takeshi
• Kichise Mitsutoshi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamashita Takeshi
• Kichise Mitsutoshi

Classifications

• G03G15/0898 Primary

  for preventing toner scattering during operation, e.g. seals (sealing the donor member G03G15/0817; sealing the magnetic brush G03G15/0942) · CPC title

• G03G15/1605

  using at least one intermediate support (G03G15/1625 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/1685

  Structure, details of the transfer member, e.g. chemical composition · CPC title