Image forming method and apparatus using developer carrier pressed into engagement with image carrier
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsJunichi Matsumoto, Katsuhiro Aoki, Takashi Hodoshima
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the type which develops a latent image on an image carrier with toner stored in a developing unit and transferring the resulting toner image to a recording medium. The developing unit includes a developer carrier which contacts the image carrier at least at two spaced apart points with a gap being formed between the at least two points of contact. A moving mechanism will move opposite ends of the developer carrier independent distances relative to one another so as to eliminate the gap and establish full contact between the image carrier surface and developer carrier surface.
Claims10
A developing method for a latent image on an image surface of an image carrier, comprising:
- providing a cylindrical developer carrier having a surface hardness lower than the surface hardness of the image carrier in contact with said image surface at least at two spaced apart points, with the cylindrical developer carrier surface being out of contact with the image surface between the two spaced apart points;
- moving opposite ends of said cylindrical developer carrier different distances relative to one another to bring the cylindrical developer carrier surface and the image surface between the two spaced apart points into contact to form a full contact region between the two spaced apart points;
- and
- transferring a single ingredient type developer from the cylindrical developer carrier surface to the image surface over the full contact region between the two spaced apart points to develop the latent image without density irregularities arising because of the absence of full contact between the cylindrical developer carrier surface and the image surface.
A latent image developing apparatus comprising:
- a section configured to form a latent image on an image surface of an image carrier;
- a developing unit including a cylindrical developer carrier having a surface hardness lower than that of the image carrier, the developing unit being configured to provide contact at least at two spaced apart points on a developer surface of the cylindrical developer carrier and said image surface, with the developer surface and the images surface being out of contact between the two spaced apart points to form a gap;
- and
- a moving mechanism configured to move opposite ends of the cylindrical developer carrier independent distances relative to one another to eliminate said gap and establish a full contact region between the image surface and the developer surface between and including the two points to transfer a single ingredient type developer from the developer surface to the image surface in the full contact region to develop the latent image without density irregularities that would result if the gap had not been eliminated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.