# US 6,892,044 B2 · Liquid application apparatus and image formation apparatus

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- Number: US 6,892,044 B2
- Document ID: US6892044B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/170,440
- Filed: 2002-06-14
- Published: 2003-01-09
- Granted: 2005-05-10
- Earliest claimed: 2001-06-18
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Inventors: Motokazu Yasui; Masanao Ehara; Hideo Furukawa; Masaaki Yoshikawa; Hiroshi Yoshinaga
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6892044B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/2025: {with special means for lubricating and/or cleaning the fixing unit, e.g. applying offset preventing fluid}
- G03G 2215/2032: the belt further entrained around additional rotating belt support members
- G03G 2215/2041: the fixing nip being formed by tensioning the belt over a surface portion of a pressure member
- G03G 2215/2093: Release agent handling devices
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A liquid application apparatus includes a target to which a liquid is to be applied and an application unit arranged to come in contact or get separated from the target and which applies the liquid to the target when in contact. The target performs cycle motion. A minimum time for which the application unit comes in contact with the target is equal to or greater than a period of the cycle motion of the target.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid application apparatus comprising:
a target to which a liquid is to be applied, the target making cycle motion; and
an application unit which is arranged to come in contact and get separated from the target and to apply the liquid to the target when in contact, the application unit formed of a felt which can be impregnated with the liquid,
wherein a minimum time for which the application unit is arranged to come in contact with the target is equal to or greater than a period of the cycle motion of the target, and
the minimum time is set based on a time elapsed from an initial use to a current use of the target.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid application apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the minimum time is set longer as the elapsed time is shorter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid application apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
a fixing member which can thermally fix toner is employed as the target, and the liquid is applied to the fixing member by the application unit for the minimum time when a fixing operation is not performed on a sheet which carries the toner.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The liquid application apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a time at which the application unit is started to come in contact with the fixing member, is set by a control unit which can control a conveying state of the sheet.

### Claim 5

An image formation apparatus comprising a liquid application apparatus, the liquid application apparatus comprising:
a target configured to receive a liquid, the target configured to make a cyclical motion; and
an application unit configured to come in contact and get separated from the target and to apply the liquid to the target when in contact,
wherein a minimum time for which the application unit is arranged to come in contact with the target is equal to or greater than a period of the cycle motion of the target, and
the minimum time is set based on a time elapsed from an initial use to a current use of the target.

### Claim 6

A liquid application apparatus comprising:
a target rotatable on an axis;
an application unit positionable in a first orientation to contact the target and to apply a liquid to the target and a second orientation to separate from the target, the application unit comprising:
a control section adapted to position the application unit in the first orientation for a time period that is greater than or equal to a period of rotation of the target, wherein the time period is set based on a time elapsed from an initial use to a current use of the target.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The liquid application apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the target comprises a fixing member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The liquid application apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fixing member comprises a fixing belt.