IP Library Granted Patent US 9,785,094
Granted Patent B2
US 9,785,094 · App. 15/215,360 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Image forming apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,785,094
App. No.
15/215,360
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming section, a second image forming section, and a transfer section. The first image forming section forms an image layer by a first developer. The second image forming section forms an auxiliary layer by a second developer. The transfer section transfers the image layer formed by the first image forming section and the auxiliary layer formed by the second image forming section sequentially to an object, as a transfer object, on which transfer is to be performed. The following expression is satisfied: 0.30≦(E2/E1)≦1.00, where E1 is a charge amount of the first developer, and E2 is a charge amount of the second developer.

Claims (35)

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a first image forming section that forms an image layer by a first developer;

a second image forming section that forms an auxiliary layer by a second developer; and

a transfer section that transfers the image layer formed by the first image forming section and the auxiliary layer formed by the second image forming section sequentially to an object, as a transfer object, on which transfer is to be performed, wherein

the following expression (1) is satisfied:

0.30≦( E 2/ E 1)≦1.00  (1)

where E1 is a charge amount of the first developer, and E2 is a charge amount of the second developer.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixing section that collectively fixes the image layer and the auxiliary layer that are transferred by the transfer section.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first developer has a density within a range from 0.34 g/cm 3 to 0.36 g/cm 3 , and

the second developer has a density within a range from 0.55 g/cm 3 to 0.60 g/cm 3 .

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first image forming section comprises one or more first image forming sections disposed upstream of the second image forming section along a conveying path of an intermediate transfer belt that serves as the transfer object, and

the transfer section transfers, on a basis of a primary transfer, the image layer and the auxiliary layer sequentially in this order to the intermediate transfer belt, and transfers, on a basis of a secondary transfer, the image layer and the auxiliary layer of the intermediate transfer belt to a print medium.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first image forming section comprises one or more first image forming sections disposed downstream of the second image forming section along a conveying path of a print medium that serves as the transfer object, and

the transfer section directly transfers the auxiliary layer and the image layer sequentially in this order to the print medium.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary layer is a monochrome layer.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the monochrome layer is a white layer.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second developer contains a colorant that includes a titanium oxide.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary layer is an underlayer of the image layer.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first developer and the second developer includes a negatively-charged developer.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a secondary transfer member with a non-negative voltage supplied thereto; and

a secondary transfer counter member with a negative voltage supplied thereto.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first developer and the second developer includes a positively-charged developer.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a secondary transfer member with a negative voltage supplied thereto; and

a secondary transfer counter member with a non-negative voltage supplied thereto.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

an attachment amount, on the transfer object, of the first developer is in a range from 0.4 mg/cm 2 to 0.6 mg/cm 2 , and

an attachment amount, on the transfer object, of the second developer is in a range from 0.7 mg/cm 2 to 1.1 mg/cm 2 .

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the attachment amount, on the transfer object, of the first developer is in a range from 0.4 mg/cm 2 to 0.5 mg/cm 2 , and

the attachment amount, on the transfer object, of the second developer is in a range from 0.8 mg/cm 2 to 1.0 mg/cm 2 .

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: OKI DATA CORPORATION
To: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059365/0145 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2016
From: TAKINO, YUJI
To: OKI DATA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039202/0725 →