Patent ID: 8180271
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A protective agent application unit for applying a protective agent on a surface of an image carrying member, an amount of the protective agent applied on the surface of an image carrying member is evaluated by an attenuated total reflection (ATR) using infrared (IR) absorption spectrum, and using an ATR prism of germanium (Ge) and an incident angle of infrared light of 45° as a measurement condition, wherein an IR spectrum A is an IR spectrum of a surface of the image carrying member before applying the protective agent, an IR spectrum B is as an IR spectrum of the protective agent alone, and an IR spectrum C is an IR spectrum of the surface of the image carrying member after applying the protective agent, wherein a peak Pa 1 at a wavenumber of 1770 cm −1 in the IR spectrum A is not substantially observed in the IR spectrum B, the peak Pa 1 having a peak area Sa 1 in the IR spectrum C being detected, a peak Pb 1 at a wavenumber 2850 cm −1 in the IR spectrum B is not substantially observed in the IR spectrum A, the peak Pb 1 having a peak area Sb 1 in the IR spectrum C being detected, and an application amount of the protective agent to the image carrying member being evaluated using a peak area ratio of Sb 1 /Sa 1 , detected in the IR spectrum C, the protective agent application unit comprising: an applying device that applies the protective agent, wherein the value of Sb wherein the protective agent has paraffin as a main component, and wherein the protective agent includes the paraffin for 50 to 95 weight percent in the protective agent.