To Fixing (e.g., Fuser) Patents (Class 399/400)
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Patent number: 8219019Abstract: A loop of a transferring material is formed at a position between a secondary transfer nip portion and a fixing nip portion such that a loop amount of the loop of the transferring material, which is formed at the position between the secondary transfer nip portion and the fixing nip portion when a mono-color mode is executed, is larger than a loop amount of the loop of the transferring material, which is formed at the position between the secondary transfer nip portion and the fixing nip portion when a full-color mode is executed. In the mono-color mode, image formation is executed such that primary transfer rollers are separated from an intermediate transfer belt. In the full-color mode, image formation is executed by photosensitive drums.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuya Yanagi
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Patent number: 8200144Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: a carrier that carries a toner image; a transporting unit that transports a sheet with using a transporting route; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image carried by the carrier to the sheet transported by the transporting unit; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred by the transfer unit on the sheet; and an exit opening that is disposed so that a transfer position of the transfer unit is located between the exit opening and a fixation position of the fixing unit in a section including a transporting route over the entire length and that discharges the sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit to an outside of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michio Yamazaki, Tomonari Sakurai, Tsutomu Mori, Yoshinori Nishizawa
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Image-forming device having first and second sheet guide pairs for guiding sheets of different sizes
Patent number: 8160487Abstract: The image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a fixing unit, a pair of first guides, and a pair of second guides. A sheet conveying path is provided from the image-forming unit to the fixing unit. The pair of first guides are disposed on the conveying path and configure to contact with an image-forming side of the recording sheet at both widthwise edges thereof, for restraining the recording sheet from being displaced toward the image-forming side. The pair of second guides are disposed on the conveying path and configure to contact with the image-forming side of the recording sheet at both widthwise edges thereof for restraining the recording sheet from being displaced toward the image-forming side, a distance between the pair of first guides in the widthwise direction being greater than a distance between the pair of second guides in the widthwise direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yohei Hashimoto -
Patent number: 8150287Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to form a developer image on a recording sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a pressure roller and a heat roller, an ejection roller configured to cause the recording sheet from the fixing unit to be ejected from the image forming apparatus, and a power transmission member configured to transmit power from the heat roller to cause the ejection roller to rotate. The pressure roller is configured to rotate in response to power and configured to cause the heat roller to be rotated.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Makoto Souda
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Patent number: 8145116Abstract: The present invention is an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus which includes a primary imaging member for producing an electrostatic latent image on a receiver, a development station for applying toner particles to said latent image which forms a developed toner image on the receiver. A fuser assembly is included for fixing the developed toner image, to form a fused toner image on the receiver. A transport member is provided for transporting the receiver to or from the fuser assembly, the transport member having a substrate bearing an oil-absorbing layer that includes transparent alumina inorganic particles of siloxane coated gamma-alumina, dispersed in an organic binder, and a fluorosurfactant.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2007Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Wayne T. Ferrar, Francisco L. Ziegelmuller, Douglas E. Garman, Dennis R. Fronheiser, Edward T. Miskinis
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Patent number: 8135290Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can draw out a pre-fixing conveying portion and a fixing device from an apparatus body has an abutment member which can abut a conveying surface of the pre-fixing conveying portion and can be separated therefrom, the abutment member being separated from the conveying surface of the pre-fixing conveying portion when the apparatus body is operated and abutting the conveying surface of the pre-fixing conveying portion in the event that a jam is detected by a sheet detection sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiro Shimizu
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Patent number: 8131203Abstract: An image forming apparatus adjusts a size of the loop of the sheet between the fixing unit and the transfer unit, according to a signal from a loop detection unit provided in a sheet conveyance path between a transfer unit and a fixing unit and configured to detect a loop of a sheet. The loop detection unit includes a detecting lever that is provided protrudably and retractably from and into the sheet conveyance path and abuts against the sheet, and a loop detection sensor that is turned on or off by the detecting lever. If the sheet is to be conveyed only by the transfer unit, the detecting lever moves to a retracting position from the sheet conveyance path.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 8131202Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image transferring portion for transferring an image onto a sheet, an image fixing portion for fixing the transferred image to the sheet, a sheet conveyor portion arranged between the image transferring portion and the image fixing portion for conveying the sheet in a sheet conveying direction, a support portion having an elliptical-shaped shaft hole extending in a direction crossing the sheet conveying direction, and an arm rotatably mounted on the support portion. A first spur is disposed at a position opposed to the sheet conveyor portion and is rotatably supported by the support portion and movable along the shaft hole. A second spur is disposed at a position opposed to the sheet conveyor portion downstream in a sheet conveying direction of the first spur and closer to the sheet conveyor portion than the first spur. The second spur is rotatably supported by the arm and has a movable range larger than a movable range of the first spur.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Seiko I Infotech Inc.Inventor: Kiyohito Hirota
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Patent number: 8121507Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image without transfer deviation or rumples by detecting the loop amount of the sheet material with a plurality of thresholds at multiple stages through a loop amount detecting portion detecting the loop amount of a sheet passing between conveyance guide members. The loop amount finely detected at the multiple stages through the loop amount detecting portion is reflected in a control and drive system, and, as a result, the sheet material can be conveyed while keeping the loop of the sheet material passing between the conveyance guide members at an appropriate amount.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Fujio Tabata
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Patent number: 8116669Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a diode for restraining deterioration of an electric discharge device caused when a voltage applied to a discharge electrode and a shield electrode is switched. By switching the voltage at only one position using the diode, both of the voltage applied to the discharge electrode and the voltage applied to the shield electrode can be switched simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriaki Sato, Masatake Usui, Hideki Hashimoto
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Publication number: 20120020714Abstract: An apparatus and method that reduces fuser noise in a printing apparatus. The method can include generating a first image on a first media sheet traveling in a media path. The method can include generating a second image on a second media sheet traveling in the media path consecutive to and a first distance from the first media sheet. The method can include reducing the first distance between the first media sheet and the second media sheet to a second distance between the first media sheet and the second media sheet after generating the first image. The method can include fusing the second image to the second media sheet after reducing the first distance between the first media sheet and the second media sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2010Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: George Cunha CARDOSO, Faming Li
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Patent number: 8086158Abstract: An enhanced sheet stripping method and apparatus for stripping toner image carrying copy sheets from a surface of a moving heated fusing member forming a fusing nip. The apparatus includes (a) a moving assembly for moving a cut sheet towards the fusing nip; (b) a sheet curling device positioned upstream of the fusing nip relative to movement of the cut sheet for inducing a desired pre-curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip; and (c) a sheet stripping device positioned downstream of the fusing nip for stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the moving heated fusing member as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip. The method includes inducing a desired curl in the cut sheet before the cut sheet enters the fusing nip and enhanced stripping the cut sheet from contact with the surface of the fuser roll as the cut sheet exits the fusing nip.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Gerald A Domoto, Elias Panides, Ruddy Castillo, Bryan J Roof, William A Burton, Steven M Russel, Donald M Bott
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Patent number: 8081914Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that detaches media from a fuser in a printer is disclosed. The method can include feeding (220) a media sheet through a fuser member and applying (230) gas from an air knife to the media sheet on the fuser member to detach the media sheet at a detach point from the fuser member. The method can also include asserting (240) tension on the media sheet using a set of rotational members and continuing to apply gas from the air knife to the media sheet until the set of rotational members asserts tension on the media sheet.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Erwin Ruiz, Cheng-Ning Jong, Martin Oksenhorn, Richard C. Dray, Robert Mark Jacobs
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Publication number: 20110280639Abstract: A media transport that will fit between a xerographic transfer station and a fuser station is provided by this invention. The purpose of this media transport is to increase the distance that media with an unfused image will travel from transfer to fusing stations thus permitting longer media to be used in the xerographic system without the risk of disturbing the unfused image. A vacuum is positioned internally of the transport that will provide a vacuum force to hold a media sheet to belts that are guided by the top surface of the media transport. The media transport has a configuration with an arced top surface where the arc length of the top surface exceeds the overall width of the transport.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: RON E. DUFORT, Victoria Warner, Alex Talevski
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Publication number: 20110262159Abstract: An image forming device comprising a fixing unit for thermally fixing a developer on a recording sheet, a control unit that controls the temperature to maintain the fixing unit at one of a fixing temperature and a stand-by temperature lower than the fixing temperature, and a transport unit that transports the recording sheet to the fixing unit, wherein, when the temperature of the fixing unit has dropped from the fixing temperature to the stand-by temperature, and a printing command is received, the control unit controls the transport unit so as to set a stand-by time to wait before starting to transport the recording sheet after the printing command is received as a second time interval, which is longer than a first time interval of time required for the temperature of the fixing unit to reach the fixing temperature based on information relating to the current temperature of the fixing unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji TAKEUCHI, Takuji MATSUNO
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Patent number: 8045914Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit which fixes toner image on a sheet by heat; a first portion in which the sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit is fed; a second portion in which the sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit is fed; and a fan provided between the first portion and the second portion and for cooling the sheet in the first portion and the sheet in the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Kato, Motoyasu Muramatsu
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Patent number: 8041277Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a guide member configured to guide a sheet to a nip section between a heating roller and a pressing roller disposed close to the upstream side of the rollers and on the pressing roller side. A downstream end of the guide member is disposed on the heating roller side with respect to the nip surface between the rollers so that a header of the sheet to be printed is in contact with the heating roller first, and a downstream end of the fixing device introduction guide member is concavely curved.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Hashimoto, Motoji Kurobane, Masami Takeshita, Kazuhiko Kawasaki
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Patent number: 8036589Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a recording medium is temporarily stopped at an upstream of a fixing unit when the recording medium needs to be stopped for a longer time between the fixing unit and a curved path.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Yasuharu Gaman
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Publication number: 20110236101Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a transferring unit, fixing unit, a first sheet conveying path section, a re-conveying unit and a charge-removing member. The transferring unit transfers developer onto a sheet. The fixing unit fixes the developer transferred to the sheet to form a visible image on the sheet. The first sheet conveying path section extends through the transfer unit and the fixing unit, the sheet being conveyed from the transfer unit to the fixing unit along the first sheet conveying path section. The re-conveying unit constitutes a second sheet conveying path section for re-conveying the sheet from the fixing unit to an inlet side of the transfer unit, the second sheet conveying path section being positioned below the first sheet conveying path section.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junji UEHARA
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Publication number: 20110229236Abstract: A fixing device in an image forming apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a recording medium at a fixing nip where an image carried on the recording medium is fixed onto it; a plurality of temperature detectors to detect temperature of the conveyance member, the detectors being disposed at both end portions of the conveyance member outside an area where a maximum-sided recording medium passes through; a guide member to guide the recording medium toward the fixing nip; and a guide plate displacing unit to displace a part of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a conveyed surface of the recording medium to be conveyed at the fixing nip, based on temperature difference detected by the plurality of temperature detectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: Masanao Ehara, Tadashi Ogawa, Satoshi Ueno, Hiroshi Seo, Shuutaroh Yuasa
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Patent number: 8019236Abstract: An image forming device is provided that is capable of properly checking removal of a paper that has caused a paper jam in a fixing part. The fixing part includes transporting mechanisms for transporting a paper on which a toner image is formed. A first paper detecting part is disposed on an upstream side of the fixing part. A second paper detecting part is disposed on a downstream side of the fixing part. A paper jam detecting part detects paper jams in the fixing part. A transportation control part drive-controls the transporting mechanisms to change a transporting direction of the paper to a reverse direction when a paper jam in the fixing part is detected and the paper is not detected by the first detecting part.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Abe
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Publication number: 20110211887Abstract: A cleaning brush is not made slidably contact suctioning endless belts which pass inlets, and the cleaning brush is made slidably contact non-suctioning endless belts which do not pass the inlets. Consequently, it is possible to bring out paper dust and transfer remaining toner which adhere to the suctioning endless belts in attracting areas in which the inlet holes are formed, to the exterior of the apparatus by means of sheets to be conveyed. By contrast with this, from non-suctioning endless belts, the cleaning brush can clean and remove paper dust and transfer remaining toner which adhere to the non-suctioning endless belts.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tsuyoshi Nagasaki
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Patent number: 8005412Abstract: A neutralizing mechanism is provided on at least one conveying path proximal member installed on a conveying path of a sheet material in a vicinity of a transfer position, and is grounded by using a conducting material. The neutralizing mechanism includes a neutralizing circuit that includes a resistor and a ground switch electrically connected in parallel to each other. The ground switch is turned off at least at a time of applying the transfer bias to prevent a leakage of a transfer current, and turned on for a predetermined time at a time other than the time of applying the transfer bias to earth and remove a static electricity from the conveying path proximal member.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2008Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Takeshi Sakashita, Yuuji Meguro, Takeru Muramatsu, Mitsutoshi Kichise, Takuya Etoh
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Patent number: 7986396Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system that projects a pattern image of an original onto a substrate, an original stage that holds and drives the original, a substrate stage that holds and drives the substrate, and a position detecting system that detects the relative positional relationship between position detection marks formed on the original or the original stage and fiducial marks formed on the substrate stage. The position detection marks form a plurality of mark groups arranged in a first direction. Each of the plurality of mark groups has a first mark for measuring the position in the first direction and a second mark for measuring the position in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The position detecting system has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, which simultaneously detect a plurality of the first marks or a plurality of the second marks.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuhiko Mishima
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Publication number: 20110158726Abstract: A pickup roller includes a supporting layer and a pickup layer, which includes a base surrounding the outer perimeter of the supporting layer and a plurality of particles which are distributed throughout the base and have a different hardness than a hardness of the base.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-hyeuk JEONG, Cheong-jin Jang, Min-chan Kim, Ae-kyung Choi
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Patent number: 7962087Abstract: System and methods providing a plurality of fusers, and one or more radius profiled media handling transports for transporting media in a radius, in an image forming device. The system includes one or more of a plurality of fusers, and radius profiled media handling transport devices arranged in a fashion allowing for improved throughput of media while reducing operating costs. The plurality of fusers allows for the use of individual low capacity fusers that are equal to or less than the overall capacity of the image forming device. Media transport devices transport media on stretch belts across a radius of rollers with a means for providing an adhering force for stabilizing the media to the belt. The rollers are arranged along one side of the frame, along which the media is transported, and a frame may contain an air plenum so as to allow for the drawing of a vacuum through the rollers. The media transport device allows for optimizing a configuration of the image forming device.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: James J. Spence
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Patent number: 7945180Abstract: When an image forming apparatus, after a feeding error of a recording material occurs in a fixing device, re-forms on the recording material an image corresponding to image data which image was formed on a sheet which caused the feeding error, an image forming condition is caused to be different from an operation condition used when the feeding error has occurred. This makes it possible to prevent a JAM corresponding to the same image from recurring in the fixing device.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Kitami, Yasunori Minakuchi, Kenji Asakura
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Publication number: 20110103861Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that separates a thin recording material by pushing up a transfer belt, if a position where a thick recording material separates from the transfer belt is far from a leading end of a recording-material guide, conveyability of the separated thick recording material after separation becomes stable. A stretching member is provided downstream of a push-up means and upstream of the recording-material guide in a recording-material conveying direction, and the stretching member separates a thick recording material from the transfer belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yutaka Kakehi
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Publication number: 20110103858Abstract: In an image transferring apparatus of the invention, a relay unit, which is provided in a main body frame and includes a conveyance switching mechanism to eject a sheet on which an image is fixed by a fixing section to a sheet ejection section or to switch back the sheet in the middle of ejection, can be pulled out, and a automatic duplex unit to guide the switched back sheet to an image forming section is mounted to the main body frame to be capable of being detached. An intermediate unit to guide the sheet switched back by the relay unit, together with the fixing section, is fixed and placed in the main body frame. The intermediate unit is provided with a guide member to be capable of being opened and closed between a guide position for the switched back sheet and an open position opposite to the guide position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2011Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazumasa YASUI, Yousuke USHIYAMA, Tetsuo SHIBA
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Publication number: 20110103860Abstract: The present invention is an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus which includes a primary imaging member for producing an electrostatic latent image, a development station for applying toner particles to said latent image which forms a developed toner image, and a transfer station for transferring said developed toner image from the primary imaging member to a receiver. A fuser assembly is included for fixing the developed toner image to the receiver, to form a fused toner image on the receiver. An endless transport member is provided for transporting the receiver to or from the fuser assembly, the transport member having a substrate bearing an oil-absorbing porous layer that would tribocharge positively upon contact with negatively charged toner particles, and a porous overcoat outermost layer that does not tribocharge positively upon contact with negatively charged toner particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2009Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: Wayne T. Ferrar, Donald S. Rimai, Edward T. Miskinis, Douglas E. Garman, Mark C. Zaretsky, Patrick M. Lambert
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Publication number: 20110103862Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: Kazuchika SAEKI, Mitsuru Takahashi, Kazuosa Kuma, Takeshi Fukao, Tsutomu Kato, Yoshiharu Kishi
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Publication number: 20110081182Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical photosensitive body, a transfer unit, a fixing unit and a paper guide. The photosensitive body carries an image on it. The transfer unit includes a transfer roller in compressive contact with the photosensitive body. The fixing unit includes a heating roller and a pressing roller. The paper guide is positioned between the transfer and fixing units. The photosensitive body and the transfer roller are so arranged that the nip tangent between this body and this roller inclines toward the paper guide away from a line connecting the nip between this body and this roller and the nip between the heating and pressing rollers. The paper guide has a recess formed nearer the nip between the is photosensitive body and the transfer roller than the midpoint on the line connecting the two nips.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventor: Toshiki TAKIGUCHI
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Patent number: 7912391Abstract: An image-heating device has a detector for detecting the state of a recording medium at a position between a first fixing unit and a second fixing unit along a conveying path of the recording medium and a controller for controlling a fixing condition of the second fixing unit on the basis of the information obtained by the detector.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kuniyasu Kimura, Naoto Watanabe, Yukio Yokoyama, Hiroto Nishihara, Takako Hanada
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Publication number: 20110064500Abstract: In a transport device, a first speed control unit controls a rotating speed of a first roller driving unit to reach a first target speed, and a second speed control unit controls a rotating speed of a second roller driving unit to reach a second target speed. The second speed control unit is arranged to perform, when a print medium is transported by both a first transport roller unit and a second transport roller unit, a follower control having a response sensibility to speed fluctuations in a predetermined frequency region of a control system, which is smaller than a response sensibility when the print medium is transported by the second transport roller unit solely.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Minoru TAKAHASHI
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Publication number: 20110064501Abstract: A sheet-member transport device includes an endless belt that is an endless band member formed by arranging fibers substantially in the form of a mesh, a surface at an outer periphery side of the endless belt being treated with surface processing so that the surface at the outer periphery side has a higher friction coefficient than a friction coefficient of a surface at an inner periphery side of the endless belt; and at least two rotary members, the endless belt being wound around the rotary members, the rotary members being rotated to move the endless belt around the two rotary members.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.,Inventors: Takahito Chiba, Toshiyuki Miyata, Masaru Funayanagi, Tohru Inoue, Atsumi Kurita, Toshinori Sasaki, Satoshi Nakamura
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Publication number: 20110064426Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit to thermally fix an image transferred onto a sheet thereto, an endless belt to carry the sheet in a feeding path toward the fixing unit, a pattern forming unit to form an image pattern on the belt, a sensor to detect presence of the sheet being carried by the belt, and a judging unit to judge as to whether the sheet is in one-sided alignment, in which the sheet is aligned to one of the widthwise sides in the feeding path based on a result detected by the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kenji TAKEUCHI
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Patent number: 7899385Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a medium storage portion, a supply roller, a conveyance roller, a drive device and a transmission device is provided. The supply roller is rotary driven in a forward direction as a rotating direction to convey the recording mediums to a position for image formation, thereby to supply the abutting uppermost recording medium to a conveyance path. The conveyance roller is rotary driven in a forward direction as a rotating direction to convey the recording mediums to a position for image formation, thereby to allow passage of the uppermost recording medium conveyed by the supply roller. In the image forming apparatus, a conveyance speed of the recording medium by the conveyance roller is adapted to be faster than a conveyance speed of the recording medium by the supply roller.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Koga, Daisuke Kozaki
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Patent number: 7899386Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuchika Saeki, Mitsuru Takahashi, Kazuosa Kuma, Takeshi Fukao, Tsutomu Katoh, Yoshiharu Kishi
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Publication number: 20110044745Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt onto which an image is transferred, a roller around which the transfer belt is wound, a transfer roller that sandwiches the transfer belt with the belt driving roller, a transfer medium transporting unit, a guide portion, and a fixing unit. The transfer roller is arranged to form a transfer nip with the roller, and transfers the image from the transfer belt to a transfer medium. The transfer medium transporting unit vertically upwardly sucks the transfer medium, and transports the transfer medium with the image facing vertically down. The guide portion vertically upwardly sucks the transfer medium transported by the transfer medium transporting unit. The fixing unit has a heating roller and a pressing roller to form a fixing nip, and fixes the image guided by the guide at the fixing nip.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Hidehiro TAKANO, Satoshi CHIBA
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Publication number: 20100303487Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that directly transfers an image onto a transfer sheet; an intermediate transfer member onto which an image is transferred; a secondary image forming unit that transfers an image onto the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer unit that transfers the image on the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer sheet; a fixing unit that fixes an image on the transfer sheet at a fixation position; and a guide member that guides the transfer sheet to the fixation position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Takahiro MIYAKAWA, Shigeyuki Ishii, Jun Kosako, Takashi Enami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Natsuko Kawase, Takahiro Kamekura, Miyo Taniguchi
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Patent number: 7831194Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a laser scanning unit that irradiates a light. A photoconductive medium forms thereon an electrostatic latent image using the light from the laser scanning unit. A developing roller transfers a developer onto the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive medium to develop the electrostatic latent image. A transferring roller forms a transfer nip in tight contact with the photoconductive medium and transfers the developer attached on the photoconductive medium onto a paper passing through the transfer nip. A paper supplying part stacks the paper thereon. A pickup roller picks up the paper stacked on the paper supplying part. A paper edge sensor senses a top edge of the paper picked up by the pickup roller. The paper picked up by the pickup roller is directly supplied toward the transfer nip. A paper moving path is reduced, thereby minimizing the whole size of the image forming apparatus. Also, the number of parts is reduced, thereby decreasing material costs.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kwang-taek Lim, Won-mo Cho
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Publication number: 20100278574Abstract: A before-toner-fixation conveying guide is provided between a transfer portion configured to transfer a toner image, which is formed by an image forming portion, onto a sheet and a fixing portion configured to fix the toner image, which is transferred on the sheet by the transfer portion, to the sheet. The before-toner-fixation conveying guide guides the sheet, on which the toner image is transferred, to the fixing portion. A plurality of consecutive chevron shapes are formed, along a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, in an end portion on a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the before-toner-fixation conveying guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hideaki Miyazawa
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Publication number: 20100272472Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a developing portion for developing a image carrier with liquid developer including a toner and a carrier liquid, a transfer portion for transferring the image developed on the image carrier in the developing portion onto a surface of the recording medium, and a recording medium transporting portion for transporting the recording medium onto which the image has been transferred with surface of the recording medium onto which the image has been transferred facing downward, with the upward facing surface being sucked and held by air flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Katsuhito GOMI, Kenjiro YOSHIOKA, Yoshiyuki NAGAI
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Patent number: 7813693Abstract: A print media preheating system and method of preheating print media that includes an upper heating plate that is arranged to heat a pre-printed side of the print media with a pressure of the upper heating plate on the print media being relieved by lifting the upper heating plate away from the print media so as to reduce smudging of ink printed on the pre-printed side of the print media.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2005Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Su-wen Ueng
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Publication number: 20100247200Abstract: A recording-medium-transporting-direction-switching-mechanism including a transport-unit transporting the recording-medium in one/another directions; a guiding-unit rotatably supported and one-end-portion being provided to be capable of existing in a transport-path, the guiding-unit being rotated by a leading-end-portion of the recording-medium transported toward the transport-unit contacting the guiding-unit, and rotating in a reverse-direction after a trailing-end-portion of the recording-medium transported by the transport-unit in the one-direction passes therethrough, and guiding the recording-medium transported by the transport-unit in the other-direction after the trailing-end-portion of the recording-medium passes therethrough, the one-end-portion of the guiding-unit having substantially rectanglular-shape, and a direction in which the leading-end-portion of the recording-medium transported toward the transport-unit is directed intersecting at an acute angle with a surface of the guiding-unit against wType: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventor: Yukihiro Ichiki
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Patent number: 7802792Abstract: An image forming apparatus 1 has an intermediate transfer belt 17 that rotates in synchronization with the operation of a photoconductive section 11 where a toner image is formed, and a secondary transfer section S at which paper P temporarily adhering to a surface of this intermediate transfer belt 17 can be separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a distance detecting unit 66 that detects a distance āLā to the paper P sent out from this secondary transfer section S, and a control section 74 that judges whether or not the paper P is normally separated from the secondary transfer section S based on distance data fed from this distance detecting unit 66.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Naoki Mizutani
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Patent number: 7796906Abstract: The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a first and a second main conveyance path, a first and a second processing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit. The first and second main conveyance paths come together after having branched apart between a paper supply unit and a paper delivery unit. A recording medium is selectively conveyed along either one of the first and second main conveyance path. Image formation is performed by a method of electrophotography by, alternatively, either the first or second processing unit. Between the first and second main conveyance paths where they are branched apart, the transfer unit generates a transfer electric field between itself and one or the other of the first and second processing unit. The fixing unit controls the temperature of a first or a second fixing roller, which are disposed in the first and second main conveyance path after they have come together, alternatively.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2007Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Junko Yabuta
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Publication number: 20100221051Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feed cassette, a bottom plate and an end wall mechanism. When the number of recording media sheets decreases, the bottom plate hinged at a trailing edge thereof rises about the hinged end to keep the top sheet of the recording media sheets in contact with a sheet feed roller. The end wall mechanism includes a first urging member, a first pressing member, a support member, and a second pressing member, and aligns and presses the trailing edge of the recording medium. The first pressing member urged by the first urging member and supported by the support member presses the trailing edge of the recording medium. The second pressing member urged by the second urging member moves down due to the weight of the recording medium on the second pressing member and moves up when the number of the recording media sheets decreases.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Inventors: Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Haruyuki Honda, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Toshikane Nishii, Mizuna Tanaka
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Patent number: 7787816Abstract: A pre-heater system and adapted to be used on an electrostatic marking apparatus for improving gloss on media having marking thereon at a location in the apparatus prior to a conventional fuser roll assembly or station, the system including a primary heater adapted to blow pressurized hot air into a surface of an image receiving media in order to substantially dispense hot air throughout an entire paper or media surface; and a preheat media transport for transporting media from the location in the apparatus prior to the conventional fuser roll assembly or station through the primary heater, the preheat media transport includes means for maintaining the preheat media transport at a substantially uniform predefined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Nicholas Kladias, Gerald A Domoto, Igor A Podzorov, Paul M Fromm, Anthony S Condello, Augusto Barton, Charles D Rizzolo, Elias Panides
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Publication number: 20100215420Abstract: An image apparatus includes: a first housing including an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material; a second housing including a heating unit for heating the formed image; a conveying unit, provided across the first and second housings, that conveys the recording material to a side of the heating unit using a no-end belt; a conveying unit including a first fixed unit disposed on a side of the second housing and a second fixed unit disposed on a side of the first housing; a first fixing unit positioning the first fixed unit to the heating unit, and fixing the first fixed unit to restrict directions other than a rotating direction of the conveying unit around the first fixed unit; a second fixing unit rotating the conveying unit around the first fixed unit, and fixing the second fixed unit to the first housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2009Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventors: Tsutomu KOMIYAMA, Kazutoshi Sugitani, Yoko Miyamoto