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EP0437204A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Lateral shift control for endless belt and fixing apparatus using same

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1991-01-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-01-02
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Abstract

Abstract A lateral shift control apparatus for an endless belt (11) includes lateral shifting driver for applying to the endless belt (11) a lateral shifting force in lateral directions; a switching device (23) for switching direction of the lateral shifting force; a detector (16) for detecting a lateral end position of the endless belt (11); a controller responsive to an output of said detector (16) to control the switching device (23); and wherein the lateral end portion detected by the detector (16) is provided with an inclined portion.

Inventors

  • 👤 Satoshi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Mori
  • 👤 Yoshihiko C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Suzuki
  • 👤 Shokyo C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Koh

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 06:59
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/75; G03G15/754; G03G15/755; B; B65; B65G; B65G39/00; B65G39/10; B65G39/12; B65G39/16; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2064; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00135; G03G2215/00139; G03G2215/00143; G03G2215/00156

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim 80 words
A lateral shift control apparatus for an endless belt, comprising: lateral shifting means for applying to the endless belt a lateral shifting force in lateral directions; switching means for switching direction of the lateral shifting force; detecting means for detecting a lateral end position of the endless belt; control means responsive to an output of said detecting means to control said switching means; and wherein the lateral end portion detected by said detecting means is provided with an inclined portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 39 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects the position of the lateral end at one side thereof, and said control means alternately switching the shifting direction in accordance with the detection of said detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the endless belt has the inclined portion only at one lateral end portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said endless belt has a lateral end edge inclined in its entire circumference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said detecting means has a photosensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
An apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein said endless belt blocks light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said control means controls said switching means in accordance with on-duration or off-duration of said photosensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 37 words
An apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein said control means includes comparison means for comparing the on-duration and off-duration with a predetermined duration, and switches the lateral shifting direction when it is equal to the predetermined direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein a distance of movement of the endless belt is smaller than a difference between a maximum width and a minimum width of the endless belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 46 words
An apparatus according to Claim 9, further comprising error check means for discriminating a malfunction when the on-duration or the off-duration of said photosensor is larger than a predetermined period which is different from the predetermined period for the switching of the film lateral shifting direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 10, further comprising stopping means for stopping said apparatus when said error checking means discriminates an error.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 10, further comprising display means for displaying malfunction of the belt when said error checking means discriminates the error.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 79 words
A lateral shift control apparatus for an endless belt, comprising: lateral shifting means for applying to the endless belt lateral shifting force in lateral directions; switching means for switching the lateral shifting direction; detecting means for optically detecting a position of the endless belt; control means responsive to said detecting means to control said switching means; wherein the endless belt is provided with a light blocking portion which is inclined relative to a movement direction of the endless belt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the inclined portion is disposed at an end of the endless belt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein a lateral end edge of said endless belt is inclined to provide said inclined portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the inclined portion is provided over the entire circumference of the endless belt.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the endless belt has the inclined portion only at one lateral end portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said control means controls said switching means in accordance with the on-duration or off-duration of an output of said detecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein said control means comprising comparison means for comparing the on-duration or off-duration of said detecting means, and switches the lateral shifting direction when the on-duration or off-duration is the predetermined duration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein a movement distance of the endless belt is smaller than a difference between a maximum and a minimum of the width of said light blocking portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 41 words
An apparatus according to Claim 20, further comprising error checking means for discriminating an error when the on-duration or the off-duration is the same as a predetermined duration which is different from said predetermined duration for switching the lateral shifting direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 21, further comprising stopping means for stopping said apparatus when said error checking means discriminates an error.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 21, further comprising display means for displaying malfunction of the belt when said error checking means discriminates the error.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 106 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a heater; an endless belt movable together and in contact with a supporting material supporting an image, wherein the image is heat-fixed by heat from said heater through said endless belt; lateral shifting means for applying to the endless belt a lateral shifting force in lateral directions; switching means for switching direction of the lateral shifting force; detecting means for detecting a lateral end position of the endless belt; control means responsive to an output of said detecting means to control said switching means; and wherein the lateral end portion detected by said detecting means is provided with an inclined portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 24, further comprising a pressing member for pressing said supporting material to said heater and belt.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein the endless belt has a thickness smaller than 100 microns.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 39 words
An apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein, said detecting means detects the position of the lateral end at one side thereof, and said control means alternately switching the shifting direction in accordance with the detection of said detecting means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein the endless belt has the inclined portion only at one lateral end portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein said endless belt has a lateral end edge inclined in its entire circumference.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein said detecting means has a photosensor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 12 words
An apparatus according to Claim 30, wherein said endless belt blocks light.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 31, wherein said control means controls said switching means in accordance with on-duration or off-duration of said photosensor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 37 words
An apparatus according to Claim 32, wherein said control means includes comparison means for comparing the on-duration and off-duration with a predetermined duration, and switches the lateral shifting direction when it is equal to the predetermined direction.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 33, wherein a distance of movement of the endless belt is smaller than a difference between a maximum width and a minimum width of the endless belt.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 46 words
An apparatus according to Claim 34, further comprising error check means for discriminating a malfunction when the on-duration or the off-duration of said photosensor is larger than a predetermined period which is different from the predetermined period for the switching of the film lateral shifting direction.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 35, further comprising stopping means for stopping said apparatus when said error checking means discriminates an error.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 35, further comprising display means for displaying malfunction of the belt when said error checking means discriminates the error.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 107 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a heater; an endless belt movable together with and in contact with a supporting material for supporting an image, wherein the image is heat-fixed by heat from said heater through said endless belt; lateral shifting means for applying to the endless belt lateral shifting force in lateral directions; switching means for switching the lateral shifting direction; detecting means for optically detecting a position of the endless belt; control means responsive to said detecting means to control said switching means; wherein the endless belt is provided with a light blocking portion which is inclined relative to a movement direction of the endless belt.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 38, further comprising a pressing member for pressing said supporting material to said heater and belt.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 38, wherein the endless belt has a thickness smaller than 100 microns.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to Claim 38, wherein the inclined portion is disposed at an end of the endless belt.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 38, wherein a lateral end edge of said endless belt is inclined to provide said inclined portion.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 38, wherein the inclined portion is provided over the entire circumference of the endless belt.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 38, wherein the endless belt has the inclined portion only at one lateral end portion.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 37 words
An apparatus according to Claim 38, wherein said control means includes comparison means for comparing the on-duration and off-duration with a predetermined duration, and switches the lateral shifting direction when it is equal to the predetermined direction.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to Claim 45, wherein said control means comprising comparison means for comparing the on-duration or off-duration of said detecting means, and switches the lateral shifting direction when the on-duration or off-duration is the predetermined duration.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 46, wherein a movement distance of the endless belt is smaller than a difference between a maximum and a minimum of the width of said light blocking portion.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 41 words
An apparatus according to Claim 47, further comprising error checking means for discriminating an error when the on-duration or the off-duration is the same as a predetermined duration which is different from said predetermined duration for switching the lateral shifting direction.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 48, further comprising stopping means for stopping said apparatus when said error checking means discriminates an error.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 48, further comprising display means for displaying malfunction of the belt when said error checking means discriminates the error.

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