Patent US4982225A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4982225A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image forming apparatus for controlling the humidity and operating parameters associated with an image forming process
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1990-01-29
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Granted: 1991-01-01
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Expires: 2010-01-29
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus including an image forming device for forming an image on a photosensitive recording medium is disclosed. The image forming device forms the image in accordance with at least one operating parameter. A humidity detecting sensor detects an ambient humidity in the apparatus. A heater changes a relative humidity in the apparatus. A controller controls the heater in accordance with the sensed humidity and optimizes the at least one operating parameter at a temperature changed by the heater.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenji Sakakibara
- 👤 Yuji Asano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:35
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/002; G03F7/0022; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/20; G03G21/203; G03B2227/00; G03B2227/32; G03B2227/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a photosensitive recording medium, said image forming means forming the image in accordance with at least one operating parameter; humidity detecting means for detecting an ambient humidity in said apparatus and outputting a detection signal; temperature changing means for changing a relative humidity in said apparatus by changing a temperature; and control means for controlling said temperature changing means in accordance with said detection signal, and for adjusting said at least one operating parameter based on a temperature change by said temperature changing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a photosensitive recording medium, said image forming means forming the image in accordance with at least one operating parameter; humidity detecting means for detecting an ambient humidity in said apparatus and outputting a detection signal; temperature changing means for changing a relative humidity in said apparatus by changing a temperature; and control means for controlling said temperature changing means in accordance with said detection signal, and for adjusting said at least one operating parameter based on a temperature change by said temperature changing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature changing means is a heating means for changing said relative humidity by heating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means includes an exposure unit having a light source to form said image on said photosensitive recording medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said at least one parameter includes exposure time and said control means changes said exposure time of said exposure unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image forming means includes advancing means for advancing said photosensitive recording medium, said image being formed on said photosensitive recording medium while being advanced by said advancing means, and wherein said at least one parameter includes an advancing speed of said advancing means and said control means changes said advancing speed of said advancing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said at least one parameter includes an amount of light emitted from said light source and said control means changes said amount of light emitted from said light source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image forming means includes a filter unit for adjusting characteristics of a light exposed on said photosensitive recording medium, and wherein said at least one parameter includes a degree of adjustment of said filter unit and said control means changes said degree of adjustment of said filter unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said filter unit includes plural filters disposed in a light path from said light source to said photosensitive recording medium and filter driving means for controlling an insertion amount of each of said filters in said light path, and wherein said degree of adjustment is said insertion amount and said control means changes said insertion amount.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image forming means includes an auxiliary exposure unit for adjusting a gradation of said image formed on said photosensitive recording medium, and wherein said at least one parameter includes a degree of adjustment of said auxiliary exposure unit and said control means controls said degree of adjustment of said auxiliary exposure unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means is provided near a path of said photosensitive recording medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium includes a microcapsule sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a photosensitive recording medium, said image forming means forming the image in accordance with at least one operating parameter; humidity detecting means for detecting an ambient humidity in said apparatus and outputting a detection signal; temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature in said apparatus and outputting a temperature signal; heating means for changing a relative humidity in said apparatus by heating; and control means for controlling said heating means based upon said detection signal and said temperature signal, said control means also adjusting said at least one operating parameter based on a temperature changed by said heating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a photosensitive recording medium, said image forming means forming the image in accordance with at least one operating parameter; humidity detecting means for detecting an ambient humidity in said apparatus and outputting a detection signal; temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature in said apparatus and outputting a temperature signal; heating means for changing a relative humidity in said apparatus by heating; and control means for controlling said heating means based upon said detection signal and said temperature signal, said control means also adjusting said at least one operating parameter based on a temperature changed by said heating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said image forming means includes an exposure unit having a light source to form said image on said photosensitive recording medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one parameter includes exposure time and said control means changes said exposure time of said exposure unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said image forming means includes advancing means for advancing said photosensitive recording medium, said image being formed on said photosensitive recording medium while being advanced by said advancing means, and wherein said at least one parameter includes an advancing speed of said advancing means and said control means changes said advancing speed of said advancing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one parameter includes an amount of light emitted from said light source and said control means changes said amount of light emitted from said light source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said image forming means includes a filter unit for adjusting characteristics of a light exposed on said photosensitive recording medium, and wherein said at least one parameter includes a degree of adjustment of said filter unit and said control means changes said degree of adjustment of said filter unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said filter unit includes plural filters disposed in a light path from said light source to said photosensitive recording medium and filter driving means for controlling an insertion amount of each of said filters in said light path, and wherein said degree of adjustment is said insertion amount and said control means changes said insertion amount.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said image forming means includes an auxiliary exposure unit for adjusting a gradation of said image formed on said photosensitive recording medium, and wherein said at least one parameter includes a degree of adjustment of said auxiliary exposure unit and said control means controls said degree of adjustment of said auxiliary exposure unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said heating means is provided near a path of said photosensitive recording medium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said recording medium includes a microcapsule sheet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
122 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a photosensitive recording medium, said image forming means forming the image in accordance with at least one operating parameter, said image forming means including an exposure table for exposing said photosensitive recording medium to a light image to form a latent image thereon; humidity detecting means for detecting an ambient humidity in said apparatus and outputting a detection signal; heating means for changing a relative humidity in said apparatus by heating said exposure table; and control means for controlling said heating means based on said detection signal, and for adjusting said at least one operating parameter based on a temperature of said exposure table changed by said heating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
122 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a photosensitive recording medium, said image forming means forming the image in accordance with at least one operating parameter, said image forming means including an exposure table for exposing said photosensitive recording medium to a light image to form a latent image thereon; humidity detecting means for detecting an ambient humidity in said apparatus and outputting a detection signal; heating means for changing a relative humidity in said apparatus by heating said exposure table; and control means for controlling said heating means based on said detection signal, and for adjusting said at least one operating parameter based on a temperature of said exposure table changed by said heating means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said image forming means includes an exposure unit having a light source to form said latent image on said photosensitive recording medium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said at least one parameter includes exposure time and said control means changes said exposure time of said exposure unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said image forming means includes advancing means for advancing said photosensitive recording medium, said image being formed on said photosensitive recording medium while being advanced by said advancing means, and wherein said at least one parameter includes an advancing speed of said advancing means and said control means changes said advancing speed of said advancing means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said at least one parameter includes an amount of light emitted from said light source and said control means changes said amount of light emitted from said light source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said image forming means includes a filter unit for adjusting characteristics of a light exposed on said photosensitive recording medium, and wherein said at least one parameter includes a degree of adjustment of said filter unit and said control means changes said degree of adjustment of said filter unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
65 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said filter unit includes plural filters disposed in a light path from said light source to said photosensitive recording medium and filter driving means for controlling an insertion amount of each of said filters in said light path, and wherein said degree of adjustment in said insertion amount and said control means changes said insertion amount.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
62 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said image forming means includes an auxiliary exposure unit for adjusting a gradation of said image formed on said photosensitive recording medium, and wherein said at least one parameter includes a degree of adjustment of said auxiliary exposure unit and said control means controls said degree of adjustment of said auxiliary exposure unit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said recording medium includes a microcapsule sheet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-31 | 1994-07-02 | 1995-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-31 | 1998-07-02 | 1999-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-31 | 2002-07-02 | 2003-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |