US5072244A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Superposed image forming apparatus with plural and adjustable image forming stations
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-29
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Granted: 1991-12-10
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Expires: 2008-11-29
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed images has a plurality of image holders each respectively for holding an image, a plurality of image forming stations for forming an image on the holders, and an adjusting device for adjusting positions of images formed on image holders except for that image station which is designated to be a standard station for adjusting or which is not used of image formation.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomohiro Aoki
- 👤 Kazuyoshi Chiku
- 👤 Takashi Uchida
- 👤 Kazunori Kanekura
- 👤 Yasushi Murayama
- 👤 Yoshihiko Hirose
- 👤 Kunihiko Matsuzawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/50; H04N1/506; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0142; G03G15/0178; G03G15/0194; H04N1/04; H04N1/047; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/01; G03G2215/0103; G03G2215/0119; G03G2215/0138; G03G2215/0141; G03G2215/0151; G03G2215/0158; G03G2215/0161; H04N1/113; H04N1/1135; H04N1/12; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/024; H04N2201/02406; H04N2201/02416; H04N2201/02425; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/047; H04N2201/04701; H04N2201/0471; H04N2201/04712; H04N2201/04715; H04N2201/04722; H04N2201/04729; H04N2201/04731; H04N2201/04732; H04N2201/04753; H04N2201/04755; H04N2201/04789; H04N2201/04791
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed images, comprising: a plurality of image holders each respectively for holding an image; a plurality of image forming mean each respectively for forming an image on one said image holder; a moving member for assisting in transfer of the images formed on said image holders to another medium; and adjusting means for adjusting positions of images formed on said image holders by said image forming means except the position of images formed on the image holder most downstream relative to the direction of movement of said moving member, said adjusting being based on a position of the image on said most downstream image holder, to correct misregistration of the formed images on each of said image holders.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed images, comprising: a plurality of image holders each respectively for holding an image; a plurality of image forming mean each respectively for forming an image on one said image holder; a moving member for assisting in transfer of the images formed on said image holders to another medium; and adjusting means for adjusting positions of images formed on said image holders by said image forming means except the position of images formed on the image holder most downstream relative to the direction of movement of said moving member, said adjusting being based on a position of the image on said most downstream image holder, to correct misregistration of the formed images on each of said image holders.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving member has a region for receiving a recorded registration mark, wherein said adjusting means has a detector for detecting the registration mark recorded at said region and for producing a detection signal representing the detection, and wherein said adjusting means adjusts said positions of images formed on said image holders on the basis of said signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said detector has a plurality of detecting members, and wherein said plurality of detecting members are arranged substantially at a right angle to the direction of movement of said moving member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving member comprises image holding paper for directly receiving each of the plurality of images.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving member comprises continuous image holding paper which can be transported continuously.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving member comprises an image transferring medium for temporarily holding each of the plurality of images.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said image forming means has a beam generator for generating a light beam and a scanner for scanning said light beam, and wherein each said image forming means forms the image on said image holder by using the beam scanned by the scanner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting means adjusts the position of said scanner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said scanner has a mirror, and said adjusting means adjusts the position of said mirror.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting means adjusts a scanning angle of the light beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting means adjusts a length of scanning the light beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting means electrically adjusts a start timing of writing by the light beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said adjusting means adjusts the start timing of writing by the light beam in a scanning direction of the light beam by said scanner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said adjusting means adjusts the start timing of writing by the light beam in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction of the light beam by said scanner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting means adjusts a position of at least one of said plurality of image holders.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
135 words
An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed images, comprising: a plurality of at least three image holders each respectively for holding an image; a plurality of image forming means each respectively for forming an image on one said image holder; a moving member for assisting in transfer of the images formed on said image holders to another medium; and adjusting means for adjusting positions of images formed on said image holders by said image forming means, except the position of the image found on one said image holder which is not positioned in either of the most upstream or the most downstream location relative to said moving member, said adjusting being based on a position of the image on said one image holder, to correct misregistration of the images on each of said image holders.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
135 words
An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed images, comprising: a plurality of at least three image holders each respectively for holding an image; a plurality of image forming means each respectively for forming an image on one said image holder; a moving member for assisting in transfer of the images formed on said image holders to another medium; and adjusting means for adjusting positions of images formed on said image holders by said image forming means, except the position of the image found on one said image holder which is not positioned in either of the most upstream or the most downstream location relative to said moving member, said adjusting being based on a position of the image on said one image holder, to correct misregistration of the images on each of said image holders.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said moving member has a region for receiving a recorded registration mark, wherein said adjusting means has a detector for detecting the registration mark recorded at said region and for producing a detection signal representing the detection, and wherein said adjusting means adjusts said positions of images formed on said image holders on the basis of said signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detector has a plurality of detecting members, and wherein said plurality of detecting members are arranged substantially at a right angle to the direction of movement of said moving member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said moving member comprises image holding paper for directly receiving each of the plurality of images.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said moving member comprises continuous image holding paper which can be transported continuously.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said moving member comprises an image transferring medium for temporarily holding each of the plurality of images.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, where each said image forming means has a beam generator for generating a light beam and a scanner for scanning said light beam, and wherein each said image forming means forms the image on said image holder by using the beam scanned by the scanner.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said adjusting means adjusts the start timing of writing by the light beam in a direction which is almost perpendicular to a scanning direction of the light beam by said scanner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said scanner has a mirror, and said adjusting means adjusts the position of said mirror.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said adjusting means adjusts a scanning angle of the light beam.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said adjusting means adjusts a scanning length of scanning by the light beam.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said adjusting means adjusts electrically a starting timing of writing by the light beam.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said adjusting means adjusts the start timing of writing by the light beam in the direction of scanning by the light beam by said scanner.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said adjusting means adjusts a position of at least one of said plurality of image holders.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said adjusting means adjusts the position of said scanner.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed images, comprising: a plurality of image holders each respectively for holding an image; a moving member for assisting in transfer of the images formed on said image holders to another medium, said moving member having a region for receiving a recorded registration mark; a detector for detecting the registration mark and for producing a detection signal; and adjusting means for defining a permissible extent within which the registration mark may be detected and for adjusting positions of the images on said image holders in accordance with the detection signal when the detection signal is produced within the permissible extent.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed images, comprising: a plurality of image holders each respectively for holding an image; a moving member for assisting in transfer of the images formed on said image holders to another medium, said moving member having a region for receiving a recorded registration mark; a detector for detecting the registration mark and for producing a detection signal; and adjusting means for defining a permissible extent within which the registration mark may be detected and for adjusting positions of the images on said image holders in accordance with the detection signal when the detection signal is produced within the permissible extent.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising means for recording a registration mark corresponding to each of said image holders.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein if any registration marks are not detected within the permissible extent by said detector, said any registration marks are recorded again by said registration mark recording means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein if no registration marks are detected within the permissible extent by said detector, all said registration marks are recorded again by said registration mark recording means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein if a detection signal is not produced within the permissible extent for a predetermined time, said adjusting means adjusts the positions of the images in accordance with last detection signal produced by detector.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein if the detection signal is not produced within the permissible extent for a predetermined time, said adjusting means stops operation of said apparatus.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
94 words
An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed image, comprising: a plurality of image holders each respectively for holding an image; a plurality of image forming means each respectively for forming an image on one said image holder; means for selecting at least one of said plurality of image forming means for use; and adjusting means for adjusting positions of images on said image holders which are formed by the image forming means selected by said selecting means to correct misregistration of the images formed by the image forming means selected by said selecting means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
94 words
An image forming apparatus for forming superimposed image, comprising: a plurality of image holders each respectively for holding an image; a plurality of image forming means each respectively for forming an image on one said image holder; means for selecting at least one of said plurality of image forming means for use; and adjusting means for adjusting positions of images on said image holders which are formed by the image forming means selected by said selecting means to correct misregistration of the images formed by the image forming means selected by said selecting means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said plurality of image forming means respectively form different color images on corresponding image holders, and wherein said adjusting means adjusts the position on said image holders in accordance with color information which represents color of images formed by said image forming means selected by said selecting means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 38, wherein when the color of said selected image forming means is a single color, said adjusting means is disabled.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said adjusting means adjusts the positions of images based on an image on one of said image holders.
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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) | 1994-12-09 | 1995-06-10 | 1995-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-09 | 1999-06-10 | 1999-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-09 | 2003-06-10 | 2003-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |