US5153655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lateral shift control for endless belt and fixing apparatus using same
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1991-01-03
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Granted: 1992-10-06
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Expires: 2011-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A lateral shift control apparatus for an endless belt includes a driver for applying to the endless belt a lateral shifting force in both lateral directons; a switching device for switching the direction of the lateral shifting force by the lateral shifting driver; and memory for storing the immediately previous lateral shifting direction by the driver.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiko Suzuki
- 👤 Shokyo Koh
- 👤 Satoshi Mori
- 👤 Koki Kuroda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G39/00; B65G39/10; B65G39/12; B65G39/16; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A lateral shift control apparatus for an endless belt, said apparatus comprising: lateral shifting means for applying to the endless belt a lateral shifting force in lateral directions; switching means for switching the direction of the lateral shifting force by said lateral shifting means; means for storing the lateral shifting direction; and determining means for determining the direction of the lateral shifting force when power supply to the apparatus is started, in accordance with the lateral shifting direction stored in said storing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A lateral shift control apparatus for an endless belt, said apparatus comprising: lateral shifting means for applying to the endless belt a lateral shifting force in lateral directions; switching means for switching the direction of the lateral shifting force by said lateral shifting means; means for storing the lateral shifting direction; and determining means for determining the direction of the lateral shifting force when power supply to the apparatus is started, in accordance with the lateral shifting direction stored in said storing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting lateral shifting of the endless belt and control means for controlling said switching means in accordance with an output of said detecting means so as to limit the lateral shift of the endless belt within a predetermined range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said storing means stores the direction upon termination of the power supply.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein upon reconnection of the power supply, said control means controls said switching means to provide the shifting direction of said shifting means which is the same as the direction stored in said storing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said detecting means detects one of lateral ends of the endless belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for prohibiting stoppage of rotation of the endless belt for a predetermined period after start of rotation of said endless belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined period is determined on the basis of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined period is a period until said detecting means detects a position of the endless belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said detecting means detects the position of the endless belt by rotation of the endless belt through a predetermined distance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storing means includes a non-volatile memory means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said memory means comprises a static RAM.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a heater; an endless belt movable together with a material having a visualized image, wherein the visualized image is fixed by heat on the material 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 the direction of the lateral shifting force by said lateral shifting means; means for storing the lateral shifting direction; and determining means for determining the direction of the lateral shifting force when power supply to the apparatus is started, in accordance with the lateral shifting direction stored in said storing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
An image fixing apparatus, comprising: a heater; an endless belt movable together with a material having a visualized image, wherein the visualized image is fixed by heat on the material 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 the direction of the lateral shifting force by said lateral shifting means; means for storing the lateral shifting direction; and determining means for determining the direction of the lateral shifting force when power supply to the apparatus is started, in accordance with the lateral shifting direction stored in said storing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising detecting means for detecting lateral shifting of the endless belt and control means for controlling said switching means in accordance with an output of said detecting means so as to limit the lateral shift of the endless belt within a predetermined range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said storing means stores the direction upon termination of the power supply.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein upon reconnection of the power supply, said control means controls said switching means to provide the shifting direction of said shifting means which is the same as the direction stored in said storing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said detecting means detects one of lateral ends of the endless belt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising means for prohibiting stoppage of rotation of the endless belt for a predetermined period after start of rotation of said endless belt
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined period is determined on the basis of time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined period is a period until said detecting means detects a position of the endless belt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detecting means detects the position of the endless belt by rotation of the endless belt through a predetermined distance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a pressing member for urging the supporting material and the belt to said heater.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the endless belt has a thickness of not more than 100 microns.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said fixing apparatus is used with an image forming apparatus having image forming means for forming a visualized image on the supporting material, and at least a part of which is openable, and wherein the power supply is terminated in association with opening of said image forming apparatus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
93 words
A lateral shift control apparatus for an endless belt, said apparatus comprising: lateral shifting means for applying to the endless belt a lateral shifting force in both lateral directions; switching means for switching the direction of the lateral shifting force by said lateral shifting means; storing means for storing information relating to a lateral shift of the endless belt; and determining means for determining the direction of the lateral shifting force of said lateral shifting means, when power supply to said apparatus is started, in accordance with information stored in said storing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
93 words
A lateral shift control apparatus for an endless belt, said apparatus comprising: lateral shifting means for applying to the endless belt a lateral shifting force in both lateral directions; switching means for switching the direction of the lateral shifting force by said lateral shifting means; storing means for storing information relating to a lateral shift of the endless belt; and determining means for determining the direction of the lateral shifting force of said lateral shifting means, when power supply to said apparatus is started, in accordance with information stored in said storing means.
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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) | 1995-10-06 | 1996-04-06 | 1996-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-06 | 2000-04-06 | 2000-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-06 | 2004-04-06 | 2004-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |