US5172172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1992-02-28
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Granted: 1992-12-15
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Expires: 2012-02-28
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material in an image forming position. A recording material feeder is provided for feeding the recording material to the image forming position, the recording material feeder including a recording material carrying member for carrying the recording material. A supply device is provided for supplying the recording material to the recording material carrying member at a recording material supply position, a first urging member urges a second surface of the recording material carrying member which is opposite from a first surface thereof for carrying the recording material in the recording material supply position, and a second urging member urges the second surface at the image forming position, and wherein an urging force of the second urging member is not less than an urging force of the first urging member.
Inventors
- 👤 Koji Amemiya
- 👤 Takashi Hasegawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:13
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/163; G03G15/1635; G03G15/165; G03G15/1655; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0131; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/01; G03G2215/0167; G03G2215/0174; G03G2215/018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material in an image forming position; recording material feeding means for feeding the recording material to said image forming position, said recording material feeding means including a recording material carrying member for carrying the recording material; supply means for supplying the recording material to said recording material carrying member at a recording material supply position; a first urging member for urging a second surface of said recording material carrying member which is opposite a first surface thereof for carrying the recording material in the recording material supply position and; a second urging member for urging the second surface at the image forming position; wherein an urging force of said second urging member is not less than an urging force of said first urging member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material in an image forming position; recording material feeding means for feeding the recording material to said image forming position, said recording material feeding means including a recording material carrying member for carrying the recording material; supply means for supplying the recording material to said recording material carrying member at a recording material supply position; a first urging member for urging a second surface of said recording material carrying member which is opposite a first surface thereof for carrying the recording material in the recording material supply position and; a second urging member for urging the second surface at the image forming position; wherein an urging force of said second urging member is not less than an urging force of said first urging member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means comprises an image bearing member and transfer means for transferring an image from said image bearing member onto the recording material in said image forming position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image bearing member is disposed adjacent the first surface, and wherein said transfer means includes a transfer charger disposed adjacent the second surface and faced to said image bearing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording material is contacted to said image bearing member when the recording material passes through said image forming position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said image bearing member is in contact with said recording material carrying member when the recording material is not present in the image forming position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising attracting means for electrostatically attracting the recording material to said recording material carrying member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said attracting means is disposed upstream of the image forming position with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said attracting means includes a corona charger.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said attracting means is in contact with said recording material carrying member and includes an electrically conductive roller faced to said corona charger with said recording material carrying member therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said attracting charger is disposed adjacent the second surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said image bearing member is disposed adjacent the first surface, and wherein said transfer means includes a transfer charger disposed adjacent the second surface and faced to said image bearing member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said attracting charger has a charging polarity which is the same as a charging polarity of said transfer charger.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording material feeding means includes a pair of rings, and said recording material carrying member is a sheet stretched on and between the rings into a cylindrical form.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sheet is composed of a dielectric material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said first urging member and said second urging member is a sheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each of said first urging member and second urging member is composed of a dielectric material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an urging force of each of said first and second urging members is larger at end portions thereof than at a central portion thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of the urging member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an urging force of said first urging member is approximately 4-12 g/cm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second urging members extends in a downstream direction with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material, and urges said carrying member in the supply position and the image forming position, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said conductive roller is in contact with said recording material carrying member immediately before attraction of the recording material is started.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said conductive roller is moved away from said recording material carrying member after attraction of the recording material is completed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transfer means transfers plural images onto a single recording material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein an urging force of said second urging member is increased for a successive image transfer operation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the image is made of a color toner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of image forming means each for forming an image on a recording material in an image forming position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a plurality of second urging members each for urging the second surface at respective image forming positions of said plural image forming means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein each said image forming means comprises an image bearing member and transfer means for transferring an image from said image bearing member onto the recording material in said respective image forming positions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein respective urging forces of said plural second urging members increase in a downstream direction with respect to a recording material feeding direction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the image is made of a color toner.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
138 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material in an image forming position; recording material feeding means for feeding the recording material to said image forming position, said recording material feeding means including a recording material carrying member for carrying the recording material; attracting means for attracting the recording material to said recording material carrying member in a recording material attracting position; a first urging member for urging a second surface of said recording material carrying member which is opposite a first surface for carrying the recording material, at the recording material attracting position; and a second urging member for urging the second surface at the image forming position; wherein an urging force of said second urging member is not less than an urging force of said first urging member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
138 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material in an image forming position; recording material feeding means for feeding the recording material to said image forming position, said recording material feeding means including a recording material carrying member for carrying the recording material; attracting means for attracting the recording material to said recording material carrying member in a recording material attracting position; a first urging member for urging a second surface of said recording material carrying member which is opposite a first surface for carrying the recording material, at the recording material attracting position; and a second urging member for urging the second surface at the image forming position; wherein an urging force of said second urging member is not less than an urging force of said first urging member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said image forming means comprises an image bearing member and transfer means for transferring an image from said image bearing member onto the recording material in said image forming position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said image bearing member is disposed adjacent the first surface, and wherein said transfer means includes a transfer charger disposed adjacent the second surface and faced to said image bearing member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the recording material is contacted to said image bearing member when the recording material passes through said image forming position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said image bearing member is in contact with said recording material carrying member when the recording material is not present in the image forming position.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said attracting means is disposed upstream of the image forming position with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said attracting means includes a corona charger.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said attracting means is in contact with said recording material carrying member and includes an electrically conductive roller faced to said corona charger with said recording material carrying member therebetween.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said corona charger is disposed adjacent the second surface.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said image bearing member is disposed adjacent the first surface, and wherein said transfer means includes a transfer charger disposed adjacent the second surface and faced to said image bearing member.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said corona charger has a charging polarity which is the same as a charging polarity of said transfer charger.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said recording material feeding means includes a pair of rings, and said recording material carrying member is a sheet stretched on and between the rings into a cylindrical form.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the sheet is composed of a dielectric material.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein each of said first urging member and said second urging member is a sheet.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein each of said first urging member and second urging member is composed of a dielectric material.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein an urging force of each of said first and second urging members is larger at end portions thereof than at a central portion thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of the urging member.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein an urging force of said first urging member is approximately 4-12 g/cm.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein each of said first and second urging members extends in a downstream direction with respect to a feeding direction, and urges said recording material carrying member at the attracting position and the image forming position, respectively.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said conductive roller is in contact with said recording material carrying member immediately before attraction of the recording material is started.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said conductive roller is moved away from said recording material carrying member after attraction of the recording material is completed.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said transfer means transfers plural images onto a single recording material.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein an urging force of said second urging member is increased for a successive image transfer operation.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the image is made of a color toner.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a plurality of image forming means each for forming an image on a recording material in an image forming position.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 53, further comprising a plurality of second urging members each for urging the second surface at respective image forming positions of said plural image forming means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 54, wherein each said image forming means comprises an image bearing member and transfer means for transferring an image from said image bearing member onto the recording material in said respective image forming positions.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein respective urging forces of said plural second urging members are increased in a downstream direction with respect to a recording material feeding direction.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the image is made of a color toner.
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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) | 1995-12-15 | 1996-06-15 | 1996-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-15 | 2000-06-15 | 2000-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-15 | 2004-06-15 | 2004-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |