US5237381A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet discharging apparatus with curl correcting means
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1992-01-22
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Granted: 1993-08-17
•
Expires: 2012-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A sheet discharging apparatus having a curl generating device wherein a curl is generated in a sheet while the sheet is passing through the curl generating device, and a first guide disposed downstream of the curl generating device and switchingly movable between a first position where the sheet is directed toward a curved sheet path and a second position where the sheet is directed toward a direction the same as a sheet feeding direction from the curl generating device. The apparatus further has a sheet discharge guide disposed between the curl generating device and the first guide and switchingly movable in synchronism with the switching movement of the first guide to change its posture, between a position where the sheet discharged from the curl generating device is curled reversely and a position where the sheet discharged from the curl generating device is not further curled.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsuo Hamada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:46
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6552; B; B65; B65H; B65H23/00; B65H23/04; B65H23/34; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; G03G15/6555; G03G15/6573; G03G15/6576; B65H2404/00; B65H2404/60; B65H2404/63; B65H2404/632; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00367; G03G2215/00417; G03G2215/00421; G03G2215/00535; G03G2215/00662
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A sheet discharging apparatus comprising curl generating means wherein a curl is generated in a sheet while the sheet is passing through said curl generating means, and first guide means disposed downstream of said curl generating means and switchingly movable between a first position where the sheet is directed toward a curved sheet path and a second position where the sheet is directed toward a direction which is the same as a sheet feeding direction from said curl generating means, characterized by that: sheet discharge guide means is disposed between said curl generating means and said first guide means and switchingly movable in synchronism with the switching movement of said first guide means to change its posture, between a first position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is curled reversely and a second position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is not further curled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A sheet discharging apparatus comprising curl generating means wherein a curl is generated in a sheet while the sheet is passing through said curl generating means, and first guide means disposed downstream of said curl generating means and switchingly movable between a first position where the sheet is directed toward a curved sheet path and a second position where the sheet is directed toward a direction which is the same as a sheet feeding direction from said curl generating means, characterized by that: sheet discharge guide means is disposed between said curl generating means and said first guide means and switchingly movable in synchronism with the switching movement of said first guide means to change its posture, between a first position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is curled reversely and a second position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is not further curled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for driving said first guide means and said sheet discharge guide means associated with each other so that when said first guide means reaches said first position, said sheet discharge guide means is positioned to guide the sheet substantially in a horizontal direction, and when said first guide means reaches said second position said sheet discharge guide means is positioned to direct the sheet to said first guide means while bending the sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 2, further including a sheet discharge tray disposed downstream of said curved sheet path to receive the sheet in a face-down mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 2, further including a sheet discharge tray for receiving the sheet discharged, in a condition that said first guide means is in said second position, in a face-up mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first guide means comprises a pivotable flapper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said sheet discharge guide means includes a guide surface pivotable in an up-and-down direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sheet discharge guide means is biased by spring means so that said guide surface is inclined upwardly, and said sheet discharge guide means is driven in synchronism with a pivotal movement of said flapper so that said guide surface becomes substantially horizontal when said first guide means reaches the first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sheet discharge guide means is held by its own weight so that said guide surface becomes substantially horizontal, and is lifted and held by the pivotal movement of said first guide means so that said guide surface is inclined upwardly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first guide means and said sheet discharge guide means are interconnected by gears.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
A sheet discharging apparatus comprising curl generating means wherein a curl is generated in a sheet while the sheet is passing through said curl generating means, and first guide means disposed downstream of said curl generating means and switchingly movable between a first position where the sheet is directed toward a curved sheet path and a second position where the sheet is directed toward a direction the same as a sheet feeding direction from said curl generating means, characterized by that: sheet discharge guide means is disposed between said curl generating means and said first guide means and switchingly movable to change its posture between a position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is curled reversely and a position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is not further curled.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
A sheet discharging apparatus comprising curl generating means wherein a curl is generated in a sheet while the sheet is passing through said curl generating means, and first guide means disposed downstream of said curl generating means and switchingly movable between a first position where the sheet is directed toward a curved sheet path and a second position where the sheet is directed toward a direction the same as a sheet feeding direction from said curl generating means, characterized by that: sheet discharge guide means is disposed between said curl generating means and said first guide means and switchingly movable to change its posture between a position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is curled reversely and a position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is not further curled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sheet discharge guide means takes a first posture for directing the sheet substantially in a horizontal direction and a second posture for curving or bending the sheet, and wherein said sheet discharge guide means takes said first posture when said first guide means is in said first position and takes said second posture when said first guide means is in said second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
An image forming apparatus wherein a sheet fed from a curl generating means is selectively discharged onto a first sheet discharge tray or a second sheet discharge tray, comprising: a first sheet feeding path including a first curved sheet path for directing the sheet to said first sheet discharge tray; a second sheet feeding path including a second curved sheet path for directing the sheet to said second sheet discharge tray; and switching means for nullifying said second curved sheet path when said first sheet feeding path is selected and for forming said second curved sheet path when said second sheet feeding path is selected.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
An image forming apparatus wherein a sheet fed from a curl generating means is selectively discharged onto a first sheet discharge tray or a second sheet discharge tray, comprising: a first sheet feeding path including a first curved sheet path for directing the sheet to said first sheet discharge tray; a second sheet feeding path including a second curved sheet path for directing the sheet to said second sheet discharge tray; and switching means for nullifying said second curved sheet path when said first sheet feeding path is selected and for forming said second curved sheet path when said second sheet feeding path is selected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first and second curved sheet paths serve to curve the sheet toward a direction opposite to a curled direction of the sheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
An image forming apparatus wherein a sheet fed from curl generating means is discharged, comprising: a first sheet feeding path disposed downstream of said curl generating means and including a first curved sheet path for directing the sheet; a second sheet feeding path disposed downstream of said curl generating means and including a second curved sheet path for directing the sheet; and switching means for nullifying said second curved sheet path when said first sheet feeding path is selected and for forming said second curved sheet path when said second sheet feeding path is selected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
An image forming apparatus wherein a sheet fed from curl generating means is discharged, comprising: a first sheet feeding path disposed downstream of said curl generating means and including a first curved sheet path for directing the sheet; a second sheet feeding path disposed downstream of said curl generating means and including a second curved sheet path for directing the sheet; and switching means for nullifying said second curved sheet path when said first sheet feeding path is selected and for forming said second curved sheet path when said second sheet feeding path is selected.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first and second curved sheet paths serve to curve the sheet toward a direction opposite to a curled direction of the sheet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
An image forming apparatus wherein a sheet fed from a curl generating means is discharged, comprising: a first sheet feeding path disposed downstream of said curl generating means and including first curl correcting means for directing the sheet; a second sheet feeding path disposed downstream of said curl generating means and including a second curl correcting means for directing the sheet; and switching means for making said second curl correcting means inoperative when said first sheet feeding path is selected and for making said second curl correcting means operative when said second sheet feeding path is selected.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
An image forming apparatus wherein a sheet fed from a curl generating means is discharged, comprising: a first sheet feeding path disposed downstream of said curl generating means and including first curl correcting means for directing the sheet; a second sheet feeding path disposed downstream of said curl generating means and including a second curl correcting means for directing the sheet; and switching means for making said second curl correcting means inoperative when said first sheet feeding path is selected and for making said second curl correcting means operative when said second sheet feeding path is selected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said curl generating means comprises fixing means, and said first and second curl correcting means comprise curved sheet paths.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
155 words
An image forming apparatus with a sheet discharging apparatus comprising curl generating means wherein a curl is generated in a sheet while the sheet is passing through said curl generating means, and first guide means disposed downstream of said curl generating means and switchingly movable between a first position where the sheet is directed toward a curved sheet path and a second position where the sheet is directed toward a direction which is the same as a sheet feeding direction from said curl generating means, characterized by that: sheet discharge guide means is disposed between said curl generating means and said first guide means and switchingly movable in synchronism with the switching movement of said first guide means to change its posture between a first position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is curled reversely and a second position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is not further curled.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
155 words
An image forming apparatus with a sheet discharging apparatus comprising curl generating means wherein a curl is generated in a sheet while the sheet is passing through said curl generating means, and first guide means disposed downstream of said curl generating means and switchingly movable between a first position where the sheet is directed toward a curved sheet path and a second position where the sheet is directed toward a direction which is the same as a sheet feeding direction from said curl generating means, characterized by that: sheet discharge guide means is disposed between said curl generating means and said first guide means and switchingly movable in synchronism with the switching movement of said first guide means to change its posture between a first position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is curled reversely and a second position where the sheet discharged from said curl generating means is not further curled.
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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) | 1996-08-16 | 1997-02-15 | 1997-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-16 | 2001-02-15 | 2001-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-16 | 2005-02-15 | 2005-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |