Patent US3620640A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5799228A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5799228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus which prevents adverse affects from heating elements
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-06-10
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Granted: 1998-08-25
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Expires: 2016-06-10
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a revolver type developer, and prevents toner stored within the revolver type developer from being adversely influenced by heat from a fixing unit. As one feature, the revolver developing unit is intermittently rotated when the image forming apparatus is in a stand-by state. As a further feature, the revolver developing unit is rotated at a very slow continuous speed when the image forming apparatus is in a stand-by state. As a further feature, the intermittent rotation and the slow continuous rotation of the revolver developing unit can be stopped if the temperature of the fixing unit falls below a predetermined value.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuo Iwata
- 👤 Shingo Katoh
- 👤 Yutaka Shio
- 👤 Tomonori Yabuta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:43
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0126; G03G15/0121; G03G15/0142; G03G15/0147; G03G15/0152; G03G15/0173; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/01; G03G2215/0167; G03G2215/0174; G03G2215/0177
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An image forming device including a revolver developing unit, comprising: a first controller for detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; a second controller for rotating said revolver developing unit when the first controller initially detects the presence of the image write signal and then does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing, wherein the second controller continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for the predetermined timing; a photosensitive belt to contact the revolver developing unit; a third controller for driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal; and wherein the third controller drives said photosensitive belt for a predetermined period prior to the developing roller contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the developing roller contacts the photosensitive belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
An image forming device including a revolver developing unit, comprising: a first controller for detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; a second controller for rotating said revolver developing unit when the first controller initially detects the presence of the image write signal and then does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing, wherein the second controller continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for the predetermined timing; a photosensitive belt to contact the revolver developing unit; a third controller for driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal; and wherein the third controller drives said photosensitive belt for a predetermined period prior to the developing roller contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the developing roller contacts the photosensitive belt.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for image formation by an image forming device including a revolver developing unit, comprising the steps of: detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; rotating said revolver developing unit when the presence of the image write signal is not detected for a predetermined timing after initially detecting the presence of the image write signal, wherein the step of rotating said revolver developing unit continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for the predetermined timing; driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal; and wherein said photosensitive belt is driven for a predetermined period prior to the revolving developing unit contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the revolving developing unit contacts the photosensitive belt.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for image formation by an image forming device including a revolver developing unit, comprising the steps of: detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; rotating said revolver developing unit when the presence of the image write signal is not detected for a predetermined timing after initially detecting the presence of the image write signal, wherein the step of rotating said revolver developing unit continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for the predetermined timing; driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal; and wherein said photosensitive belt is driven for a predetermined period prior to the revolving developing unit contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the revolving developing unit contacts the photosensitive belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
An image forming device including a revolver developing unit, a fixing roller and a pressure roller, comprising: a first controller for detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; a second controller for rotating said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal; and means for determining if a temperature of both the fixing roller and the pressure roller are below a predetermined threshold; and wherein operation of the second controller is stopped if the determining means determines that the temperature of both the fixing roller and the pressure roller are below the predetermined threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
An image forming device including a revolver developing unit, a fixing roller and a pressure roller, comprising: a first controller for detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; a second controller for rotating said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal; and means for determining if a temperature of both the fixing roller and the pressure roller are below a predetermined threshold; and wherein operation of the second controller is stopped if the determining means determines that the temperature of both the fixing roller and the pressure roller are below the predetermined threshold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The image forming device according to claim 3, wherein the second controller rotates said revolver developing unit intermittently at a predetermined timing when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image forming device according to claim 3, wherein the second controller continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The image forming device according to claim 3, wherein the second controller continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming device further includes a photosensitive belt to contact the revolver developing unit, and further comprising: a third controller for driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The image forming device according to claim 7, wherein the third controller drives said photosensitive belt intermittently at the predetermined timing when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image forming device according to claim 3, wherein the third controller drives said photosensitive belt for a predetermined period prior to the developing roller contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the developing roller contacts the photosensitive belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
An image forming device including a revolver developing unit and a photosensitive belt to contact the revolver developing unit, comprising: a first controller for detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; a second controller for rotating said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal, wherein the second controller rotates said revolver developing unit intermittently at a predetermined timing when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing; a third controller for driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal, wherein the third controller drives said photosensitive belt intermittently at the predetermined timing when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for the predetermined timing, and wherein the third controller drives said photosensitive belt for a predetermined period prior to the developing roller contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the developing roller contacts the photosensitive belt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
179 words
An image forming device including a revolver developing unit and a photosensitive belt to contact the revolver developing unit, comprising: a first controller for detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; a second controller for rotating said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal, wherein the second controller rotates said revolver developing unit intermittently at a predetermined timing when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing; a third controller for driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal, wherein the third controller drives said photosensitive belt intermittently at the predetermined timing when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for the predetermined timing, and wherein the third controller drives said photosensitive belt for a predetermined period prior to the developing roller contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the developing roller contacts the photosensitive belt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of image formation according to claim 10, further comprising the step of: driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for image formation by an image forming device including a revolver developing unit, comprising the steps of: detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; rotating said revolver developing unit when the presence of the image write signal is not detected; determining if a temperature of both a fixing roller and a pressure roller are below a predetermined threshold; and stopping operation of the second controller if the determining means determines that the temperature of both the fixing roller and the pressure roller are below the predetermined threshold.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for image formation by an image forming device including a revolver developing unit, comprising the steps of: detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; rotating said revolver developing unit when the presence of the image write signal is not detected; determining if a temperature of both a fixing roller and a pressure roller are below a predetermined threshold; and stopping operation of the second controller if the determining means determines that the temperature of both the fixing roller and the pressure roller are below the predetermined threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method for image formation according to claim 12, wherein the step of rotating said revolver developing unit intermittently rotates said revolver developing unit at a predetermined timing when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of image formation according to claim 12, wherein the step of rotating said revolver developing unit continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of image formation according to claim 12, wherein the step of rotating said revolver developing unit continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of image formation according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: driving a photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of image formation according to claim 16, wherein said photosensitive belt is driven intermittently at the predetermined timing when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal for a predetermined timing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of image formation according to claim 12, wherein said photosensitive belt is driven for a predetermined period prior to the revolving developing unit contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the revolving developing unit contacts the photosensitive belt.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for image formation by an image forming device including a revolver developing unit, comprising the steps of: detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; rotating said revolver developing unit when the presence of the image write signal is not detected, wherein the step of rotating said revolver developing unit continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal; and driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal, wherein said photosensitive belt is driven for a predetermined period prior to the revolving developing unit contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the revolving developing unit contacts the photosensitive belt.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for image formation by an image forming device including a revolver developing unit, comprising the steps of: detecting a presence of an image write signal in the image forming device; rotating said revolver developing unit when the presence of the image write signal is not detected, wherein the step of rotating said revolver developing unit continuously rotates said revolver developing unit when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal; and driving said photosensitive belt when the first controller does not detect the presence of the image write signal, wherein said photosensitive belt is driven for a predetermined period prior to the revolving developing unit contacting the photosensitive belt to the predetermined period after the revolving developing unit contacts the photosensitive belt.
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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) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |