US5875372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 1997-07-14
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Granted: 1999-02-23
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Expires: 2017-07-14
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier on which a toner image forming device forms a toner image; a second image carrier provided opposite to the first image carrier, onto which the toner image on the first image carrier is transferred; first and second transfer devices for transferring the toner image on the first and second image carriers onto one side and the other side of a transfer material, respectively; and a fixing device for fixing the toner images on both sides of the transfer material transferred respectively by the first and second transfer devices. The fixing device includes first and second fixing members provided opposite to one side and the other side of the transfer material, respectively, wherein the transfer material passes between the first and second fixing members, and first and second sensors are provided for detecting temperature of the first and second fixing members respectively. The apparatus further includes a control device for controlling the toner image forming device, the first and second transfer devices, and the fixing device. The control device enables image formation on both sides of the transfer material or on one side of the transfer material, and prohibits image formation on at least both sides of the transfer material when the temperature detected by the first sensor is appropriate for the first fixing member, and the temperature detected by the second sensor is not appropriate for the second fixing member.
Inventors
- 👤 Yotaro Sato
- 👤 Kunio Shigeta
- 👤 Satoshi Haneda
- 👤 Akitoshi Matsubara
- 👤 Tadayoshi Ikeda
- 👤 Masakazu Fukuchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:17
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/23; G03G15/231; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2039; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/20; G03G2215/207; G03G2215/2083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
345 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: (a) a first image carrier; (b) a toner image forming device for forming a toner image on the first image carrier; (c) a second image carrier onto which the toner image on the first image carrier is transferred and held, said second image carrier being provided opposite to the first image carrier; (d) a first transferring device for transferring the toner image on the first image carrier onto a first side of a transfer material; (e) a second transferring device for transferring the toner image on the second image carrier onto a second side of the transfer material; (f) a fixing device for fixing the respective toner images transferred by the first and second transferring devices onto the first and second sides of the transfer material, respectively, said fixing device including: (1) a first fixing member provided opposite to the first side of the transfer material, (2) a second fixing member provided opposite to the second side of the transfer material such that the transfer material passes between the first and second fixing members, (3) a first sensor for detecting a temperature of the first fixing member, and (4) a second sensor for detecting a temperature of the second fixing member; and (g) a control device for controlling said toner image forming device, said first and second transferring devices, and said fixing device so as to enable said toner image forming device to selectively form the toner images on one of: (1) both the first and second sides of the transfer material, and (2) only one of the first and second sides of the transfer material, wherein when the temperature detected by the first sensor falls within a first predetermined temperature range set with respect to the first fixing member, and the temperature detected by the second sensor does not fall within a second predetermined temperature range set with respect to the second fixing member, said control device inhibits said toner image forming device from forming the toner images on both the first and second sides of the transfer material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
345 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: (a) a first image carrier; (b) a toner image forming device for forming a toner image on the first image carrier; (c) a second image carrier onto which the toner image on the first image carrier is transferred and held, said second image carrier being provided opposite to the first image carrier; (d) a first transferring device for transferring the toner image on the first image carrier onto a first side of a transfer material; (e) a second transferring device for transferring the toner image on the second image carrier onto a second side of the transfer material; (f) a fixing device for fixing the respective toner images transferred by the first and second transferring devices onto the first and second sides of the transfer material, respectively, said fixing device including: (1) a first fixing member provided opposite to the first side of the transfer material, (2) a second fixing member provided opposite to the second side of the transfer material such that the transfer material passes between the first and second fixing members, (3) a first sensor for detecting a temperature of the first fixing member, and (4) a second sensor for detecting a temperature of the second fixing member; and (g) a control device for controlling said toner image forming device, said first and second transferring devices, and said fixing device so as to enable said toner image forming device to selectively form the toner images on one of: (1) both the first and second sides of the transfer material, and (2) only one of the first and second sides of the transfer material, wherein when the temperature detected by the first sensor falls within a first predetermined temperature range set with respect to the first fixing member, and the temperature detected by the second sensor does not fall within a second predetermined temperature range set with respect to the second fixing member, said control device inhibits said toner image forming device from forming the toner images on both the first and second sides of the transfer material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control device continuously enables said toner image forming device to form the toner images on only one of the first and second sides of transfer material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The image forming apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a one-sided copy mode selector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The image forming apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a two-sided copy mode selector, wherein when a two-sided copy mode is selected, said control device inhibits the toner image forming means from forming the toner images on both sides of the transfer material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined temperature range set with respect to the second fixing member is not lower than the first predetermined temperature range set with respect to the first fixing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the temperature detected by the second sensor is less than the temperature range set with respect to the second fixing member, said control device enables the toner image forming device to form the toner images on both sides of the transfer material.
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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) | 2002-02-22 | 2002-08-24 | 2003-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-22 | 2006-08-24 | 2007-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-22 | 2010-08-24 | 2011-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |