US6496661B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet attachment detecting apparatus, fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2001-02-01
•
Granted: 2002-12-17
•
Expires: 2021-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A sheet attachment detecting apparatus includes a rotary member which is rotatable for conveying a sheet and whose surface is electrically conductive, an electrically conductive member which can be abutted on and separated from the surface of the rotary member, and an attachment detector which applies a power to the rotary member and the electrically conductive member for detecting the attachment of the sheet around the rotary member.
Inventors
- 👤 Masao Ando
- 👤 Takayasu Yuminamochi
- 👤 Tomohiro Nakamori
- 👤 Yasunari Kobaru
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:35
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/2014; G03G15/2017; G03G15/2028; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00535; G03G2215/00548
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A sheet attachment detecting apparatus, comprising: a first rotary member which is rotatable for conveying a sheet and whose surface is electrically conductive; a second rotary member for nipping and conveying the sheet in cooperation with said first rotary member; an electrically conductive member which can be abutted on and separated from a surface of said first rotary member; and attachment detecting means which applies an electric power to said first rotary member and said electrically conductive member for detecting an attachment of the sheet around said first rotary member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A sheet attachment detecting apparatus, comprising: a first rotary member which is rotatable for conveying a sheet and whose surface is electrically conductive; a second rotary member for nipping and conveying the sheet in cooperation with said first rotary member; an electrically conductive member which can be abutted on and separated from a surface of said first rotary member; and attachment detecting means which applies an electric power to said first rotary member and said electrically conductive member for detecting an attachment of the sheet around said first rotary member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sheet attachment detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said attachment detecting means detects the attachment of the sheet around the first rotary member by detecting a voltage across of said electrically conductive member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sheet attachment detecting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein an abutment force of said electrically conductive member when abutting against said first rotary member is set to 980 mN (100 gf) or less.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sheet attachment detecting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said electrically conductive member comprises an elastic member having flexibility in a direction that crosses a rotational axis of said first rotary member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sheet attachment detecting apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said electrically conductive member abuts against said first rotary member at a position where a foreign material from the sheet conveyed by said first rotary member does not drop down.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sheet attachment detecting apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said electrically conductive member abuts against said first rotary member downstream, in a rotating direction of said first rotary member, of separating means for separating the sheet from said first rotary member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A fixing apparatus for fixing an image formed on a sheet, comprising: a sheet attachment detecting apparatus for detecting that the sheet is attached around said first rotary member according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein said second rotary member and said first rotary member are fixing members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the attachment of the sheet around said first rotary member is detected, a driving of said first rotary member stops.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the attachment of the sheet around said first rotary member is detected, said first rotary member is reversely driven.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fixing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein one of said second rotary member and said first rotary member is a fixing roller for applying a heat to the sheet, and the other one is a pressure roller for pressing the sheet against said fixing roller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
An image forming apparatus in which a sheet is conveyed, an image is formed on the sheet, and the sheet is conveyed to a fixing apparatus to fix the image onto the sheet, wherein said fixing apparatus comprises a fixing apparatus according to claim 7 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said electrically conductive member abuts against said first rotary member when a power is supplied to an apparatus body or when an operation of the apparatus is restored after the operation is temporarily suspended.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3650616A
Cited
US3650619A
Cited
US4073585A
Cited
US4239372A
Cited
US4512649A
Cited
US6005594A
Cited
US5386983A
Cited
US5612776A
Cited
US5455659A
Cited
US5406354A
Cited
US5404200A
Cited
JPH1138817A
Cited
JP2000255835A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-16 | 2006-06-17 | 2006-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-16 | 2010-06-17 | 2010-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-16 | 2014-06-17 | 2014-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |