IP Library Patent Application 11656538
Patent Application
App. No. 11/656,538

Image forming apparatus

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/656,538
Abstract

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a toner image forming unit forming a toner image on a surface of the photosensitive member; a transfer unit transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member to a recording medium; a first transport unit transporting the recording medium through between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit; a second transport unit transporting the recording medium which passes through between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit to a subsequent stage; a guide unit being disposed on an upstream and downstream sides of a transporting direction of the recording medium with respect to the transfer unit, the guide unit guiding the recording medium by being contact with or away from the surface of photosensitive member; a pressing unit pressing the recording medium against the photosensitive member; a first driving unit driving the guide unit so as to make the recording medium being contact with or away from the photosensitive member; and a second driving unit driving the pressing unit so as to make the recording medium being contact with or away from the surface of the photosensitive member.

Claims (16)

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:

a photosensitive member;

a toner image forming unit forming a toner image on a surface of the photosensitive member;

a transfer unit transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member to a recording medium;

a first transport unit transporting the recording medium through between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit;

a second transport unit transporting the recording medium which passes through between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit to a subsequent stage;

a guide unit being disposed on an upstream and downstream sides of a transporting direction of the recording medium with respect to the transfer unit, the guide unit guiding the recording medium by being contact with or away from the surface of photosensitive member;

a pressing unit pressing the recording medium against the photosensitive member;

a first driving unit driving the guide unit so as to make the recording medium being contact with or away from the photosensitive member; and

a second driving unit driving the pressing unit so as to make the recording medium being contact with or away from the surface of the photosensitive member.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing unit comprises;

a first pressing member extending in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the transporting direction of the recording medium and capable of pressing the recording medium against a direction of the surface of the photosensitive member; and

a second pressing member capable of independently pressing the recording medium on the direction of the surface of the photosensitive member from the first pressing member.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to any one of claim 2 , wherein the first and second pressing members have step parts overlapping with each other.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , comprising: a mask member movable in accordance with a width of the recording medium for printing with respect to in the direction which is substantially perpendicular to the transporting direction of the recording medium, wherein the mask member prevents the second pressing member from pressing the recording medium on the direction of the surface of the photosensitive member

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing member is selectively driven by the second driving unit in accordance with a state or kind of the recording medium transported by the first transport unit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2009
From: RICOH PRINTING SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 022191/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2007
From: KUWABARA, AKITOMO; TERAKADO, TAKESHI; IWANAGA, HIDENORI; TAKAYAMA, AKIHIRO
To: RICOH PRINTING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 018827/0594 →