The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 29, 2019
Filed:
Jun. 12, 2017
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Hiromi Shimura, Toride, JP;
Hiroto Nishihara, Tsukuba, JP;
Keita Takahashi, Abiko, JP;
Shinnosuke Iwadate, Toride, JP;
Teruhito Kai, Kashiwa, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of reducing a downtime for switching between a monochrome image forming mode and a color image forming mode. In the image forming apparatus, images formed by a plurality of image forming stations are transferred in superimposition onto a transfer member. Further, the image forming apparatus controls image formation in each of a first mode of performing image formation using only an image forming station located at the most downstream position in a moving direction of the transfer member among the plurality of image forming stations, and a second mode of performing image formation using the plurality of image forming stations.