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:
Feb. 06, 2024
Filed:
Dec. 16, 2022
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Ayaka Ohira, Nagoya, JP;
Tomonori Watanabe, Ichinomiya, JP;
BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing device frame, a chute rotatable between a path forming position and a path opening position, an optical sensor including a light-emitting element, and an actuator. The actuator has a shaft, a first lever configured to contact an anti-pivot rib, and a second lever configured to shield light emitted from the light-emitting element. The actuator is movable to a position where the first lever contacts the anti-pivot rib when the chute is at the path forming position, a position where the first lever and the anti-pivot rib are separated from each other when the chute is at the path forming position, and a position where the first lever and the anti-pivot rib are separated from each other when the chute is at the path opening position. The actuator and the optical sensor are supported by the fixing device frame.