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:
Jul. 01, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 07, 1995
Tohru Maruyama, Fujisawa, JP;
Masatoshi Saito, Machida, JP;
Taro Terashi, Sagamihara, JP;
Hisao Watanabe, Sagamihara, JP;
Shigeru Fujita, Machida, JP;
Masaru Shinkai, Yokohama, JP;
Tomoaki Sugawara, Warabi, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In a method and an apparatus for removing an image forming substance such as toner from an image holding member such as a transfer paper sheet, the toner on the transfer paper sheet is heated to be melted or softened. An offset belt having adhesive force stronger than that between the transfer paper sheet and the toner comes in contact with the toner. The toner is separated and removed from the transfer paper sheet when the offset belt and the transfer paper sheet are separated from each other. Heating of the toner is maintained until the transfer paper sheet is separated from the offset belt. The transfer paper sheet is separated from the offset belt before the toner is cooled and solidified. A toner heating maintaining device is constructed by using a heating-supporting member having a heater therein and arranged such that the transfer paper sheet and the offset belt are supported between the heating-supporting member and a heating roller. The heating-supporting member has a bent portion on a downstream side in a conveying direction of the transfer paper sheet.