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:
Apr. 14, 1998
Filed:
May. 23, 1996
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A color image forming apparatus is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to transfer thereupon an image of each of a plurality of colors carried on a photoconductive member, sequentially superposing one image on top of another, to form a full color image, and to further transfer the full color image to a copysheet. The intermediate transfer belt is passed over supporting rollers and a plurality of marks are printed on the intermediate transfer belt for indicating a position on the belt. A detector is provided for detecting the marks on the belt to generate a detect signal to start an image forming operation for each of the colors. The detector is controlled to start detection of a mark when a predetermined length of time is elapsed after a start or a termination of an operation of a driving element of the apparatus. The detector is provided at a position facing one of the support rollers around which the intermediate transfer belt is passed. A distance between the adjoining marks is equal to an integral multiple of at least one of a circumference of the roller the detector faces. The provision of an improved color image forming apparatus realizes a capability of accomplishing an accurate image registration for each of the plurality of colors.