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. 28, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1996
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Kadoma, JP;
Abstract
In a color electrophotographic printer, an intermediate transfer belt is provided to layer toner images of a plurality of colors, and the toner images on the belt are transferred onto a paper sheet. In order to remove a paper sheet when a paper jam happens, a door is provided in a case of the printer, while a cover is provided to protect a transfer region where the intermediate transfer belt contacts with a paper sheet for transferring the toner images. When the door is opened, the cover moves to cover a portion of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt exposed to the door. When the jammed paper sheet is removed, the image forming process is resumed immediately on the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt. Further, an intermediate transfer unit including the intermediate transfer belt and the cover detachable from the printer may be provided. In a modified example, a transfer member which is connected to a transfer member is provided instead of the cover, and when the door is opened, the transfer member covers the surface of the intermediate transfer belt.