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. 23, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 14, 1997
Yotaro Sato, Hachioji, JP;
Kunio Shigeta, Hachioji, JP;
Satoshi Haneda, Hachioji, JP;
Akitoshi Matsubara, Hachioji, JP;
Tadayoshi Ikeda, Hachioji, JP;
Masakazu Fukuchi, Hachioji, JP;
Konica Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier on which a toner image forming device forms a toner image; a second image carrier provided opposite to the first image carrier, onto which the toner image on the first image carrier is transferred; first and second transfer devices for transferring the toner image on the first and second image carriers onto one side and the other side of a transfer material, respectively; and a fixing device for fixing the toner images on both sides of the transfer material transferred respectively by the first and second transfer devices. The fixing device includes first and second fixing members provided opposite to one side and the other side of the transfer material, respectively, wherein the transfer material passes between the first and second fixing members, and first and second sensors are provided for detecting temperature of the first and second fixing members respectively. The apparatus further includes a control device for controlling the toner image forming device, the first and second transfer devices, and the fixing device. The control device enables image formation on both sides of the transfer material or on one side of the transfer material, and prohibits image formation on at least both sides of the transfer material when the temperature detected by the first sensor is appropriate for the first fixing member, and the temperature detected by the second sensor is not appropriate for the second fixing member.