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:
Nov. 07, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1999
Toshitaka Yamaguchi, Ohmiya, JP;
Masaru Tanaka, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroshi Mizusawa, Ohta-ku, JP;
Kenzo Tatsumi, Yokohama, JP;
Ken Amemiya, Nerima-ku, JP;
Haruji Mizuishi, Ohta-ku, JP;
Hideki Zemba, Yokohama, JP;
Noriyuki Usui, Kawasaki, JP;
Mayumi Ohori, Kawasaki, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes an image bearing member, a transfer roller having a shaft for transferring an image on the image bearing member to a transfer sheet, a bearing mechanism for supporting the shaft, a discharging device for discharging the transfer, and a joint mechanism which mechanically connects the discharging device with the transfer roller at both ends of the shaft. Both of the transfer roller and the discharging device can be integrally detached from and attached to the image forming apparatus without detaching/attaching the bearing mechanism, by use of a handle. Therefore, an operation for replacing the transfer roller and the discharging device can be performed easily.