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. 03, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2000
Yoshinobu Takeyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Nobuyuki Yanagawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanori Saito, Tokyo, JP;
Hideaki Kibune, Kanagawa, JP;
Tomoyoshi Takeuchi, Tottori, JP;
Masatoshi Tanaka, Tottori, JP;
Norio Kawamoto, Tottori, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image from an image carrier to a sheet-like recording medium by way of an intermediate transfer body is disclosed. A position on the intermediate transfer body where image formation should start is determined in accordance with the frequency of use of each of a plurality of regions defined on the intermediate transfer body. Specifically, one of the regions minimizing the sum of the frequencies of use of the regions is selected as the above position. The intermediate transfer body can therefore be evenly used over its entire circumference. While the intermediate transfer body is in a stand-by state, it is intermittently driven so as to be free from deformation.