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. 05, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 28, 2000
Ricoh Company Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a printer engine for forming an image on a paper sheet fed from a paper cassette. A paper feeder feeds the paper sheet from the paper cassette to the printer engine while separating it from the other paper sheets stacked on the cassette. A switchback path branches off the transport path of the paper feeder for temporarily storing the paper sheet fed from the paper cassette. The paper sheet fed from the paper cassette enters the switchback path with its leading edge at the head. A roller pair is positioned on the switchback path for switching back the paper sheet received in the switchback path such that the paper sheet leaves the switchback path toward the printer engine with its trailing edge at the head.