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:
Jun. 11, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 11, 2000
Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus including an image forming device on which toner images are formed; a transfer device for transferring the toner images onto a record medium; a voltage-application unit for applying a transfer voltage to the transfer device; a current-detection unit for detecting current flowing between the image forming device and the transfer device; a storage unit for storing a first current value detected at a non-operation position of the transfer device, and a second current value detected at an operation position of the transfer device; and a transfer device state-determination unit for determining the presence of the transfer device and the occurrence of an anomaly in a contact operation of the transfer device with the image forming device and a shunt operation in which the transfer device is moved away from the image forming device.