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:
Sep. 08, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 20, 2008
Masaru Yamagishi, Kawasaki, JP;
Masaru Yamagishi, Kawasaki, JP;
Ricoh Company Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet size detection device including a sheet width direction regulating member, a sheet conveyance direction regulating member, two levers, a detection sensor, and a pattern supplementing device. The levers each have a concavo-convex pattern and interlock with the regulating members, respectively, and are superimposed to have the same center of rotation and the same locus formed by a leading end of the concavo-convex pattern. The concavo-convex pattern of at least one of the levers is shaped to prevent, in a detection pattern, erroneous detection attributed to positional displacement of the concavo-convex pattern. The detection sensor including push switches detects the sheet size according to a combined concavo-convex pattern formed by the superimposed levers. The pattern supplementing device supplements the concavo-convex pattern of the at least one lever to prevent, in another detection pattern, erroneous detection attributed to the shaping of the concavo-convex pattern.