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:
Jan. 05, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 02, 2007
Takashi Seto, Yokohama, JP;
Takeshi Takemoto, Yamato, JP;
Takashi Fujita, Yokohama, JP;
Katsuaki Miyawaki, Yokohama, JP;
Hiromitsu Takagaki, Yokohama, JP;
Shin Kayahara, Yokohama, JP;
Atsushi Nakafuji, Tokyo, JP;
Hiromi Tamura, Yokohama, JP;
Kazumi Suzuki, Shizuoka, JP;
Takashi Seto, Yokohama, JP;
Takeshi Takemoto, Yamato, JP;
Takashi Fujita, Yokohama, JP;
Katsuaki Miyawaki, Yokohama, JP;
Hiromitsu Takagaki, Yokohama, JP;
Shin Kayahara, Yokohama, JP;
Atsushi Nakafuji, Tokyo, JP;
Hiromi Tamura, Yokohama, JP;
Kazumi Suzuki, Shizuoka, JP;
Ricoh Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A transfer unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt, and a counter member. The transfer belt, having a given circumferential length, receives an un-fixed image, formed of an image developer, from an image carrier at a first nip, which is defined between the transfer belt and the image carrier. The counter member faces the transfer belt to form a second nip with the transfer belt. The un-fixed image is transferred from the transfer belt to a recording medium passing through the second nip. A slack portion is generated in the transfer belt, when a front edge of the recording medium passes through the second nip. The slack portion of the transfer belt being generated in a first portion of the transfer belt returning from the second nip to the first nip.