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:
Aug. 30, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 28, 2009
Takashi Hodoshima, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiyuki Andoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Seiji Hoshino, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Hashimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hidetaka Noguchi, Hyogo, JP;
Takashi Hodoshima, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiyuki Andoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Seiji Hoshino, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Hashimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hidetaka Noguchi, Hyogo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image transfer belt, a first pressure member, a second pressure member, and an adjustable tension member. The image transfer belt is trained around multiple rollers for rotation along an endless belt travel path to convey an image for transfer to a recording sheet. The first pressure member is disposed on an outer surface of the image transfer belt. The second pressure member is disposed on an inner surface of the image transfer belt opposite the first pressure member. The first and second pressure members define an image transfer gap therebetween. The adjustable tension member is disposed on the image transfer belt adjacent the image transfer gap to adjust tension on the image transfer belt when the recording sheet enters and exits the image transfer gap.