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:
Jul. 02, 2013
Filed:
May. 14, 2009
Manabu Izumikawa, Tokyo, JP;
Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Tokyo, JP;
Minori Ichimura, Tokyo, JP;
Shinji Imoto, Tokyo, JP;
Manabu Izumikawa, Tokyo, JP;
Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Tokyo, JP;
Minori Ichimura, Tokyo, JP;
Shinji Imoto, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a medium to be recorded; and a foam application unit that applies a foam generated from at least any one of a liquid and a gel to the medium to be recorded or an intermediate member for applying the foam to the medium to be recorded. The foam application unit has a foam generation unit that generates the foam, an application unit that applies the generated foam to the medium to be recorded or the intermediate member, a foam supplying path through which the generated foam is supplied to the application unit, and a unit that increases a volume of the foam supplying path. The foam application unit increases the volume of the foam supplying path when stopping the supply of the foam to the application unit.