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. 13, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 11, 2010
Toshikane Nishii, Ikeda, JP;
Hiroshi Fujiwara, Ikeda, JP;
Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Minoh, JP;
Haruyuki Honda, Minoh, JP;
Kazuyoshi Kondo, Toyonaka, JP;
Mizuna Tanaka, Ikeda, JP;
Toshikane Nishii, Ikeda, JP;
Hiroshi Fujiwara, Ikeda, JP;
Tomoyoshi Yamazaki, Minoh, JP;
Haruyuki Honda, Minoh, JP;
Kazuyoshi Kondo, Toyonaka, JP;
Mizuna Tanaka, Ikeda, JP;
Ricoh Company, Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A sheet transport mechanism that can be incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes a first sheet transport member, a second sheet transport member disposed downstream from the first sheet transport member in a sheet transport direction, a sheet transport path defined by and curved between the first and second sheet transport members and including a downstream section recessed from an upstream section in the sheet transport direction, and a contact member disposed at the downstream section and including a first contact portion to which the leading edge of a sheet contacts to move the contact member in a direction to recess from the sheet transport path and a second contact portion connected to the first contact portion to advance toward the sheet transport path at a position upstream from the first contact portion in the sheet transport direction to contact the surface of the sheet.