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. 17, 2013
Filed:
Aug. 07, 2008
Hiromichi Matsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiyuki Andoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Hashimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Hodoshima, Kanagawa, JP;
Tatsuhiko Oikawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Hidetaka Noguchi, Hyogo, JP;
Seiji Hoshino, Kanagawa, JP;
Makoto Komatsu, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiromichi Matsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiyuki Andoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Hashimoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Takashi Hodoshima, Kanagawa, JP;
Tatsuhiko Oikawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Hidetaka Noguchi, Hyogo, JP;
Seiji Hoshino, Kanagawa, JP;
Makoto Komatsu, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A load torque variation upon entry or exit of a sheet into a nipping portion is reduced while a nipping force necessary for image formation is provided. An image transfer apparatus, an image fixing apparatus, or a registration apparatus comprises an opposite roller, a transfer roller, and a compression spring for pressing the opposite roller onto the transfer roller. A sheet of transfer material is transported into a nipping portion between the opposite roller and the transfer roller, where an image on the opposite roller is transferred to the transfer material. The apparatus includes a retaining unit configured to retain a certain distance between the first rotating body and the second rotating body as long as the thickness of the transfer material that passes through the nipping portion remains the same.