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:
Oct. 28, 2014
Filed:
Jun. 28, 2012
Kohta Sakaya, Hyogo, JP;
Yasuhide Ohkubo, Osaka, JP;
Tamotsu Ikeda, Osaka, JP;
Yoshiharu Takahashi, Osaka, JP;
Chikara Hiraoka, Osaka, JP;
Toshio Ogiso, Osaka, JP;
Kohta Sakaya, Hyogo, JP;
Yasuhide Ohkubo, Osaka, JP;
Tamotsu Ikeda, Osaka, JP;
Yoshiharu Takahashi, Osaka, JP;
Chikara Hiraoka, Osaka, JP;
Toshio Ogiso, Osaka, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A mechanism for guiding a recording medium into a nip formed between a first rotary member subjected to heating, and a second rotary member pressed against the first rotary member includes a guide member and a biasing member. The guide member is disposed upstream from the nip to guide the recording medium therealong. The biasing member is connected to the guide member to mechanically bias the guide member. The guide member is subjected to a constant biasing force from the biasing member and to a pressure force from the recording medium. The pressure force is opposite the biasing force and variable with a stiffness of the recording medium being guided. The guide member is movable to different operational positions depending on the biasing and pressure forces acting thereon.