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:
Feb. 09, 2016
Filed:
Apr. 28, 2015
Konica Minolta, Inc., Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JP;
Mitsuru Satou, Toyokawa, JP;
Dong Zhang, Toyohashi, JP;
KONICA MINOLTA, INC., Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus having: a filter member configured to trap particles floating in the apparatus; a suction section configured to suck air including the particles at a variable suction rate; a determiner configured to determine the suction rate of the suction section; an exhaust path capable of leading the air sucked by the suction section to outside of the apparatus through the filter member; a circulation path capable of allowing the air sucked by the suction section and passing through the filter member to circulate inside the apparatus; a switching member configured to make switches between the exhaust path and the circulation path; and a control unit configured to control at least the suction section and the switching member. The control unit allows the switching member to open the exhaust path only when the suction rate determined by the determiner is equal to or less than a predetermined value.