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. 19, 2016
Filed:
May. 23, 2014
Masaharu Furuya, Yokohama, JP;
Katsuhito Haruno, Sagamihara, JP;
Takuya Sekine, Yokohama, JP;
Ryoh Tanoue, Yokohama, JP;
Masakazu Imai, Yokohama, JP;
Masaharu Furuya, Yokohama, JP;
Katsuhito Haruno, Sagamihara, JP;
Takuya Sekine, Yokohama, JP;
Ryoh Tanoue, Yokohama, JP;
Masakazu Imai, Yokohama, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers that carries toner images, a belt that is supported by a plurality of rollers including a support roller and an opposing roller, a transfer roller disposed opposed to the opposing roller via the belt, and a bending roller that bends the belt from outside toward inside and is disposed downstream from the opposing roller and upstream from support roller. The belt is stretched between the support roller and the bending roller in a first area. The plurality of image carriers contacts the belt in a second area other than the first area. A surface of the belt in the first area is parallel to that of the belt in the second area.