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. 22, 2017
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2016
Yuichiro Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuichiro Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit that transfers a toner image on an image bearer onto a transfer medium. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit that controls a transfer voltage to be output to the transfer unit in accordance with a certain condition. The control unit applies currents having at least two different values while paper is not being fed. The two current values are lower than a current value during paper feeding. The control unit estimates an output voltage on a basis of a voltage detected through the application of the currents. When the estimated output voltage falls below a certain limiter voltage, the control unit controls to bring the output voltage to a value calculated through the certain condition. When the estimated output voltage exceeds the certain limiter voltage, the control unit controls to bring the output voltage to the limiter voltage.