Image forming apparatus having a cover for protecting a transfer region of an intermediate transfer member when a door is opened
US5787326A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/169
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a color electrophotographic printer, an intermediate transfer belt is provided to layer toner images of a plurality of colors, and the toner images on the belt are transferred onto a paper sheet. In order to remove a paper sheet when a paper jam happens, a door is provided in a case of the printer, while a cover is provided to protect a transfer region where the intermediate transfer belt contacts with a paper sheet for transferring the toner images. When the door is opened, the cover moves to cover a portion of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt exposed to the door. When the jammed paper sheet is removed, the image forming process is resumed immediately on the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt. Further, an intermediate transfer unit including the intermediate transfer belt and the cover detachable from the printer may be provided. In a modified example, a transfer member which is connected to a transfer member is provided instead of the cover, and when the door is opened, the transfer member covers the surface of the intermediate transfer belt.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.