Patent · US Expired

Image forming apparatus having an inverse and re-fixing sub-mode

US6078760A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
2References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 13, 1998
Grant dateJun 20, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 13, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/2083
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An image forming apparatus which is able to form either single or double sided copies on a recording medium while achieving an excellent image quality in either a matted or glossy finish. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion in which a first roller includes a first temperature and hardness for forming a matted image, whereas a second roller includes a higher temperature and hardness for forming a glossy image. Alternatively, or in addition, to different hardness and temperatures, the recording medium can be conveyed at a first speed to form a matted image, and a slower speed to form a glossy image. The image forming apparatus further includes an inverse and re-fixing sub-mode, which utilizes an inverting and returning passage, for reducing the curl in a recording medium, and thus also reducing the instances in which clogging takes place. The inverting and returning passage has a length sufficient to accommodate a plurality of recording mediums. Moreover, the image forming apparatus is provided with first and second discharge passages so that if one passage is clogged, the other can be used to discharge recording mediums. A switching means selects, based on detectio…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.