Patent · US Expired

Device for adjusting photoreceptor belt tension in printing apparatus

US6249662A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 1999
Grant dateJun 19, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/754
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A device for adjusting tension applied to a photoreceptor belt in a printing apparatus. The tension adjusting device includes a control mechanism for controlling the operation of a driving motor such that a tension adjusting mechanism operates in three modes including a normal print mode where the tension is applied to the photoreceptor belt for normal printing, a loosened tension mode where the tension to the photoreceptor belt is loosened due to suspension of the printing operation, and a belt replace mode where the tension to the photoreceptor belt is released so that the photoreceptor belt can be replaced. For mode switching, the control mechanism controls the driving motor according to the position of the tension adjusting mechanism, detected by a sensing mechanism, or by detecting the load applied to the driving motor. Therefore, during suspension of the printing operation, the mode can be switched into the loosened tension mode, so that the tension to the photoreceptor belt can be released without damage to the photoreceptor belt. As a result, a partial stiffening and folding of the photoreceptor belt at the bent portion thereof can be prevented.

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