Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-18
2001-10-09
Lee, Susan S. Y. (Department: 2852)
C347S257000, C347S261000, C399S167000, C399S221000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298586
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, in which developer images are formed on image carrying bodies, and a printed image is outputted by transferring the developer images to a transfer medium conveyed by means of a conveyor belt.
A quadruple-tandem color copying machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,338, for example, is known as an image forming apparatus for forming full-color images. The copying machine of this type comprises an endless conveyor belt for conveying recording sheets and four photoconductive drums arranged side by side along the belt.
Toner images of their own colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are formed on the photoconductive drum, individually, and successively transferred in layers to a recording sheet that is held on the conveyor belt. The transferred toner images are melted and fixed on the recording sheet, whereupon a color image is outputted.
However, the temperature in the image forming apparatus is likely to increase due to the heat generated at the time of fixing, and the structural components arranged inside the apparatus may thermally expand. This being so, it is very difficult to superpose the images of the four individual colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, accurately on one another as they are transferred to the recording sheet, and therefore, to output high-quality images without color drifts or shifts.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been contrived in consideration of these circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming high-quality images without color shifts.
Another object of the invention is to provide a belt conveyor system in which a conveyor belt for conveying recording sheets can steadily travel in its regular position.
In order to achieve the above objects, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of image carrying bodies; supporting means supporting the image carrying bodies at given intervals; charging means for charging the image carrying bodies, individually; exposure means for continuously deflecting a plurality of light beams corresponding to an image signal, and exposing and scanning the image carrying bodies charged by the charging means, thereby forming electrostatic latent images individually on the image carrying bodies; developing means for supplying a developer to the latent images formed individually on the image carrying bodies by the exposure means, thereby developing the latent images to form developer images on the image carrying bodies, individually; transportation means for transporting a transfer medium toward each of the image carrying bodies; transfer means for successively transferring the developer images formed on the image carrying bodies to the surface of the transfer medium transported by the transportation means; and fixing means located close to the downstream side of the transportation means in the direction of transportation of the transfer medium by the transportation means and designed to heat the developer images transferred to the surface of the transfer medium by the transfer means, to thereby fix the developer images to the transfer medium surface; at least one of the means including the supporting means, exposure means, and transportation means being formed of a metallic material consisting mainly of Fe, Ni, Co, C, and Si.
The transportation means, in particular, includes first and second rollers facing each other across a space and a conveyor belt passed around and stretched between the first and second rollers for endless traveling. The first roller, which is located close to the fixing means, is formed of a metallic material consisting mainly of Fe, Ni, Co, C, and Si.
Further, a belt conveyor system according to the invention comprises: a rotatable first roller; a second roller tapered toward one end thereof and located at a distance from the first roller; a conveyor belt passed around and stretched between the first and second rollers for endless traveling; and a regulating member located in sliding contact with an end side of the conveyor belt passed around the first roller, in a position close to one end of the first roller opposite to the tapered end of the second roller, the regulating member being in contact with the end side of the conveyor belt in the region where the conveyor belt is passed around the first roller.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
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Shinichi Enomoto, “Low Heat Expansion Cast Iron (Nobnite)”, “Casting”, vol. 61 (1989), pp 628-631.
Shinichi Enomoto, “Iron/Nickel Alloy”, Journal of Japan society for Precision Engineering, (1985), pp 58-63.
Foley & Lardner
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Lee Susan S. Y.
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