Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11794469-B2
Application number	US-202117308312-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2021
Priority date	Oct 2, 2020
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a rotating body having a recess in an outer peripheral surface thereof; a sprocket provided coaxially with the rotating body to rotate integrally with the rotating body; a chain having plural links, the chain being wound around the sprocket to circulate in a circulating direction so as to shift from a rotary movement in which the chain rotates in an arc shape conforming to an outer periphery of the sprocket along with the sprocket, to a linear movement; a holder fixed to at least one link of the links of the chain, the holder being configured to hold a leading end portion of a recording medium, the holder being configured to transport the recording medium by performing the rotary movement along with the rotating body and the chain in a state of (i) holding the leading end portion of the recording medium placed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body and (ii) being located in the recess, and then shifting to the linear movement along with the chain; and an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium placed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body, in which a holding position where the holder holds the recording medium is arranged downstream of an upstream roller of rollers of a most downstream link in the circulating direction among the at least one link to which the holder is fixed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a rotating body having a recess in an outer peripheral surface thereof;
a sprocket provided coaxially with the rotating body to rotate integrally with the rotating body;
a chain having a plurality of links, the chain being wound around the sprocket to circulate in a circulating direction so as to shift from a rotary movement in which the chain rotates in an arc shape conforming to an outer periphery of the sprocket along with the sprocket, to a linear movement;
a holder fixed to at least one link of the links of the chain, the holder being configured to hold a leading end portion of a recording medium, the holder being configured to transport the recording medium by
performing the rotary movement along with the rotating body and the chain in a state of (i) holding the leading end portion of the recording medium placed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body and (ii) being located in the recess, and
then shifting to the linear movement along with the chain; and

an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium placed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body, wherein
a holding position where the holder holds the recording medium is arranged downstream of an upstream roller of rollers of a most downstream link in the circulating direction among the at least one link to which the holder is fixed, and
a distance from a most upstream portion of the holding position is to a downstream roller of the rollers of the most downstream link is shorter than a distance of the most upstream portion from the upstream roller.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holding position is arranged in a region extending from the upstream roller of the most downstream link to a downstream roller of the rollers of the most downstream link in the circulating direction.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the holding position is arranged inside an outer edge of the downstream roller when viewed in an axial direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one link to which the holder is fixed includes no more than one link, and the holding position is arranged downstream of the upstream roller of the link.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a guide unit configured to guide the holder with (i) a linear path extending along a linearly-shaped path in which the chain moves linearly and (ii) an arc path extending along an arc-shaped path in which the chain rotates.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one link to which the holder is fixed includes no more than one link, and the holding position is arranged downstream of the upstream roller of the link.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a guide unit configured to guide the holder with (i) a linear path extending along a linearly-shaped path in which the chain moves linearly and (ii) an arc path extending along an arc-shaped path in which the chain rotates.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a guide unit configured to guide the holder with (i) a linear path extending along a linearly-shaped path in which the chain moves linearly and (ii) an arc path extending along an arc-shaped path in which the chain rotates.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one link to which the holder is fixed includes no more than one link, and the holding position is arranged downstream of the upstream roller of the link.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a guide unit configured to guide the holder with (i) a linear path extending along a linearly-shaped path in which the chain moves linearly and (ii) an arc path extending along an arc-shaped path in which the chain rotates.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide unit configured to guide the holder with (i) a linear path extending along a linearly-shaped path in which the chain moves linearly and (ii) an arc path extending along an arc-shaped path in which the chain rotates.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the guide unit is configured to guide the holder such that the holder moves in a curved manner at an inflection point between the linear path and the arc path.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
a curved path that causes the holder to move in the curved manner is arranged at a position other than (i) a position where the holder passes or receives the recording medium and (ii) a position, on the rotating body, where processing for the recording medium is executed.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein a curved path that causes the holder to move in the curved manner has a curvature such that a pressure angle between the curved path and a guided roll that is guided with the curved path is 45° or less.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the linear path is offset from the linearly-shaped path in which the chain moves linearly to a downstream side in the circulating direction, and
the arc path is offset from the arc-shaped path in which the chain rotates to the downstream side in the circulating direction.

16. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a rotating body having a recess in an outer peripheral surface thereof;
a sprocket provided coaxially with the rotating body to rotate integrally with the rotating body;
a chain having a plurality of links, the chain being wound around the sprocket to circulate in a circulating direction so as to shift from a rotary movement in which the chain rotates in an arc shape conforming to an outer periphery of the sprocket along with the sprocket, to a linear movement;
a holder fixed to at least one link of the links of the chain, the holder being configured to hold a leading end portion of a recording medium, the holder being configured to transport the recording medium by
performing the rotary movement along with the rotating body and the chain in a state of (i) holding the leading end portion of the recording medium placed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body and (ii) being located in the recess, and
then shifting to the linear movement along with the chain; and

a guide unit configured to guide the holder with (i) a linear path extending along a linearly-shaped path in which the chain moves linearly and (ii) an arc path extending along an arc-shaped path in which the chain rotates,
wherein
the linear path is offset from the linearly-shaped path in which the chain moves linearly to a downstream side in the circulating direction, and
the arc path is offset from the arc-shaped path in which the chain rotates to the downstream side in the circulating direction.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the guide unit is configured to guide the holder such that the holder moves in a curved manner at an inflection point between the linear path and the arc path.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein
a curved path that causes the holder to move in the curved manner is arranged at a position other than (i) a position where the holder passes or receives the recording medium and (ii) a position, on the rotating body, where processing for the recording medium is executed.

19. The image f

Assignees

• Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp

Inventors

• Tanaka Kei

Classifications

• B41F21/08 Primary

  Combinations of endless conveyors and grippers · CPC title

• B65H29/044

  conveying through a machine · CPC title

• G03G2215/0164

  Uniformity control of the toner density at separate colour transfers · CPC title

• B41J13/22 Primary

  Clamps or grippers · CPC title

• B41J13/08

  {Conveyor} bands or like feeding devices · CPC title