Intermediate transfer unit and image forming apparatus

US12498664B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-12498664-B2
Application numberUS-202418758326-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateJun 28, 2024
Priority dateJul 25, 2023
Publication dateDec 16, 2025
Grant dateDec 16, 2025

How to read this patent

A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.

  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

An intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer belt, a housing, a grip, and a cover. The housing supports a plurality of stretching rollers stretching the intermediate transfer belt and has a downstream plate in a pull-out direction of the intermediate transfer unit. The downstream plate is orthogonal to the pull-out direction. The grip is on the downstream plate. The cover covers the downstream plate and has a hole to access the grip.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

The invention claimed is: 1 . An intermediate transfer unit comprising: an intermediate transfer belt; a housing that supports a plurality of stretching rollers stretching the intermediate transfer belt, the housing having a downstream plate in a pull-out direction of the intermediate transfer unit, the downstream plate being orthogonal to the pull-out direction; a grip on the downstream plate; and a cover to cover the downstream plate, the cover having a hole to access the grip. 2 . The intermediate transfer unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a fastener fastening both ends of the downstream plate to a body of an image forming apparatus, wherein the cover has a fall prevention portion to prevent the fastener from falling when fastening of the downstream plate and the body of the image forming apparatus is released. 3 . The intermediate transfer unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a tensioner to apply tension to the intermediate transfer belt, wherein the tensioner is removable from the housing without removing the cover. 4 . The intermediate transfer unit according to claim 1 , further comprising: a detachable unit attachable to and detachable from the intermediate transfer unit; and an opening-and-closing member rotatable between a passage closing position for closing a passage in which the detachable unit is attached to and detached from the intermediate transfer belt and a passage opening position for opening the passage. 5 . The intermediate transfer unit according to claim 4 , further comprising a tensioner to apply tension to the intermediate transfer belt, wherein the tensioner includes a guide to guide attachment and detachment of the detachable unit to and from the intermediate transfer unit. 6 . An image forming apparatus comprising the intermediate transfer unit according to claim 1 .

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • Mechanical connection means · CPC title

  • jam treatment · CPC title

  • for the transfer unit · CPC title

  • for the transfer unit · CPC title

  • relating to the driving mechanism for the intermediate support, e.g. gears, couplings, belt tensioning · CPC title

Patent family

Related publications grouped by family.

External sources

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.

What does patent US12498664B2 cover?
An intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer belt, a housing, a grip, and a cover. The housing supports a plurality of stretching rollers stretching the intermediate transfer belt and has a downstream plate in a pull-out direction of the intermediate transfer unit. The downstream plate is orthogonal to the pull-out direction. The grip is on the downstream plate. The cover cov…
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Kuwabara Nobuo, Takagi Hiroaki, Ricoh Co Ltd
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification G03G15/1615. Mapped technology areas include Physics.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Dec 16 2025 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 1 related publication on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).