Image forming apparatus and image forming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025100300-A1
Application number	US-202418817802-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2024
Priority date	Sep 27, 2023
Publication date	Mar 27, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image former to form an image on a sheet; a dryer to dry the sheet on which the image is formed by the image former, a cooler to cool the sheet dried by the dryer, and an inspection unit to inspect the image on the sheet cooled by the cooler, wherein the dryer, the cooler, and the inspection unit are arranged below the image former.

First claim

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image former to form an image on a sheet; a dryer to dry the sheet on which the image is formed by the image former; a cooler to cool the sheet dried by the dryer; and an inspection unit to inspect the image on the sheet cooled by the cooler, wherein the dryer, the cooler, and the inspection unit are arranged below the image former.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the dryer, the cooler, and the inspection unit partially coincide with a part of the image former in a vertical direction.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing accommodating the image former, the dryer, the cooler, and the inspection unit.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein an outlet of the dryer, a whole of the cooler, and an inlet of the inspection unit are arranged below the image former.

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an inlet disposed below an outlet of the dryer and a whole of the cooler.

6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor to:
convey the sheet through the image former in a first direction; and convey the sheet through the dryer, the cooler, and the inspection unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the dryer, the cooler, and the inspection unit are arranged in an order of the dryer, the cooler, and the inspection unit in the second direction.

7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the dryer includes: multiple first heating rotators contacting with the sheet twice from different directions; three or more second heating rotators contacting with the sheet once, and the three or more second heating rotators guide the sheet to bring one surface of the sheet that has been in contact with and passed through the first heating rotators, again, into contact with the first heating rotators. and

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the inspection unit and the cooler generate airflow directed toward the dryer.

9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cooler includes: a cooling rotator to cool the sheet; and a guide member to guide the sheet.

10 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising circuitry configured to reposition the guide member to vary a contact distance between the sheet and the cooling rotator.

11 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising circuitry configured to reposition the guide member based on at least one of type or a thickness of the sheet.

12 . An image forming system comprising:
the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ; and circuitry configured to control the image forming apparatus.

13 . An image forming system comprising:
a first image forming apparatus comprising:
a first image former to form a first image on one surface of a sheet;
a first dryer to dry the sheet on which the first image is formed by the first image former;
a first cooler to cool the sheet dried by the first dryer; and
a first inspection unit to inspect the first image on the sheet cooled by the first cooler,
a second image forming apparatus comprising:
a second image former to form a second image on another surface of the sheet having the one surface on which the first image has been formed;
a second dryer to dry the sheet on which the second image is formed by the second image former;
a second cooler to cool the sheet dried by the second dryer; and
a second inspection unit to inspect the second image on the sheet cooled by the second cooler; and
circuitry configured to control the second image former of the second image forming apparatus to from the second image on said another surface of the sheet based on an inspection result of the first inspection unit of the first image forming apparatus, wherein the first dryer, the first cooler, and the first inspection unit are arranged below the first image former, and the second dryer, the second cooler, and the second inspection unit are arranged below the second image former.

Assignees

• Kumagai Ayane
• Kitamura Masaki
• Onodera Ken
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kumagai Ayane
• Kitamura Masaki
• Onodera Ken

Classifications

• B41J11/0045

  Guides for printing material (curl smoothing B41J11/0005; platens B41J11/02, B41J11/06; guiding webs B41J15/046) · CPC title

• B41J11/0035

  Handling copy materials differing in thickness (B41J11/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B41J11/00222

  Controlling the convection means · CPC title

• B41J11/00218

  Constructional details of the irradiation means, e.g. radiation source attached to reciprocating print head assembly or shutter means provided on the radiation source · CPC title

• B41J11/0021

  using irradiation · CPC title