# US 10,864,754 B2 · Recording medium support device and image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 10,864,754 B2
- Document ID: US10864754B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/351,582
- Filed: 2019-03-13
- Published: 2019-09-19
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-16
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Masayuki Sunaoshi
- Inventors: Masayuki Sunaoshi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864754B2

## CPC

- B41J 11/00244: {Means for heating the copy materials before or during printing}
- B41J 11/0085: {Using suction for maintaining printing material flat (on rotatable drums B41J13/226)}
- B41J 13/226: {using suction}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A recording medium support device includes a recording medium support, a holder, and a support heater. The recording medium support supports a recording medium on which liquid is discharged. The holder holds the recording medium support, the holder including an air chamber and a duct. The support heater heats the recording medium support. A linear expansion coefficient of a bottom surface of the air chamber or a bottom surface of the duct away from the recording medium support is larger than a linear expansion coefficient of the recording medium support.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A recording medium support device, comprising:
a recording medium support to support a recording medium on which liquid is discharged;
a holder to hold the recording medium support, the holder being adhered and fixed to the recording medium support, and including an air chamber and a duct; and
a support heater to heat the recording medium support,
wherein a linear expansion coefficient of a bottom surface of the duct away from the recording medium support is larger than a linear expansion coefficient of the air chamber and a side surface of the duct.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The recording medium support device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a fan to generate a negative pressure between the recording medium support and the recording medium,
wherein the fan constantly operates, and
an air flow generated by the fan reduces a temperature difference from the holder at a start of heating the recording medium support.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The recording medium support device according to claim 1, wherein the support heater heats a support surface of the recording medium support that supports the recording medium, from a back surface of the recording medium support opposite the support surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
the recording medium support device according to claim 1;
a liquid discharge device to discharge liquid toward the recording medium supported by the recording medium support of the recording medium support device; and
a conveyor to convey the recording medium to a position opposed to the liquid discharge device.

### Claim 5

A recording medium support device, comprising:
a recording medium support to support a recording medium on which liquid is discharged;
a holder to hold the recording medium support, the holder including an air chamber and a duct, the air chamber and the duct disposed on a back surface of the recording medium support; and
a support heater to heat the recording medium support,
wherein a linear expansion coefficient of a bottom surface of the air chamber or a bottom surface of the duct away from the recording medium support is larger than a linear expansion coefficient of the air chamber and a side surface of the duct.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The recording medium support of claim 1, wherein the holder is fixed to the recording medium support with a sealing member.