Method and apparatus for image forming capable of performing fast and stable sheet transfer operations
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorKenji Ueda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Image forming methods and apparatuses capable of performing stable and fast sheet transfer operations are provided. In a continuous feed mode, a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet are successively fed from a sheet tray through first and second transfer rollers to an image forming position. When it is determined that a trailing edge of the preceding sheet has passed the first transfer roller, the driving of the first transfer roller is stopped for a predetermined time period. As a result, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are transferred with a desired sheet interval while suppressing sheet interval variations.
Claims27
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image forming mechanism for forming an image on a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet;
- and
- a sheet transfer apparatus for transferring the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet successively to the image forming mechanism, the sheet transfer apparatus, comprising:
- a sheet tray containing the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet;
- a pick-up roller configured to successively feed the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet from the sheet tray without a sheet interval therebetween;
- a separator arranged downstream of the pick-up roller and configured to separate the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet;
- a first transfer roller arranged downstream of the separator and configured to transfer forward the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet;
- a second transfer roller arranged downstream of the first transfer roller and configured to transfer forward the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet;
- a first sensor provided between the first transfer roller and the second transfer roller and configured to detect the presence of the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet;
- and
- a controller configured to generate a desired sheet interval between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet, wherein the desired sheet interval includes a first sheet and the succeding sheet interval and the controller generates the first sheet interval by stopping the first transfer roller for a first time period.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- means for forming an image on a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet;
- containing means for containing the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet;
- means for successively feeding the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet from the containing means without a sheet interval;
- separating means for separating the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet;
- first transferring means for transferring the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet forward from the separating means;
- detecting means for detecting the presence of the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet;
- second transferring means for transferring the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet forward from the detecting means;
- and
- generating means for generating a desired sheet interval including a first sheet interval and a second sheet interval between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet, wherein the generates the first sheet interval by stopping the first transferring means for a first time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.