Patent
Image forming apparatus for printing a plate-shaped printing medium
| العنوان: | Image forming apparatus for printing a plate-shaped printing medium |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 11964,470 |
| تاريخ النشر: | April 23, 2024 |
| Appl. No: | 17/696109 |
| Application Filed: | March 16, 2022 |
| مستخلص: | An image forming apparatus includes a printing device, a rotator, an upstream support stand. The printing device prints an image on a plate-shaped printing medium. The rotator rotates while nipping the plate-shaped printing medium and conveys the plate-shaped printing medium to the printing device. The upstream support stand supports the plate-shaped printing medium at a position upstream from the rotator in a conveyance direction of the plate-shaped printing medium and includes a mount. The mount is detachably attached to the rotator. |
| Inventors: | Saiga, Soichi (Tokyo, JP); Yanaka, Atsushi (Saitama, JP); Tsukamura, Kiyoshi (Kanagawa, JP) |
| Assignees: | RICOH COMPANY LTD. (Tokyo, JP) |
| Claim: | 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing device configured to print an image on a plate-shaped printing medium; a first rotator configured to rotate while nipping the plate-shaped printing medium and convey the plate-shaped printing medium to the printing device; an upstream support stand configured to support the plate-shaped printing medium at a position upstream from the first rotator in a conveyance direction of the plate-shaped printing medium, the upstream support stand including a detachable mount, the detachable mount configured to be attached to the first rotator; and an auxiliary member on a lower surface of the detachable mount, the auxiliary member configured to move in the conveyance direction. |
| Claim: | 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a downstream support stand configured to support the plate-shaped printing medium at a position downstream from the first rotator in the conveyance direction, wherein the downstream support stand includes a detachable mount, the detachable mount configured to be attached to the first rotator. |
| Claim: | 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a downstream side of the downstream support stand in the conveyance direction is lower in a vertical direction than an upstream side of the downstream support stand in the conveyance direction. |
| Claim: | 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising: a second rotator paired with the first rotator, wherein the detachable mount of the downstream support stand is further configured to attach to an upper one of the first rotator or the second rotator in the vertical direction. |
| Claim: | 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising: a second rotator paired with the first rotator, wherein the detachable mount of the downstream support stand in further configured to attach to a lower one of the first rotator or the second rotator in the vertical direction. |
| Claim: | 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an upstream side of the upstream support stand in the conveyance direction is higher in a vertical direction than a downstream side of the upstream support stand in the conveyance direction. |
| Claim: | 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second rotator paired with the first rotator, wherein the detachable mount of the upstream support stand is further configured to attach to an upper one of the first rotator or the second rotator in the vertical direction. |
| Claim: | 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second rotator paired with the first rotator, wherein the detachable mount of the upstream support stand is further configured to attach to a lower one of the first rotator or the second rotator in the vertical direction. |
| Claim: | 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising, a bearing, wherein the detachable mount is attached to the first rotator via the bearing. |
| Claim: | 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a support configured to support the upstream support stand such that the upstream support stand is configured to move in the vertical direction. |
| Claim: | 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: an exterior member configured to cover at least the first rotator, wherein the exterior member includes an insertion hole and a closing member, the closing member configured to close the insertion hole when the closing member is attached to the exterior member. |
| Claim: | 12. An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing device configured to print an image on a plate-shaped printing medium; a first rotator configured to rotate while nipping the plate-shaped printing medium and convey the plate-shaped printing medium to the printing device; an upstream support stand configured to support the plate-shaped printing medium at a position upstream from the first rotator in a conveyance direction of the plate-shaped printing medium, the upstream support stand including a detachable mount, the detachable mount configured to be positioned in contact with the first rotator; and an auxiliary member on a lower surface of the detachable mount, the auxiliary member configured to move in the conveyance direction. |
| Claim: | 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising: a downstream support stand configured to support the plate-shaped printing medium at a position downstream from the first rotator in the conveyance direction, wherein the downstream support stand includes a detachable mount, the detachable mount configured to be attached to the first rotator. |
| Claim: | 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein a downstream side of the downstream support stand in the conveyance direction is lower in a vertical direction than an upstream side of the downstream support stand in the conveyance direction. |
| Claim: | 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein an upstream side of the upstream support stand in the conveyance direction is higher in a vertical direction than a downstream side of the upstream support stand in the conveyance direction. |
| Claim: | 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising: a second rotator paired with the first rotator, wherein the detachable mount of the upstream support stand is further configured to attach to an upper one of the first rotator or the second rotator in the vertical direction. |
| Claim: | 17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising: a second rotator paired with the first rotator, wherein the detachable mount of the upstream support stand is further configured to attach to a lower one of the first rotator or the second rotator in the vertical direction. |
| Claim: | 18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising: an auxiliary member on a lower surface of the detachable mount, wherein the auxiliary member is configured to move in the conveyance direction. |
| Claim: | 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising: a bearing, wherein the detachable mount is attached to the first rotator via the bearing. |
| Claim: | 20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising: a support configured to support the upstream support stand such that the upstream support stand is configured to move in the vertical direction. |
| Patent References Cited: | 8490964 July 2013 Kaiping 20100231643 September 2010 Saiga et al. 20100295897 November 2010 Naruse et al. 20110134187 June 2011 Naruse et al. 20110134190 June 2011 Mase et al. 20110141192 June 2011 Komuro et al. 20110199410 August 2011 Mase et al. 20110205299 August 2011 Naruse et al. 20110216113 September 2011 Yorimoto et al. 20120056936 March 2012 Shimizu et al. 20120062649 March 2012 Naruse et al. 20130034376 February 2013 Saiga 20140063123 March 2014 Saiga et al. 20160121634 May 2016 Saiga et al. 20160297212 October 2016 Saiga et al. 20180311983 November 2018 Saiga 20210001651 January 2021 Saiga 2005-067104 March 2005 2005067105 March 2005 2008-201107 September 2008 4199619 December 2008 2011-083973 April 2011 2012-229064 November 2012 2014-148055 August 2014 2020-121480 August 2020 WO2010/103664 September 2010 |
| Other References: | Extended European Search Report dated Sep. 5, 2022, issued in corresponding European Patent Application No. 22162093.3. cited by applicant |
| Primary Examiner: | Legesse, Henok D |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C. |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.11964470 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| الوصف غير متاح. |