US 12,072,646 B2
Image forming apparatus
Tomoaki Yoshioka, Ebina (JP); Mitsuaki Kuroda, Yokohama (JP); Kazuyoshi Hagiwara, Ebina (JP); Shohei Miyagawa, Yokohama (JP); Kei Tanaka, Ebina (JP); Masaaki Takahashi, Ebina (JP); Yoko Miyamoto, Ebina (JP); and Toshiaki Baba, Ebina (JP)
Assigned to FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/967,049.
Application 17/967,049 is a continuation of application No. 17/340,845, filed on Jun. 7, 2021, granted, now 11,493,863.
Application 17/340,845 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/003830, filed on Jan. 31, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-035284 (JP), filed on Feb. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0038531 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 15/16 (2006.01); G03G 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/1605 (2013.01) [G03G 15/20 (2013.01); G03G 15/2053 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an annular transfer belt having an outer surface on which an image is transferred;
a transferring unit including
a transfer cylinder having a transfer area that sandwiches a recording medium with the outer surface of the transfer belt to transfer the image from the outer surface of the transfer belt to the recording medium;
a fixing unit including
a heating unit; and
a pressure roller having a fixing area configured to sandwich the recording medium with an outer surface of the heating unit to fix the image on the recording medium;
a pair of chains or a pair of timing belts, each configured to hold the recording medium, and transport the recording medium from the transferring unit to the fixing unit; and
a gripper attached to the pair of chains or the pair of timing belts, the gripper being configured to hold the recording medium, transport the recording medium by the pair of chains or the pair of timing belts, and pass the recording medium through the transfer area and the fixing area.