Continuous form printer with paper guide mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrophotographic printer using continuous form paper, said printer comprising:
- a tractor for feeding the paper along a paper path of said printer;
a photoconductive member upon which a toner image is formed;
transfer means for transferring said toner image to the paper;
fixing means for fixing said toner image to the paper;
a guide member, provided along said paper path upstream of said photoconductive member, for guiding the paper to contact said photoconductive member; and
a center urging member, provided to a center portion of said guide member across a width of the paper, for pushing a center portion of the paper towards said photoconductive member;
wherein said center urging member extends transversely to a direction of feeding of the paper along the paper path, said center urging member further comprising a top edge extending transversely to the direction of feeding of the paper along the paper path;
wherein said guide member comprises a paper contacting edge which contacts and guides the paper; and
wherein said top edge of said center urging member contacts the paper upstream of said guide member paper contacting edge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A continuous form electrophotographic printer is provided with a guiding member upstream of a photoconductive drum. The electrophotographic printer retracts paper after it has once passed a fixing unit and been heated, and the guiding unit is provided with an urging member to smooth distorted or wrinkled paper.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An electrophotographic printer using continuous form paper, said printer comprising:
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a tractor for feeding the paper along a paper path of said printer; a photoconductive member upon which a toner image is formed; transfer means for transferring said toner image to the paper; fixing means for fixing said toner image to the paper; a guide member, provided along said paper path upstream of said photoconductive member, for guiding the paper to contact said photoconductive member; and a center urging member, provided to a center portion of said guide member across a width of the paper, for pushing a center portion of the paper towards said photoconductive member; wherein said center urging member extends transversely to a direction of feeding of the paper along the paper path, said center urging member further comprising a top edge extending transversely to the direction of feeding of the paper along the paper path; wherein said guide member comprises a paper contacting edge which contacts and guides the paper; and wherein said top edge of said center urging member contacts the paper upstream of said guide member paper contacting edge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A printer using continuous form paper, said printer comprising:
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means for feeding the paper along a paper path of said printer; means for forming an image on the paper; a guide member, provided upstream of said means for forming along said paper path, for guiding the paper to contact said means for forming; and a center urging member, provided to a center portion of said guide member across a width of the paper, for pushing a center portion of the paper towards said means for forming; wherein said center urging member extends transversely to a direction of feeding the paper along the paper path, said center urging member further comprising a top edge extending transversely to the direction of feeding of the paper along the paper path; wherein said guide member comprises a paper contacting edge which contacts and guides the paper; and wherein said top edge of said center urging member contacts the paper upstream of said guide member paper contacting edge. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electrophotographic printer using continuous form paper, said printer comprising:
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a tractor for feeding the paper along a paper path of said printer; a photoconductive member upon which a toner image is formed; transfer means for transferring said toner image to the paper; fixing means for fixing said toner image to the paper; a guide member, provided along said paper path upstream of said photoconductive member, for guiding the paper to contact said photoconductive member; and a center urging member, provided to a center portion of said guide member across a width of the paper, for pushing a center portion of the paper towards said photoconductive member; wherein said center urging member comprises a resilient flap.
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11. A printer using continuous form paper, said printer comprising:
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means for feeding the paper along a paper path of said printer; means for forming an image on the paper; a guide member, provided upstream of said means for forming along said paper path, for guiding the paper to contact said means for forming; and a center urging member, provided to a center portion of said guide member across a width of the paper, for pushing a center portion of the paper towards said means for forming; wherein said center urging member comprises a resilient flap.
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12. An electrophotographic printer using continuous form paper, said printer comprising:
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a tractor for feeding the paper along a paper path of said printer; a photoconductive member upon which a toner image is formed; transfer means for transferring said toner image to the paper; fixing means for fixing said toner image to the paper; a guide member, provided along said paper path upstream of said photoconductive member, for guiding the paper to contact said photoconductive member; and a center urging member, provided to a center portion of said guide member across a width of the paper, for pushing a center portion of the paper towards said photoconductive member; wherein said center urging member extends transversely to a direction of feeding of the paper along the paper path, said center urging member further comprising a top edge extending transversely to the direction of feeding of the paper along the paper path; and wherein said center urging member comprises a resilient flap.
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13. A printer using continuous form paper, said printer comprising:
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means for feeding the paper along a paper path of said printer; means for forming an image on the paper; a guide member, provided upstream of said means for forming along said paper path, for guiding the paper to contact said means for forming; and a center urging member, provided to a center portion of said guide member across a width of the paper, for pushing a center portion of the paper towards said means for forming; wherein said center urging member extends transversely to a direction of feeding the paper along the paper path, said center urging member further comprising a top edge extending transversely to the direction of feeding of the paper along the paper path; and wherein said center urging member comprises a resilient flap.
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Specification