Patent ID: 9335668
Filing Date: 2016-05-10
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A transfer device, comprising: an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image on an image bearing surface thereof; an opposing member disposed facing the image bearing surface of the image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween, the opposing member including a contact surface that contacts a recording medium; a pressing device configured to press the opposing member against the image bearing surface of the image bearing member to apply pressure in the transfer nip; a recording medium feeder configured to feed the recording medium to the transfer nip; a moving device configured to move the contact surface of the opposing member toward and away from the image bearing surface of the image bearing member, the moving device including a cam and a cam driving device to rotate the cam, wherein the cam has a first radius, a second radius and a third radius from a center of rotation of a shaft, the first radius and the second radius are the same and the third radius is smaller than the first radius or the second radius, and wherein when the cam is at a first position, the image bearing surface and the contact surface are separated, and when the cam is at a second position, the image bearing surface and the contact surface contact each other; a transfer mechanism to transfer the toner image from the image bearing surface of the image bearing member to the recording medium in the transfer nip; and a controller to control the cam driving device, wherein a time of start of rotation of the cam is changed depending on a thickness of the recording medium, for a relatively thick recording medium, for a relatively thin recording medium,