EP0287122A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Multicolor electrophotography apparatus
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1988-04-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A multicolor electrophotography apparatus for forming a color image on a rotatable photosensitive device (11) shaped cylindrically and arranged to hold on its circumferential surface an electrostatic image optically formed by an exposing device. The apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices (31,32,33,34) movably provided along the circumference of the photosensitive device (11) for developing a plurality of different-color toner images overlapping each other. Each of the developing devices (31,32,33,34) is selectively driven to take a developing position and a non-developing position, each of the developing devices (31,32,33,34) being closed to photosensitive device (11) up to the developing position and being separated therefrom up to the non-developing position. When the exposing device is in the non-operated state, at least one of the developing devices takes the developing position and the other developing devices take the non-developing positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Noboru Miyaji
- 👤 Hiroshi Terada
- 👤 Hayato Kamada
- 👤 Hidenori Kunishige
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:57
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus comprising: image-holding means substantially shaped cylindrically and arranged to be rotatable about its own axis, said image-holding means being arranged to hold on its circumferential surface an electrostatic image; exposing means for linearly exposing the circumference of said image-holding means in a direction of the axis of said image-holding means so as to form said electrostatic image thereon; a plurality of developing means movably provided along the circumference of said image-holding means, said plurality of developing means developing a plurality of different-color toner images overlapping each other, each of said plurality of developing means having developer-holding means for appication of a predetermined developer to said image-holding means; drive means for allowing each of said plurality of developing means to take a developing position and a non-developing position, each of said plurality of developing means being closed to said image-holding means when it is at said developing position and being separated therefrom when it is at said non-developing position; selection means coupled to said drive means for selectively controlling said plurality of developing means so as to selectively perform formations of said plurality of different-color images, said selection means controlling said drive means so that, when said exposing means is in the non-operated state, at least one of said plurality of develiping means takes said developing position and the other developing means takes said non-developing position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus comprising: image-holding means substantially shaped cylindrically and arranged to be rotatable about its own axis, said image-holding means being arranged to hold on its circumferential surface an electrostatic image; exposing means for linearly exposing the circumference of said image-holding means in a direction of the axis of said image-holding means so as to form said electrostatic image thereon; a plurality of developing means movably provided along the circumference of said image-holding means, said plurality of developing means developing a plurality of different-color toner images overlapping each other, each of said plurality of developing means having developer-holding means for appication of a predetermined developer to said image-holding means; drive means for allowing each of said plurality of developing means to take a developing position and a non-developing position, each of said plurality of developing means being closed to said image-holding means when it is at said developing position and being separated therefrom when it is at said non-developing position; selection means coupled to said drive means for selectively controlling said plurality of developing means so as to selectively perform formations of said plurality of different-color images, said selection means controlling said drive means so that, when said exposing means is in the non-operated state, at least one of said plurality of develiping means takes said developing position and the other developing means takes said non-developing position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A multi-color electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of developing means are arranged successively in a direction of the movement of said image-holding means so as to successively form said different-color toner images at different points on said image-holding means, the length on said image-holding means between an exposing position of said exposing means and the image-forming point of said developing means positioned at the utmost downstream with respect to the movement of said image-holding means being set to be below 1/2 of the entire circumferential length of said image-holding means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein an angle made by a line between a point on the axis of said image-holding means and the exposing position of said exposing means and a line between the same point and the image-forming point of said developing means positioned at the utmost downstream is 0 > ϑ > π.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when closing and separating said plurality of developing means to and from said image-holding means, said drive means is arranged so as to rotationally move at least one of said plurality of developing means and horizontally move the other developing means between said developing positions and said non-developing positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said rotationally moved developing means is positioned at the utmost upstream or the utmost downstream with respect to the movement of said image-holding means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said rotationally moved developing means is arranged as a block-color developing device for froming a block-color toner image and the other developing means are arranged as other color developing divices for forming different-color toner images.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rotational moved developing means is arranged to perform the development with a magnetic two-component developer with it coming into contact with said image-holding means, and the other developing means are arranged to perform the development with a non-magnetic one-component developer with they being positioned in separated relation to said image-holding means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rotational moved developing means is arranged to be coupled to developer supplying means so as to receive a developer therefrom, said developer supplying means being placed at the outside of said rotational moved developing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
197 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus comprising: image-holding means substantially shaped cylindrically and arranged to be rotatable about its own axis, said image-holding means being arranged to hold on its circumferential surface an electrostatic image; exposing means for linearly exposing the circumference of said image-holding means in a direction of the axis of said image-holding means so as to form said electrostatic image thereon; a plurality of developing means movably provided along the circumference of said image-holding means, said plurality of developing means developing a plurality of different-color toner images overlapping each other, each of said plurality of developing means having developer-holding means for appication of a predetermined developer to said image-holding means; and rack means for encasing said plurality of developing means, said rack means having guide means whereby each of said plurality of developing means is slidingly movable to be closed toward said image-holding means and separated therefrom in a drection opposite to the closing direction to take a developing position and a non-developing position, said rack means being further arranged such that each of said plurality of developing means is removable therefrom and again inserted thereinto in directions substantially equal to the closing and separating directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
197 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus comprising: image-holding means substantially shaped cylindrically and arranged to be rotatable about its own axis, said image-holding means being arranged to hold on its circumferential surface an electrostatic image; exposing means for linearly exposing the circumference of said image-holding means in a direction of the axis of said image-holding means so as to form said electrostatic image thereon; a plurality of developing means movably provided along the circumference of said image-holding means, said plurality of developing means developing a plurality of different-color toner images overlapping each other, each of said plurality of developing means having developer-holding means for appication of a predetermined developer to said image-holding means; and rack means for encasing said plurality of developing means, said rack means having guide means whereby each of said plurality of developing means is slidingly movable to be closed toward said image-holding means and separated therefrom in a drection opposite to the closing direction to take a developing position and a non-developing position, said rack means being further arranged such that each of said plurality of developing means is removable therefrom and again inserted thereinto in directions substantially equal to the closing and separating directions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said rack means is arranged to be movable from an operating position to an non-operating position separated from said apparatus, said rack means having keeping means whereby each of said plurality of developing devices takes said non-developing position when moved to the non-operating position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
223 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus comprising: image-holding means arranged to be rotatable about its own axis, said image-holding means being arranged to hold on its circumferential surface an electrostatic image; a plurality of developing means movably provided along the circumference of said image-holding means, said plurality of developing means developing a plurality of different-color toner images overlapping each other; selection means for selectively controlling said plurality of said developing means so as to selectively perform formations of said plurality of different-color images, said selection means performing control so that each of said plurality of develiping means takes a developing position and a non-developing position, each of said plurality of developing means being closed to said image-holding means when it is at said developing position and being separated therefrom when it is at said non-developing position; first drive means having first drive source means for driving said image-holding means so as to be rotated about a rotating shaft provided to be coaxially coincident with the axis of said image-holding means; and second drive means having second drive source means to operate each of said plurality of develiping means for development, said second drive means being arranged to be engageable with said developing means when said developing means takes said developing position by said selection means and to be disengageable therewith when taking said non-developing position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
223 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus comprising: image-holding means arranged to be rotatable about its own axis, said image-holding means being arranged to hold on its circumferential surface an electrostatic image; a plurality of developing means movably provided along the circumference of said image-holding means, said plurality of developing means developing a plurality of different-color toner images overlapping each other; selection means for selectively controlling said plurality of said developing means so as to selectively perform formations of said plurality of different-color images, said selection means performing control so that each of said plurality of develiping means takes a developing position and a non-developing position, each of said plurality of developing means being closed to said image-holding means when it is at said developing position and being separated therefrom when it is at said non-developing position; first drive means having first drive source means for driving said image-holding means so as to be rotated about a rotating shaft provided to be coaxially coincident with the axis of said image-holding means; and second drive means having second drive source means to operate each of said plurality of develiping means for development, said second drive means being arranged to be engageable with said developing means when said developing means takes said developing position by said selection means and to be disengageable therewith when taking said non-developing position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second drive means comprises transmission means for transmission of a drive force of said second drive source to said developing means, said transmission means comprising a toothed wheel which is rotatably supported by said rotating shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said transmission means further comprises drive force buffering means provided between said toothed wheel and said developing means for absorbing a shock occuring due to the driven of said developing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A multicolor electrophotography apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said drive force buffering means comprises two toothed wheels which are coaxially arranged each other and are coupled through a spring to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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