EP0331324A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus usable with process cartridge detachably mountable thereto
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1989-02-21
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-02-21
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes supporting member for detachably supporting a process cartridge (100) which contains a movable image bearing member (1) and at least one process device (2, 3) actable on the image bearing member, openable and closable member (32), a member for applying to the process cartridge force for urging the process cartridge in a direction of dismounting the process cartridge, in response to opening of the openable and closable member, and a member for applying to the process cartridge force for urging the process cartridge in a direction for mounting the process cartridge to the supporting member, in response to closing of the openable and closable member.
Inventors
- 👤 Masanobu Kanoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:09
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1839; G03G21/1857; G03G21/1864; G03G21/1604; G03G21/1623; G03G21/1633; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1647; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/02; G03G2215/021; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654; G03G2221/1657; G03G2221/1672; G03G2221/1678; G03G2221/1684; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183; G03G2221/1884
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for detachably supporting a process cartridge which contains a movable image bearing member, at least one process means actable on the image bearing member and driven means for receiving driving force from said image forming apparatus; driving means engageable with the driven means of the process cartridge to drive the driven means; an openable and closable member; and means actable on said driving means and responsive to the opening of said openable and closable member to urge the process cartridge for disengaging the process cartridge from said supporting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for detachably supporting a process cartridge which contains a movable image bearing member, at least one process means actable on the image bearing member and driven means for receiving driving force from said image forming apparatus; driving means engageable with the driven means of the process cartridge to drive the driven means; an openable and closable member; and means actable on said driving means and responsive to the opening of said openable and closable member to urge the process cartridge for disengaging the process cartridge from said supporting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the driven means drives the image bearing member of the process cartridge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the driven means includes a gear, and said driving means includes a gear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein said means actable on said driving means is actable on said driving gear, in response to the opening of said openable and closable member, to rotate said driving means in the form of the gear in a direction opposite to a direction of its rotation during image forming operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said driving means in the form of a gear is mounted on said supporting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein said driving means in the form of the gear is provided at a position for moving the driven means in the form of the gear to urge the process cartridge in a direction for mounting the process cartridge to said supporting means, at least during image forming operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein a pressure angle α of the gears, an angle β formed between a line connecting the centers of the gears and a direction of mounting the process cartridge, satisfy α < β < 90 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the driving means is provided in said supporting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said openable and closable member is openable and closable relative to said supporting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: supporting means for detachably supporting a process cartridge which contains a movable image bearing member and at least one process means actable on the image bearing member; an openable and closable member; means for applying to the process cartridge force for urging the process cartridge in a direction of dismounting the process cartridge, in response to opening of said openable and closable member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: supporting means for detachably supporting a process cartridge which contains a movable image bearing member and at least one process means actable on the image bearing member; an openable and closable member; means for applying to the process cartridge force for urging the process cartridge in a direction of dismounting the process cartridge, in response to opening of said openable and closable member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein the process cartridge is detachably mountable relative to said supporting means in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein said process cartridge includes a positioning portion, and said supporting means includes a guiding portion for guiding the positioning portion, and wherein said process cartridge is situated at a predetermined position of said image forming apparatus by inserting said process cartridge along the guiding portion of said supporting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein said process cartridge is detachably mountable relative to said supporting means when said openable and closable member is opened.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said openable and closable member constitutes a part of an outer casing of said image forming apparatus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: supporting means for detachably supporting a process cartridge which contains a movable image bearing member and at least one process means actable on the image bearing member; an openable and closable member; means for applying to the process cartridge force for urging the process cartridge in a direction of dismounting the process cartridge, in response to opening of said openable and closable member; and means for applying to said process cartridge force for urging said process cartridge in a direction for mounting said process cartridge to said supporting means, in response to closing of said openable and closable member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: supporting means for detachably supporting a process cartridge which contains a movable image bearing member and at least one process means actable on the image bearing member; an openable and closable member; means for applying to the process cartridge force for urging the process cartridge in a direction of dismounting the process cartridge, in response to opening of said openable and closable member; and means for applying to said process cartridge force for urging said process cartridge in a direction for mounting said process cartridge to said supporting means, in response to closing of said openable and closable member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein said process cartridge is mountable to or dismountable from said supporting means when said openable and closable member is opened.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the force for mounting said process cartridge is imparted to the process cartridge at least during image forming operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
107 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for detachably mounting a process cartridge which contains a movable image bearing member, at least one process means actable on the image bearing member and driven member for receiving driving force from said image bearing member to drive the image bearing member; openable and closable member, wherein when the openable and closable member is opened, the process cartridge can be mounted into or dismounted from said supporting means; and means responsive to opening and closing of the openable and closable member to change a direction of force imparted on a member for driving the image bearing member of said process cartridge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
107 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for detachably mounting a process cartridge which contains a movable image bearing member, at least one process means actable on the image bearing member and driven member for receiving driving force from said image bearing member to drive the image bearing member; openable and closable member, wherein when the openable and closable member is opened, the process cartridge can be mounted into or dismounted from said supporting means; and means responsive to opening and closing of the openable and closable member to change a direction of force imparted on a member for driving the image bearing member of said process cartridge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, 10, 15 or 18, wherein the process cartridge further contains, as the process means, charging means, developing means and cleaning means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the driven gear and the driving gear are helical gears.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, said means actable on said driving means includes clutch means for controlling operation of said driving means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, 10, 15 or 18, wherein said openable and closable cover constitutes a part of an outer casing of said image forming apparatus and includes means for conveying a sheet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.