Patent US4030445A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4030445A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multicolor developing device
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1976-02-26
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A multicolor developing device having a plurality of developing units interposed between a pair of rotary plates and disposed radially equidistantly relative to the axis of the rotation of the rotary plates, said each developing unit having a magnetic roller rotatably supported by a non-magnetic sleeve for carrying magnetic developing particles along the outer periphery of the non-magnetic sleeve by means of the magnetic forces developed by the magnetic roller so as to cause the particles to adhere to an electrostatic latent image to thereby develop the same into a visible image, and wherein the rotation of the rotary plates causes any one of developing units to register in facing relation with the electrostatic latent image.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisayoshi Takenaga
- 👤 Teruo Yotsukura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:59
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/09; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A multicolor developing device comprising: a rotary shaft; a plurality of developing units each including a magnetic roller and a sleeve and adapted to carry developing particles along the outer periphery of the sleeve, said magnetic roller and sleeve being rotatable relative to each other; support means for supporting said developing units about the rotary shaft such that said developing units are located radially equidistantly with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotary shaft and are spaced a predetermined distance apart from one another; a drive gear mechanism comprising a first gear mounted coaxially on the rotary shaft by means of a bearing and adapted to engage in driving relation with either the magnetic roller or the sleeve of the respective developing units, and a clutch adapted to lock the first gear with respect to said rotary shaft; and braking means for stopping the rotation of said rotary shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A multicolor developing device comprising: a rotary shaft; a plurality of developing units each including a magnetic roller and a sleeve and adapted to carry developing particles along the outer periphery of the sleeve, said magnetic roller and sleeve being rotatable relative to each other; support means for supporting said developing units about the rotary shaft such that said developing units are located radially equidistantly with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotary shaft and are spaced a predetermined distance apart from one another; a drive gear mechanism comprising a first gear mounted coaxially on the rotary shaft by means of a bearing and adapted to engage in driving relation with either the magnetic roller or the sleeve of the respective developing units, and a clutch adapted to lock the first gear with respect to said rotary shaft; and braking means for stopping the rotation of said rotary shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multicolor developing surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said each developing unit is axially slidably received in said support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
A multicolor developing device comprising: a rotary shaft; a plurality of developing units each including a magnetic roller, a sleeve and a second gear connected to either the magnetic roller or the sleeve and projecting sideward, each developing unit being adapted to carry developing particles along the outer periphery of the sleeve, said magnetic roller and sleeve being rotatable relative to each other; support means for supporting said developing units about the rotary shaft such that said developing units are located radially equidistantly with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotary shaft and are spaced a predetermined distance apart from one another; a drive gear mechanism comprising a first gear mounted rotatably on the rotary shaft and adapted to engage, at its outer periphery, the second gears of the respective developing units, and a clutch mounted coaxially on the rotary shaft and adapted to lock the movement of the first gear relative to the rotary shaft; and braking means for stopping the rotation of the rotary shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
A multicolor developing device comprising: a rotary shaft; a plurality of developing units each including a magnetic roller, a sleeve and a second gear connected to either the magnetic roller or the sleeve and projecting sideward, each developing unit being adapted to carry developing particles along the outer periphery of the sleeve, said magnetic roller and sleeve being rotatable relative to each other; support means for supporting said developing units about the rotary shaft such that said developing units are located radially equidistantly with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotary shaft and are spaced a predetermined distance apart from one another; a drive gear mechanism comprising a first gear mounted rotatably on the rotary shaft and adapted to engage, at its outer periphery, the second gears of the respective developing units, and a clutch mounted coaxially on the rotary shaft and adapted to lock the movement of the first gear relative to the rotary shaft; and braking means for stopping the rotation of the rotary shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
A multicolor developing device as in claim 3, wherein said rotary shaft is supported on two side plates which are provided in spaced relation to each other, said support means supports the respective developing units about the rotary shaft between the side plates, and wherein said drive gear mechanism is coaxially mounted on the rotary shaft between one of the side plates and the developing units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
163 words
A multicolor developing device comprising: a rotary shaft; means for supporting said rotary shaft for rotation about its axis; a developing unit support structure affixed to said rotary shaft so as to be rotatable in accordance with the rotation of said rotary shaft; a plurality of developing units supported by said support structure at equal radial distances about the axis of said rotary shaft and spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other, each developing unit including a magnetic roller and sleeve and adapted to carry developing particles along the outer periphery of the sleeve, said magnetic roller and sleeve being rotatable relative to each other about an axis parallel to the axis of said rotary shaft; and means, mounted on said rotary shaft, for selectively rotating said rotary shaft and said developing unit support structure affixed thereto and for selectively rotating the magnetic rollers relative to the sleeves of the respective developing units independently of the rotational position of said rotary shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
163 words
A multicolor developing device comprising: a rotary shaft; means for supporting said rotary shaft for rotation about its axis; a developing unit support structure affixed to said rotary shaft so as to be rotatable in accordance with the rotation of said rotary shaft; a plurality of developing units supported by said support structure at equal radial distances about the axis of said rotary shaft and spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other, each developing unit including a magnetic roller and sleeve and adapted to carry developing particles along the outer periphery of the sleeve, said magnetic roller and sleeve being rotatable relative to each other about an axis parallel to the axis of said rotary shaft; and means, mounted on said rotary shaft, for selectively rotating said rotary shaft and said developing unit support structure affixed thereto and for selectively rotating the magnetic rollers relative to the sleeves of the respective developing units independently of the rotational position of said rotary shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A multicolor developing device according to claim 5, wherein said means comprises a driven first gear mounted for rotation about said rotary shaft, and a clutch mechanism mounted on said rotary shaft for coupling said driven first gear to said shaft in a first position of said clutch, whereby said rotary shaft rotates with the rotation of said first driven gear, and for decoupling said driven first gear from said shaft in a second position of said clutch, whereby said driven first gear rotates about said rotary shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A multicolor developing device according to claim 6, wherein said means further includes respective second gears coupled to each developing unit and engaging said driven first gear for rotating the magnetic rollers relative to their associated sleeves in said developing units upon rotation of said driven first gear.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A multicolor developing device according to claim 7, further comprising braking means for selectively stopping the rotation of said rotary shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3795917A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |