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US4329044A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cleaning apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1981-01-09
•
Granted: 1982-05-11
•
Expires: 2001-01-09
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Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for cleaning an image carrier in an image forming device has a cleaning member, support structure for supporting the cleaning member in such manner as to make the cleaning member contact the image carrier and pressing members engageable with the outer and inner surfaces of the image carrier to grasp it.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tadayuki Kitajima
  • 👤 Toshirou Kasamura
  • 👤 Tomohiro Aoki
  • 👤 Yoshihiko Takeoka
  • 👤 Kiyokazu Namekata

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 14:19
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/0005; G03G21/0011

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
A cleaning apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus of the type in which a developed image is formed on an image carrier and after the formed image has been used, said image carrier is cleaned up for repetitive use, said cleaning apparatus comprising: a cleaning member; means for supporting said cleaning member so that said cleaning member contacts said image carrier; and means engageable with said image carrier for grasping said image carrier, said grasping means comprising an outer surface pressing member disposed to apply a holding pressure on the outer surface of said image carrier and an inner surface pressing member disposed to apply a holding pressure on the inner surface of said image carrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 118 words
A cleaning apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus of the type in which a developed image is formed on an image carrier and after the formed image has been used, said image carrier is cleaned up for repetitive use, said cleaning apparatus comprising: a cleaning member; means for supporting said cleaning member so that said cleaning member contacts said image carrier; and means engageable with said image carrier for grasping said image carrier, said grasping means comprising an outer surface pressing member disposed to apply a holding pressure on the outer surface of said image carrier and an inner surface pressing member disposed to apply a holding pressure on the inner surface of said image carrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image carrier grasping means further comprises a main supporting member for movably supporting said outer surface pressing member and a subsidiary supporting member for movably supporting said inner surface pressing member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image carrier grasping means further comprises an elastic force applying member for elastically grasping said image carrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cleaning member is an elastic cleaning blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 48 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image carrier grasping means includes means for disabling its grasping action by separating said pressing members, said disabling means being engageable with a member mounted on the image forming apparatus when said cleaning apparatus is mounted in place.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 121 words
A cleaning apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus of the type in which a developed image is formed on an image carrier and after the formed image has been used, said image carrier is cleaned up for repetitive use, said cleaning apparatus comprising: a plurality of cleaning members; means for supporting said cleaning members so that each individual cleaning member contacts said image carrier; and means engageable with said image carrier for grasping said image carrier, said grasping means comprising an outer surface pressing member disposed to apply a holding pressure on the outer surface of said image carrier and an inner surface pressing member disposed to apply a holding pressure on the inner surface of said image carrier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 121 words
A cleaning apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus of the type in which a developed image is formed on an image carrier and after the formed image has been used, said image carrier is cleaned up for repetitive use, said cleaning apparatus comprising: a plurality of cleaning members; means for supporting said cleaning members so that each individual cleaning member contacts said image carrier; and means engageable with said image carrier for grasping said image carrier, said grasping means comprising an outer surface pressing member disposed to apply a holding pressure on the outer surface of said image carrier and an inner surface pressing member disposed to apply a holding pressure on the inner surface of said image carrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein one of said cleaning members is a cleaning web.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cleaning member supporting means for said cleaning web serves also as the outer surface pressing member of said image carrier grasping means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 41 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said image carrier grasping means further comprises a main supporting member for movably supporting said outer surface pressing member and a subsidiary supporting member for movably supporting said inner surface pressing member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said image carrier grasping means includes an elastic force applying member for elastically grasping said image carrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 100 words
A cleaning apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus of the type in which a developed image is formed on an endlessly movable image carrier and after the formed image has been used, said image carrier is cleaned up for repetitive use, said cleaning apparatus comprising: a cleaning device; side plates provided adjacent both lateral ends of said image carrier; and supporting members, provided on said side plates, for engaging said image carrier from opposed sides thereof to allow the cleaning apparatus to be placed into or removed from the image forming apparatus while engaged with the image carrier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 100 words
A cleaning apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus of the type in which a developed image is formed on an endlessly movable image carrier and after the formed image has been used, said image carrier is cleaned up for repetitive use, said cleaning apparatus comprising: a cleaning device; side plates provided adjacent both lateral ends of said image carrier; and supporting members, provided on said side plates, for engaging said image carrier from opposed sides thereof to allow the cleaning apparatus to be placed into or removed from the image forming apparatus while engaged with the image carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said cleaning apparatus is engageable with a drum shaped image carrier which is removable from a shaft about which such image carrier is rotatable.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3190198A Cited
US3927936A Cited
US3879124A Cited
US3917398A Cited
US4032229A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-05-10 1985-11-09 1986-05-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-05-10 1989-11-09 1990-05-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-05-10 1993-11-09 1994-05-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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