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US4540268A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process kit and image forming apparatus using such kit

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1983-04-25
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Granted: 1985-09-10
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Expires: 2003-04-25
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Abstract

Abstract This specification discloses a process kit removably insertable into a predetermined operative position in the body of an apparatus and integrally having therein an image bearing member and some or all of process means acting on the image bearing member, or an image forming apparatus using such process kit. That is, this specification discloses an image forming apparatus using a process kit characterized by an image bearing member, process means acting on the image bearing member, a process kit integrally having therein the image bearing member and the process means and removably insertable into a predetermined operative position within the body of the apparatus, and an air flow passage leading from the interior to the exterior of the process kit located at the predetermined operative position. The specification also discloses a process kit removably insertable into a predetermined operative position within the body of the image forming apparatus and having therein an image bearing member, process means acting on the image bearing member, and an air flow passage leading from the interior to the exterior of the process kit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tsutomu Toyono
  • 👤 Shigeyoshi Onoda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 17:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/1814; G03G21/20; G03G21/206; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1645; G03G2221/1669; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim 74 words
A process kit mountable to an image forming apparatus comprises: an image bearing member; discharging means provided along said image bearing member for charging said image bearing member; a housing covering said image bearing member and said discharging means; and an air flow passage provided between said image bearing member and said housing and communicating with an opening provided on said housing for exhausting substances produced by said discharging means into the apparatus body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 74 words
A process kit mountable to an image forming apparatus comprises: an image bearing member; discharging means provided along said image bearing member for charging said image bearing member; a housing covering said image bearing member and said discharging means; and an air flow passage provided between said image bearing member and said housing and communicating with an opening provided on said housing for exhausting substances produced by said discharging means into the apparatus body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 95 words
A process kit mountable to an image forming apparatus comprises: an image bearing member; discharging means provided along said image bearing member for charging said image bearing member; a housing covering said image bearing member and said discharging means; an air flow passage provided between said image bearing member and said housing and communicating with an opening provided on said housing to define an exhaust path for exhausting substances produced by said discharging means into the apparatus body; and an ozone filter provided along the exhaust path for the substances produced by said discharging means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 95 words
A process kit mountable to an image forming apparatus comprises: an image bearing member; discharging means provided along said image bearing member for charging said image bearing member; a housing covering said image bearing member and said discharging means; an air flow passage provided between said image bearing member and said housing and communicating with an opening provided on said housing to define an exhaust path for exhausting substances produced by said discharging means into the apparatus body; and an ozone filter provided along the exhaust path for the substances produced by said discharging means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, further including a developing device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, further including a short-focus small-diameter imaging element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, further including a separating mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, further including a transfer discharger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said image bearing member has an organic semiconductor photosensitive layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said image bearing member has a zinc oxide photosensitive layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said image bearing member is a photosensitive drum and further including a developing device and a cleaner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, further including a short-focus imaging element array, a developing device and a cleaner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 12 words
A process kit according to claim 10, further including a separating mechanism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said image bearing member is a photosensitive drum and further including a developing device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said image bearing member is a photoconductive drum and further including a cleaner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 17 words
A process kit according to claim 1, wherein said opening on said housing is a comb-tooth-like opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 34 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said opening on said housing is provided at a position whereat light incident on said opening does not impinge on said image bearing member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein light incident from said opening on said housing is intercepted by a cleaner.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 115 words
An image forming apparatus comprising an apparatus body and a process kit mountable to said apparatus body; wherein said process kit includes: an image bearing member; charging means for discharging said image bearing member; duct means for exhausting substances produced by said discharging means into the apparatus body; and an outer shell covering said image bearing member and said discharging means, and having an opening communicated with said duct means; and wherein said apparatus body includes: an ozone filter provided in association with said opening in said outer shell of said process kit; and fan means for forming an air flow passage flowing from said process kit to said apparatus body through said ozone filter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 115 words
An image forming apparatus comprising an apparatus body and a process kit mountable to said apparatus body; wherein said process kit includes: an image bearing member; charging means for discharging said image bearing member; duct means for exhausting substances produced by said discharging means into the apparatus body; and an outer shell covering said image bearing member and said discharging means, and having an opening communicated with said duct means; and wherein said apparatus body includes: an ozone filter provided in association with said opening in said outer shell of said process kit; and fan means for forming an air flow passage flowing from said process kit to said apparatus body through said ozone filter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 139 words
An image forming apparatus comprises an apparatus body and a process kit mountable to said apparatus body; wherein said process kit includes: an image bearing member; charging means for discharging said image bearing member; duct means defining an exhaust path for exhausting substances produced by said discharging means into said apparatus body; an outer shell covering said image bearing member and said discharging means and having an opening communicated with said duct maans; and an ozone filter provided along the exhaust path for the substances produced by said discharging means; and wherein said apparatus body includes: means defining an opening provided in association with said opening in said outer shell of said process kit; and fan means for forming an air flow passage flowing from said process kit to said apparatus body through said opening in said apparatus body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 139 words
An image forming apparatus comprises an apparatus body and a process kit mountable to said apparatus body; wherein said process kit includes: an image bearing member; charging means for discharging said image bearing member; duct means defining an exhaust path for exhausting substances produced by said discharging means into said apparatus body; an outer shell covering said image bearing member and said discharging means and having an opening communicated with said duct maans; and an ozone filter provided along the exhaust path for the substances produced by said discharging means; and wherein said apparatus body includes: means defining an opening provided in association with said opening in said outer shell of said process kit; and fan means for forming an air flow passage flowing from said process kit to said apparatus body through said opening in said apparatus body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 19 words
An image forming apparatus according to claims 17 or 18, wherein said process kit further includes a developing device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 23 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said process kit further includes a short focus small diameter imaging element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 19 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said process kit further includes a separating mechanism.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 19 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said process kit further includes a transfer discharger.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 21 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said image bearing member has an organic semiconductor photosensitive layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 21 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said image bearing member has an organic semiconductor photosensitive layer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 32 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said image bearing member is a photosensitive drum and wherein said process kit further includes a developing device and a cleaner.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 27 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said process kit further includes a short-focus imaging element array, a developing device and a cleaner.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 17 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said process kit further includes a separating mechanism.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 29 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said image bearing member is a photosensitive drum and wherein said process kit further includes a developing device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 28 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said image bearing member is a photosensitive drum and wherein said process kit further includes a cleaner.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 20 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said opening in said outer shell is a comb-tooth-like opening 30.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 36 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said opening in said outer shell is provided at a position whereat light incident on said opening does not impinge on said image bearing member.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 25 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein light incident from said opening in said outer shell is intercepted by a cleaner.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4327992A Cited
US4470689A Cited
US4462677A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-09-09 1989-03-11 1989-09-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-09-09 1993-03-11 1993-09-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-09-09 1997-03-11 1997-09-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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