Patent US4605299A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4605299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus with sized processing kits
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1985-08-20
•
Granted: 1986-08-12
•
Expires: 2005-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus for forming an image by means of an image forming kit, or cartridge, which has a photoconductive element built therein. A plurality of replaceable image forming kits are used and each is capable of providing images of a maximum image size which differs from those of the others. The kits are selectively loaded in the apparatus to match with a desired particular image size.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideaki Mochimaru
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:26
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1839; G03G21/1842; G03G21/185; G03G15/00; G03G15/75; G03G15/751; G03G21/1604; G03G21/1623; G03G21/1633; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1647; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1672; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183; G03G2221/1838
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An image forming apparatus for providing an image on a photoconductive element, comprising: a body which constitutes a housing; and a plurality of image forming kits selectively and removably loaded in said housing for each forming an image of a predetermined maximum size which differs from a predetermined maximum size or sizes assigned to the other kit or kits, each of said kits being provided in a cartridge configuration and including at least a photoconductive element therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image forming apparatus for providing an image on a photoconductive element, comprising: a body which constitutes a housing; and a plurality of image forming kits selectively and removably loaded in said housing for each forming an image of a predetermined maximum size which differs from a predetermined maximum size or sizes assigned to the other kit or kits, each of said kits being provided in a cartridge configuration and including at least a photoconductive element therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a right side wall, and a left side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body further comprises guide means for guiding a selected one of the kits into the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guide means comprises two guide rails each of which is supported by the front wall at one end and by the rear wall at the other end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the kits comprises a casing for accommodating the photoconductive element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the kits further comprises a charger, a developing unit and a cleaning unit which are arranged around the photoconductive element in the casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the developing unit comprises a hopper for storing a developer, and a developing roller for supplying the developer to the photoconductive element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the casing is provided with a slit having a length which is associated with the maximum size, the apparatus further comprising optical writing means which is positioned to face the photoconductive element through said slit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the casing comprises a first projection which is so located as to protrude into a first fixing position in the housing when the kit is loaded in the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a first microswitch which is turned on when pressed by the first projection which has reached the first fixing position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a first lamp installed in the body to turn on when the first microswitch is turned on.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the casing further comprises a second projection which protrudes into a second fixing position in the housing when the kit is loaded in the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the position of the second projection on the casing is determined by the maximum image size.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a second microswitch which is turned on when depressed by the second projection which has reached the second fixing position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a second lamp installed in the body to turn on when the second microswitch is turned on.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the body comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a right side wall and a left side wall, the apparatus further comprising sheet feed means arranged adjacent to said right side wall and sheet discharge means arranged adjacent to the left side wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the right side wall is formed with an elongate slot in a lower portion thereof, the sheet feed means comprising a sheet feed tray which is mouned in the body through said slot of the right side wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second lamp is positioned on an external surface of the right side wall above the sheet feed tray and adjacent to the slot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3880518A
Cited
US4236807A
Cited
US4386838A
Cited
US4382674A
Cited
US4500195A
Cited
US4551000A
Cited
US4470689A
Cited
US4575221A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-11 | 1990-02-10 | 1990-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-11 | 1994-02-10 | 1994-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-11 | 1998-02-10 | 1998-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |