US4754301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multicolor image forming apparatus with a shutter to prevent mixture of developers in plural developing devices
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1986-11-17
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Granted: 1988-06-28
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Expires: 2006-11-17
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of the developing devices for developing the latent image formed on an image bearing member. The plural developing devices are each movable between its developing position for developing the latent image on the image bearing member and its retracted position away from the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus includes a shutter for selectively opening and closing the developing aperture of the developing device of one of the developing devices. The shutter opens and closes the developing aperture of said one of the developing devices in association with movement of the other developing device between the developing position and the retracted position.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshirou Kasamura
- 👤 Akiyoshi Kimura
- 👤 Masashi Ohashi
- 👤 Yasuyoshi Yamamoto
- 👤 Takashi Ozawa
- 👤 Toshihiko Kusumoto
- 👤 Tatsuya Shiratori
- 👤 Nobukazu Sasaki
- 👤 Michiro Koike
- 👤 Atsushi Kubota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:00
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G15/0898; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on a surface of said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means disposed along the surface of said said image bearing member each for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being selectively movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position away from said image bearing member, wherein said second developing means is disposed downstream of said first developing means with respect to a movement direction of the surface of said image bearing member; and a shutter for selectively closing and opening a developing aperture of said second developing means, said shutter being supported on means for supporting said first developing means and effective to selectively open and close the developing aperture in association with movement of said first developing means between said developing position and said retracted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on a surface of said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means disposed along the surface of said said image bearing member each for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being selectively movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position away from said image bearing member, wherein said second developing means is disposed downstream of said first developing means with respect to a movement direction of the surface of said image bearing member; and a shutter for selectively closing and opening a developing aperture of said second developing means, said shutter being supported on means for supporting said first developing means and effective to selectively open and close the developing aperture in association with movement of said first developing means between said developing position and said retracted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shutter closes the developing opening of said second developing means in association with the movement of said first developing means from the retracted position to the developing position, and wherein said shutter opens the developing aperture of said second developing means in association with the movement of said first developing means from the developing position to the retracted position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when said first developing means is at said developing position, said second developing means is at the retracted position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when said first developing means is at the retracted position, said second developing means is at the developing position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein together with the movement of said first developing means between the developing position and the retracted position, said second developing means is inversely moved between the retracted position and the developing position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first developing means and said second developing means contain developers which are different in color.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second developing means includes at the developing aperture a developing roller for carrying thereon the developer to supply it to said image bearing member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shutter is guided by a frame of said second developing means when it moves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
234 words
An image forming apaparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on a surface of said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means each disposed along the surface of said image bearing member for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being selectively movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position away from said image bearing member wherein said second developing means is disposed downstream of said first developing means with respect to a movement direction of the surface of said image bearing member; a shutter for selectively closing and opening a developing aperture of said second developing means; and control means for controlling the positions of said first and second developing means relative to said image bearing member so that when one of said first and second developing means is moved to its developing position, the other is moved to its retracted position, wherein said control means includes a member which is separate from said second developing means and said image bearing member, is disposed between said first and second developing means and is movable together with said first developing means, said member movably supporting said shutter for said second developing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
234 words
An image forming apaparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on a surface of said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means each disposed along the surface of said image bearing member for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being selectively movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position away from said image bearing member wherein said second developing means is disposed downstream of said first developing means with respect to a movement direction of the surface of said image bearing member; a shutter for selectively closing and opening a developing aperture of said second developing means; and control means for controlling the positions of said first and second developing means relative to said image bearing member so that when one of said first and second developing means is moved to its developing position, the other is moved to its retracted position, wherein said control means includes a member which is separate from said second developing means and said image bearing member, is disposed between said first and second developing means and is movable together with said first developing means, said member movably supporting said shutter for said second developing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
202 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on a surface of said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means each disposed along the surface of said image bearing member for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being selectively movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position wherein it is away from said image bearing member, wherein said second developing means is disposed downstream of said first developing means with respect to a movement direction of the surface of said image bearing member; a shutter for selectively closing and opening a developing aperture of said second developing means, said shutter being movable between a retracted position located between said first developing means and said second developing means and an operative position for closing the developing aperture; and means for moving said first developing means to its retracted position, while moving said shutter to its retracted position when said second developing means is moved to its developing position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
202 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on a surface of said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means each disposed along the surface of said image bearing member for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being selectively movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position wherein it is away from said image bearing member, wherein said second developing means is disposed downstream of said first developing means with respect to a movement direction of the surface of said image bearing member; a shutter for selectively closing and opening a developing aperture of said second developing means, said shutter being movable between a retracted position located between said first developing means and said second developing means and an operative position for closing the developing aperture; and means for moving said first developing means to its retracted position, while moving said shutter to its retracted position when said second developing means is moved to its developing position.
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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) | 1991-06-28 | 1991-12-28 | 1992-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-28 | 1995-12-28 | 1996-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-28 | 1999-12-28 | 2000-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |