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US4841337A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image forming apparatus

Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 1988-04-19
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Granted: 1989-06-20
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Expires: 2008-04-19
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Abstract

Abstract A color image forming apparatus wherein a latent image is formed on an image retainer based on an image data obtained by processing a color-separated image of a document, and developed by a plurality of developing devices having therein toners each different in color, one of the plural developing devices being selected corresponding to a specific color of the document, and the developing step being repeated plural times, so that a multi-color toner image is formed on the image retainer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Seiichiro Hiratsuka
  • 👤 Kunihisa Yoshino
  • 👤 Satoshi Haneda
  • 👤 Hisashi Shoji

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 20:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/6027; H04N1/40; H04N1/409; H04N1/4092; H04N1/48; H04N1/482; H04N1/50; H04N1/506; H04N1/508

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 146 words
A color image forming apparatus comprising color separation means for obtaining a color-separated image of a specific color, changeover means for changing a color component to be separated by said color separating means, a single photo-electric converting means for converting said color-separated image into an electric signal, a single signal processing means for forming image data by processing an output signal of said photo-electric converting means, latent image forming for forming a latent image on an image retainer based on said image data, and a plurality of developing means having therein toners each different in color for developing said latent image, wherein a step for forming a toner image on said image retainer is repeated plural times by selecting one of said plural developing means corresponding to a specific color by said changeover means, so that a multi-color toner image is formed on said image retainer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 146 words
A color image forming apparatus comprising color separation means for obtaining a color-separated image of a specific color, changeover means for changing a color component to be separated by said color separating means, a single photo-electric converting means for converting said color-separated image into an electric signal, a single signal processing means for forming image data by processing an output signal of said photo-electric converting means, latent image forming for forming a latent image on an image retainer based on said image data, and a plurality of developing means having therein toners each different in color for developing said latent image, wherein a step for forming a toner image on said image retainer is repeated plural times by selecting one of said plural developing means corresponding to a specific color by said changeover means, so that a multi-color toner image is formed on said image retainer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing means is able to vary the parameter according to a color component specified by said changeover means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing means has such a function as to correct the gradation of the image data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said signal processing means has such a function as to form the image data by comparing an input signal with a reference signal, and said reference signal is varied according to the color component specified by said changeover means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing means has such a function as to correct an MTF of the image data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color separating means is composed of a plurality of spectral filters each different in spectral property.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said color separating means is composed of a plurality of interference filters each different in spectral property.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color separating means is composed of a plurality of light sources each different in spectral property for illuminating the document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 148 words
A color image forming apparatus comprising color separation means for obtaining a color-separated image of a specific color, changeover means for changing a color component to be separated by said color separating means, a single photo-electric converting means for converting said color-separated image into an electric signal, a single signal processing means for forming image data by processing an output signal of said photo-electric converting means, latent image forming for forming a latent image on an image retainer based on said image data, and a plurality of developing means having therein toners each different in color for developing said latent image, wherein a step for forming a toner image on said image retainer is repeated plural times by selecting at least one of said plural developing means corresponding to a specific color by said change-over means, so that a multi-color toner image is formed on said image retainer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 148 words
A color image forming apparatus comprising color separation means for obtaining a color-separated image of a specific color, changeover means for changing a color component to be separated by said color separating means, a single photo-electric converting means for converting said color-separated image into an electric signal, a single signal processing means for forming image data by processing an output signal of said photo-electric converting means, latent image forming for forming a latent image on an image retainer based on said image data, and a plurality of developing means having therein toners each different in color for developing said latent image, wherein a step for forming a toner image on said image retainer is repeated plural times by selecting at least one of said plural developing means corresponding to a specific color by said change-over means, so that a multi-color toner image is formed on said image retainer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 142 words
A color image forming apparatus comprising color separation means for obtaining a color-separated image of a specific color, changeover means for changing a color component to be separated by said color separating means, a single photo-electric converting means for converting said color-separated image into an electric signal, a single signal processing means for forming image data by processing an output signal of said photo-electric converting means, latent image forming for forming a latent image on an image retainer based on said image data, and a plurality of developing means having therein toners each different in color for developing said latent image, wherein a step for developing said latent image on said image retainer is repeated plural times by selecting developing means corresponding to a specific color by said changeover means, so that a mono-color toner image is formed on said image retainer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 142 words
A color image forming apparatus comprising color separation means for obtaining a color-separated image of a specific color, changeover means for changing a color component to be separated by said color separating means, a single photo-electric converting means for converting said color-separated image into an electric signal, a single signal processing means for forming image data by processing an output signal of said photo-electric converting means, latent image forming for forming a latent image on an image retainer based on said image data, and a plurality of developing means having therein toners each different in color for developing said latent image, wherein a step for developing said latent image on said image retainer is repeated plural times by selecting developing means corresponding to a specific color by said changeover means, so that a mono-color toner image is formed on said image retainer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1992-06-19 1992-12-19 1993-06-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-06-19 1996-12-19 1997-06-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-06-19 2000-12-19 2001-06-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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