US4896193A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multicolored image forming apparatus separable for ease of maintenance
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1989-04-03
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Granted: 1990-01-23
•
Expires: 2009-04-03
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus comprising a first body and a second body which are openable or separable from each other. The apparatus contains a plurality of developing devices, each of which is movable between its developing position for developing a latent image on an image bearing member of the image forming apparatus and a retracted position where the developing device is retracted from the developing position. At least the developing device that is located at its developing position when the apparatus is closed, is moved away from the image bearing member in response to an operation for opening the second body relative to the first body.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuo Kagiura
- 👤 Noriyuki Yokoo
- 👤 Mototada Toriumi
- 👤 Hiroyoshi Maruyama
- 👤 Hidetoshi Tanaka
- 👤 Yoichi Ishii
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:11
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1604; G03G21/1623; G03G21/1628; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1647; G03G21/1661; G03G21/1676; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1603; G03G2221/1606; G03G2221/1609; G03G2221/163; G03G2221/1648; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654; G03G2221/1657; G03G2221/1678; G03G2221/1687
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
An image forming apparatus including a first body and a second body which is openable from and closable to said first body, said image forming apparatus comprising in said first or second body: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means for developing the latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position where it is retracted from the developing position and disposed away from said image bearing member; first moving means for moving said first developing means between its developing position and its retracted position when the second body is closed, wherein said second developing means is movable between its developing position and its retracted position when the second body is closed and inversely to said first developing means, in response to said first moving means moving said first developing means between its retracted position and its developing position; and second moving means for moving away from said image bearing member at least the developing means in its developing position when the second body is closed without moving the developing means that is at its retracted position to its developing position, in response to an opening operation of the second body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
An image forming apparatus including a first body and a second body which is openable from and closable to said first body, said image forming apparatus comprising in said first or second body: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means for developing the latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position where it is retracted from the developing position and disposed away from said image bearing member; first moving means for moving said first developing means between its developing position and its retracted position when the second body is closed, wherein said second developing means is movable between its developing position and its retracted position when the second body is closed and inversely to said first developing means, in response to said first moving means moving said first developing means between its retracted position and its developing position; and second moving means for moving away from said image bearing member at least the developing means in its developing position when the second body is closed without moving the developing means that is at its retracted position to its developing position, in response to an opening operation of the second body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second developing means contain different color developers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second bodies are openable about a shaft, and wherein said second body is opened upwardly from said first body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first and second developing means are contained in said second body, and wherein said first and second developing means are moved upwardly together with the opening of the second body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, said first moving means being contained in said first body, wherein engagement between said developing means and first moving means is released by the opening between said first body and second body, and wherein at least the developing means that takes its developing position is moved away from said image bearing member in response to the opening of the second body from said first body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising urging means for urging said second developing means in a direction away from said image bearing member, wherein said first moving means moves said second developing means to its developing position against said urging means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second developing means is moved from its retracted position to its developing position by said first developing means directly pressing said second developing means in association with said moving means moving said first developing means from its developing position to its retracted position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said image bearing member, said first developing means and said second developing means are contained in said second body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first moving means is operative commonly to move said first developing means and said second developing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a developing operation of each of said developing means is stopped when situated at the retracted position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
214 words
An image forming apparatus including a first body and a second body which is openable from and closable to said first body, said image forming apparatus comprising in said first or second body: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member in accordance with image formation; at least first and second developing means for developing the latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being movable, when the second body is closed, between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position where it is retracted from the developing position and disposed away from said image bearing member; first moving means for moving away from said image bearing member at least the developing means in its developing position when the second body is closed without moving the developing means that is at its retracted position to its developing position, in response to an opening operation of the second body; and means for establishing, in response to a closing operation of the second body, positions of said first and second developing means which are the same as those prior to the second body being opened.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
214 words
An image forming apparatus including a first body and a second body which is openable from and closable to said first body, said image forming apparatus comprising in said first or second body: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member in accordance with image formation; at least first and second developing means for developing the latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being movable, when the second body is closed, between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position where it is retracted from the developing position and disposed away from said image bearing member; first moving means for moving away from said image bearing member at least the developing means in its developing position when the second body is closed without moving the developing means that is at its retracted position to its developing position, in response to an opening operation of the second body; and means for establishing, in response to a closing operation of the second body, positions of said first and second developing means which are the same as those prior to the second body being opened.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising second moving means for moving said first developing means between its developing position and its retracted position, wherein said second developing means is movable between its developing position and its retracted position inversely to said first developing means, in response to said moving second means moving said first developing means between its retracted position and its developing position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising urging means for urging said second developing means in a direction away from said image bearing member, wherein said second moving means moves said second developing means to its developing position against said urging means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second developing means is moved from its retracted position to its developing position by said first developing means directly pressing said second developing means in association with said second moving means moving said first developing means from its developing position to its retracted position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein engagement between said first developing means and said second moving means is released by the opening of said second body from said first body, and wherein with the opening of the second body, at least the developing means that is located at its developing position is moved away from the image bearing member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said moving means is contained in said first body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second moving means is operative commonly to move said first developing means and said second developing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a developing operation of each of said developing means is stopped when situated at the retracted position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
225 words
An image forming apparatus including a first body and a second body which is openable from and closable to said first body, said image forming apparatus comprising in said first or second body: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means for developing the latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position where it is retracted from the developing position and disposed away from said image bearing member, wherein when the second body is closed, one of said first and second developing means is at its developing position, and the other developing means is in its retracted position; first moving means for moving away from said image bearing member at least the developing means in the developing position when the second body is closed without moving the developing means that is at its retracted position to its developing position, in response to an opening operation of the second body; and means for always setting said first developing means in said developing position after an opening and closing of said second body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
225 words
An image forming apparatus including a first body and a second body which is openable from and closable to said first body, said image forming apparatus comprising in said first or second body: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member in accordance with image information; at least first and second developing means for developing the latent image formed on said image bearing member by said latent image forming means, each of said first and second developing means being movable between a developing position for developing the latent image on said image bearing member and a retracted position where it is retracted from the developing position and disposed away from said image bearing member, wherein when the second body is closed, one of said first and second developing means is at its developing position, and the other developing means is in its retracted position; first moving means for moving away from said image bearing member at least the developing means in the developing position when the second body is closed without moving the developing means that is at its retracted position to its developing position, in response to an opening operation of the second body; and means for always setting said first developing means in said developing position after an opening and closing of said second body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 19, said first developing means is more frequently used than said second developing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said first developing means contains a black developer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein after said second body is closed to the first body and after said apparatus is supplied with power, said first developing means is always set to the developing position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising second moving means for moving said first developing means between its developing position and its retracted position when the second body is closed, wherein said second developing means is movable between its developing position and its retracted position when the second body is closed and inversely to said first developing means, in response to said second moving means moving said first developing means between its retracted position and its developing position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising urging means for urging said second developing means in a direction away from said image bearing member, wherein said second moving means moves said second developing means to its developing position against said urging means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said second developing means is moved from its retracted position to its developing position by said first developing means directly pressing said second developing means in association with said moving means moving said first developing means from its developing position to its retracted position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein engagement between said first developing means and said second moving means is released by the opening of said second body from said first body, and wherein with the opening of the second body, at least the developing means that is located at its developing position is moved away from the image bearing member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a developing operation of each of said developing means is stopped when situated at the retracted position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said second moving means is contained in said first body.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said second moving means is operative commonly to move said first developing means and said second developing means.
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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) | 1993-01-22 | 1993-07-24 | 1994-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-22 | 1997-07-24 | 1998-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-22 | 2001-07-24 | 2002-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |