US4916490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of developing devices
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1989-01-09
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Granted: 1990-04-10
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Expires: 2009-01-09
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus including at least first and second developing devices for developing latent images formed on an image bearing member. The first and second developing devices contain developers of different colors, respectively. The second developing device contains a developer of a predetermined color and is fixedly mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first developing device contains a developer of a color other than the predetermined color and is detachably mountable in the image forming apparatus. Only the first developing device is exchangeable.
Inventors
- 👤 Hidetoshi Tanaka
- 👤 Yoshikuni Tohyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; first developing means for developing the latent image formed by said latent image forming means, said first developing means having a capacity for accomodating a first amount of a first developer and being detachably mountable in said image forming apparatus; and second developing means for developing the latent image, said second developing means having a capacity for accomodating a second amount of a second developer different from said first developer, said second developing means being intended for more frequent use than said first developing means and being fixed in said image forming apparatus, and the second amount being larger than the first amount.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; first developing means for developing the latent image formed by said latent image forming means, said first developing means having a capacity for accomodating a first amount of a first developer and being detachably mountable in said image forming apparatus; and second developing means for developing the latent image, said second developing means having a capacity for accomodating a second amount of a second developer different from said first developer, said second developing means being intended for more frequent use than said first developing means and being fixed in said image forming apparatus, and the second amount being larger than the first amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first developing means is disposed above the second developing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first developing means is above said second developing means, and wherein said first developing means is mountable to or demountable from said image forming apparatus through a top portion thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a chamber for accommodating said first developing means, wherein said first developing means includes a developing roller for supplying the developer to said image bearing member, wherein said chamber has a first opening for allowing mounting and demounting of said first developing means and a second opening for allowing the developing roller of said first developing means to be exposed to said image bearing member, said image forming apparatus further comprising shutter means for opening and closing said first or second opening in response to the mounting and demounting of said first developing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means supports said first developing means in a manner that said first developing means is mountable into and detachable from said apparatus in a direction perpendicular to peripheral movement of said image bearing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first developing means includes a developing roller for supplying the developer to said image bearing member and a protection cover for protecting said developing roller when said first developing means is detached from said image forming apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second developing means includes a container having a developing portion provided with a developing roller for supplying the developer to said image bearing member and a developer containing portion for containing the developer to be supplied to said developing portion, means for supplying the developer from said containing portion to said developing portion and means for detecting an amount of the developer remaining in the developing portion, wherein said supplying means is operable in response to said detecting means to supply the developer from said containing portion to said developing portion, wherein said first developing means lacks an automatic developer supplying means responsive to a developer detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second developing means further includes means for detecting an amount of the developer remaining in said developer containing portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second developer means contains second developer having black toner particles, and said first developing means contains the first developer having non-black toner particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first developing means is disposed upstream of said second developing means with respect to peripheral movement of a surface of said image bearing member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first developing means containing developers of different colors, wherein said apparatus further comprises supporting means for supporting any of first developing means containing developers of different colors, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; first developing means for developing the latent image with a first developer said first developing means being detachably mountable at a predetermined position in said image forming apparatus and being provided with a receiving portion for receiving said first developer to be supplied into said first developing means when said first developing means is taken out of the predetermined position; and second developing means for developing the latent image with a second, different developer said second developing means being fixed in said image forming apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; first developing means for developing the latent image with a first developer said first developing means being detachably mountable at a predetermined position in said image forming apparatus and being provided with a receiving portion for receiving said first developer to be supplied into said first developing means when said first developing means is taken out of the predetermined position; and second developing means for developing the latent image with a second, different developer said second developing means being fixed in said image forming apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said receiving portion is a top surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first developing means includes means for accommodating a cartridge containing the first developer to supply the first developer to said first developing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first developing means includes a developing unit containing a developing sleeve, and wherein said developing unit has a receiving portion for toner particles of the first developer to be supplied into said developing unit when said developing unit is taken out of the apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first and second developers are different in color.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second developing means has a developer containing capacity larger than that of the first developing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said developing means contains second developer having black toner particles, and said first developing means contains non-black toner particles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; first developing means for developing the latent image with a first developer, said first developing means being detachably mountable in said image forming apparatus, disposable and lacking an opening for externally supplying the first developer thereinto; second developing means for developing the latent image with a second developer which is different from the first developer, said second developing means being provided with an opening through which the second developer is supplied thereinto.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; first developing means for developing the latent image with a first developer, said first developing means being detachably mountable in said image forming apparatus, disposable and lacking an opening for externally supplying the first developer thereinto; second developing means for developing the latent image with a second developer which is different from the first developer, said second developing means being provided with an opening through which the second developer is supplied thereinto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said second developing means is fixed in the apparatus and has a developer containing capacity which is larger than that of said first developing means, and wherein the second developer contains black toner particles, and the first developer contains non-black toner.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; first developing means for developing the latent image with a first developer, said first developing means including a portion for accommodating a developer replenishing cartridge; and second developing means for developing the latent image with a second developer, said second developing means being fixed in the apparatus and including a developer receiving opening through which the second developer is replenished, wherein said second developing means is provided with a supplying inlet for receiving the second developer from a top side of the apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
104 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; first developing means for developing the latent image with a first developer, said first developing means including a portion for accommodating a developer replenishing cartridge; and second developing means for developing the latent image with a second developer, said second developing means being fixed in the apparatus and including a developer receiving opening through which the second developer is replenished, wherein said second developing means is provided with a supplying inlet for receiving the second developer from a top side of the apparatus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said first developing means is detachably mountable in said image forming apparatus, wherein said second developing means has a developer containing capacity which is larger than that of said first developing means, and wherein the second developer contains black toner particles, and the first developer contains non-black toner.
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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) | 1993-04-09 | 1993-10-09 | 1994-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-09 | 1997-10-09 | 1998-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-09 | 2001-10-09 | 2002-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |