Patent US4924267A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4924267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process cartridge and multi-color image forming apparatus using same
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1989-07-12
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2009-07-12
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus usable with a process cartridge detachably mountable thereto. The process cartridge includes a main cartridge containing a photosensitive member and process means as a unit. A subordinate process cartridge is detachably mountable to the main cartridge. The subordinate cartridge includes at least a developing device which is different from the developing device contained in the main cartridge so that a multi-color image can be formed if desired. The photosensitive member is used both for the main process cartridge and the subordinate cartridge.
Inventors
- 👤 Masao Yoshikawa
- 👤 Takashi Saito
- 👤 Tatuya Kobayashi
- 👤 Otoya Kosugiyama
- 👤 Atsushi Kubota
- 👤 Tuyoshi Waragai
- 👤 Tomoyuki Araki
- 👤 Hiroo Kobayashi
- 👤 Masahiko Yashiro
- 👤 Hiroyuki Ishii
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:10
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/1817; G03G21/1821; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G21/1807; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1603; G03G2221/163; G03G2221/1648; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654; G03G2221/1678; G03G2221/1687; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183; G03G2221/1838; G03G2221/1853; G03G2221/1861
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A main process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising as a unit: an image bearing member; first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit; and a mounting portion, on said supporting member, for detachably mounting to said main process cartridge a subordinate cartridge separate from said main process cartridge and containing second developing means, separate from said first developing means, for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A main process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising as a unit: an image bearing member; first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit; and a mounting portion, on said supporting member, for detachably mounting to said main process cartridge a subordinate cartridge separate from said main process cartridge and containing second developing means, separate from said first developing means, for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said main cartridge contains said image bearing member which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, said first developing means, a charger for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive member and cleaning means for removing residual toner particles from said photosensitive member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said subordinate cartridge contains said second developing means and a corona discharger as a unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said first and second developing means contain toners which are different in color.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said first developing means contains a black toner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a main process cartridge including an image bearing member, a first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member and a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit; a subordinate cartridge containing a second developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; said main cartridge including mounting means for detachably mounting to said main process cartridge said subordinate cartridge; said subordinate cartridge including a portion for mounting said second developing means to said mounting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a main process cartridge including an image bearing member, a first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member and a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit; a subordinate cartridge containing a second developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; said main cartridge including mounting means for detachably mounting to said main process cartridge said subordinate cartridge; said subordinate cartridge including a portion for mounting said second developing means to said mounting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said first and second developing means containing toners which different in color.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said main cartridge contains said image bearing member which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, said first developing means and cleaning means for removing residual toner from said photosensitive member as a unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said mounting portion is between said cleaning means and said first developing means and at such a position where said second developing means is opposed to said photosensitive member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said mounting means is provided with a cover, and wherein in response to opening and closing of said cover, a locking between said subordinate cartridge and said main cartridge is released or made.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said main process cartridge further contains means for charging said photosensitive member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a main process cartridge including an image bearing member, first developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said image bearing member and a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit; a subordinate process cartridge containing second developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; said main process cartridge including mounting means for detachably mounting to said main process cartridge said subordinate cartridge; said subordinate cartridge including a portion for mounting said second developing means to said mounting means; and means for automatically setting an image forming condition in association with presence or absence of said subordinate process cartridge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a main process cartridge including an image bearing member, first developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said image bearing member and a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit; a subordinate process cartridge containing second developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; said main process cartridge including mounting means for detachably mounting to said main process cartridge said subordinate cartridge; said subordinate cartridge including a portion for mounting said second developing means to said mounting means; and means for automatically setting an image forming condition in association with presence or absence of said subordinate process cartridge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process cartridge according to claim 12, wherein said main process cartridge contains said image bearing member which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, said first developing means and cleaning means for removing residual toner from said photosensitive member as a unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said main process cartridge contains said image bearing member which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and wherein the image forming condition under which an image is formed on said photosensitive member is automatically set in response to said setting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said subordinate cartridge is provided with said setting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said main process cartridge further contains means for charging said photosensitive member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member; first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit; mounting means for detachably mounting to said process cartridge a subordinate cartridge; and a cover for covering said image bearing member, said first developing means and said subordinate cartridge, said cover being provided with an opening for introducing first and second image information light to said image bearing member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member; first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit; mounting means for detachably mounting to said process cartridge a subordinate cartridge; and a cover for covering said image bearing member, said first developing means and said subordinate cartridge, said cover being provided with an opening for introducing first and second image information light to said image bearing member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein said cover is provided with a second opening, and wherein said first and second openings are disposed upstream and downstream of said mounting means, respectively with respect to movement direction of said image bearing member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein said information light includes light beams which correspond to image signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
A subordinate process cartridge detachably mountable to a main process cartridge, comprising: developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member contained in the main process cartridge, said main process cartridge also containing another developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; and means for positioning said subordinate process cartridge relative to said main process cartridge.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
65 words
A subordinate process cartridge detachably mountable to a main process cartridge, comprising: developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member contained in the main process cartridge, said main process cartridge also containing another developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member; and means for positioning said subordinate process cartridge relative to said main process cartridge.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process cartridge according to claim 20, further comprising means for charging said image bearing member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process cartridge according to claim 21, further comprising means for automatically setting an image forming condition of said process cartridge.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
119 words
An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, comprising: a main process cartridge including an image bearing member, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member, a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means, wherein a subordinate process cartridge containing a second developing means which is separate from said first developing means is detachably mountable to said main process cartridge; means for supporting said main process cartridge at a predetermined position; optical means for projecting information light to the image bearing member of said main process cartridge; and means for transferring a toner image from said image bearing member to a transfer material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
119 words
An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, comprising: a main process cartridge including an image bearing member, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member, a supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means, wherein a subordinate process cartridge containing a second developing means which is separate from said first developing means is detachably mountable to said main process cartridge; means for supporting said main process cartridge at a predetermined position; optical means for projecting information light to the image bearing member of said main process cartridge; and means for transferring a toner image from said image bearing member to a transfer material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said supporting means is in a main assembly of said image forming apparatus and in a cartridge supporting assembly which is openable and closable to a part of said main assembly containing said optical means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein when said cartridge supporting assembly is opened, said main cartridge is exposed while being supported on said cartridge supporting assembly.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said subordinate cartridge is detachably mountable to said main cartridge on said cartridge supporting assembly.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image forming apparatus and according to claim 23, wherein said information light includes light beams which correspond to image signals.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a first developed image formed on said image bearing member by said first developing means and a second developed image formed on said image bearing member by said second developing means are transferred onto a transfer material by said transferring means in one step.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
132 words
An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, comprising: a main process cartridge including an image bearing member, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member, supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit, wherein a subordinate process cartridge containing a second developing means which is separate from said first developing means is detachably mountable to said main process cartridge; a main assembly for supporting said main process cartridge and openable for allowing said main process cartridge to be taken out; optical means for projecting information light to the image bearing member of said main process cartridge; and means for transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a transfer material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
132 words
An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, comprising: a main process cartridge including an image bearing member, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member, supporting member for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit, wherein a subordinate process cartridge containing a second developing means which is separate from said first developing means is detachably mountable to said main process cartridge; a main assembly for supporting said main process cartridge and openable for allowing said main process cartridge to be taken out; optical means for projecting information light to the image bearing member of said main process cartridge; and means for transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a transfer material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process cartridge according to claim 29, wherein said main process cartridge is supported on a part of said main assembly which is openable.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said part of said main assembly supporting said main cartridge supports said main cartridge horizontally when it is opened.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said subordinate cartridge is detachably mountable when supported horizontally.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image forming apparatus and according to claim 29, wherein said information light includes light beams which correspond to image signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein a first developed image formed on said image bearing member by said first developing means and a second developed image formed on said image bearing member by said second developing means are transferred onto a transfer material by said transferring means in one step.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said part of said main assembly is openable by rotation about a shaft, and wherein upon opening, said main process cartridge rotates from a predetermined position to a position horizontally placed on said part of said main assembly.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
153 words
An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, comprising: a cartridge including a main process cartridge containing an image bearing member, a first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member and supporting means for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit, wherein a subordinate process cartridge having a second developing means which is separate from said first developing means is detachably mountable to said main process cartridge; means for automatically setting an image forming condition depending on absence and presence of said subordinate process cartridge; a main assembly for supporting said cartridge, said main assembly being dividingly openable to allow said main cartridge to be taken out; means for projecting information light onto the image bearing member of said cartridge; and means for transferring a toner image formed on said image bearing member onto a transfer material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
153 words
An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, comprising: a cartridge including a main process cartridge containing an image bearing member, a first developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member and supporting means for supporting said image bearing member and said first developing means as a unit, wherein a subordinate process cartridge having a second developing means which is separate from said first developing means is detachably mountable to said main process cartridge; means for automatically setting an image forming condition depending on absence and presence of said subordinate process cartridge; a main assembly for supporting said cartridge, said main assembly being dividingly openable to allow said main cartridge to be taken out; means for projecting information light onto the image bearing member of said cartridge; and means for transferring a toner image formed on said image bearing member onto a transfer material.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said setting means is provided in said subordinate cartridge.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image forming apparatus and according to claim 36, wherein said information light includes light beams which correspond to image signals.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 36, wherein a first developed image formed on said image bearing member by said first developing means and a second developed image formed on said image bearing member by said second developing means are transferred onto a transfer material by said transferring means in one step.
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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) | 1993-05-07 | 1993-11-06 | 1994-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-07 | 1997-11-06 | 1998-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-07 | 2001-11-06 | 2002-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |