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US4941018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Developing device accommodating apparatus and image forming apparatus and developing device
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-27
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Granted: 1990-07-10
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Expires: 2008-12-27
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, image forming station for forming a latent image on the image bearing member, a conveying passage extending toward the image bearing member to guide a developing device, a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in the conveying passage and moving it in a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the image bearing member, the latent image forming station, the conveying passage and the first moving mechanism are provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus, a device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices. The accommodating device is mounted to the main body, the accommodating device includes, a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to the conveying passage into the conveying passage in a substantially horizontal plane and an accommodating case having partition stages arranged substantially vertically for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein, and a driver for transmitting a driving force selectively to the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism and the accommodating case.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshirou Kasamura
- 👤 Masashi Ohashi
- 👤 Toshihiko Kusumoto
- 👤 Naoki Okuda
- 👤 Nobukazu Sasaki
- 👤 Yasunori Maeda
- 👤 Akiyoshi Kimura
- 👤 Katsumi Munenaka
- 👤 Yoshikuni Toyama
- 👤 Minoru Nada
- 👤 Ken Tanabe
- 👤 Masamichi Ikeda
- 👤 Yasuhide Hishikawa
- 👤 Takashi Ozawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:44
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable substantially vertically, including plural partition stages arranged vertically for movably accommodating the plural developing devices and a drive receiving member for fixedly supporting said partition stages and for receiving driving force in a substantially vertical direction; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a horizontal plane; means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; and means for detecting colors of the developers contained in the developing devices.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable substantially vertically, including plural partition stages arranged vertically for movably accommodating the plural developing devices and a drive receiving member for fixedly supporting said partition stages and for receiving driving force in a substantially vertical direction; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a horizontal plane; means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; and means for detecting colors of the developers contained in the developing devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving source for providing a substantially vertical driving force and a substantially horizontal driving force and means for switching drive transmission between the vertical drive and the horizontal drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for preventing a said developing device from being introduced to a said partition stage which accommodates another of said developing devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving mechanism includes a drive transmission member for each of said partition stages.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable substantially vertically, including plural partition stages arranged vertically for movably accommodating the plural developing devices and a drive receiving member for fixedly supporting said partition stages and for receiving driving force in a substantially vertical direction; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a horizontal plane; means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; means for feeding a sheet to said image forming apparatus, said feeding means being disposed below a lowermost one of the partition stages; and a driving source for driving said feeding means and said accommodating case and switching means for switching transmission of the driving force between said feeding means and said accommodating means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable substantially vertically, including plural partition stages arranged vertically for movably accommodating the plural developing devices and a drive receiving member for fixedly supporting said partition stages and for receiving driving force in a substantially vertical direction; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a horizontal plane; means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; means for feeding a sheet to said image forming apparatus, said feeding means being disposed below a lowermost one of the partition stages; and a driving source for driving said feeding means and said accommodating case and switching means for switching transmission of the driving force between said feeding means and said accommodating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a member for collecting developer fallen from the developing devices, said collecting member being disposed above said feeding means and below the lowermost of said partition stages.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable substantially vertically, including plural partition stages arranged vertically for movably accommodating the plural developing devices and a drive receiving member for fixedly supporting said partition stages and for receiving driving force in a substantially vertical direction; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a horizontal plane; and means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; wherein each of said developing devices accommodated in said accommodating apparatus is provided with racks at respective lateral sides thereof with respect to a movement direction of the developing devices, wherein said moving mechanism includes drive transmission gears which are meshable with the racks.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable substantially vertically, including plural partition stages arranged vertically for movably accommodating the plural developing devices and a drive receiving member for fixedly supporting said partition stages and for receiving driving force in a substantially vertical direction; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a horizontal plane; and means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; wherein each of said developing devices accommodated in said accommodating apparatus is provided with racks at respective lateral sides thereof with respect to a movement direction of the developing devices, wherein said moving mechanism includes drive transmission gears which are meshable with the racks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, the racks are provided on the lateral vertical surfaces of each of the developing devices extending in the movement direction thereof, and wherein said gears are engaged with and disengaged from the respective racks simultaneously, and are effective to transmit substantially the same driving forces thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a part of the lateral surface is projected, and said accommodating case is provided with a recess for guiding the projection.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable substantially vertically, including plural partition stages arranged vertically for movably accommodating the plural developing devices and a drive receiving member for fixedly supporting said partition stages and for receiving driving force in a substantially vertical direction; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a horizontal plane; means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; and a guide in a substantially concave shape, for guiding a projection provided on each of the developing devices, and wherein an end of the guide near said image forming apparatus is expanded.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable substantially vertically, including plural partition stages arranged vertically for movably accommodating the plural developing devices and a drive receiving member for fixedly supporting said partition stages and for receiving driving force in a substantially vertical direction; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a horizontal plane; means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; and a guide in a substantially concave shape, for guiding a projection provided on each of the developing devices, and wherein an end of the guide near said image forming apparatus is expanded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
176 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; a conveying passage extending toward said image bearing member to guide a developing device; a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in said conveying passage and moving it in a substantially horizontal plane; said image bearing member, said latent image forming means, said conveying passage and said first moving mechanism being provided in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, said accommodating device being detachably mountable to said main body, said accommodating device including; a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to said conveying passage into said conveying passage in a substantially horizontal plane and an accommodating case having partition stages arranged substantially vertically for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein; and driving means for transmitting a driving force selectively to said first driving mechanism, said second driving mechanism and said accommodating case.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
176 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member; means for forming a latent image on said image bearing member; a conveying passage extending toward said image bearing member to guide a developing device; a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in said conveying passage and moving it in a substantially horizontal plane; said image bearing member, said latent image forming means, said conveying passage and said first moving mechanism being provided in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, said accommodating device being detachably mountable to said main body, said accommodating device including; a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to said conveying passage into said conveying passage in a substantially horizontal plane and an accommodating case having partition stages arranged substantially vertically for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein; and driving means for transmitting a driving force selectively to said first driving mechanism, said second driving mechanism and said accommodating case.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said driving means is provided with an interface for transmitting a signal from said main body to said accommodating device, and for transmitting a signal from said accommodating device to said main body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said main body is provided with a shutter for closing and opening said conveying passage, said shutter being opened when one of the developing devices passes between said conveying passage and said accommodating device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an intervening member for intervening between said main body and said accommodating means to assist transfer of the developing devices therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a control member for limiting the vertical movement of said accommodating device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said controlling member is in the form of worm gear mechanism, step gears, solenoid or mechanical stopper.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a member for collecting developer falling from the developing devices, said member being disposed at a lower position between said main body and said accommodating device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising means for feeding a sheet into said main body, wherein said collecting member is disposed above said feeding means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said main body is provided with a developing device guide along said conveying passage, and wherein said accommodating device is provided with a developing device guides adapted to be aligned with said guide of the main body, and wherein the portions of the respective guides near the other are provided with inclined surface to provide expanded guides.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said conveying passage and an outlet of said accommodating device are aligned by engagement between said main body and said accommodating device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first driving mechanism includes first and second conveying means at lateral sides of the developing device with respect to a movement direction of the developing devices to provide substantially the same driving forces to the sides of the developing devices.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, said first driving mechanism includes gears meshable with an upper or lower surface of each of the developing devices, and wherein said second driving mechanism includes gears meshable with racks formed on the respective lateral vertical sides of each of the developing devices.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising an additional developing device in said main body, which uses a one component developer and which is disposed above said conveying passage, and wherein the developing devices contained in said accommodating device use two component developer, and wherein the gear of said first driving mechanism is meshable with a rack formed on a bottom surface of each of the developing devices accommodatable in said accommodating device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 or 22, wherein said image forming apparatus is operable in a manual sheet mode, wherein when said accommodating case is at a lower position before the manual feed mode is selected, said accommodating case is shifted upwardly to allow the manual feed of the sheet upon selection of the manual feed mode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said driving means performs at least two drive transmission functions from a single driving source.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said driving means comprises a switching means for effecting selective drive transmission.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for manually feeding a sheet into said main body, wherein at least one of driving mechanisms and said manual feeding means are driven by a common driving source, and wherein there is provided means for switching drive transmission from the driving source.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising urging means, selectively disposed in or out of said conveying passage, for urging one of said developing devices upon urging operation and for retracting out of said conveying passage upon urge releasing operation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
80 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first driving mechanism includes conveying means for conveying between said accommodating device and a stand-by position in said main body, said image forming apparatus further comprising means for urging the developing device existing at the stand-by position to an operative position, and wherein said developing device and said conveying means are in engagement when it is at the stand-by position, while the engagement is released when it is at the operative position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
128 words
A developing device movable between a developing device accommodating apparatus and a main body of an image forming apparatus in a horizontal plane, comprising: a developer container for containing a developer; a movable developer carrying member for carrying the developer out of said container to a developing zone where said developer carrying member is opposed or contacted to said image forming means and for carrying a remaining developer back into the developer container; a casing; said developing device being movable in a direction when it is supplied into the image forming apparatus from the accommodating apparatus; a rack formed in both of lateral sides thereof with respect to movement direction of said developing device; and a rack formed on an upper or bottom surface of said developing device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
128 words
A developing device movable between a developing device accommodating apparatus and a main body of an image forming apparatus in a horizontal plane, comprising: a developer container for containing a developer; a movable developer carrying member for carrying the developer out of said container to a developing zone where said developer carrying member is opposed or contacted to said image forming means and for carrying a remaining developer back into the developer container; a casing; said developing device being movable in a direction when it is supplied into the image forming apparatus from the accommodating apparatus; a rack formed in both of lateral sides thereof with respect to movement direction of said developing device; and a rack formed on an upper or bottom surface of said developing device.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 30, further comprising a projection for being guided by a concave portion of the main body.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 31, wherein said projection comprises plural projections arranged in plural lines along the movement direction.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable in a first direction, including plural partition stages for movably accommodating the plural developing devices; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a direction crossing with the first direction; means for detecting colors of the developers contained in the developing devices; and means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodating case movable in a first direction, including plural partition stages for movably accommodating the plural developing devices; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stages to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a direction crossing with the first direction; means for detecting colors of the developers contained in the developing devices; and means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodation case movable in a first direction, including plural partition stages arranged in the first direction for movably accommodating the plural developing devices; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stage to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a second direction crossing with the first direction; and means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; wherein each of said developing devices accommodated in said accommodation apparatus is provided with racks at respective lateral sides thereof with respect to a movement direction of the developing devices, wherein said moving mechanism includes drive transmission gears which are meshable with the racks.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, comprising: an accommodation case movable in a first direction, including plural partition stages arranged in the first direction for movably accommodating the plural developing devices; a moving mechanism for engaging with a selected one of the developing devices on the partition stage to move the selected developing device relative to the partition stage in a second direction crossing with the first direction; and means for mounting said accommodating apparatus to an image forming apparatus with which said accommodating apparatus is used; wherein each of said developing devices accommodated in said accommodation apparatus is provided with racks at respective lateral sides thereof with respect to a movement direction of the developing devices, wherein said moving mechanism includes drive transmission gears which are meshable with the racks.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
182 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member; means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said image bearing member; a conveying passage extending toward said image bearing member to guide a developing device; a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in said conveying passage and moving it along the conveying passage; said image bearing member, said latent image forming means, said conveying passage and said first moving mechanism being provided in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, said accommodating device being detachably mountable to said main body, said accommodating device including: a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to said conveying passage into said conveying passage in a first direction and an accommodating case having partition stages arranged in a second direction crossing with the first direction for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein; and driving means for transmitting a driving force selectively to said first driving mechanism, said second driving mechanism and said accommodating case.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
182 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member; means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said image bearing member; a conveying passage extending toward said image bearing member to guide a developing device; a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in said conveying passage and moving it along the conveying passage; said image bearing member, said latent image forming means, said conveying passage and said first moving mechanism being provided in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, said accommodating device being detachably mountable to said main body, said accommodating device including: a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to said conveying passage into said conveying passage in a first direction and an accommodating case having partition stages arranged in a second direction crossing with the first direction for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein; and driving means for transmitting a driving force selectively to said first driving mechanism, said second driving mechanism and said accommodating case.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
218 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member; means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said image bearing member; a conveying passage extending toward said image bearing member to guide a developing device; a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in said conveying passage and moving it along a conveying passage; said image bearing member, said latent image forming means, said conveying passage and said first moving mechanism being provided in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a device for accommodating a plurality of developing device, said accommodating device being detachably mountable to said main body, said accommodating device including: a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to said conveying passage into said conveying passage in a first direction, and an accommodating case having partition stages arranged in a direction crossing with the first direction for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein; and wherein said main body is provided with a developing device guide along said conveying passage, and wherein said accommodating device is provided with a developing device guide adapted to be aligned with said guide of the main body, and wherein the portions of the respective guides near each other are provided with inclined surfaces to provided expanded guides.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
218 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member; means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said image bearing member; a conveying passage extending toward said image bearing member to guide a developing device; a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in said conveying passage and moving it along a conveying passage; said image bearing member, said latent image forming means, said conveying passage and said first moving mechanism being provided in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a device for accommodating a plurality of developing device, said accommodating device being detachably mountable to said main body, said accommodating device including: a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to said conveying passage into said conveying passage in a first direction, and an accommodating case having partition stages arranged in a direction crossing with the first direction for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein; and wherein said main body is provided with a developing device guide along said conveying passage, and wherein said accommodating device is provided with a developing device guide adapted to be aligned with said guide of the main body, and wherein the portions of the respective guides near each other are provided with inclined surfaces to provided expanded guides.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
207 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: said image bearing member; means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said image bearing member; a conveying passage extending toward said image bearing member to guide a developing device; a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in said conveying passage and moving it in the conveying passage; said image bearing member, said latent image forming means, said conveying passage and said first moving mechanism being provided in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, said accommodating device being detachably mountable to said main body, said accommodating device including: a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to said conveying passage into said conveying passage in a first direction and an accommodating case having partition stage arranged in a second direction crossing with the first direction for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein; and wherein said main body further comprises urging means, selectively disposed in or out of said conveying passage, for urging one of said developing devices toward said image bearing member upon an urging operation and for retracting out of said conveying passage upon releasing the urging operation.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
207 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: said image bearing member; means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said image bearing member; a conveying passage extending toward said image bearing member to guide a developing device; a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in said conveying passage and moving it in the conveying passage; said image bearing member, said latent image forming means, said conveying passage and said first moving mechanism being provided in a main body of said image forming apparatus; a device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices, said accommodating device being detachably mountable to said main body, said accommodating device including: a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to said conveying passage into said conveying passage in a first direction and an accommodating case having partition stage arranged in a second direction crossing with the first direction for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein; and wherein said main body further comprises urging means, selectively disposed in or out of said conveying passage, for urging one of said developing devices toward said image bearing member upon an urging operation and for retracting out of said conveying passage upon releasing the urging operation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-09 | 2002-01-08 | 2002-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |