Patent US4958192A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4958192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus having plural developing units and a device for selecting a predetermined developing unit
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-06-07
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Granted: 1990-09-18
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Expires: 2008-06-07
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus is provided and includes first and second developing units for developing a latent image which is formed on a photoconductor provided with the image forming apparatus. The control panel provides an arrangement for selecting either one of the first and second developing units for operation in the image forming apparatus. Additionally, the selection arrangement is provided so as to select the first developing unit if the developers, utilized in the first and second developing units, are of the same kind. If the developers of the first and second developing units are different from one another, the selection arrangement permits the selection of the second developing unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Keiji Kusumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:19
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoconductor, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with first developer, second developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with second developer and selection means for selecting said first developing means if both of the first and second developers are alike and selecting said second developing means if the first developer and the second one are different from each other when a power supply source for the image forming apparatus is switched on.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoconductor, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with first developer, second developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with second developer and selection means for selecting said first developing means if both of the first and second developers are alike and selecting said second developing means if the first developer and the second one are different from each other when a power supply source for the image forming apparatus is switched on.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein color of the second developer is black.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for identifying individual colors of the first and second developers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoconductor, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with first developer, second developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with second developer and selection means for selecting said first developing means if both of the first and second developers are alike and selecting said second developing means if the first developer and the second one are different from each other when an image forming operation has been completed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoconductor, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with first developer, second developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with second developer and selection means for selecting said first developing means if both of the first and second developers are alike and selecting said second developing means if the first developer and the second one are different from each other when an image forming operation has been completed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 4 wherein color of the second developer is black.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising means for identifying individual colors of the first and second developers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoconductor, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with first developer, second developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with second developer, entry means for entering conditions for forming an image and selection means for selecting said first developing means if both of the first and second developers are alike and selecting said second developing means if the first developer and the second one are different from each other when no image forming operation is started within a predetermined time period after said conditions for forming an image were entered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoconductor, first developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with first developer, second developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor with second developer, entry means for entering conditions for forming an image and selection means for selecting said first developing means if both of the first and second developers are alike and selecting said second developing means if the first developer and the second one are different from each other when no image forming operation is started within a predetermined time period after said conditions for forming an image were entered.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 wherein color of the second developer is black.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means for identifying individual colors of the first and second developers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said entry means is key entry means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising an auto-reset timer means for resetting the image forming apparatus into an initial mode thereof when no image operation is carried out within a predetermined time period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an image forming apparatus which includes a first developing means having first developer, second developing means having a second developer, designating means for designating one of said first and second developing means as a preferential developing means and preferential selecting means for selecting said preferential developing means at a predetermined timing, a method comprising the steps of: recognizing kinds of said first and second developer; comparing the kind of said first developer with the kind of the second developer; designating the first developing means as the preferential developing means when the kind of said first developer is identical to the kind of said second developer; and designating said second developing means as the preferential developing means when the kind of said first developer is different from the kind of said second developer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an image forming apparatus which includes a first developing means having first developer, second developing means having a second developer, designating means for designating one of said first and second developing means as a preferential developing means and preferential selecting means for selecting said preferential developing means at a predetermined timing, a method comprising the steps of: recognizing kinds of said first and second developer; comparing the kind of said first developer with the kind of the second developer; designating the first developing means as the preferential developing means when the kind of said first developer is identical to the kind of said second developer; and designating said second developing means as the preferential developing means when the kind of said first developer is different from the kind of said second developer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: first developing means having first developer; second developing means having a second developer; means for recognizing kinds of said first and second developer; means for comparing the kind of said first developer with the kind of the second developer; means for designating the first developing means as a preferential developing means when the kind of said first developer is identical to the kind of said second developer and for designating said second developing means as a preferential developing means when the kind of said first developer is different from the kind of said second developer; and selecting said preferential developing means at a predetermined time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
110 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: first developing means having first developer; second developing means having a second developer; means for recognizing kinds of said first and second developer; means for comparing the kind of said first developer with the kind of the second developer; means for designating the first developing means as a preferential developing means when the kind of said first developer is identical to the kind of said second developer and for designating said second developing means as a preferential developing means when the kind of said first developer is different from the kind of said second developer; and selecting said preferential developing means at a predetermined time.
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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) | 1993-09-17 | 1994-03-19 | 1994-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-17 | 1998-03-19 | 1998-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-17 | 2002-03-19 | 2002-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |