Color image forming apparatus

Claim 2

A color image forming apparatus having developing units of four colors for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image holding member thereby making it into a toner image and capable of forming a colored image composed of each colored toner image, comprising: a reciprocative movement holding member for holding each developing unit of four colors arranged in the direction of reciprocating movement; a positioning means for positioning the reciprocative movement holding member at the position where each developing unit faces the image holding member from any direction in the direction of the reciprocating movement; a control means for developing an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color by using the developing units of four colors in a predetermined order of development wherein a black developing unit is arranged to function last in order of development; and an image composing means for composing each colored toner image prior to transferring the image onto a transfer material or when transfer is performed, wherein the black developing unit is disposed at either one of the farthest ends of the reciprocative movement holding member in the direction of its reciprocating movement, and the second developing unit in order of development is disposed at the other farthest end.

Claim 3

A color image forming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the reciprocative movement holding member is movably disposed upwardly and downwardly in the vertical direction.

Claim 4

A color image forming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said reciprocative movement holding member is balanced with a balancer which balances with a total weight thereof.

Claim 5

A color image forming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said positioning means has a stationary frame fixed on a main body of said color image forming apparatus, a moving cam movably supported and guided back and forth by the stationary frame and a driver for moving the cam, and the moving cam has an inclined plane for moving a developing unit to said image holding member as the reciprocative movement of said reciprocative movement holding member.

Claim 6

A color image forming apparatus having developing units of four colors for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image holding member thereby making it into a toner image and capable of forming a colored image composed of each colored toner image, comprising: a reciprocative movement holding member for holding four developing units (Y,M,C and Bk units) used for four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan and black arranged in four stairs in the direction of reciprocating movement; a positioning means for positioning the reciprocative movement holding member at the position where each developing unit Y,M,C and Bk faces the image holding member from any direction in the direction of the reciprocating movement; a control means for developing an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color by using the developing units Y,M,C and Bk of four colors in a predetermined order (an order of Y,M,C and Bk); and an image composing means for composing each colored toner image of yellow, magenta, cyan and black prior to transferring the image onto a transfer material or when transfer is performed, wherein each developing unit Y,M,C and Bk is held by the reciprocative movement holding member in order of (M,Y,C, Bk) or (Bk,C,Y,M) or (M,C,Y,Bk) or (Bk,Y,C,M) against the direction of reciprocating movement of the reciprocative movement holding member.

Claim 7

A color image forming apparatus having developing units of four colors for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image holding member thereby making it into a toner image and capable of forming a colored image composed of each colored toner image, comprising: a reciprocative movement holding member for holding four developing units (Y,M,C and Bk units) used for four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan and black arranged in four stairs in the direction of reciprocating movement; a positioning means for positioning the reciprocative movement holding member at the position where each developing unit Y,M,C and Bk faces the image holding member from any direction in the direction of the reciprocating movement; a control means for developing an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color by using the developing units Y,M,C and Bk of four colors in a predetermined order (an order of Y,M,C and Bk); and an image composing means for composing each colored toner image of yellow, magenta, cyan and black prior to transferring the image onto a transfer material or when transfer is performed, wherein each developing unit Y,M,C and Bk is held by the reciprocative movement holding member in order of (M,Y,C, Bk) or (Bk,C,Y,M) or (M,C,Y,Bk) or (Bk,Y,C,M) against the direction of reciprocating movement of the reciprocative movement holding member.

Claim 8

A color image forming apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the reciprocative movement holding member is movably disposed upwardly and downwardly in the vertical direction.