US5030988A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color image forming apparatus
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 1990-03-27
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Granted: 1991-07-09
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Expires: 2010-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A color image forming apparatus for forming a plurality of toner images on a rotating image retainer, wherein the image retainer, a group of developing devices disposed below the image retainer and a cleaning device disposed above the image retainer are integrated to constitute a process unit, toner recovered by the cleaning device is stored in the process unit, and the image retainer can be removed from the process unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoshi Haneda
- 👤 Masakazu Fukuchi
- 👤 Seiko Naganuma
- 👤 Masahiko Itaya
- 👤 Shunji Matsuo
- 👤 Shizuo Morita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:48
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/1807; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G21/10; G03G21/105; G03G21/1814; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1603; G03G2221/1606; G03G2221/1618; G03G2221/1624; G03G2221/1672; G03G2221/1675; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183; G03G2221/1853
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
In a color image forming apparatus wherein a plurality of toner images are formed on a rotating image retainer by performing a plurality of charging, image exposure, and developments on said image retainer, respectively, and said plurality of toner images are transferred onto a recording paper, an improvement wherein; all developing devices are disposed below said image retainer and a cleaning device is dispose above said image retainer, said image retainer, said developing devices and said cleaning device being integrated into a single process unit, toner recovered by said cleaning device being stored in said process unit, said process unit being adapted to be withdrawn from a main body of said color forming apparatus, said image retainer being adapted to be removable, in a vertical direction, from said process unit when said process unit is withdrawn from said main body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a color image forming apparatus wherein a plurality of toner images are formed on a rotating image retainer by performing a plurality of charging, image exposure, and developments on said image retainer, respectively, and said plurality of toner images are transferred onto a recording paper, an improvement wherein; all developing devices are disposed below said image retainer and a cleaning device is dispose above said image retainer, said image retainer, said developing devices and said cleaning device being integrated into a single process unit, toner recovered by said cleaning device being stored in said process unit, said process unit being adapted to be withdrawn from a main body of said color forming apparatus, said image retainer being adapted to be removable, in a vertical direction, from said process unit when said process unit is withdrawn from said main body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein toner recovered by said cleaning device is stored within said image retainer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a color image forming apparatus wherein a plurality of toner images are formed on a rotating image retainer by performing a plurality of charging, image exposure, and developments, on said image retainer, respectively, and said plurality of toner images are transferred onto a recording paper, an improvement wherein; all developing devices are disposed below said image retainer and a cleaning device is disposed above said image retainer, said image retainer, said developing devices, and said cleaning device being integrated into a single process unit, said process unit being adapted to be withdrawn from a main body of said color forming apparatus, said image retainer being adapted to be removable from said process unit when said process unit is withdrawn from said main body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a color image forming apparatus wherein a plurality of toner images are formed on a rotating image retainer by performing a plurality of charging, image exposure, and developments, on said image retainer, respectively, and said plurality of toner images are transferred onto a recording paper, an improvement wherein; all developing devices are disposed below said image retainer and a cleaning device is disposed above said image retainer, said image retainer, said developing devices, and said cleaning device being integrated into a single process unit, said process unit being adapted to be withdrawn from a main body of said color forming apparatus, said image retainer being adapted to be removable from said process unit when said process unit is withdrawn from said main body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein respective toner supply boxes are integrally provided in parallel with said developing devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said image retainer is a drum-type image retainer and wherein developing sleeves provided in said developing devices rotate in a direction opposite to developing sleeves of adjacent developing devices.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-08 | 1995-01-07 | 1995-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-08 | 1999-01-07 | 1999-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-08 | 2003-01-07 | 2003-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |