US5063409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image recording apparatus and exchanging unit used in the same
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-11-08
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Granted: 1991-11-05
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Expires: 2010-11-08
Abstract
Abstract An image recording apparatus has a photo sensitive member and records an image in accordance with an electrophotography process. The image recording apparatus includes a housing, an optical system for emitting a light beam used for the electrophotography process, a stopper member provided in the housing at a predetermined position, and an exchanging unit detachably provided in the housing and having a developer device used for the electrophotography process. The exchanging unit also includes an optical element, a supporting mechanism for movably supporting the optical member, and an elastic member for pressing the optical member onto the stopper member when the exchanging unit is loaded in the housing at a predetermined position. The light beam emitted from the optical system passes through the optical member in the exchanging unit and is projected onto the photo sensitive member.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomohiro Nakajima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:07
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/32; G03G15/326; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1661; G03G21/1676; G03G15/04; G03G15/043; G03G15/0435; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1606; G03G2221/1615; G03G2221/163; G03G2221/1636; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An image recording apparatus having a photo sensitive member, which apparatus records an image in accordance with an electrophotography process, said image recording apparatus comprising: a housing; an optical system provided in said housing, for emitting a light beam used for the electrophotography process; a stopper member provided in said housing at a predetermined position; and an exchanging unit detachably provided in said housing and having at least a device used for the electrophotography process, said exchanging unit further comprising, an optical member, a supporting mechanism for movably supporting said optical member, and an elastic member for pressing said optical member onto said stopper member when said exchanging unit is loaded in said housing at a predetermined position, wherein the light beam emitted from said optical system passes through said optical member in said exchanging unit and is projected onto said photo sensitive member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
An image recording apparatus having a photo sensitive member, which apparatus records an image in accordance with an electrophotography process, said image recording apparatus comprising: a housing; an optical system provided in said housing, for emitting a light beam used for the electrophotography process; a stopper member provided in said housing at a predetermined position; and an exchanging unit detachably provided in said housing and having at least a device used for the electrophotography process, said exchanging unit further comprising, an optical member, a supporting mechanism for movably supporting said optical member, and an elastic member for pressing said optical member onto said stopper member when said exchanging unit is loaded in said housing at a predetermined position, wherein the light beam emitted from said optical system passes through said optical member in said exchanging unit and is projected onto said photo sensitive member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting mechanism has a first supporting member for movably supporting an end of said optical member and a second supporting member for movably supporting another end of said optical member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said exchanging unit further comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, said device used for the electrophotography process being put between said first side wall and said second side wall, and wherein said first supporting member is integrated with an inside surface of said first side wall and said second supporting member is integrated with an inside surface of said second side wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said elastic member has a first elastic element for pressing an end portion of said optical member and a second elastic element for pressing another end portion of said optical member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical member is inclined at a predetermined angle and said stopper member has a surface in contact with said optical member, said surface of said stopper member being inclined so that a surface of said optical member is perpendicular to said surface of said stopper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first supporting member and said second supporting member have an upper plate, a lower plate, an end plate connecting an end of said upper plate and an end of said lower plate and a stopper plate provided at another end of at least either the upper plate or lower plate, said upper plate and said lower plate being separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and wherein the end of said optical member is provided between said upper plate and said lower plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elastic member has a spring provided between said end plate and said optical member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an optical system housing, said optical system being housed in said optical system housing, wherein said exchanging unit is loaded at a position over said optical system housing and said stopper member has a projection member which projects from said optical system housing toward said exchanging unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device used for the electrophotography process includes a developer device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic member has a spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical member has a cylindrical lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
An exchanging unit detachably provided in an image recording apparatus which has a photo sensitive member and records an image in accordance with an electrophotography process, said exchanging unit comprising: a device used for the electrophotography process; an optical member; a supporting mechanism for movably supporting said optical member, and an elastic member for pressing said optical member onto a stopper member provided in said image recording apparatus at a predetermined position when said exchanging unit is loaded in said image recording apparatus at a predetermined position, wherein a light beam used for the electrophotography process and emitted from an optical system provided in said image recording apparatus passes through said optical member and is projected onto said photo sensitive member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
An exchanging unit detachably provided in an image recording apparatus which has a photo sensitive member and records an image in accordance with an electrophotography process, said exchanging unit comprising: a device used for the electrophotography process; an optical member; a supporting mechanism for movably supporting said optical member, and an elastic member for pressing said optical member onto a stopper member provided in said image recording apparatus at a predetermined position when said exchanging unit is loaded in said image recording apparatus at a predetermined position, wherein a light beam used for the electrophotography process and emitted from an optical system provided in said image recording apparatus passes through said optical member and is projected onto said photo sensitive member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An exchanging unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein said supporting mechanism has a first supporting member for movably supporting an end of said optical member and a second supporting member for movably supporting another end of said optical member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
An exchanging unit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a first side wall and a second side wall, said device used for the electrophotography process being put between said first side wall and said second side wall, and wherein said first supporting member is integrated with an inside surface of said first side wall and said second supporting member is integrated with an inside surface of said second side wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An exchanging unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said elastic member has a first elastic element for pressing an end portion of said optical member and a second elastic element for pressing another end portion of said optical member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
96 words
An exchanging unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of said first supporting member and said second supporting member have an upper plate, a lower plate, an end plate connecting an end of said upper plate and an end of said lower plate and a stopper plate provided at another end of at least either the upper plate or lower plate, said upper plate and said lower plate being separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and wherein the end of said optical member is provided between said upper plate and said lower plate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An exchanging unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein said elastic member has a spring provided between said end plate and said optical member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An exchanging unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein said device used for the electrophotography process includes a developer device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
An exchanging unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein said elastic member has a spring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An exchanging unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein said optical member has a cylindrical lens.
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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) | 1994-11-04 | 1995-05-06 | 1995-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-04 | 1999-05-06 | 1999-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-04 | 2003-05-06 | 2003-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |