US5063410A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus having a plurality of removable developing devices
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-02-09
•
Granted: 1991-11-05
•
Expires: 2010-02-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses an image forming apparatus capable of making color reproductions. A plurality of developing portions are arranged around a photoreceptor which rotates in a predetermined direction. Developing units, which accommodate different kinds of developer, can be attached to the developing portions. Switches detect the attachment of at least one of the developing units. During a copying operation an electrostatic latent image is formed on an electroconductive drum and toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image by selectively operating the developing units.
Inventors
- 👤 Naoyoshi Kinoshita
- 👤 Keiji Kusumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0126; G03G15/06; G03G15/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoreceptor rotatable in a predetermined direction; a plurality of developing portions arranged one by one in the direction of the photoreceptor rotation; a plurality of developing units attachable to the developing portions respectively for accommodating different kinds of developer; detecting means for detecting attachment of at least one of the plurality of developing units accommodating a specific kind of developer; and control means responsive to said detecting means for regulating operation of the developing portions to which the developing units accommodating the developer are attached except for at least one of the plurality of developing units accommodating the specific kind of developer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoreceptor rotatable in a predetermined direction; a plurality of developing portions arranged one by one in the direction of the photoreceptor rotation; a plurality of developing units attachable to the developing portions respectively for accommodating different kinds of developer; detecting means for detecting attachment of at least one of the plurality of developing units accommodating a specific kind of developer; and control means responsive to said detecting means for regulating operation of the developing portions to which the developing units accommodating the developer are attached except for at least one of the plurality of developing units accommodating the specific kind of developer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means prohibits the operation of the developing portions positioned at upstream side of the developing portions to which the developing unit accommodating the specific developer is attached with respect to the direction of the photoreceptor rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the specific kind of developer is a white developer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said control means further prohibits the operation of the developing portions to which the developing units are not attached.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoreceptor rotatable in a predetermined direction; a plurality of developing portions arranged one by one in the direction of the photoreceptor rotation; a plurality of developing units attachable to the developing portions respectively for accommodating different kinds of developer; detecting means for detecting kinds of developer accommodated within the developing units which are respectively attached to the developing portions; first control means for forming a visible image on the photoreceptor by operating either of the developing portions; and second control means for prohibiting the operation of the developing portions positioned at upstream side of the developing portion to which the developing unit accommodating a specific kind of developer is attached with respect to the direction of the photoreceptor rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoreceptor rotatable in a predetermined direction; a plurality of developing portions arranged one by one in the direction of the photoreceptor rotation; a plurality of developing units attachable to the developing portions respectively for accommodating different kinds of developer; detecting means for detecting kinds of developer accommodated within the developing units which are respectively attached to the developing portions; first control means for forming a visible image on the photoreceptor by operating either of the developing portions; and second control means for prohibiting the operation of the developing portions positioned at upstream side of the developing portion to which the developing unit accommodating a specific kind of developer is attached with respect to the direction of the photoreceptor rotation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said control means further prohibits the operation of the developing units in the developing portions to which the developing units are not attached.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the specific kind of developer is white developer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising selecting means for selecting at least one developing portion from the plurality of the developing portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising display means for displaying the kinds of the developer accommodated within the developing units attached to the developing portions selected by said selecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said display means further displays a special information when the operation of the developing portions selected by the selecting means is prohibited by the second control means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising first display means for displaying the kinds of the developer accommodated within the developing units attached to the developing portions the operation of which is prohibited by the second control means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising second display means for displaying the kinds of the developer accommodated within the developing units attached to the developing portions selected by said selecting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
In an image forming apparatus comprising a photoreceptor rotatable in a predetermined direction, a plurality of developing portions arranged one by one in the direction of the photoreceptor rotation, and a plurality of developing units attachable to the developing portions respectively for accommodating different kinds of developer, a method comprising the steps of: detecting the attachment of the developing units accommodating a specific kind of developer; and prohibiting the operation of the developing units in the developing portions positioned at upstream side of the developing portion to which the developing unit accommodating the specific developer is attached with respect to the direction of the photoreceptor rotation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
106 words
In an image forming apparatus comprising a photoreceptor rotatable in a predetermined direction, a plurality of developing portions arranged one by one in the direction of the photoreceptor rotation, and a plurality of developing units attachable to the developing portions respectively for accommodating different kinds of developer, a method comprising the steps of: detecting the attachment of the developing units accommodating a specific kind of developer; and prohibiting the operation of the developing units in the developing portions positioned at upstream side of the developing portion to which the developing unit accommodating the specific developer is attached with respect to the direction of the photoreceptor rotation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the steps of prohibiting the operation of the developing portions to which the developing units are not attached.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA950767A
Cited
US4579443A
Cited
US4769675A
Cited
JPS61256357A
Cited
JPS62255976A
Cited
JPS63213868A
Cited
US4845524A
Cited
US4890139A
Cited
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 |