Image forming apparatus and image member cartridge

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus comprising: a replaceable cartridge supporting an image member having an image surface, which image member is movable to bring said image surface past a series of stations for forming transferable images on said image surface, said cartridge having a transfer opening providing access to said image surface, a transfer member having associated therewith a transfer surface, said surface being engageable with said image surface through said transfer opening, said transfer surface being movable with said image surface for transfer of toner images, and means for moving said transfer member to move said transfer surface, said transfer surface in turn moving said image member to move said image surface past the series of stations.

Claim 3

An image forming apparatus comprising: a replaceable cartridge containing a photoconductive drum having a peripheral image surface, said photoconductive drum being supported in said cartridge for rotation to move its image surface past a series of stations to form a series of different color toner images on said image surface, and said cartridge having means defining access to the image surface for transfer of said images in registration to a transfer surface to form a multicolor image, a transfer drum having associated therewith a transfer surface which transfer surface is frictionally engageable with the image surface of said photoconductive drum through said access defining means, and means for rotating said transfer drum to in turn rotate said photoconductive drum through the frictional engagement of said transfer and image surfaces.

Claim 4

An image forming apparatus comprising: a replaceable cartridge containing a photoconductive drum having a peripheral image surface, said photoconductive drum being supported in said cartridge for rotation to move its image surface past a series of stations to form a series of different color toner images on said image surface, and said cartridge having means defining access to the image surface for transfer of said images in registration to a transfer surface to form a multicolor image, a transfer drum having associated therewith a transfer surface which transfer surface is frictionally engageable with the image surface of said photoconductive drum through said access defining means, and means for rotating said transfer drum to in turn rotate said photoconductive drum through the frictional engagement of said transfer and image surfaces.

Claim 5

An image forming apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said transfer surface is a cylindrical outer surface of said transfer drum.

Claim 6

An image forming apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said transfer surface is an outer surface of a receiving sheet secured to a cylindrical outer surface of said transfer drum.

Claim 7

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3 further including means for transferring a multicolor toner image from the transfer surface to a receiving sheet.

Claim 8

An image forming apparatus comprising: a replaceable cartridge containing a drum-shaped image member having an image surface and means for supporting said image member for rotation about an image member axis, a series of stations, at least one of which is contained in said cartridge for forming a series of toner images on said image member as the peripheral surface of said image member rotates past said stations, means defining access through said cartridge to the peripheral surface of said image member for transfer of toner images to a transfer surface, a transfer drum located outside of said cartridge and having a cylindrical transfer surface which is engageable with the image surface of said image member through said access defining means, and means for rotating said transfer drum to in turn rotate said image member through engagement of said transfer surface and said image surface.

Claim 9

An image forming apparatus comprising: a replaceable cartridge containing a drum-shaped image member having an image surface and means for supporting said image member for rotation about an image member axis, a series of stations, at least one of which is contained in said cartridge for forming a series of toner images on said image member as the peripheral surface of said image member rotates past said stations, means defining access through said cartridge to the peripheral surface of said image member for transfer of toner images to a transfer surface, a transfer drum located outside of said cartridge and having a cylindrical transfer surface which is engageable with the image surface of said image member through said access defining means, and means for rotating said transfer drum to in turn rotate said image member through engagement of said transfer surface and said image surface.

Claim 10

The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 further including means for transferring toner images in registration from said image surface to said transfer surface.

Claim 11

The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for forming toner images includes means for forming a series of different color toner images to create a multicolor toner image on said transfer surface.

Claim 12

The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 further including means for transferring said multicolor image to a receiving sheet from said transfer surface.

Claim 13

Image forming apparatus comprising: a replaceable cartridge containing a photoconductive drum supported for rotation about an axis to bring said drum past a series of electrophotographic stations to form a series of different color toner images on said surface, said cartridge having means defining access to said photoconductive drum for transfer of said different color toner images in registration to a transfer surface to form a multicolor image, a transfer drum, having a cylindrical transfer surface which transfer surface is engageable with said photoconductive drum through said access defining means, and means for rotating said transfer drum to in turn rotate said photoconductive drum to transfer said different color toner images in registration to said transfer surface.

Claim 14

Image forming apparatus comprising: a replaceable cartridge containing a photoconductive drum supported for rotation about an axis to bring said drum past a series of electrophotographic stations to form a series of different color toner images on said surface, said cartridge having means defining access to said photoconductive drum for transfer of said different color toner images in registration to a transfer surface to form a multicolor image, a transfer drum, having a cylindrical transfer surface which transfer surface is engageable with said photoconductive drum through said access defining means, and means for rotating said transfer drum to in turn rotate said photoconductive drum to transfer said different color toner images in registration to said transfer surface.

Claim 15

An image forming apparatus according to claim 10 further including means for transferring said multicolor image from said transfer surface to a receiving sheet.

Claim 16

An image forming apparatus according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said series of electrophotographic stations is positioned inside said cartridge.

Claim 17

An image forming apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said at least one station is a charging station.

Claim 18

An image forming apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said cartridge further includes a cleaning station where said photoconductive drum is cleaned, and an opening through which exposure light can pass to form electrostatic images on said photoconductive drum.

Claim 19

An image forming apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said cartridge further includes an opening through which said electrostatic images are tonable.

Claim 20

An image forming apparatus according to claim 15 further including means for applying a different color toner to each of said series of electrostatic images through said opening through which said electrostatic images are tonable.

Claim 21

An image member cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing, an image member supported for movement to create a toner image on said image member, and means defining an opening in said housing to said image member through which a toner image on said image member is transferable to a moving transfer surface and through which said image member is movable by engagement with a moving transfer surface.

Claim 22

An image member cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing, an image member supported for movement to create a toner image on said image member, and means defining an opening in said housing to said image member through which a toner image on said image member is transferable to a moving transfer surface and through which said image member is movable by engagement with a moving transfer surface.

Claim 23

An image member cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing, an image member supported for rotation about an axis to move said image member past a series of stations at least one of which is located inside said cartridge to create a series of toner images on said image member, and means defining an opening to said image member through which a toner image is transferable from said image member to a moving surface and through which said image member is movable by engagement with such a moving surface.

Claim 24

An image member cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing, an image member supported for rotation about an axis to move said image member past a series of stations at least one of which is located inside said cartridge to create a series of toner images on said image member, and means defining an opening to said image member through which a toner image is transferable from said image member to a moving surface and through which said image member is movable by engagement with such a moving surface.

Claim 25

An image member cartridge comprising: a drum having a cylindrical image surface upon which a toner image is formable, a cartridge housing in which said drum is rotatable, and an opening in said housing through which said cylindrical image surface is accessible both for transfer of said toner image and for rotating said drum.

Claim 26

An image member cartridge comprising: a drum having a cylindrical image surface upon which a toner image is formable, a cartridge housing in which said drum is rotatable, and an opening in said housing through which said cylindrical image surface is accessible both for transfer of said toner image and for rotating said drum.

Claim 27

An image member cartridge comprising: a housing, a photoconductive drum having a cylindrical image surface, said drum being mounted for rotation in said housing, means for uniformly charging said surface, an optical opening in said housing through which said surface is exposable to create a series of electrostatic images, an opening in said housing through which said electrostatic images are developable by application of toners of colors that are different from image to image to create a series of different color toner images, and an opening in said housing through which said toner images are transferable by contact with a moving transfer surface and through which said drum is rotatable by said moving transfer surface.

Claim 28

An image member cartridge comprising: a housing, a photoconductive drum having a cylindrical image surface, said drum being mounted for rotation in said housing, means for uniformly charging said surface, an optical opening in said housing through which said surface is exposable to create a series of electrostatic images, an opening in said housing through which said electrostatic images are developable by application of toners of colors that are different from image to image to create a series of different color toner images, and an opening in said housing through which said toner images are transferable by contact with a moving transfer surface and through which said drum is rotatable by said moving transfer surface.

Claim 29

An image member cartridge, for use in an image forming apparatus which apparatus includes imagewise exposure means, development means, a rotatable transfer drum, means for rotating said transfer drum and means for receiving am image member cartridge, said cartridge being positionable in operative relation with such a receiving means and said cartridge comprising: a rotatable drum-shaped image member, having a cylindrical outer image surface, charging means, a cartridge housing including means defining an exposure opening, means defining a development opening, and means defining a transfer opening, said drum-shaped image member being rotatable to bring said cylindrical image surface past said charging means for uniformly charging said image surface, past said exposure opening for imagewise exposing said charged image surface to create a series of electrostatic images, past said development opening for the application of different color toners to said series of electrostatic images to create different color toner images on said image surface and past said transfer opening for engagement with the rotatable transfer drum of an image forming apparatus for transfer of toner images in registration to said transfer drum to create a multicolor image and for rotation of said image member as a direct result of engagement between said image member and the transfer drum of the image forming apparatus.

Claim 30

An image member cartridge, for use in an image forming apparatus which apparatus includes imagewise exposure means, development means, a rotatable transfer drum, means for rotating said transfer drum and means for receiving am image member cartridge, said cartridge being positionable in operative relation with such a receiving means and said cartridge comprising: a rotatable drum-shaped image member, having a cylindrical outer image surface, charging means, a cartridge housing including means defining an exposure opening, means defining a development opening, and means defining a transfer opening, said drum-shaped image member being rotatable to bring said cylindrical image surface past said charging means for uniformly charging said image surface, past said exposure opening for imagewise exposing said charged image surface to create a series of electrostatic images, past said development opening for the application of different color toners to said series of electrostatic images to create different color toner images on said image surface and past said transfer opening for engagement with the rotatable transfer drum of an image forming apparatus for transfer of toner images in registration to said transfer drum to create a multicolor image and for rotation of said image member as a direct result of engagement between said image member and the transfer drum of the image forming apparatus.