US5122836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrophotographic apparatus having a removable cartridge including a photosensitive body
Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-12-28
•
Granted: 1992-06-16
•
Expires: 2010-12-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus, in which an optical writing head is disposed in the neighborhood of a photosensitive body on the inner side thereof. The photosensitive body is located in a cartridge, which can be freely inserted and drawn out with respect to the main body of the apparatus and a guiding member is disposed in the cartridge, which member guides one end portion of the optical writing head, the other end portion of which is held by the main body of the apparatus to effect the positioning of the optical writing head. By constructing it in this way it is possible to effect the exchange operation of the cartridge, in which the photosensitive body is located, without dismounting the optical writing head and no position adjusting work therefor is necessary.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitsugu Fujiwara
- 👤 Makoto Tomoyori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:30
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1661; G03G21/1671; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1647; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/04; G03G2215/0497; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1606; G03G2221/1615; G03G2221/1636; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654; G03G2221/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An electrophotographic apparatus having a main compartment which comprises: a photosensitive body disposed in a removable cartridge; an optical writing head for forming an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive body, said optical writing head having a movable end portion and a stationary end portion fixedly held by said main compartment and being disposed adjacent to an inner side of said photosensitive body; and developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image by using toner, wherein the removable cartridge is disposed in said main compartment so as to be freely inserted and withdrawn from said main compartment, the cartridge comprising; a guiding member which guides said movable end portion of said optical writing head as the cartridge is inserted, to effect a predetermined position of said optical writing head adjacent to said inner side of said photosensitive body when the cartridge is fully inserted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
An electrophotographic apparatus having a main compartment which comprises: a photosensitive body disposed in a removable cartridge; an optical writing head for forming an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive body, said optical writing head having a movable end portion and a stationary end portion fixedly held by said main compartment and being disposed adjacent to an inner side of said photosensitive body; and developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image by using toner, wherein the removable cartridge is disposed in said main compartment so as to be freely inserted and withdrawn from said main compartment, the cartridge comprising; a guiding member which guides said movable end portion of said optical writing head as the cartridge is inserted, to effect a predetermined position of said optical writing head adjacent to said inner side of said photosensitive body when the cartridge is fully inserted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive body is a photosensitive belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a guiding groove for guiding said optical writing head into position is formed in said guiding member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: an elastic member, which energizes the movable end portion of said optical writing head into position and is disposed at the movable end portion of said guiding member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developing means is movable between an active position, where it can act on said photosensitive body, and a non active position, where said cartridge is withdrawn from said main compartment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4338615A
Cited
US4972227A
Cited
US4511237A
Cited
US4703334A
Cited
US4757332A
Cited
US4630919A
Cited
WO1987003707A1
Cited
JPS63240567A
Cited
US4912563A
Cited
US4963928A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-16 | 1995-12-16 | 1996-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-16 | 1999-12-16 | 2000-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-16 | 2003-12-16 | 2004-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |