Patent US5146270A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5146270A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color image forming apparatus having interchangeable image forming process cartridges
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 1991-04-16
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Granted: 1992-09-08
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Expires: 2011-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A color image forming apparatus wherein an image retainer and a transfer member are arranged unitarily in a process cartridge, the process cartridge being formed so that it can be inserted into and withdrawn from an apparatus body having a pluralilty of developing devices. The process cartridge has a cleaning device and a transfer member, and the apparatus body has a device for recovering waste toner. The waste toner scraped off from a surface of the image retainer by the cleaning device is recovered into a hollow in the transfer member.
Inventors
- 👤 Shunji Matsuo
- 👤 Sizuo Morita
- 👤 Satoshi Haneda
- 👤 Masakazu Fukuchi
- 👤 Hisashi Shoji
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:00
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/1807; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G21/10; G03G21/105; G03G21/1814; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/04; G03G2215/0402; G03G2215/0417; G03G2215/16; G03G2215/1647; G03G2215/1657; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1603; G03G2221/1606; G03G2221/1618; G03G2221/1624; G03G2221/1642; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A color image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of developing devices, a cleaning device and a transfer member, all of which are provided around an image retainer; at least the image retainer, the cleaning device and the transfer member being arranged unitarily in a process cartridge, and the process cartridge being formed so that it can be inserted into and withdrawn from an apparatus body; and a means for recovering waste toner, which is scraped off from a surface of the image retainer by the cleaning device, into a hollow in the transfer member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A color image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of developing devices, a cleaning device and a transfer member, all of which are provided around an image retainer; at least the image retainer, the cleaning device and the transfer member being arranged unitarily in a process cartridge, and the process cartridge being formed so that it can be inserted into and withdrawn from an apparatus body; and a means for recovering waste toner, which is scraped off from a surface of the image retainer by the cleaning device, into a hollow in the transfer member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said process cartridge contains said plurality of developing devices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The color image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transfer member is arranged to hold a transfer paper to which a toner image formed on the image retainer is transferred.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The color image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transfer member comprises a transfer drum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The color image forming apparatus of claim 4, wherein said waste toner recovering means comprises a spring coil and said transfer drum includes a hollow rotary shaft having a plurality of toner dropping holes, the spring coil being arranged to recover collected wasted toner into the hollow rotary shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The color image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recovery means is arranged within said process cartridge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The color image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recovery means comprises a screw conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The color image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recovery means comprises a spring coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The color image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a waste toner transfer means provided on an outer side of said process cartridge.
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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) | 1995-09-08 | 1996-03-09 | 1996-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-08 | 2000-03-09 | 2000-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-08 | 2004-03-09 | 2004-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |