US5367363A — Image forming apparatus having rotatable electrop…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 139 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means arranged around said image carrier; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; said two units having a substantially identical configuration, and wherein said two units are shaped and positioned such that as said image carrier and said two units rotate together each of said two units are disposed inside of a locus of rotation of said image carrier, and wherein said locus of rotation is defined as a path of radially outermost points of said image carrier as said image carrier and said two units rotate together.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 139 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means arranged around said image carrier; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; said two units having a substantially identical configuration, and wherein said two units are shaped and positioned such that as said image carrier and said two units rotate together each of said two units are disposed inside of a locus of rotation of said image carrier, and wherein said locus of rotation is defined as a path of radially outermost points of said image carrier as said image carrier and said two units rotate together.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said units comprises any of said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively long, the other of said units comprising any of said process means whose life is comparatively short.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 131 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means;. at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; said two units having a substantially identical configuration; wherein one of said two units comprises any of said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively long, the other of said two units comprising any of said process means whose life is comparatively short; and wherein said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively long comprises a developing device while said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively short comprises a cleaning device.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 131 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means;. at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; said two units having a substantially identical configuration; wherein one of said two units comprises any of said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively long, the other of said two units comprising any of said process means whose life is comparatively short; and wherein said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively long comprises a developing device while said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively short comprises a cleaning device.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unit includes a flat portion and said two units are each constructed such that said electrophotographic process means received therein does not protrude from the flat portion included in said unit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a cylindrical receptacle for storing said two units removed from a body of said apparatus.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 139 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; said two units having a substantially identical configuration; wherein one of said two units comprises any of said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively long, the other of said two units comprising any of said process means whose life is comparatively short; and wherein a body of said apparatus comprises a housing through which an opening is formed, said opening allowing only one of said two units to pass therethrough into or out of said body at a time.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 139 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; said two units having a substantially identical configuration; wherein one of said two units comprises any of said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively long, the other of said two units comprising any of said process means whose life is comparatively short; and wherein a body of said apparatus comprises a housing through which an opening is formed, said opening allowing only one of said two units to pass therethrough into or out of said body at a time.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said other of said two units comprises said electrophotographic process means whose life is comparatively short and is positioned closest to said opening.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said opening is oriented such that said two units are each inserted or pulled out with a portion thereof engageable with said image carrier facing upward.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 143 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; said image carrier being implemented as an endless belt and passed over two rotatable support means such that part of said belt forms two flat portions, said electrophotographic process means of said two units being arranged in such a manner as to face said flat portions of said belt respectively; said two units each comprising a casing, the outer periphery of said casing forming, when each of said two units is engaged with said image carrier, part of a circumcircle of said image carrier.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 143 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; said image carrier being implemented as an endless belt and passed over two rotatable support means such that part of said belt forms two flat portions, said electrophotographic process means of said two units being arranged in such a manner as to face said flat portions of said belt respectively; said two units each comprising a casing, the outer periphery of said casing forming, when each of said two units is engaged with said image carrier, part of a circumcircle of said image carrier.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said electrophotographic process means of said two units which face said flat portions of said image carrier comprise a developing device and cleaning device, respectively.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said developing device and said cleaning device are respectively accommodated in said two units and each faces a respective one of said flat portions of said image carrier.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 86 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; and discriminating means for determining at least one of: (1) a kind of each of said two units; and (2) a position of each of said two units.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 86 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; and discriminating means for determining at least one of: (1) a kind of each of said two units; and (2) a position of each of said two units.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 51 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said discriminating means comprises a plurality of conductive contact pieces provided in spaced positions on an outer periphery of each of said two units, and a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on a body of said apparatus for contacting said conductive contact pieces.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 59 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said two units includes a front end plate and wherein said discriminating means comprises a projection extending out from the front end plate of each of said two units and protruding from a front edge of an inlet formed in a mounting portion of a body of said apparatus.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 60 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said discriminating means comprises a cross-sectional area which decreases from a front portion to a rear portion of each of said two units, a mounting portion of a body of said apparatus including a portion whose cross-sectional area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of said front portions of said two units.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said front portion comprises an inlet.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said front portion comprises handle means provided on an end face of said front portion.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 97 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a plurality of electrophotographic process means; and at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; handle means provided on an outer periphery of each said two units to be selectively raised or lowered and, when raised, having support portions thereof lying in a vertical plane containing a center of gravity of said unit.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 97 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a plurality of electrophotographic process means; and at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that said image carrier and said two units are rotatable together as a unit; handle means provided on an outer periphery of each said two units to be selectively raised or lowered and, when raised, having support portions thereof lying in a vertical plane containing a center of gravity of said unit.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 143 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself having said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus; wherein said two units comprise respective casings having a substantially identical configuration, said casings each being formed with a notch at a particular position, a body of said apparatus comprising a housing through which an opening capable of passing only one of said casings at a time is formed and an engaging member which mates with said notch when one of said casings is mounted or dismounted.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 143 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself having said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus; wherein said two units comprise respective casings having a substantially identical configuration, said casings each being formed with a notch at a particular position, a body of said apparatus comprising a housing through which an opening capable of passing only one of said casings at a time is formed and an engaging member which mates with said notch when one of said casings is mounted or dismounted.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 108 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself having said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus; the apparatus further comprising display means, and discriminating means for determining a kind of said two units being mounted, said display means displaying a guidance matching the kind of said two units.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 108 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself having said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus; the apparatus further comprising display means, and discriminating means for determining a kind of said two units being mounted, said display means displaying a guidance matching the kind of said two units.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 41 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said discriminating means is mounted on a body of said apparatus and determines the kind of each of said two units when said discriminating means contacts part of each of said two units.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 46 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said discriminating means comprises transmitting means mounted on each of said two units for transporting a particular signal, and receiving means mounted on a body of said apparatus for receiving said signal from each of said two units.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 53 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said two units each comprise a switch to be operated when an operator holds a handle provided on each of said two units for inserting said two units into a body of said apparatus, said transmitting means transmitting said signal when said switch is closed.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 48 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said two units each include a particular color representative of the kind of each of said two units, said display means displaying the kind of each of said two units by using the same respective colors as said two units.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 59 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein when one of said two units is inserted into a body of said apparatus, said display means displays an error when said one of said two units being inserted is of the same kind as another of said two units already mounted on said body as determined by said discriminating means.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said display means displays the kind of one of said two units which is not mounted as determined by said discriminating means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said display means is positioned in close proximity to an opening which is formed through said body of said apparatus for inserting and removing said two units.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 122 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself having said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus; the apparatus further comprising detecting means for detecting a paper jam occurring in a transport path, and control means for controlling the operation of said apparatus such that when said detecting means detects a paper jam, said two units are moved away from said image carrier.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 122 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself having said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus; the apparatus further comprising detecting means for detecting a paper jam occurring in a transport path, and control means for controlling the operation of said apparatus such that when said detecting means detects a paper jam, said two units are moved away from said image carrier.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 41 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said control means controls said apparatus such that when said detecting means detects a paper jam occurred at a toner image transfer position, said image carrier is fixed in an image forming position.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 44 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said control means control said apparatus such that when said detecting means detects a paper jam at a toner image transfer position, image transferring means and devices associated therewith are moved away from said image carrier.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 173 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself having said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus; the apparatus further comprising: support means for supporting said two units and said image carrier such that said two units and said image carrier are rotatable integrally; first detecting means for detecting an end of a rotary motion of said two units and said image carrier; second detecting means for detecting that said two units are mounted on a body of said apparatus; and means for causing, among said plurality of electrophotographic process means, a cleaning device to operate and for rotating said image carrier in response to detection outputs of said first and second detecting means.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 173 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself having said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus; the apparatus further comprising: support means for supporting said two units and said image carrier such that said two units and said image carrier are rotatable integrally; first detecting means for detecting an end of a rotary motion of said two units and said image carrier; second detecting means for detecting that said two units are mounted on a body of said apparatus; and means for causing, among said plurality of electrophotographic process means, a cleaning device to operate and for rotating said image carrier in response to detection outputs of said first and second detecting means.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 195 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means arranged around said image carrier; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself including said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus, wherein a closed space is defined within said image carrier, and said axis is located in said closed space; the apparatus further including first support means for supporting said two units and said image carrier such that said two units and said image carrier are rotatable integrally; second support means for supporting said two units such that said two units each move into or out of contact with said image carrier in interlocked relation to the rotation of said two units and said image carrier; and said second support means causing said two units to move away from said image carrier only at a position where said two units may be mounted or dismounted.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 195 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means arranged around said image carrier; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself including said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus, wherein a closed space is defined within said image carrier, and said axis is located in said closed space; the apparatus further including first support means for supporting said two units and said image carrier such that said two units and said image carrier are rotatable integrally; second support means for supporting said two units such that said two units each move into or out of contact with said image carrier in interlocked relation to the rotation of said two units and said image carrier; and said second support means causing said two units to move away from said image carrier only at a position where said two units may be mounted or dismounted.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 65 words

An apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said control means further controls said apparatus such that when said detecting means detects a paper jam on said transport path at a position other than a toner image transfer position, said two units are rotated together with said image carrier to move portions of said image carrier which are exposed away from said transport path.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 114 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means arranged around said image carrier; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself including said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus, wherein a closed space is defined within said image carrier, and said axis is located in said closed space, and further wherein said two units comprise a developing unit and a cleaning unit.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 114 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; and a plurality of electrophotographic process means arranged around said image carrier; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself including said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus, wherein a closed space is defined within said image carrier, and said axis is located in said closed space, and further wherein said two units comprise a developing unit and a cleaning unit.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 129 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a plurality of electrophotographic process means arranged around said image carrier; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself including said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus, wherein each of said two units include a contour which coincides with a locus of rotation of the image carrier, and wherein said locus of rotation is defined as a path of radially outermost points of said image carrier as said image carrier and said two units rotate together.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 129 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a plurality of electrophotographic process means arranged around said image carrier; at least part of said plurality of electrophotographic process means being constructed into two units each being engageable with said image carrier and rotatable integrally with said image carrier, such that the integral arrangement itself including said image carrier and said two units are bodily rotatable together as a unit about an axis in a body of said image forming apparatus, wherein each of said two units include a contour which coincides with a locus of rotation of the image carrier, and wherein said locus of rotation is defined as a path of radially outermost points of said image carrier as said image carrier and said two units rotate together.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-11-21	1998-05-23	1998-11-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-11-21	2002-05-23	2002-11-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-11-21	2006-05-23	2006-11-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image forming apparatus having rotatable electrophotographic process unit

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