Patent US5376994A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5376994A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compact BI-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1993-02-16
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Granted: 1994-12-27
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Expires: 2013-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus having deflection scanning type and line type exposing devices and first and second developing devices arranged around a photoconductive element, so that parts around the photoconductive element are arranged with ease to promote the miniaturization of the apparatus. The exposing devices are selected based on the principle that the image quality is enhanced for an image of particular color and is lowered for an image of another color expected to be printed less frequently. Specifically, the deflection scanning type exposing device forms the image of the particular color, and the line type exposing device which has an inherently long optical path and simple structure forms the image of another color. Fans are provided to produce cooling air flow to the line type exposing device and to draw out toner dirt and ozone produced by the charger associated therewith. The line type exposing device and the associated charger are electrically insulated from each other and mounted in a common casing. Cleaning elements are provided to clean the charger and the line type exposing device during withdrawal of these elements from the photoconductive element.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Mama
- 👤 Yuji Yasuda
- 👤 Kan Tomita
- 👤 Fumihiro Miyagawa
- 👤 Shinji Kobayashi
- 👤 Takanobu Fujioka
- 👤 Hidetoshi Kanai
- 👤 Yoshiki Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/011; H04N1/46; H04N1/50; H04N1/506; H04N1/0464
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable photoconductive element; a charging device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element; a line exposing device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element, and having a heat sink installed thereon; air flow generating means for generating air flow which flows to both the heat sink and the charging means; developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the periphery of said photoconductive element by said line exposing device; drawing means for drawing in air flow between the developing means and the line exposing device; and absorbing and resolving means installed close to said air flow drawing means for absorbing dirt and resolving ozone included in the air flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable photoconductive element; a charging device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element; a line exposing device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element, and having a heat sink installed thereon; air flow generating means for generating air flow which flows to both the heat sink and the charging means; developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the periphery of said photoconductive element by said line exposing device; drawing means for drawing in air flow between the developing means and the line exposing device; and absorbing and resolving means installed close to said air flow drawing means for absorbing dirt and resolving ozone included in the air flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable photoconductive element; a charging device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element; a line exposing device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element, and having a heat sink installed thereon; air flow generating means for generating air flow which flows to both the heat sink and the charging means; and developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the periphery of said photoconductive element by said line exposing device; wherein the air drawing capacity of the air flow drawing means is higher than the air flow generating capacity of the air flow generating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable photoconductive element; a charging device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element; a line exposing device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element, and having a heat sink installed thereon; air flow generating means for generating air flow which flows to both the heat sink and the charging means; and developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the periphery of said photoconductive element by said line exposing device; wherein the air drawing capacity of the air flow drawing means is higher than the air flow generating capacity of the air flow generating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable photoconductive element; a charging device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element; a line exposing device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element, comprising a LED array as a light source, driver ICs for driving the LED array, a rod lens array for converging the light from the LED array to the photoconductive element, and a board on which the LED array and the driver ICs are installed, and which is combined and held with the charging device into one body by a holding case; said charging device installed in a space between the photoconductive element and the board of the line exposing device; and developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the periphery of said photoconductive element by said line exposing device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable photoconductive element; a charging device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element; a line exposing device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element, comprising a LED array as a light source, driver ICs for driving the LED array, a rod lens array for converging the light from the LED array to the photoconductive element, and a board on which the LED array and the driver ICs are installed, and which is combined and held with the charging device into one body by a holding case; said charging device installed in a space between the photoconductive element and the board of the line exposing device; and developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the periphery of said photoconductive element by said line exposing device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the holding casing comprises: electrical insulation installed between the charging device and the line type exposing device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, comprising: a holding member made of an insulating material for holding said casing of the charging device, said holding member combined with the holding case in one body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
173 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable photoconductive element; a charging device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element; a line exposing device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element, comprising a LED array as a light source, driver ICs for driving the LED array, a rod lens array for converging the light from the LED array to the photoconductive element, and a board on which the LED array and the driver ICs are installed, and which is combined and held with the charging device into one body by a holding case; wherein the line exposing device combined with the charger is held in the holding case so as to be movable in an axial direction of the photoconductive element; and a cleaning member located adjacent a line of movement of the line exposing means and combined with the charging device, said cleaning member touching and cleaning a charge wire and a grid of the charging device and a face of a rod lens array facing the photoconductive element at the same time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable photoconductive element; a charging device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element; a line exposing device facing the periphery of said photoconductive element, comprising a LED array as a light source, driver ICs for driving the LED array, a rod lens array for converging the light from the LED array to the photoconductive element, and a board on which the LED array and the driver ICs are installed, and which is combined and held with the charging device into one body by a holding case; wherein the line exposing device combined with the charger is held in the holding case so as to be movable in an axial direction of the photoconductive element; and a cleaning member located adjacent a line of movement of the line exposing means and combined with the charging device, said cleaning member touching and cleaning a charge wire and a grid of the charging device and a face of a rod lens array facing the photoconductive element at the same time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cleaning member is installed so as to move from a cleaning position to a retiring position which prevents the photoconductive element from being moved in said axial direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-26 | 1998-06-27 | 1998-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-26 | 2002-06-27 | 2002-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-26 | 2006-06-27 | 2006-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |