Patent US5452072A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5452072A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transfer unit mounted on a pivotal upper cover
Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1994-06-02
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Granted: 1995-09-19
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Expires: 2014-06-02
Abstract
Abstract An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with a photoconductive drum including an outer peripheral surface on which a latent image corresponding to an image to be transferred is formed, and a developing device for developing the latent image by a toner. The electrophotographic apparatus further includes a housing for rotatably supporting the photoconductive drum therein and having an opening on one side, a cover member for releasably closing the opening of the housing, and a transfer charger which is attached to one surface of the cover member opposing to the photoconductive drum, and which is provided for transferring the developed image onto a sheet-like member. A pre-roller is attached to an upstream end of a housing which houses the transfer charger. The pre-roller and the photoconductive drum are positioned relative to each other so that a gap of predetermined dimension is defined therebetween.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiro Ichinokawa
- 👤 Kenichiro Otsuka
- 👤 Takaaki Yano
- 👤 Masatoshi Takano
- 👤 Satoshi Hokamura
- 👤 Masakazu Hirano
- 👤 Motohiro Maseki
- 👤 Tatsuya Yoshida
- 👤 Mikio Horie
- 👤 Masami Shirai
- 👤 Eiichi Ito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:53
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/46; B65H3/52; B65H3/5207; B65H3/5215; B65H3/5223; B65H5/00; B65H5/36; B65H5/38; B65H9/00; B65H9/10; B65H9/103; B65H9/106; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/163; G03G15/1635; G03G15/20; G03G15/2003; G03G15/65; G03G15/6555; G03G15/6558; G03G15/6561; G03G15/6564; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1604; G03G21/1623; G03G21/1628; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00535; G03G2215/00556; G03G2215/00561; G03G2215/00599; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1678; G03G2221/1687; G03G2221/169
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a photoconductive drum including an outer peripheral surface on which a latent image corresponding to an image to be transferred is formed; a developing member for developing the latent image by a toner; a housing for rotatably supporting the photoconductive drum therein; a transfer mechanism for transferring a developed image onto a sheet-like member, said transfer mechanism including a transfer casing and at least one transfer wire stretched in said transfer casing; an engagement mechanism fixed to said transfer casing; a stopping member for stopping and locking said engagement mechanism to position said transfer mechanism in a predetermined operating position, said stopping member being movable to release said engagement mechanism; a restriction member for restricting a portion of the sheet-like member positioned on an upstream side with respect to a feeding direction of the sheet-like member, to a position between said photoconductive drum and said transfer mechanism, wherein said restriction member is set to be closely opposed to said outer peripheral surface of said photoconductive drum to form a predetermined gap therebetween, when said transfer mechanism is in said predetermined operating position; wherein said restriction member comprises a pre-roller fixed to said transfer casing, and wherein Said stopping member comprises a stopper lever rotatably connected to said housing, and an engaging groove formed on said stopper lever to be fitted with said engagement mechanism, and located so as to define said transfer mechanism in a predetermined transfer position when said engagement mechanism is fitted within said engaging groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a photoconductive drum including an outer peripheral surface on which a latent image corresponding to an image to be transferred is formed; a developing member for developing the latent image by a toner; a housing for rotatably supporting the photoconductive drum therein; a transfer mechanism for transferring a developed image onto a sheet-like member, said transfer mechanism including a transfer casing and at least one transfer wire stretched in said transfer casing; an engagement mechanism fixed to said transfer casing; a stopping member for stopping and locking said engagement mechanism to position said transfer mechanism in a predetermined operating position, said stopping member being movable to release said engagement mechanism; a restriction member for restricting a portion of the sheet-like member positioned on an upstream side with respect to a feeding direction of the sheet-like member, to a position between said photoconductive drum and said transfer mechanism, wherein said restriction member is set to be closely opposed to said outer peripheral surface of said photoconductive drum to form a predetermined gap therebetween, when said transfer mechanism is in said predetermined operating position; wherein said restriction member comprises a pre-roller fixed to said transfer casing, and wherein Said stopping member comprises a stopper lever rotatably connected to said housing, and an engaging groove formed on said stopper lever to be fitted with said engagement mechanism, and located so as to define said transfer mechanism in a predetermined transfer position when said engagement mechanism is fitted within said engaging groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer casing is rotatably supported to the housing at one end which is positioned on the downstream side with respect to the feeding direction of the sheet-like member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pre-roller extends in a direction being parallel to the rotating axis of the photoconductive drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the said pre-roller is set to be closely opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum by a predetermined gap when the transfer mechanism is located in a predetermined transfer position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engagement roller is constituted from one portion of the pre-roller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one portion of the pre-roller is defined by a protruded portion from the housing to the outside of the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engaging groove is formed to be arcuated, having a center identical to the center of the photoconductive drum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a feeding path for the sheet-like member is defined along the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said engagement mechanism comprises an engagement roller fixed to said transfer casing and having an axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of said photoconductive drum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stopper lever is rotatable about an axis of rotation of said photoconductive drum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
189 words
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a photoconductive drum including an outer peripheral surface on which a latent image corresponding to an image to be transferred is formed; a developing member for developing the latent image by a toner; a housing for rotatably supporting the photoconductive drum therein; a transfer mechanism for transferring a developed image onto a sheet-like member, said transfer mechanism including a transfer casing and at least one transfer wire stretched in said transfer casing; an engagement mechanism fixed to said transfer casing; and a stopping member for stopping and locking said engagement mechanism to position said transfer mechanism in a predetermined operating position, said stopping member being movable to release said engagement mechanism; a restriction member for restricting a portion of the sheet like member to a position between said photoconductive drum and said transfer mechanism, wherein said restriction member comprises a pre-roller attached to said transfer casing and rotatable with respect thereto, and said engagement mechanism comprises an engagement roller attached to said transfer casing, wherein said pre-roller has an axis of rotation which is substantially equal to an axis of rotation of said engagement roller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
189 words
An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a photoconductive drum including an outer peripheral surface on which a latent image corresponding to an image to be transferred is formed; a developing member for developing the latent image by a toner; a housing for rotatably supporting the photoconductive drum therein; a transfer mechanism for transferring a developed image onto a sheet-like member, said transfer mechanism including a transfer casing and at least one transfer wire stretched in said transfer casing; an engagement mechanism fixed to said transfer casing; and a stopping member for stopping and locking said engagement mechanism to position said transfer mechanism in a predetermined operating position, said stopping member being movable to release said engagement mechanism; a restriction member for restricting a portion of the sheet like member to a position between said photoconductive drum and said transfer mechanism, wherein said restriction member comprises a pre-roller attached to said transfer casing and rotatable with respect thereto, and said engagement mechanism comprises an engagement roller attached to said transfer casing, wherein said pre-roller has an axis of rotation which is substantially equal to an axis of rotation of said engagement roller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said engagement roller is substantially concentric with said pre-roller and extends from an end of said pre-roller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said pre-roller comprises a central axis shaft and a sleeve coated on said central axis shaft, and said engagement roller comprises an extension of said central axis shaft which extends beyond said sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a feeding path for the sheet-like member is defined along the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum.
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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) | 1998-09-18 | 1999-03-20 | 1999-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-18 | 2003-03-20 | 2003-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-18 | 2007-03-20 | 2007-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |