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US5502557A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image forming apparatus

Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-10-07
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Granted: 1996-03-26
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Expires: 2014-10-07
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Abstract

Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units having photoconductive devices for forming a latent image and developing devices for developing the latent image, an exposing device for selectively moving to and exposing the respective photoconductive devices, an endless transfer belt for conveying a sheet of paper with respect to the photoconductive devices, and transfer chargers. The apparatus is compact because only the light and small exposing device shifts, thereby enhancing picture quality and performing high-speed printing in stable driving.

Inventors

  • 👤 Min-ho Choi
  • 👤 In-yong Song

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 19:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/50; H04N1/506; H04N1/508; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/011; G03G15/0142; G03G15/0178; G03G15/0194; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/01; G03G2215/0103; G03G2215/0119

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 180 words
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet of paper according to image information, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of image forming units each having a photoconductive drum for forming a latent image by means of exposing, and a developing device for containing a predeterminedcolor developer and developing said latent image, for providing different-colored developed images; an exposing device installed to move to the position of a selected image forming unit of said plurality of image forming units and for exposing said photoconductive drum according to said image information; an endless transfer belt for conveying said sheet of paper along the outer surface thereof so that said sheet of paper passes said photoconductive drums of said plurality of image forming units; a plurality of transfer chargers installed to correspond to said respective photoconductive drums on said endless transfer belt so that the image developed by said photoconductive drum is transferred onto said sheet of paper; and paper feeding/ejecting means for feeding said sheet of paper to said endless transfer belt and ejecting said sheet of paper therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 180 words
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet of paper according to image information, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of image forming units each having a photoconductive drum for forming a latent image by means of exposing, and a developing device for containing a predeterminedcolor developer and developing said latent image, for providing different-colored developed images; an exposing device installed to move to the position of a selected image forming unit of said plurality of image forming units and for exposing said photoconductive drum according to said image information; an endless transfer belt for conveying said sheet of paper along the outer surface thereof so that said sheet of paper passes said photoconductive drums of said plurality of image forming units; a plurality of transfer chargers installed to correspond to said respective photoconductive drums on said endless transfer belt so that the image developed by said photoconductive drum is transferred onto said sheet of paper; and paper feeding/ejecting means for feeding said sheet of paper to said endless transfer belt and ejecting said sheet of paper therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed at a predetermined position proximate to said endless transfer belt for sensing said sheet of paper to be conveyed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of image forming units each are integrally formed by further including an electrifying roller for charging said photoconductive drum and a cleaning means for removing a developer smeared on said photoconductive drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 54 words
The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a belt charger for charging said endless transfer belt so as to attract said sheet of paper supplied from said paper feeding/ejecting means, and a discharger for removing the electrification state of said endless transfer belt so as to eliminate said attracting force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 100 words
The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said paper feeding/ejecting means comprises: a paper cassette for holding sheets of paper; a supply roller for drawing out a sheet of paper from said paper cassette and feeding said sheet of paper to said endless transfer belt; a paper charger for charging said sheet of paper supplied by said supply roller; a scraper for raking across said sheet of paper from said endless transfer belt; and a fixing roller for fixing said image transferred onto said sheet of paper while ejecting said sheet of paper raked by said scraper.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4063724A Cited
JPS5950460A Cited
US4615612A Cited
JPS61156157A Cited
JPS63257773A Cited
JPH01116658A Cited
JPH01142567A Cited
US5014095A Cited
JPH03179467A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-03-26 1999-09-25 2000-03-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-03-26 2003-09-25 2004-03-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-03-26 2007-09-25 2008-03-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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