Imaging unit and image forming apparatus using same
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorShinichi KATO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrophotographic imaging unit includes a photoconductor housing, a developer housing, and a support. The photoconductor housing is configured to rotatably support a photoconductor drum. The developer housing is configured to accommodate developer and a developer roller. The support is configured to rotatably support the developer roller at opposite ends thereof. The photoconductor housing and the developer housing are hinged together at one side, and movable relative to each other at another side to open and close the imaging unit to sandwiched the support between the photoconductor housing and the developer housing when the imaging unit is closed.
Claims6
An electrophotographic imaging unit, comprising:
- a photoconductor housing configured to rotatably support a photoconductor drum;
- a developer housing configured to accommodate developer and a developer roller;
- and
- a support configured to rotatably support the developer roller at opposite ends thereof,
- the photoconductor housing and the developer housing being hinged together at one side, and movable relative to each other at another side to open and close the imaging unit,
- the support being sandwiched between the photoconductor housing and the developer housing when the imaging unit is closed.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an electrophotographic imaging unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image into visible form, the imaging unit including:
- a photoconductor housing configured to rotatably support a photoconductor drum;
- a developer housing configured to accommodate developer and a developer roller;
- and
- a support configured to rotatably support the developer roller at opposite ends thereof;
- the photoconductor housing and the developer housing being hinged together at one side, and movable relative to each other at another side to open and close the imaging unit,
- the support being sandwiched between the photoconductor housing and the developer housing when the imaging unit is closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.