Removable photoconductive element unit for image-forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsSadao Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Deki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photoconductive element unit removably mounted in an electronic copier or like image-forming apparatus and having a single casing in which a photoconductive element, and a cleaning device made up of a cleaning means and a toner collecting container are accommodated. The cleaning device is removably mounted in the unit. The container is provided with an opening for producing toner which is collected in the container. Usually, a closure member is plugged in the opening to close it.
Claims15
A photoconductive element unit removably mounted in an image-forming apparatus, comprising:
- a rotatable photoconductive element;
- and
- a cleaning device comprising a cleaning means for removing a developer which remains on said photoconductive element after transfer of an image, and a developer collecting means for collecting the developer which is removed by said cleaning means;
- said cleaning means being removably mounted in the photoconductive element unit;
- wherein said cleaning means comprise a cleaning blade movably held in said cleaning device, a seal member position in said cleaning device such that a gap is formed between said seal member and said blade when said cleaning device is mounted in said photoconductor element unit for permitting entry of developer into said cleaning device, and means for moving said cleaning blade so as to reduce the size of said gap when said cleaning device is removed from said photoconductor element unit, whereby developer leakage is minimized.
A photoconductive element unit removably mounted in an image-forming apparatus, comprising:
- a rotatable photoconductive element;
- and
- a cleaning device comprising a cleaning means for removing a developer which remains on said photoconductive element after transfer of an image, and a developer collecting means for collecting the developer which is removed by said cleaning means;
- said cleaning means being removably mounted in the photoconductive element unit;
- wherein the developer collecting means of the cleaning device comprises a container having a predetermined volume, and wherein the container is provided with an opening for removing the developer collected, the developer collecting means further comprising a closure member for plugging said opening.
A photoconductive element unit removably mounted in an image-forming apparatus, comprising:
- a rotatable photoconductive element;
- and
- a cleaning device comprising a cleaning means for removing a developer which remains on said photoconductive element after transfer of an image, and a developer collecting means for collecting the developer which is removed by said cleaning means;
- said cleaning means being removably mounted in the photoconductive element unit;
- wherein the developer collecting means of the cleaning device comprises a container having a predetermined volume, and wherein the cleaning device further comprises sensor means for sensing that the container is filled up.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.