Back to results
US 4,888,620 AGranted
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus using the same
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHitoshi Fujino, Takamasa Sawada, Hiroo Kobayashi, Osamu Ohuchi, Tadashi Yagi, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a process cartridge. The main assembly contains and retains an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and therefore, the photosensitive member is not contained in the process cartridge. The process cartridge contains an electric charger, a developing device and/or cleaning device. The process cartridge is detachably mountable into the main assembly.
Claims17
A process cartridge detachably mountable into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- plural process means for forming an image on a drum-shaped image bearing member mounted for rotation about a rotational axis in the main assembly;
- and
- supporting means for supporting said process means in said process cartridge, said supporting means supporting at least one of said process means for movement toward and away from said image bearing member, interrelatedly with mounting and demounting of said cartridge, when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from the main assembly;
- wherein when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from said main assembly, said process cartridge is moved in a direction of the rotational axis of the image bearing member, and wherein said at least one of said process means is moved toward and away from the image bearing member by contacting a part of said process cartridge and a surface of the image bearing member.
1 more element
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a main assembly containing an image bearing member rotatable about a rotational axis;
- a process cartridge detachably mountable in a direction of the rotational axis of said image bearing member into said main assembly of said image forming apparatus, including plural process means for forming an image on said image bearing member mounted in said main assembly and first supporting means for supporting said process means in said process cartridge, said first supporting means supporting at least one of said process means for movement toward and away from said image bearing member, interrelatedly with mounting and dismounting of said cartridge, when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from the main assembly, said at least one process means being movable by contact between the surface of the image bearing member and a part of said process cartridge;
- second supporting means for supporting said process cartridge in said main assembly;
- and
- image forming means contained in said main assembly for forming the image on said image bearing member.
2 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a main assembly containing an image bearing drum rotatable about a rotational axis;
- a process cartridge detachable mountable into said main assembly of the image forming apparatus, including:
- plural process means for forming an image on said image bearing member mounted in said main assembly;
- and
- first supporting means for supporting said process means in said process cartridge, said first supporting means supporting at least one of said process means for movement toward and away from said image bearing member when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from said main assembly;
- second support means for supporting said process cartridge in said main assembly;
- and
- means contained in said main assembly for forming the image on said image bearing member;
- wherein said process cartridge is moved in a direction of the rotational axis of said image bearing member, wherein said at least one of said process means in said cartridge is moved toward and away from said image bearing member interrelatedly with mounting and demounting of said process cartridge, and wherein said at least one process means is movable by contact between the surface of the image bearing member and a part of said process cartridge.
6 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a main assembly containing an image bearing drum;
- a process cartridge detachably mountable into said main assembly of the image forming apparatus including:
- plural process means for forming an image on said image bearing member mounted in said main assembly;
- first supporting means for supporting said process means in said process cartridge, said first supporting means supporting at least one of said process means for movement toward and away from said image bearing member when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from said main assembly by cooperation between a part of said main assembly and a part of said process cartridge;
- second support means for supporting said process cartridge in said main assembly;
- and
- means contained in said main assembly for forming the image on said image bearing member;
- wherein said part of said main assembly is a peripheral surface of said image bearing member, and wherein said part of said process cartridge is moved along said surface to move said at least one process means toward and away from said image bearing member, said at least one process means being movable by contact between the surface of the image bearing member and a part of said process cartridge.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.