Revolver type developing device for an image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsNoriyuki Kimura, Minoru Suzuki, Takatsugu Fujishiro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, a revolver type developing device has a plurality of developing units and revolves to sequentially bring them to a developing position facing an image carrier on which a latent image is electrostatically formed. The revolver promotes easy replacement and safe handling of the developing units and can be accurately positioned relative to the body of the image forming apparatus. Despite that the revolver is miniature, it prevents developers from leaking or flying off from the developing units and contaminating the inside of the apparatus or being mixed with each other.
Claims25
A revolver type developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier of an image forming apparatus by moving a plurality of developing units, one at a time, to a developing position facing said image carrier, said device comprising:
- a casing rotatable about a shaft;
- a cover member;
- a plurality of developing units accommodated in said casing and rotatable about said shaft, said plurality of developing units being selectively brought to the developing position for developing the latent image;
- and
- a pair of end wall members provided at longitudinally opposite ends of said plurality of developing units, said pair of end walls each comprising a disk portion at least partially disposed inside of said cover member, and a hollow cylindrical portion extending outward in a longitudinal direction from an edge of said disk portion, said hollow cylindrical portion being formed with an opening.
A revolver type developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier of an image forming apparatus by moving a plurality of developing units, one at a time, to a developing position facing said image carrier, said device comprising:
- a casing rotatable about a shaft;
- a plurality of developing units accommodated in said casing and rotatable about said shaft, said plurality of developing units being selectively brought to the developing position for developing the latent image:
- and
- a pair of end wall members provided at longitudinally opposite ends of said plurality of developing units, said pair of end walls each comprising a disk portion and a hollow cylindrical portion extending outward in a longitudinal direction from an edge of said disk portion, said hollow cylindrical portion being formed with an opening;
- wherein said hollow cylindrical portion accommodates parts associated with said plurality of developing units and located outside of said plurality of developing units in the longitudinal direction.
A revolver type developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier of an image forming apparatus by moving a plurality of developing units, one at a time, to a developing position facing said image carrier, said device comprising:
- a casing rotatable about a shaft;
- a plurality of developing units accommodated in said casing and rotatable about said shaft, said plurality of developing units being selectively brought to the developing position for developing the latent image;
- and
- a pair of end wall members provided at longitudinally opposite ends of said plurality of developing units, said pair of end walls each comprising a disk portion and a hollow cylindrical portion extending outward in a longitudinal direction from an edge of said disk portion, said hollow cylindrical portion being formed with an opening;
- the device further comprising a cover covering said opening of said hollow cylindrical portion.
A revolver type developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier of an image forming apparatus by moving a plurality of developing units, one at a time, to a developing position facing said image carrier, said device comprising:
- a casing rotatable about a shaft;
- a plurality of developing units accommodated in said casing and rotatable about said shaft, said plurality of developing units being selectively brought to the developing position for developing the latent image;
- and
- a pair of end wall members provided at longitudinally opposite ends of said plurality of developing units, said pair of end walls each comprising a disk portion and a hollow cylindrical portion extending outward in a longitudinal direction from an edge of said disk portion, said hollow cylindrical portion being formed with an opening;
- the device further comprising a plurality of electrode members each being associated with one of said plurality of developing units for applying a predetermined bias voltage, said plurality of electrode members each being connected to the respective developing unit within said hollow cylindrical portion and connected to a voltage supply section, which is provided on said image forming apparatus, on and along an outer periphery of said hollow cylindrical portion.
A revolver type developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier of an image forming apparatus by moving a plurality of developing units, one at a time, to a developing position facing said image carrier, said device comprising:
- a casing rotatable about a shaft;
- a plurality of developing units accommodated in said casing and rotatable about said shaft, said plurality of developing units being selectively brought to the developing position for developing the latent image and comprising respective developer carriers;
- a pair of end wall members provided at longitudinally opposite ends of said plurality of developing units, and each comprising at least a disk portion;
- and
- a hollow cylindrical cover member extending between said pair of end wall members and spaced apart from said developer carriers by a predetermined gap;
- wherein said pair of end wall members each include an outer periphery having at least first and second portions respectively having first and second diameters, wherein said first diameter is smaller than second diameter, and wherein said first portion of each of said pair of end wall members is disposed inside of said cover member, and said second portion of each of said pair of end wall members is disposed outside of said cover member.
A revolver type developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier of an image forming apparatus by moving a plurality of developing units, one at a time, to a developing position facing said image carrier, said device comprising:
- a casing rotatable about a shaft;
- a plurality of developing units accommodated in said casing and rotatable about said shaft, said plurality of developing units being selectively brought to the developing position for developing the latent image and comprising respective developer carriers;
- a pair of end wall members provided at longitudinally opposite ends of said plurality of developing units, and each comprising at least a disk portion;
- and
- a hollow cylindrical cover member extending between said pair of end wall members and spaced apart from said developer carriers by a predetermined gap;
- wherein an inner periphery of said cover member is slidably engaged with outer peripheries of said pair of end wall members.
A revolver type developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier of an image forming apparatus by moving a plurality of developing units, one at a time, to a developing position facing said image carrier, said device comprising:
- a casing rotatable about a shaft;
- a plurality of developing units accommodated in said casing and rotatable about said shaft, said plurality of developing units being selectively brought to the developing position for developing the latent image and comprising respective developer carriers;
- a pair of end wall members provided at longitudinally opposite ends of said plurality of developing units, and each comprising at least a disk portion;
- and
- a hollow cylindrical cover member extending between said pair of end wall members and spaced apart from said developer carriers by a predetermined gap;
- wherein said cover member comprises a separable portion at least in part of a circumference thereof, said separable portion extending over an entire length of said cover member for allowing said cover member to be opened;
- wherein said cover member further comprises a thin hinge portion extending over the entire length of said cover member and formed at a position substantially symmetrical to said separable portion, opposite end portions of said cover member, which constitute said separable portion, comprising locking portions engageable with each other for locking said cover member in a closed position.
A revolver type developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier of an image forming apparatus by moving an image a plurality of developing units, one at a time, to a developing position facing said image carrier, said device comprising:
- a casing rotatable about a shaft;
- a plurality of developing units accommodated in said casing and rotatable about said shaft, said plurality of developing units being selectively brought to the developing position for developing the latent image and comprising respective developer carriers;
- a pair of end wall members provided at longitudinally opposite ends of said plurality of developing units and each comprising a smaller diameter portion, a greater diameter portion extending outward from said smaller diameter portion in a longitudinal direction, and a disk portion located at one of said longitudinally opposite ends;
- and
- a cover member extending between said pair of end wall members and spaced apart from said developer carriers by a predetermined gap, said cover member being formed with an opening at a position which faces the image carrier and having an inside diameter smaller than a diameter of said greater diameter portion, said pair of end wall members holding said cover member between the greater diameter portions thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.