Tandem type color image forming device having a plurality of process cartridges arrayed in running direction of intermediate image transfer member

A color image forming device comprising:

• a frame;
• an elongated intermediate image transfer member running substantially in a vertical direction, the intermediate image transfer member having a first side;
• a plurality of electrostatic latent image bearing bodies aligned substantially in the vertical direction and positioned in confrontation with the first side of the intermediate image transfer member, each electrostatic latent image bearing body having a latent image bearing surface;
• a plurality of developing unit each developing unit comprising a developing agent bearing body disposed in confrontation with a corresponding one of the plurality of electrostatic latent image bearing bodies and housing therein a developing agent of a predetermined color, and a layer thickness regulation member in contact with the developing agent bearing body and positioned below the developing agent bearing body for regulating a thickness of a layer of the developing agent formed thereon, the developing agent comprising a non-magnetic single component type developing agent;
• a plurality of chargers, each charger positioned in confrontation with the latent image bearing surface of a corresponding electrostatic latent image bearing body for charging the latent image bearing surface;
• and
• a plurality of exposure units, each exposure unit exposing the charged surface of a corresponding electrostatic latent image bearing body.

A color image forming device, comprising:

• a frame;
• an elongated intermediate image transfer member running substantially in a vertical direction, the intermediate image transfer member having a first side;
• a plurality of electrostatic latent image bearing bodies aligned substantially in the vertical direction and positioned in confrontation with the first side of the intermediate image transfer member, each electrostatic latent image bearing body having a latent image bearing surface;
• a plurality of developing units each comprising a developing agent bearing body disposed in confrontation with a corresponding one of the plurality of electrostatic latent image bearing bodies and housing therein a developing agent of a predetermined color;
• a supply tray for supplying an image recording medium to the intermediate image transfer member;
• and
• a discharge tray for receiving an image recording medium formed with a color image, the intermediate image transfer member, the plurality of the electrostatic latent image bearing bodies, and the plurality of the developing units being positioned below the discharge tray but positioned above the supply tray.

A color image forming device, comprising:

• a frame;
• an elongated intermediate image transfer member running substantially in a vertical direction, the intermediate image transfer member having a first side;
• a plurality of electrostatic latent image bearing bodies aligned substantially in the vertical direction and positioned in confrontation with the first side of the intermediate image transfer member;
• a plurality of developing units each comprising a developing agent bearing body disposed in confrontation with a corresponding one of the plurality of electrostatic latent image bearing bodies and housing therein a developing agent of a predetermined color;
• a secondary image transfer device positioned immediately below the intermediate image transfer member fox transferring an image from the intermediate image transfer member onto an image recording medium;
• a fixing device for fixing the image onto the image recording medium after the image has been transferred from the intermediate image transfer member onto the image recording medium;
• and
• a reverse mechanism for reversing a surface of the image recording medium to provide another image onto a reverse surface of the identical image recording medium, the reverse mechanism being connected to a downstream of the fixing device and to an upstream of the secondary image transfer device by way of a reverse print pathway extending below the intermediate image transfer member.