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US 7,425,971 B2Granted
Line head and image forming apparatus incorporating the same
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsKatsunori Yamazaki, Yujiro Nomura, Kiyoshi Tsujino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a line head, a plurality of element arrays arranged in a first direction. Each array includes a plurality of light emission elements arrayed in a second direction which is perpendicularly to the first direction. The light emission elements emit light for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive surface of an image carrier. A switcher activates the light emission elements in at least one of the element arrays while deactivating the others. A developer develops the latent image as a visible image with toner.
Claims12
A line head, comprising:
- a plurality of element arrays arranged in a secondary scanning direction, each array including a plurality of light emission elements arrayed in a primary scanning direction;
- and
- a first switcher, which activates the element array in at least one of the element arrays while deactivating the others,
- wherein at least one of the element arrays is used for a backup purpose.
1 more element
A line head, comprising:
- a plurality of element arrays arranged in a secondary scanning direction, each array including a plurality of light emission elements arrayed in a primary scanning direction;
- and
- a first switcher, which activates the element array in at least one of the element arrays while deactivating the others, wherein:
- each of the element arrays is divided into a plurality of blocks;
- and
- the line head further comprises a second switcher which activates the light emission elements in at least one of the blocks in the at least one element array activated by the first switcher.
3 more elements
A line head, comprising:
- a plurality of element arrays arranged in a secondary scanning direction, each array including a plurality of light emission elements arrayed in a primary scanning direction;
- a first switcher, which activates the element array in at least one of the element arrays while deactivating the others;
- and
- a second switcher which activates at least one of the light emission elements in the at least one element array activated by the first switcher.
1 more element
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image carrier, having a photosensitive surface;
- a line head, comprising:
- a plurality of element arrays arranged in a secondary scanning direction, each array including a plurality of light emission elements arrayed in a primary scanning direction, to emit light for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive surface;
- and
- a first switcher, which activates the element array in at least one of the element arrays while deactivating the others;
- and
- a developer, which develops the latent image as a visible image with toner,
- wherein at least one of the element arrays is used for a backup purpose.
5 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image carrier, having a photosensitive surface;
- a line head, comprising:
- a plurality of element arrays arranged in a secondary scanning direction, each array including a plurality of light emission elements arrayed in a primary scanning direction;
- and
- a first switcher, which activates the element array in at least one of the element arrays while deactivating the others;
- and
- a developer, which develops the latent image as a visible image with toner, wherein:
- each of the element arrays is divided into a plurality of blocks;
- and
- the line head further comprises a second switcher which activates the light emission elements in at least one of the blocks in the at least one element array activated by the first switcher.
7 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image carrier, having a photosensitive surface;
- a line head, comprising:
- a plurality of element arrays arranged in a secondary scanning direction, each array including a plurality of light emission elements arrayed in a primary scanning direction;
- a first switcher, which activates the element array in at least one of the element arrays while deactivating the others;
- a second switcher, which activates at least one of the light emission elements in the at least one element array activated by the first switcher;
- and
- a developer, which develops the latent image as a visible image with toner.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.