Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd.

Akira Kosugi

Susumu Owada

Masayuki Kamegamori

A copying apparatus including a photosensitive drum having an image carrying surface and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a developer storage device, a developing roller having a developing surface for conveying a developer from the developer storage device to the image carrying surface, and a matching roller near each end of the developing roller for contacting the photosensitive drum to provide a predetermined gap between the image carrying surface and the developing surface. The developing unit is slidably supported in both a first direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum and in a second direction transverse to the axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum. The copying apparatus also includes a mounting and dismounting unit which is capable of urging the matching rollers into contact with the photosensitive drum through a sliding movement of the developing unit in the second direction, as well as moving the matching rollers out of contact with the photosensitive drum through a sliding movement of the developing unit in the second direction to allow the movement of the developing unit in the first direction.

Structure for positioning a developing device in a recording apparatus

A recording apparatus that includes an image carrier that has a movable image surface adapted for carrying a latent image to be developed. The apparatus further includes a developing unit that has a developer surface for conveying a developer thereon. A guide member is provided for slidably mounting the developing unit thereon. Biasing elements are included for releasably biasing the developing unit between at least two positions. The first position is a biased position wherein the developer surface faces the movable image with a development gap therebetween to transfer the developer onto the latent image. The second position is a released position wherein the developer surface is spaced from the movable image surface with a gap larger than the development gap. The guide member allows the developing unit to further slide in a direction transverse to the biasing direction.

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Hino, Japan

Akira Kosugi