Konica Corporation

Konica Corporatoin

Hisao Satoh

Tadayoshi Ikeda

Satoshi Haneda

Masakazu Fukuchi

Shizuo Morita

Atsushi Ogane

Toshio Shida

Tadashi Miwa

Yozo Fujii

Isao Matsuoka

Shigeru Okazaki

Koichi Endo

Takeshi Sakabe

Tadayashi Ikeda

Naoko Otomo

In an image forming apparatus having a detachable process cartridge in which an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developing unit which develops the electrostatic latent image so that a toner image can be formed, both integrally formed into one unit. There is provided a developer container including a discharge section which can be inserted into a supply opening of the developing unit, and a container in which a predetermined amount of developer is contained, wherein the developer container is provided to the toner supply opening of the developing unit and the developer is supplied into the developing unit housing when a toner stirring screw of the developing unit is rotated.

Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge that incorporates a photoreceptor and a plurality of developing devices. The process cartridge is provided with a first driving shaft to drive the photoreceptor and a second driving shaft to independently drive the developing devices. When the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus which includes spaced apart first and second gears, the first and second driving shafts are coupled separately with the spaced apart first and second gears so that driving forces are separately transmitted to the first and second driving shafts. A flywheel is mounted on a third driving shaft that is coupled with the first driving shaft to drive the photoreceptor. Since the developing devices are constructed to receive a large number of different possible loads, the developers are placed in a condition where vibrations are created easily by the driving of the various possible loads. The driving of the photoreceptor is arranged to be independent of the driving of the developing devices so that vibrations generated by the driving of the developing devices are not transmitted to the photoreceptor. Furthermore, the flywheel is provided on the third driving shaft, and a third gear is mounted on the third driving shaft. Since the third gear is coupled with the first driving shaft to drive the photoreceptor, the rotation of the photoreceptor will be smoothed out by the presence of the flywheel.

Image forming apparatus with driving mechanism for photoreceptor

An image forming apparatus including a lower half body; an upper half body which is mounted on the lower half body and has an axis arranged in parallel to a sheet passage so that the upper half body can be pivoted around the axis; and a platen cover provided on the upper half body so as to open or close in the same direction as that of the upper half body: wherein the sum of pivot angle of the upper half body and the platen cover is smaller than 90 degrees.

Image forming apparatus of a clamshell type

A color image forming machine includes a plurality of exposure units for irradiating an image carrier movable in a secondary scanning direction of the exposure units by primary scanning beams, at a plurality of irradiation positions to form latent images, a plurality of charging units for charging the image carrier corresponding to the irradiation positions of the exposure units and a plurality of developing units to form toner images corresponding the latent images. The plurality of toner images are superimposed on the image carrier to obtain a multi-color or full-color images trough transferring and fixing. A light-reflective registration mark is provided to a non-image area on one side of the image carrier. Employing at least two exposure units, irradiation by each primary scanning beam is conducted to the light-reflective registration mark moving in the secondary scanning direction. Each reflected beam from the registration mark is received by a plurality of photoreceptor sensors and then detection signals of a registration mark position are generated. Timing of writing by the primary scanning beam and a distance between bright lines formed on the image carrier by primary scanning beams of at least two exposure units are detected. The detected result is fed back to control the start timing of image writing and the driving of the image carrier.

Color image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus is provided with a rotatable upper cover, one surface of which serves as a first exit tray on which recording sheets are discharged with image sides face downward, the other surface of which serves as a second exit tray on which recording sheets are discharged with image sides face upward. Guide members which are activated in accordance with the rotation of the rotatable upper cover are provided above delivering rollers, thereby the recording sheets delivered by the delivering rollers are selectively discharged with the image sides either face downward to the first exit tray or face upward to the second exit tray.

Image forming apparatus with sheet discharging device

A color image forming machine such as a copier or a printer for producing a toner image, corresponding to an original image, on a recording sheet. The color image forming machine has a photoreceptor for forming the toner image on its surface; a transferrer for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to the recording sheet; and a fixer for fixing the toner image on the recording sheet. The fixer includes (1) an endless heat belt which is supported by a heat roller and a separation roller; and (2) an endless conveyance belt which is supported by a pressure roller and another separation roller; in which the endless heat belt and the endless conveyance belt are partially pressed together by the first pair which are inclined relative to one another, and the second pair so that a nip region is created between the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers. The endless heat belt and the endless conveyance belt have a glossy surface. The fixer conveys the recording sheet upwards in the apparatus when the fixer fixes the toner image on the recording sheet.

Color image forming apparatus using fixing apparatus for glossy images

An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge, including an image carrying member and an operation member with respect to image forming, facing the image carrying member, is movably provided. An opening on the process cartridge in accordance with the operation member is covered by a shielding member in the main body of the apparatus when the process cartridge is moved from the apparatus in response to an opening movement of an external cover which provides access to the interior of the apparatus.

An image forming apparatus provided with a process cartridge which contains at least an image carrying body fixed therein. The process cartridge is slidably provided to a main frame of the apparatus and is adapted to occupy two positions of a first position to perform the image forming and a second position suitable for maintenance and pulling out of the process cartridge for the main body. The process cartridge is drived automatically to the second position in each case of jam occurence in copy paper conveyance and maintenance.

Image formimg apparatus with automatic process cartridge displacement

Color image forming apparatus includes a belt-shaped image carrier stretched and conveyed around rotating rollers on which image exposure is conducted by a plurality of exposure units; and a plurality of step-formed supporting surfaces below the lower surface disposed of the image carrier. The stepped formation of the exposure unit supporting surfaces avoids interference between optical paths of laser beams for image exposure, and facilitates compactness of the apparatus. The belt-shaped image carrier and the supporting surfaces are provided at a relative angle of 5-30 degrees. The color image forming apparatus is also capable of detecting a specific pattern outputted from the exposure units; calculating the differences of positions of the specific pattern as formed by the different exposure units; and controlling the positioning of the specific pattern as outputted by the exposure units, so as to increase the accuracy of the image forming apparatus.

Compact image forming apparatus with color position adjustment

Image forming apparatus provided with a process cartridge including at least a belt-shaped image carrier. A protective cover automatically covers a transfer section of the image carrier installed in the process cartridge, in response to a traveling motion of the process cartridge from a first position in which an image can be formed, to a second position in which the process cartridge can be attached to or detached from the apparatus. The protective cover also automatically exposes the transfer section of the image carrier in response to the input of a power source to the apparatus, or the input of an image forming signal for forming a latent image on the image carrier, or the process of mounting of the process cartridge to the apparatus.

Image forming apparatus having detachable process cartridge with

An image forming apparatus, which transfers a toner image from an image carrying member to a recording sheet at a transfer location, comprises a process cartridge and a path forming member. The process cartridge is detachably provided to the main frame of the image forming apparatus, and carries therein at least an image forming member. The path forming member assumes a closed position to form a conveying path for the recording sheet to a transfer location in response to the attachment of the process cartridge, and assumes an open position to provide direct access by an operator to the transfer location in response to detachment of the process cartridge.

Image forming apparatus having an openable conveyance path

A color image forming apparatus including an image carrying member on which a toner image is formed, a transferring device to transfer the toner image onto a recording sheet, a conveyer to convey the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred, a fixing device to fix the toner image on the sheet and a storage device to store the transfer sheet which has been fixed once by the fixing device. The storage device can feed the stored transfer sheet to the fixing device in order for it to be fixed a second time, and can be detachably mounted to the apparatus.

An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge contains at least an image carrying member, a developing unit and a developer replenishment unit. The process cartridge can be mounted to or removed from the apparatus for its replacement. The process cartridge can take a first position where images can be formed and a second position where developer can be replenished. The process cartridge can be moved from the first position to the second position when a detector for detecting the depletion of the developer outputs a detection signal.

An image forming apparatus provided with a process-cartridge for therein fixing at least an image carrying body. The process-cartridge is adapted to be inserted to the main body of the apparatus at a first position suitable for image forming operation and is adapted to be relased to a second position suitable for pulling out of the process-cartridge from the main body.

In an image forming apparatus, there is provided a multistage exit tray to receive printed recording sheets, which is located above an upper cover to access a conveyance path of the printed recording sheets within the apparatus by opening the upper cover upwardly. When the upper cover is opened, the exit tray is moved to a position where the exit tray does not interfere with the upper cover.

Growing community of inventors

Hachioji, Japan

Hisao Satoh