Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Mototada Toriumi

Shinji Kanemitsu

Shigeyoshi Onoda

Akihiro Nomura

Morikazu Mizutani

Fumio Nishino

Shinichi Sasaki

Hiroshi Ogawa

Hiroyoshi Maruyama

Sohei Tanaka

Hidetoshi Tanaka

Kazuo Kagiura

Sumitoshi Sootome

Noriyuki Yokoo

Yoichi Ishii

A process kit includes a support member having a photosensitive member integrally mounted thereon together with process elements for acting on the photosensitive member. The support member is mountable on and removable from a main image forming apparatus having an optical system for projecting an image onto the photosensitive member. The support member has a positioning element for engaging the optical system in order to position the optical system accurately with respect to the photosensitive member. This configuration permits sharply formed images to be formed on the photosensitive member after removal and remounting of the process kit.

Process kit and positioning mechanism for the process kit

An image forming apparatus comprising a first body and a second body which are openable or separable from each other. The apparatus contains a plurality of developing devices, each of which is movable between its developing position for developing a latent image on an image bearing member of the image forming apparatus and a retracted position where the developing device is retracted from the developing position. At least the developing device that is located at its developing position when the apparatus is closed, is moved away from the image bearing member in response to an operation for opening the second body relative to the first body.

Multicolored image forming apparatus separable for ease of maintenance

A sheet feeding apparatus for sequentially feeding sheet material from a sheet supporting member which supports a stack of sheet material. The feeding apparatus employs a mechanism to cause a feeding roller to engage or disengage the stack. A driving source is provided for transmitting a driving force to the feeding roller and the mechanism for causing the feeding roller to engage or disengage the stack. First and second transmitting mechanisms are provided for transmitting the driving force to the feeding roller and the mechanism for causing engagement or disengagement of the feeding roller and stack respectively. A stop device movable between a position to allow transmission of the driving force to the first and second transmitting mechanisms and a position where the transmitting mechanisms are prevented from transmitting the driving force. The feeding roller, the mechanism causing engagement or disengagement of the feeding roller with the stack and the first and second transmitting mechanisms are disclosed as co-axial.

Sheet feeding apparatus

Various components of image-forming means such as corona discharger, developing device and cleaning means are arranged around a photosensitive drum. These processing parts and the photosensitive drum are assembled together into a unit which can be detachably mounted into the main body of image-forming apparatus. Such a unit is called process kit. The process kit is provided with a driving connection member for receiving a driving force from the main body. The present invention provides safety means for effectively protecting said driving connection member from shock and impact thereby assuring the utility of the process kit for a long time.

Safety means for process kit

The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus for moving a sheet in a predetermined direction, characterized by a guide located at the lateral side of the path for the sheet, a conveyor for conveying the sheet along the guide, and a flexure inhibiting member for holding down the sheet.

A process kit is detachably mounted in the main body of an image forming apparatus and includes a housing in which a photosensitive member, a corona discharger and a developing device are mounted and held as a unit, the housing including an optical opening formed therein upstream of the corona discharger for conducting a homogeneous light to the photosensitive member to eliminate any remaining charge thereon and an opening of exposure for conducting a light of information to the photosensitive member, the exposure opening being located between the corona discharger and the developing device.

Corona discharger system

This specification discloses a process unit and an image formation apparatus provided with the process unit. The process unit is detachable with respect to the body of the image formation apparatus, and is characterized by process means acting on an image bearing member, and a guide member in the form of a grip provided at a position capable of maintaining the process unit in substantially horizontal condition, along the direction in which the process unit is mounted or dismounted with respect to the apparatus body, the guide member also performing the function of a grip during transportation of the process unit. The image formation apparatus is characterized by the process unit and support means for detachably supporting the guide member of the process unit.

Process unit and image formation apparatus provided with the process unit

A process unit detachably mountable into an image forming apparatus has all or a part of image forming process means, and an image forming apparatus using the same. The process unit includes an image bearing member, process devices actable on the image bearing member a casing for containing the image bearing member and process devices, the casing being provided with an aperture for allowing the image bearing member to be exposed to light, and a cover movable between a closing position wherein the cover closes the aperture and a retracted position wherein the cover is retracted from the closing position, in response to mounting of the unit into, and demounting of the unit, from the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus may have a device for moving the cover in response to the mounting or demounting of the unit.

Image forming apparatus and process unit detachably mountable thereto

Process kit and an image forming apparatus using the same

An image forming apparatus wherein an image is fixed by transporting through a nip of fixing rollers. The nip is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the transfer material toward the fixing rollers. The inclination is such that the part of the nip engageable with that one lateral end of the transfer material which is acted on by the separating mechanism is upstream as compared with the part of the nip engageable with the other lateral end which is not acted on by the separating mechanism with respect to the movement of the transfer material toward the fixing rollers.

Growing community of inventors

Yokohama, Japan

Mototada Toriumi