Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.

Takeshi Tsuda

Shuji Fujisawa

Eiichi Tone

Haruo Yamamoto

Takao Ichihashi

Toshiaki Kusuda

Masakatsu Akashi

Yousuke Ohata

Hiroshi Hiraoka

Shingo Sakao

A multicolor image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing units respectively containing different color developers; comprising a newly selected developing unit switching timing controller for controlling the rotation of the photoreceptor and the timing for switching of the newly selected developing unit, or a previously selected developing unit switching timing controller for controlling the rotation of the photoreceptor and the switching timing of the previously selected developing unit.

Color image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing units

A developing device includes a developing section provided with an applicator for applying a developer to a latent electrostatic image and a supporting section for supporting the developing section turnably between an operating position at which the developer held on the applicator acts on image-bearing member and a non-operating position at which the developer held on the applicator does not substantially act on the image-bearing member. According to a first aspect, positioning device acts on the developing section and holds it at the operating position. According to a second aspect, there is provided device for holding the developing section at the non-operating position at the time of mounting a main body of the developing device on an image-forming machine. According to a third aspect, when the main body of the developing device is mounted on the image-forming machine, electrical connecters provided thereon are electrically coupled to each other. According to a fourth aspect, a toner cartridge loaded detachably into the main body of the developing device, not necessarily of the above type, cannot be detached from the main body of the developing device unless its discharge opening is closed with a cover member.

Developing device

An apparatus for electrostatic latent image development having two or more units for multicolor development provided around a photoreceptor. Each unit has a developer feed controller for feeding developer to the developing section having a developing roller facing the photoreceptor drum and for shutting off the feeding and has a doctor blade in the feed up-stream in turning direction of the developing roller. Developer is applied to the developing section when development is performed by displacement of the developer feed controller and is shut off when the developing unit is not used for development.

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Sakai, Japan

Takeshi Tsuda