The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 09, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1997
Kazuo Maruyama, Ashigarakami-gun, JP;
Koji Masuda, Ashigarakami-gun, JP;
Tsutomu Sugimoto, Ashigarakami-gun, JP;
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, three or more (four in this case) cylindrical photosensitive members 1 to 4 on which latent images are formed and developed through use of toner to thereby produce toner images, are arranged so as to share a tangential line in common, and a cylindrical intermediate transfer member 51 is provided. Alternatively, a first unit containing one or more image carriers is positioned next to a first transfer member and a second unit containing one or more image carriers is positioned next to a second transfer member such that there is reflectional symmetry between the first and second units and the transfer members.