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:
Dec. 04, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 10, 1999
Shigeru Matsuzaki, Numazu, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus has a plurality of shiftable developing devices that contain toner. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image onto a recording material by heat, and the plurality of developing devices are disposed above the fixing apparatus. When a predetermined time period has elapsed after a temperature of the fixing apparatus reaches a predetermined temperature, the plurality of developing devices are shifted away from the fixing apparatus. With this arrangement, the toner contained in the developing device is prevented from being softened, melted and solidified due to the heat from the fixing apparatus, thereby effecting image formation stably.