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:
Apr. 20, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2001
Yasuyuki Shinkai, Kanagawa, JP;
Kiyoshi Sakai, Tokyo, JP;
Satoru Tomita, Kanagawa, JP;
Mamoru Kiyota, Kanagawa, JP;
Kohji Ichimiya, Saitama, JP;
Yuichiro Kanoshima, Kanagawa, JP;
Nekka Matsuura, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus including a plurality of imaging units each for forming an image on a recording medium, an image carrier provided in each of the plurality of imaging unit, a development unit for visualizing an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier by toner in each of the plurality of imaging units, and a supporting device configured to integrate at least two imaging units of the plurality of imaging units into a unit, wherein the supporting device has a plurality of pressing members configured to press upper portions of the at least two imaging units, respectively, and a plurality of supporting members configured to support lower portions of the at least two imagining units, respectively.