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:
Sep. 12, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 01, 2004
Junichi Hashimoto, Toyohashi, JP;
Kyoichi Yoshizawa, Nagoya, JP;
Hiroshi Mizuno, Aichi-ken, JP;
Tomoyuki Imura, Toyohashi, JP;
Hiromasa Ueno, Toyokawa, JP;
Takanobu Yamada, Toyokawa, JP;
Junichi Hashimoto, Toyohashi, JP;
Kyoichi Yoshizawa, Nagoya, JP;
Hiroshi Mizuno, Aichi-ken, JP;
Tomoyuki Imura, Toyohashi, JP;
Hiromasa Ueno, Toyokawa, JP;
Takanobu Yamada, Toyokawa, JP;
Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of printing units each having an image bearing member for rotation about an axis and a process member which cooperates with the image bearing member in an image forming process; a transfer member for moving in contact with the image bearing member of each of the plurality of printing units, an image on each of the image bearing members being transferred onto the transfer member or a recording medium that is transported on the transfer member; a switch unit for switching between a contact state where the image bearing members in the plurality of printing units are in contact with the transfer member and a separate state where the image bearing member(s) in the printing unit(s) other than one of the plurality of printing units are separated from the transfer member; a memory for storing life expectancies of the image bearing member and the process member with regard to the printing unit(s) other than the one of the plurality of printing units; and a control section for controlling the switch unit based on a print job and the life expectancies stored in the memory.