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:
Nov. 14, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 01, 2004
Yuji Arai, Kawasaki, JP;
Atsushi Sampe, Yokohama, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Yokohama, JP;
Takeo Suda, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Hatori, Yokohama, JP;
Tomoji Ishikawa, Yokohama, JP;
Naoto Watanabe, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroyuki Nagashima, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshiyuki Kimura, Tokyo, JP;
Nobuo Kuwabara, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroshi Hosokawa, Yokohama, JP;
Hideki Zemba, Yokohama, JP;
Wakako Murakami, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Narumi, Yokohama, JP;
Ryuta Takeichi, Yokohama, JP;
Masanori Kawasumi, Yokohama, JP;
Kazuhiko Umemura, Yokohama, JP;
Yuji Arai, Kawasaki, JP;
Atsushi Sampe, Yokohama, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Yokohama, JP;
Takeo Suda, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Hatori, Yokohama, JP;
Tomoji Ishikawa, Yokohama, JP;
Naoto Watanabe, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroyuki Nagashima, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshiyuki Kimura, Tokyo, JP;
Nobuo Kuwabara, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroshi Hosokawa, Yokohama, JP;
Hideki Zemba, Yokohama, JP;
Wakako Murakami, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Narumi, Yokohama, JP;
Ryuta Takeichi, Yokohama, JP;
Masanori Kawasumi, Yokohama, JP;
Kazuhiko Umemura, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method and apparatus of image forming include a process cartridge detachably mounted therein. The process cartridge includes a photoconductive element and a housing storing the photoconductive element and including a guide portion guiding the process cartridge. The guide portion faces an inner wall of the image forming apparatus or another process cartridge adjoining thereto and guides the adjoining process cartridge. The guide portion slidably engages with a portion of the process adjoining cartridge. The guide portion varies in shape according to its position in the image forming apparatus. The guide portion may be separately formed from or integrated with the housing. A method and apparatus of an image forming includes an image transfer mechanism and a plurality of process cartridges arranged in parallel. Each of the process cartridges includes photoconductive elements and a housing, and forms an image for a single separated color.