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:
May. 22, 2007
Filed:
Jul. 01, 2005
Yasukuni Omata, Chigasaki, JP;
Hideaki Mochimaru, Yokohama, JP;
Yasukuni Omata, Chigasaki, JP;
Hideaki Mochimaru, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an optical unit emitting light in accordance with image information that is inclined in a prescribed direction. At least two image bearing members bearing a latent image formed by the light emitted from the optical unit are provided that have shafts arranged on a line inclining in the prescribed direction. At least two developing units are provided for developing the at least two latent images with toner. Shafts of the at least two developing means units are also arranged on a line inclining in the prescribed direction. An intermediate transfer belt is provided to receive and superimpose the toner images from the at least two image bearing members at a first transfer station. The intermediate transfer belt also inclines in the prescribed direction. A transfer unit is connected to a cover of a main body and transfers the superimposed toner images from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium at a second transfer station. This transfer unit is arranged in a vicinity of the lower end of the intermediate transfer belt with the transfer unit being separated from the intermediate transfer belt when the cover is opened.