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:
Feb. 16, 2010
Filed:
Jul. 03, 2006
Junichi Murano, Sayama, JP;
Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Tokyo, JP;
Junichi Murano, Sayama, JP;
Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carrier units and a position determining unit. The image carrier units form toner images in a sequential manner, and each of the plurality of image carrier units includes an image carrier and a supporting member to support the image carrier. The position determining unit includes a holding member having a plurality of openings for receiving the supporting members of the respective image carriers and a pressure mechanism. Each of the plurality of openings has a predetermined shape to sustain a weight of a corresponding one of the plurality of image carrier units through a corresponding one of the supporting members in a vertical direction and to grip the corresponding one of the supporting members in a horizontal direction. The pressure mechanism presses the supporting members held through the plurality of openings of the holding member to fix the image carriers at respective specific positions.