Title: Image forming apparatus with improved image quality and maintenance workability
Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed including at least a plurality of image bearing members, a plurality of image forming units each including plural image forming members for operating image forming steps onto each of the image bearing members, and a further image bearing member, which are held collectively on an image bearing member holding component, image forming unit holding component and second image bearing member holding component, respectively. By further providing a contact/detach mechanism adapted to detaching movements, within said image forming apparatus, of the image bearing member holding component and the second image bearing member holding component in relation to the image forming unit holding component, the mechanism is greatly simplified with relatively simple and less expensive construction of the mechanism disclosed herein, through eliminating plural contact/detach mechanisms separately provided for the noted holding components and also providing one integrating power sources for use in driving plural units in common. As a result, the previously known disadvantage in image forming apparatus such as contact residue images which are unduly caused by continual contact of the photoreceptors to image forming units and intermediate transfer belt can be obviated, as an example.
Patent Number: 6,978,103 Issued on 12/20/2005 to Miura, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Miura; Tetsuroh (Tokyo, JP);
Saitou; Takeshi (Hachiouji, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Ricoh Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
351410 |
| Filed:
|
January 27, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Feb 08, 2002[JP] | 2002-032210 |
| Feb 19, 2002[JP] | 2002-041595 |
| Feb 19, 2002[JP] | 2002-041596 |
| Feb 25, 2002[JP] | 2002-016417 |
| Dec 24, 2002[JP] | 2002-371550 |
| Dec 24, 2002[JP] | 2002-371685 |
| Dec 26,
2002[JP] | 2002-376778 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
399/116 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G03G 015/02 |
| Field of Search: |
399/107,110,111,112,113,114,115,116,119,298,299,302,306,308,309
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
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| 6453135 | Sep., 2002 | Sameshima et al.
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| 6636711 | Oct., 2003 | Katahira.
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| 2001/0028810 | Oct., 2001 | Yamaguchi et al.
| |
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Other References
U.S. Appl. No. 10/351,410, filed Jan. 27, 2003, Mura et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 10/653,097, filed Sep. 3, 2003, Kimura et al.
|
Primary Examiner: Tran; Hoan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of image bearing members collectively arranged as an image bearing
unit and adapted for bearing thereon electrostatic latent images corresponding
to image data; and
a plurality of image forming members provided in a circumference of said plurality
of image bearing members and configured to selectively engage with the image bearing
unit, the image bearing unit being configured to be removable from the housing
separately from the plurality of image forming members.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two of
the plurality of image forming members are arranged to perform a similar function
and are collectively arranged as a movable image forming unit.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least three of
said plurality of image forming members are arranged to perform the similar function.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the plurality of image forming members includes a first set of image forming
members arranged to perform a first function and a second set of image forming
members arranged to perform a second function,
the first set of image forming members is collectively configured as a first
image forming unit, and
the second set of image forming members is collectively configured as a second
image forming unit, the first image forming unit being selectively detachable from
the second image forming unit.
5. The image forming apparatus of claim 4, wherein,
the image forming members of the first image forming unit are equally spaced
apart by a first distance, and
the image forming members of the second image forming unit are equally spaced
apart by the first distance.
6. The image forming apparatus of claim 4, wherein,
the first set of image forming members includes at least two charger rollers,
and
the second set of image forming members includes at least two developing rollers.
7. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of image forming subsystems, each having plural kinds of image forming
members and each being configured to perform image formation; and
at least two image forming units included in each of said plurality of image
forming subsystems, each of said image forming units including a plurality of said
image forming members having similar capability, and each of the image forming
units being separately removable from the image forming apparatus.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
said image forming units each includes at least three of said image forming members
having similar capability.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
each of said image forming members having similar capability included in said
image forming units is situated approximately equally spaced from each other.
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
one of said image forming members is an image bearing member.
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, comprising:
a further image forming subsystem configured to perform black image formation
and provided separately from said plurality of image forming subsystems, the further
image forming subsystem including plural kinds of image forming members having
different capabilities, wherein the plurality of image forming subsystems are each
configured to perform color image formation.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
said at least two image forming units are each slidably removable from a main
chases of said image forming apparatus.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
said image forming members included in said image forming units are each provided
to be replaceable individually.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
said image forming members included in said image forming units are each provided
to be replaceable as a unit.
15. The image forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein,
one of the at least two image forming units includes at least two charger rollers,
and
another one of the at least two image forming units includes at least two developing
rollers.
16. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of image forming units, each including a plurality of image forming
members having a particular capability and each configured to be detachable from
another image forming unit of image forming members having another capability.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
said image forming members are each provided to be replaceable individually.
18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
said image forming members are each provided to be replaceable as a unit.
19. The image forming apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of image forming
units includes,
a first image forming unit including at least two charger rollers, and
a second image forming unit including at least two developing rollers.
20. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of image bearing members;
an image bearing member holding component for holding said plurality of image
bearing members collectively;
a plurality of image forming units for operating image forming steps onto each
of said image bearing members;
an image forming unit holding component for holding said plurality of image forming
units collectively; and
a contact/detach mechanism for carrying out detaching movements, within said
image forming apparatus, of said image bearing member holding component in relation
to said image forming unit holding component.
21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing members are held parallel to each other detachably
on said image bearing member holding component.
22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
at least one of said image bearing member holding component and said image forming
unit holding component is each provided slidably out of a main chases of said image
forming apparatus.
23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said image bearing member holding component and said image forming unit holding
component each include respective positioning parts for carrying out positioning
one in relation to another by engaging said positioning part of said image forming
unit holding component with that of image bearing member holding component.
24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said contact/detach mechanism carries out detachment movements through displacement
of said image forming unit holding in relation to said image bearing member holding
component.
25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein:
a direction of said displacement is vertical in relation to said image bearing
member holding component.
26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:
a second image bearing member provided in common for being transferred by images
born by said plurality of image bearing members;
a second image bearing member holding component for holding said second image
bearing member; and
a second contact/detach mechanism for carrying out detaching movements, within
said image forming apparatus, of said second image bearing member holding component
in relation to said image bearing member holding component.
27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:
a linkage mechanism for carrying out detaching movements of both said image forming
unit holding component in relation to said image bearing member holding component
and said second image bearing member holding component in relation to said image
bearing member holding component, simultaneously.
28. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:
at least one of said image forming unit holding component and said second image
bearing member holding component is each provided slidably out of a main chases
of said image forming apparatus.
29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:
said image bearing member holding component, said image forming unit holding
component, and said second image bearing member holding component each include
respective positioning parts for carrying out positioning in relation to each other
by engaging said positioning parts of said image forming unit holding component
and said second image bearing member holding component with said positioning part
of said image bearing member holding component.
30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:
said second contact/detach mechanism carries out detachment movements through
displacement of said image forming unit holding and second image bearing member
holding component in relation to said image bearing member holding component.
31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 30, wherein:
a direction of said displacement is vertical in relation to said image bearing
member holding component.
32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:
a third image bearing member provided for being transferred by images born by
said second image bearing member; and
a third image bearing member holding component for holding said third image bearing
member, wherein:
said second and third image bearing member holding components each include respective
positioning parts for carrying out positioning in relation to one another by engaging
said positioning part of said third image forming unit holding component with that
of said second image bearing member holding component.
33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said detaching movements are carried out at least immediately after completing
image forming process steps.
34. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of image bearing members;
an image bearing member holding component for collectively holding said plurality
of image bearing members with a certain degree of positional allowance;
a plurality of image forming units for operating image forming steps onto each
of said image bearing members; and
an image forming unit holding component for holding said plurality of image forming
units collectively, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing members are each positioned in relation to a
main chases of said image forming apparatus after placing said image bearing member
holding component at a predetermined location in said main chases, and said plurality
of image forming units held on said image forming unit holding component are each
subsequently positioned in relation to said plurality of image bearing members
positioned previously.
35. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:
an image bearing member holding component restricting member for placing said
plurality of image bearing members at respective predetermined locations in said
main chases;
an image bearing member positioning mechanism for positioning said plurality
of image bearing members, placed at respective predetermined locations on said
image bearing member holding component, in relation to said main chases; and
an image forming unit positioning mechanism for positioning said plurality of
image forming units held on said image forming unit holding component in relation
to said plurality of image bearing members.
36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:
a contact/detach mechanism for carrying out detaching movements, within said
image forming apparatus, of said image bearing member holding component in relation
to said image forming unit holding component.
37. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing members are held parallel to each other detachably
on said image bearing member holding component.
38. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing members are detachably mounted from above on
said image bearing member.
39. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein:
at least one of said second image bearing member holding component and said image
forming unit holding component is each provided slidably out of a main chases of
said image forming apparatus.
40. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:
a second image bearing member provided in common for being transferred by images
born by said plurality of image bearing members; and
a second image bearing member holding component for holding said second image
bearing member, wherein:
said second image bearing member held on said second image bearing member holding
component are each subsequently positioned in relation to said plurality of image
bearing members previously positioned.
41. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising:
a second image bearing member positioning mechanism for positioning said second
image bearing member held on said second image bearing member holding component
in relation to said image bearing member holding component previously positioned.
42. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising:
a second contact/detach mechanism for carrying out detaching movements, within
said image forming apparatus, of said second image bearing member holding component
in relation to said image bearing member holding component.
43. The image forming apparatus according to claim 42, further comprising:
a linkage mechanism for carrying out detaching movements of both said image forming
unit holding component in relation to said image bearing member holding component,
and said second image bearing member holding component in relation to said image
bearing member holding component, simultaneously.
44. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40, wherein:
at least one of said second image bearing member holding component, said image
forming unit holding component and said second image bearing member holding component
is each provided slidably out of a main chases of said image forming apparatus.
45. The image forming apparatus according to claim 44, wherein:
contact/detach movements are carried out in a same direction for said image bearing
member, said image forming unit and said second image bearing member, held on said
image bearing member holding component, said image forming unit holding component
and said second image bearing member holding component, respectively.
46. The image forming apparatus according to claim 45, wherein:
sliding-out movements are carried out horizontally for said image bearing member
holding component, said image forming unit holding component and said second image
bearing member holding component; and contact/detach movements are carried out
vertically for said image bearing member, said image forming unit and said second
image bearing member.
47. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising:
a third image bearing member provided for being transferred by images born by
said second image bearing member; and
a third image bearing member holding component for holding said third image bearing
member, wherein:
said second and third image bearing member holding components each include respective
positioning parts for carrying out positioning in relation to one another by engaging
said positioning part of said third image forming unit holding component with that
of said second image bearing member holding component.
48. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image bearing unit including at least a plurality of image bearing members
adapted for bearing electrostatic latent images corresponding to image data;
an image bearing member holding component for holding said plurality of image
bearing members collectively;
a plurality of image forming units each including at least a plurality of image
forming members for operating image forming steps onto each of said image bearing
members; and
an image forming unit holding component for holding said plurality of image forming
units collectively,
wherein
a contact/detach mechanism is provided for carrying out detaching movements,
within said image forming apparatus, of said image bearing member holding component
in relation to said image forming unit holding component.
49. The image forming apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:
each of said image forming members having similar capability included in said
plurality of image forming units is situated approximately equally spaced each
other.
50. The image forming apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:
said at least two image forming units are each slidably provided out of a main
chases of said image forming apparatus.
51. The image forming apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:
said image forming members included in said image forming units are each provided
to be replaceable individually.
52. The image forming apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:
said image forming members included in said image forming units are each provided
to be replaceable as a unit.
53. The image forming apparatus according to claim 52, wherein:
a direction of said displacement is vertical in relation to said image bearing
member holding component.
54. The image forming apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:
at least one of said image bearing member holding component and said image forming
unit holding component is each provided slidably out of a main chases of said image
forming apparatus.
55. The image forming apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:
said image bearing member holding component and said image forming unit holding
component each include respective positioning parts for carrying out positioning
one in relation to another by engaging said positioning part of said image forming
unit holding component with that of image bearing member holding component.
56. The image forming apparatus according to claim 55, further comprising:
a linkage mechanism for carrying out detaching movements of both said image forming
unit holding component in relation to said image bearing member holding component
and said second image bearing member holding component in relation to said image
bearing member holding component, simultaneously.
57. The image forming apparatus according to claims
55, wherein:
at least one of said image forming unit holding component and said second image
bearing member holding component is each provided slidably out of a main chases
of said image forming apparatus.
58. The image forming apparatus according to claim 55, wherein:
said image bearing member holding component, said image forming unit holding
component, and said second image bearing member holding component each include
respective positioning parts for carrying out positioning in relation to each other
by engaging said positioning parts of said image forming unit holding component
and said second image bearing member holding component with said positioning part
of said image bearing member holding component.
59. The image forming apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:
said contact/detach mechanism carries out detachment movements through displacement
of said image forming unit holding in relation to said image bearing member holding
component.
60. The image forming apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising:
a second image bearing member provided in common for being transferred by images
born by said plurality of image bearing members;
a second image bearing member holding component for holding said second image
bearing member; and
a second contact/detach mechanism for carrying out detaching movements, within
said image forming apparatus, of said second image bearing member holding component
in relation to said image bearing member holding component.
61. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image bearing unit including at least a plurality of image bearing members
adapted for bearing electrostatic latent images corresponding to image data;
an image bearing member holding component for holding said plurality of image
bearing members collectively;
a plurality of image forming units each including at least a plurality of image
forming members for operating image forming steps onto each of said image bearing
members; and
an image forming unit holding component for holding said plurality of image forming
units collectively,
wherein:
said plurality of image bearing members are each positioned in relation to a
main chases of said image forming apparatus after placing said image bearing member
holding component at a predetermined location in said main chases, and said plurality
of image forming units held on said image fanning unit holding component are each
subsequently positioned in relation to said plurality of image bearing members
positioned previously.
62. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, wherein:
each of said image forming members having similar capability included in said
plurality of image forming units is situated approximately equally spaced each
other.
63. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, wherein:
said at least two image forming units are each slidably provided out of a main
chases of said image forming apparatus.
64. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, wherein:
said image forming members included in said image forming units are each provided
to be replaceable individually.
65. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, wherein:
said image forming members included in said image forming units are each provided
to be replaceable as a unit.
66. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, further comprising:
an image bearing member holding component restricting member for placing said
plurality of image bearing members at respective predetermined locations in said
main chases;
an image bearing member positioning mechanism for positioning said plurality
of image bearing members, placed at respective predetermined locations on said
image bearing member holding component, in relation to said main chases; and
an image forming unit positioning mechanism for positioning said plurality of
image forming units held on said image forming unit holding component in relation
to said plurality of image bearing members.
67. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, further comprising:
a contact/detach mechanism for carrying out detaching movements, within said
image forming apparatus, of said image bearing member holding component in relation
to said image forming unit holding component.
68. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing members are held parallel to each other detachably
on said image bearing member holding component.
69. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing members are detachably mounted from above on
said image bearing member.
70. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, wherein:
at least one of said second image bearing member holding component and said image
forming unit holding component is each provided slidably out of a main chases of
said image forming apparatus.
71. The image forming apparatus according to claim 61, further comprising:
a second image bearing member provided in common for being transferred by images
born by said plurality of image bearing members; and
a second image bearing member holding component for holding said second image
bearing member,
wherein:
said second image bearing member held on said second image bearing member holding
component is subsequently positioned in relation to said plurality of image bearing
members previously positioned.
72. The image forming apparatus according to claim 71, further comprising:
a second image bearing member positioning mechanism for positioning said second
image bearing member held on said second image bearing member holding component
in relation to said image bearing member holding component previously positioned.
73. The image forming apparatus according to claim 71, further comprising:
a second contact/detach mechanism for carrying out detaching movements, within
said image forming apparatus, of said second image bearing member holding component
in relation to said image bearing member holding component.
74. The image forming apparatus according to claim 69, further comprising:
a linkage mechanism for carrying out detaching movements of both said image forming
unit holding component in relation to said image bearing member holding component
and said second image bearing member holding component in relation to said image
bearing member holding component, simultaneously.
75. The image forming apparatus according to claim 73, wherein:
at least one of said second image bearing member holding component, said image
forming unit holding component and said second image bearing member holding component
is each provided slidably out of a main chases of said image forming apparatus.
76. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a housing:
an image bearing unit including a plurality of image bearing member means for
bearing thereon electrostatic latent images corresponding to image data; and
image forming member means for selectively engaging with the image bearing unit
and for performing different image forming functions, the image forming member
means being provided in a circumference of said plurality of image bearing member
means, and the image bearing unit being configured to be removable from the housing
separately from the image forming member means.
77. The image forming apparatus according to claim 76, wherein:
the image forming member means includes a first set of image forming members
collectively arranged as an image forming unit that is configured to be separately
removed from the housing.
78. The image forming apparatus according to claim 77, wherein:
image forming member means includes at least three image forming members having
similar capability and collectively arranged as an image forming unit that is configured
to be separately removed from the housing.
79. The image forming apparatus according to claim 76, wherein:
said image forming member means includes a plurality of image forming units,
each having multiple image forming members of similar capability, the image forming
members of one of the plurality of image forming units being spaced apart from
one another by a first distance, and the image forming members of another one of
the plurality of image forming units being spaced apart from one another by the
first distance.
80. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of image forming subsystem means for performing image formation,
each image forming subsystem having plural kinds of image forming member means
for performing specific image forming functions; and
at least two image forming unit means included in each of said plurality of image
forming subsystem means, each image forming unit means including a plurality of
said image forming member means having similar capability, and each of the image
forming unit means being separately removable from the image forming apparatus.
81. The image forming apparatus according to claim 80, wherein:
at least one of the image forming unit means includes at least three of said
image forming member means having similar capability.
82. The image forming apparatus according to claim 80, wherein:
said image forming member means having similar capability included in said image
forming unit means is situated approximately equally spaced from each other.
83. The image forming apparatus according to claim 80, wherein:
one of said image forming member means is an image bearing member means.
84. The image forming apparatus according to claim 80, comprising:
a further image forming subsystem means for performing black image formation
provided separately from said plurality of image forming subsystem means and including
plural kinds of image forming member means having different capabilities, the plurality
of image forming subsystem means also for performing color image formation.
85. The image forming apparatus according to claim 80, wherein:
said at least two image forming unit means are each slidably removable from a
main chases of said image forming apparatus.
86. The image forming apparatus according to claim 80, wherein:
said image forming member means included in said image forming unit means are
each provided to be individually replaceable.
87. The image forming apparatus according to claim 80, wherein:
said image forming member means included in said image forming unit means are
each provided to be replaceable as a unit.
88. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of image bearing member means;
an image bearing member holding component means for holding said plurality of
image bearing member means collectively;
a plurality of image forming unit means for operating image forming steps onto
each of said image bearing member means;
an image forming unit holding component means for holding said plurality of image
forming unit means collectively; and
a contact/detach mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements, within
said image forming apparatus, of said image bearing member holding component means
in relation to said image forming unit holding component means.
89. The image forming apparatus according to claim 88, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing member means are held parallel to each other
detachably on said image bearing member holding component means.
90. The image forming apparatus according to claim 88, wherein:
at least one of said image bearing member holding component means and said image
forming unit holding component means is each provided slidably out of a main chases
of said image forming apparatus.
91. The image forming apparatus according to claim 88, wherein:
said image bearing member holding component means and said image forming unit
holding component means each include respective positioning part means for carrying
out positioning one in relation to another by engaging said positioning part means
of said image forming unit holding component means with that of image bearing member
holding component means.
92. The image forming apparatus according to claim 88, wherein:
said contact/detach mechanism means carries out detachment movements through
displacement of said image forming unit holding means in relation to said image
bearing member holding component means.
93. The image forming apparatus according to claim 92, wherein:
a direction of said displacement is vertical in relation to said image bearing
member holding component means.
94. The image forming apparatus according to claim 88, further comprising:
a second image bearing member means provided in common for being transferred
by images born by said plurality of image bearing member means;
a second image bearing member holding component means for holding said second
image bearing member means; and
a second contact/detach mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements,
within said image forming apparatus, of said second image bearing member holding
component means in relation to said image bearing member holding component means.
95. The image forming apparatus according to claim 94, further comprising:
a linkage mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements of both said image
forming unit holding component means in relation to said image bearing member holding
component means and said second image bearing member holding component means in
relation to said image bearing member holding component means, simultaneously.
96. The image forming apparatus according to claim 94, wherein:
at least one of said image forming unit holding component means and said second
image bearing member holding component means is each provided slidably out of a
main chases of said image forming apparatus.
97. The image forming apparatus according to claim 94, wherein:
said image bearing member holding component means, said image forming unit holding
component means, and said second image bearing member holding component means each
include respective positioning part means for carrying out positioning in relation
to each other by engaging said positioning part means of said image forming unit
holding component means and said second image bearing member holding component
means with said positioning part means of said image bearing member holding component
means.
98. The image forming apparatus according to claim 94, wherein:
said second contact/detach mechanism means carries out detachment movements through
displacement of said image forming unit holding means and second image bearing
member holding component means in relation to said image bearing member holding
component means.
99. The image forming apparatus according to claim 98, wherein:
a direction of said displacement is vertical in relation to said image bearing
member holding component means.
100. The image forming apparatus according to claim 94, further comprising:
a third image bearing member means provided for being transferred by images born
by said second image bearing member means; and
a third image bearing member holding component means for holding said third image
bearing member means, wherein:
said second and third image bearing member holding component means each include
respective positioning parts for carrying out positioning in relation to one another
by engaging said positioning part means of said third image forming unit holding
component means with that of said second image bearing member holding component
means.
101. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of image bearing member means;
an image bearing member holding component means for collectively holding said
plurality of image bearing member means with a certain degree of positional allowance;
a plurality of image forming unit means for operating image forming steps onto
each of said image bearing member means; and
an image forming unit holding component means for holding said plurality of image
forming unit means collectively,
wherein:
said plurality of image bearing member means are each positioned in relation
to a main chases of said image forming apparatus after placing said image bearing
member holding component means at a predetermined location in said main chases,
and said plurality of image forming unit means held on said image forming unit
holding component means are each subsequently positioned in relation to said plurality
of image bearing member means positioned previously.
102. The image forming apparatus according to claim 101, further comprising:
an image bearing member holding component restricting member means for placing
said plurality of image bearing member means at respective predetermined locations
in said main chases;
an image bearing member positioning mechanism means for positioning said plurality
of image bearing member means, placed at respective predetermined locations on
said image bearing member holding component means, in relation to said main chases;
and
an image forming unit positioning mechanism means for positioning said plurality
of image forming unit means held on said image forming unit holding component means
in relation to said plurality of image bearing member means.
103. The image forming apparatus according to claim 101, further comprising:
a contact/detach mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements, within
said image forming apparatus, of said image bearing member holding component means
in relation to said image forming unit holding component means.
104. The image forming apparatus according to claim 101, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing member means are held parallel to each other
detachably on said image bearing member holding component means.
105. The image forming apparatus according to claim 101, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing member means are detachably mounted from above
on said image bearing member means.
106. The image forming apparatus according to claim 101, wherein:
at least one of said second image bearing member holding component means and
said image forming unit holding component means is each provided slidably out of
a main chases of said image forming apparatus.
107. The image forming apparatus according to claim 101, further comprising:
a second image bearing member means provided in common for being transferred
by images born by said plurality of image bearing member means; and
a second image bearing member holding component means for holding said second
image bearing member means,
wherein:
said second image bearing member means held on said second image bearing member
holding component means are each subsequently positioned in relation to said plurality
of image bearing member means previously positioned.
108. The image forming apparatus according to claim 107, further comprising:
a second image bearing member means positioning mechanism for positioning said
second image bearing member means held on said second image bearing member holding
component means in relation to said image bearing member holding component means
previously positioned.
109. The image forming apparatus according to claim 107, further comprising:
a second contact/detach mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements,
within said image forming apparatus, of said second image bearing member holding
component means in relation to said image bearing member holding component means.
110. The image forming apparatus according to claim 109, further comprising:
a linkage mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements of both said image
forming unit holding component means in relation to said image bearing member holding
component means, and said second image bearing member holding component means in
relation to said image bearing member holding component means, simultaneously.
111. The image forming apparatus according to claim 107, wherein:
at least one of said second image bearing member holding component means, said
image forming unit holding component means and said second image bearing member
holding component means is each provided slidably out of a main chases of said
image forming apparatus.
112. The image forming apparatus according to claim 111, wherein:
contact/detach movements are carried out in a same direction for said image bearing
member means, said image forming unit means and said second image bearing member
means, held on said image bearing member holding component means, said image forming
unit holding component means and said second image bearing member holding component
means, respectively.
113. The image forming apparatus according to claim 112, wherein:
sliding-out movements are carried out horizontally for said image bearing member
holding component means, said image forming unit holding component means and said
second image bearing member holding component means; and contact/detach movements
are carried out vertically for said image bearing member means, said image forming
unit means and said second image bearing member means.
114. The image forming apparatus according to claim 107, further comprising:
a third image bearing member means provided for being transferred by images born
by said second image bearing member means; and
a third image bearing member holding component means for holding said third image
bearing member means, wherein:
said second and third image bearing member holding component means each include
respective positioning part means for carrying out positioning in relation to one
another by engaging said positioning part means of said third image forming unit
holding component means with that of said second image bearing member holding component
means.
115. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image bearing unit means including at least a plurality of image bearing member
means adapted for bearing electrostatic latent images corresponding to image data;
an image bearing member holding component means for holding said plurality of
image bearing member means collectively;
a plurality of image forming unit means each including at least a plurality of
image forming member means for operating image forming steps onto each of said
image bearing member means; and
an image forming unit holding component means for holding said plurality of image
forming unit means collectively,
wherein
a contact/detach mechanism means is provided for carrying out detaching movements,
within said image forming apparatus, of said image bearing member holding component
means in relation to said image forming unit holding component means.
116. The image forming apparatus according to claim 115, wherein:
each of said image forming member means having similar capability included in
said plurality of image forming unit means is situated approximately equally spaced
each other.
117. The image forming apparatus according to claim 115, wherein:
said at least two image forming unit means are each slidably provided out of
a main chases of said image forming apparatus.
118. The image forming apparatus according to claim 115, wherein:
said image forming member means included in said image forming unit means are
each provided to be replaceable individually.
119. The image forming apparatus according to claim 115, wherein:
said image forming member means included in said image forming unit means are
each provided to be replaceable as a unit.
120. The image forming apparatus according to claim 119, wherein:
a direction of said displacement is vertical in relation to said image bearing
member holding component means.
121. The image forming apparatus according to claim 115, wherein:
at least one of said image bearing member holding component means and said image
forming unit holding component means is each provided slidably out of a main chases
of said image forming apparatus.
122. The image forming apparatus according to claim 115, wherein:
said image bearing member holding component means and said image forming unit
holding component means each include respective positioning part means for carrying
out positioning one in relation to another by engaging said positioning part means
of said image forming unit holding component means with that of image bearing member
holding component means.
123. The image forming apparatus according to claim 122, further comprising:
a linkage mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements of both said image
forming unit holding component means in relation to said image bearing member holding
component means and said second image bearing member holding component means in
relation to said image bearing member holding component means, simultaneously.
124. The image forming apparatus according to claim 122, wherein:
at least one of said image forming unit holding component means and said second
image bearing member holding component means is each provided slidably out of a
main chases of said image forming apparatus.
125. The image forming apparatus according to claim 122, wherein:
said image bearing member holding component means, said image forming unit holding
component means, and said second image bearing member holding component means each
include respective positioning parts for carrying out positioning in relation to
each other by engaging said positioning part means of said image forming unit holding
component means and said second image bearing member holding component means with
said positioning part means of said image bearing member holding component means.
126. The image forming apparatus according to claim 115, wherein:
said contact/detach mechanism means carries out detachment movements through
displacement of said image forming unit holding means in relation to said image
bearing member holding component means.
127. The image forming apparatus according to claim 115, further comprising:
a second image bearing member means provided in common for being transferred
by images born by said plurality of image bearing member means;
a second image bearing member holding component means for holding said second
image bearing member means; and
a second contact/detach mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements,
within said image forming apparatus, of said second image bearing member holding
component means in relation to said image bearing member holding component means.
128. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image bearing unit means including at least a plurality of image bearing member
means adapted for bearing electrostatic latent images corresponding to image data;
an image bearing member holding component means for holding said plurality of
image bearing member means collectively;
a plurality of image forming unit means each including at least a plurality of
image forming member means for operating image forming steps onto each of said
image bearing member means; and
an image forming unit holding component means for holding said plurality of image
forming unit means collectively,
wherein
said plurality of image bearing member means are each positioned in relation
to a main chases of said image forming apparatus after placing said image bearing
member holding component means at a predetermined location in said main chases,
and said plurality of image forming unit means held on said image forming unit
holding component means are each subsequently positioned in relation to said plurality
of image bearing member means positioned previously.
129. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, wherein:
each of said image forming member means having similar capability included in
said plurality of image forming unit means is situated approximately equally spaced
each other.
130. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, wherein:
said at least two image forming unit means are each slidably provided out of
a main chases of said image forming apparatus.
131. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, wherein:
said image forming member means included in said image forming unit means are
each provided to be replaceable individually.
132. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, wherein:
said image forming member means included in said image forming unit means are
each provided to be replaceable as a unit.
133. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, further comprising:
an image bearing member holding component restricting member means for placing
said plurality of image bearing member means at respective predetermined locations
in said main chases;
an image bearing member positioning mechanism means for positioning said plurality
of image bearing member means, placed at respective predetermined locations on
said image bearing member holding component means, in relation to said main chases;
and
an image forming unit positioning mechanism means for positioning said plurality
of image forming unit means held on said image forming unit holding component means
in relation to said plurality of image bearing member means.
134. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, further comprising:
a contact/detach mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements, within
said image forming apparatus, of said image bearing member holding component means
in relation to said image forming unit holding component means.
135. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing member means are held parallel to each other
detachably on said image bearing member holding component means.
136. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, wherein:
said plurality of image bearing member means are detachably mounted from above
on said image bearing member means.
137. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, wherein:
at least one of said second image bearing member holding component means and
said image forming unit holding component means is each provided slidably out of
a main chases of said image forming apparatus.
138. The image forming apparatus according to claim 128, further comprising:
a second image bearing member means provided in common for being transferred
by images born by said plurality of image bearing member means; and
a second image bearing member holding component means for holding said second
image bearing member means,
wherein:
said second image bearing member means held on said second image bearing member
holding component means is subsequently positioned in relation to said plurality
of image bearing member means previously positioned.
139. The image forming apparatus according to claim 138, further comprising:
a second image bearing member positioning mechanism means for positioning said
second image bearing member means held on said second image bearing member holding
component means in relation to said image bearing member holding component means
previously positioned.
140. The image forming apparatus according to claim 138, further comprising:
a second contact/detach mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements,
within said image forming apparatus, of said second image bearing member holding
component means in relation to said image bearing member holding component means.
141. The image forming apparatus according to claim 140, further comprising:
a linkage mechanism means for carrying out detaching movements of both said image
forming unit holding component means in relation to said image bearing member holding
component means and said second image bearing member holding component means in
relation to said image bearing member holding component means, simultaneously.
142. The image forming apparatus according to claim 138, wherein:
at least one of said second image bearing member holding component means, said
image forming unit holding component means and said second image bearing member
holding component means is each provided slidably out of a main chases of said
image forming apparatus.
143. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a housing;
at least two photoreceptors collectively arranged as an image forming unit that
is selectively removable from the housing; and
at least two developing units configured to engage with the image forming unit
and configured to deliver toner to the at least two photoreceptors.
144. The image forming apparatus of claim 143, wherein the at least two developing
units are collectively arranged as a second forming unit that is selectively removable
from the housing and selectively attachable to the image forming unit.
145. The image forming apparatus of claim 143, further comprising:
at least two charging rollers collectively arranged as a second image forming
unit that is selectively removable from the housing and selectively attachable
to the image forming unit.
146. A method for handling components of an image forming apparatus including
an image forming unit and an image bearing unit, comprising:
detaching the image bearing unit from the image forming unit, the image bearing
unit including at least two image bearing members, and the image forming unit including
at least two image forming members; and
removing at least one of the image bearing unit and the image forming unit from
a housing of the image forming apparatus.
147. The method of claim 146, further comprising:
supporting the image bearing unit with a first holding component; and
supporting the image forming unit with a second holding component, wherein detaching
includes moving the first holding component and the second holding component away
from one another.
148. The method of claim 147, wherein detaching further includes activating a
contact/detach mechanism to move the first holding component and the second holding
component away from one another.
149. The method of claim 147, wherein removing includes sliding at least one
of the first holding component and the second holding component from the
