IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of process units disposed in a row in a horizontal direction;
a plurality of latent image carriers such that each of the plurality of process units include a respective one of the plurality of latent image carriers;
an optical writing unit that writes latent images on surfaces of the plurality of latent image carriers;
an upper cover including a cover frame which is fixed to a rear side of the upper cover and that holds the optical writing unit;
a pitch positioning member including a plurality of abutting portions so as to regulate movements of the plurality of process units in the horizontal direction by abutting each of the plurality of process units to the plurality of abutting portions, the pitch positioning member including a plurality of notches extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of each of the respective plurality of abutting portions with a predetermined pitch, whereinthe optical writing unit is moveable between a waiting position where the optical writing unit does not face the horizontally-aligned process units and an operating position where the optical writing unit faces each of the process units,the optical writing units move between the waiting position and the operating position in accordance with an opening operation and a closing operation of the upper cover, andthe pitch positioning member is on a facing surface of a side plate.
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of process units, a plurality of latent image carriers, an optical writing unit, an upper cover, and a pitch positioning member. The pitch positioning member including a plurality of abutting portions so as to regulate movements of the plurality of process units in the horizontal direction by abutting each of the plurality of process units. The pitch positioning member including a plurality of notches extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of each of the respective plurality of abutting portions with a predetermined pitch.
11 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of process units disposed in a row in a horizontal direction; a plurality of latent image carriers such that each of the plurality of process units include a respective one of the plurality of latent image carriers; an optical writing unit that writes latent images on surfaces of the plurality of latent image carriers; an upper cover including a cover frame which is fixed to a rear side of the upper cover and that holds the optical writing unit; a pitch positioning member including a plurality of abutting portions so as to regulate movements of the plurality of process units in the horizontal direction by abutting each of the plurality of process units to the plurality of abutting portions, the pitch positioning member including a plurality of notches extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of each of the respective plurality of abutting portions with a predetermined pitch, wherein the optical writing unit is moveable between a waiting position where the optical writing unit does not face the horizontally-aligned process units and an operating position where the optical writing unit faces each of the process units, the optical writing units move between the waiting position and the operating position in accordance with an opening operation and a closing operation of the upper cover, and the pitch positioning member is on a facing surface of a side plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of process units disposed in a row in a horizontal direction; a plurality of latent image carriers such that each of the plurality of process units include a respective one of the plurality of latent image carriers; an optical writing unit that writes latent images on surfaces of the plurality of latent image carriers; an upper cover including a cover frame which is fixed to a rear side of the upper cover and that holds the optical writing unit; means for regulating movements of the plurality of process units in the horizontal direction by abutting each of the plurality of process units to a plurality of abutting portions, including a plurality of notches extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of each of the respective plurality of abutting portions with a predetermined pitch, wherein the optical writing unit is moveable between a waiting position where the optical writing unit does not face the horizontally-aligned process units and an operating position where the optical writing unit faces each of the process units, the optical writing units move between the waiting position and the operating position in accordance with an opening operation and a closing operation of the upper cover, and the means for regulating movements of the plurality of latent image carriers is on a facing surface of a side plate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeGenta Hagiwara, Kaoru Tada, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Nobuhiko Kita, Ryoh Idehara, Tadashi Okano
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Original AssigneeGenta Hagiwara, Kaoru Tada, Kazuyoshi Kondo, Nobuhiko Kita, Ryoh Idehara, Tadashi Okano
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InventorsKONDO, Kazuyoshi, Kita, Nobuhiko, Okano, Tadashi, Hagiwara, Genta, Tada, Kaoru, Idehara, Ryoh
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Granted Patent
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Time in Patent OfficeDays
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Field of Search
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US Class Current399/117
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CPC Class CodesG03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection meansG03G 21/1671 for the photosensitive elementG03G 21/1853 the process cartridge being...G03G 2221/1654 Locks and means for positio...G03G 2221/1884 Projections on process cart...
