IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20120275822A1
• Filed: 07/05/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kawamura, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/111
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0121 for developing
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0896 Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1657 transmitting mechanical drive power

Abstract

An image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording material includes mounting means for detachably mounting a plurality of process cartridges each including a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. Movable members are provided that are actable on first and second clutches for switching between an operation state for transmitting the driving force to the developing rollers and a non-operation state not transmitting the driving force thereto. Also provided is a switching member for switching among a first mode for transmitting the driving force to the developing rollers of all of the process cartridges, a second mode for not transmitting the driving force to any one of the developing rollers, and a third mode for transmitting the driving force only to the developing roller of a black process cartridge.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording material, comprising:

(i) mounting means for detachably mounting a plurality of process cartridges each including a photosensitive drum and a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, said process cartridges including a black process cartridge containing a black color developer and a non-black process cartridge containing a non-black developer;

(ii) a driving source;

(iii) a first clutch for connecting and disconnecting between said driving source and said developing roller for selective driving force transmission to the black process cartridge;

(iv) a second clutch for connecting and disconnecting between said driving source and said developing roller for selective driving force transmission to the non-black process cartridge;

(v) a movable first member actable on said first clutch for switching between an operation state for transmitting the driving force to said developing rollers and a non-operation state not transmitting the driving force thereto;

(vi) a movable second member, actable on said second clutch, for switching between an operation state for transmitting the driving force to said developing rollers and a non-operation state not transmitting the driving force thereto;

(vii) a switching member, movable by the driving force of said driving source and actable on said first member and second member, for switching among a first mode for transmitting the driving force to said developing rollers of all of said process cartridges, a second mode for not transmitting the driving force to any one of said developing rollers, and a third mode for transmitting the driving force only to said developing roller of said black process cartridge.

2-28. -28. (canceled)