Color image forming apparatus having a freely installable and detachable process cartridge

• US 5,065,195 A
• Filed: 06/28/1990
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsuo, Shunji, Haneda, Satoshi, Fukuchi, Masakazu, Morita, Shizuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Moses, R. L.
• Application Number:
  US07/545,464
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 355/326, 355/327, 355/210, 355/212, 355/245, 355/200, 355/296, 355/298
• US Class Current: 399/112
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/01 for producing multicoloured copies colour correction in photography G03C; colour correction in printing plate production
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0126 using a solid developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0879 for dispensing developer from a developer cartridge not directly attached to the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1628 Clamshell type G03G21/1638 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/185 the process cartridge being mounted parallel to the axis of the photosensitive member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1603 for multicoloured copies
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1606 for the photosensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1615 being a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1624 transporting cleaned toner into separate vessels, e.g. photoreceptors, external containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/163 for the developer unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1636 for the exposure unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1654 Locks and means for positioning or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1672 Paper handling
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1675 jam treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1687 using opening shell type machines, e.g. pivoting assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus for forming a color toner image on a photoreceptor belt. The photoreceptor belt is stretched to form a loop around a plurality of rollers and installed in a cartridge which is made to be detachable from the apparatus. The cartridge is made to additionally house a container for collecting residual toner removed from the photoreceptor belt or a toner supply unit for supplying toner to a plurality of developing devices.

Claims

1. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

a photoreceptor belt for forming a latent image thereon, the photoreceptor belt being stretched to form a loop around a plurality of rotatable rollers;

a plurality of developing means for developing the latent image on the photoreceptor belt to form a toner image;

cleaning means for removing residual toner from the photoreceptor belt;

a container, disposed inside the loop of the photoreceptor belt, for collecting residual toner therein;

transporting means for transporting residual toner from the cleaning means to the container; and

a cartridge comprising the photoreceptor belt, the cleaning means, the container and the transporting means in one unit;

wherein the cartridge is adapted to be installable into and detachable from the color image forming apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said container is an airtight box.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising guide means disposed inside the loop of the photoreceptor belt, for guiding the photoreceptor belt, wherein the container is formed on a part of the guide means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the cartridge is provided with a handle on one side thereof, and

wherein the container comprises an inlet for collecting residual toner on the side of the cartridge on which the handle is provided.

5. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the apparatus includes an upper portion and a lower portion which are coupled together by a hinge so that the upper portion is movable to a slanted open position by being pivoted around the hinge, and

wherein the cartridge is installed in the upper portion and wherein the container has an inlet for collecting residual toner at an upper position when the upper portion is moved to the slanted open position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the container comprises distribution means for evenly distributing residual toner in the container.

7. The apparatus of claim 6,

wherein the distribution means comprises a belt-like carrier provided inside the container.

8. The apparatus of claim 6,

wherein the distribution means comprises means for exerting an impact force to the container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the developing means is movable and detachable from the apparatus, and

wherein a supply part of the developing means is covered when the developing means is moved or dismounted from the apparatus.

10. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

a photoreceptor belt for forming a latent image thereon, the photoreceptor belt for forming a latent image thereon, the photoreceptor belt being stretched to form a loop around a plurality of rotatable rollers;

a cartridge, adapted to be installable into and detachable from the apparatus, for housing the photoreceptor belt;

a plurality of developing means for developing the latent image on the photoreceptor belt so as to form a color toner image, the plurality of developing means being disposed to face the photoreceptor belt when the cartridge is installed in the apparatus; and

a toner supply unit including a plurality of toner containers for supplying toner to the plurality of developing means, the toner supply unit being detachably mounted on the cartridge.

11. The apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the toner supply unit is arranged to be mounted on the cartridge when the cartridge has been installed in the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the developing means is movable and detachable from the apparatus;

and

wherein a supply part of the developing means is covered when the developing means is moved or detached from the apparatus.

13. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

a photoreceptor belt for forming a latent image thereon, the photoreceptor belt being stretched to form a loop around a plurality of rotatable rollers;

a cartridge, adapted to be installable into and detachable from the apparatus, for housing the photoreceptor belt;

a plurality of developing means for developing the latent image on the photoreceptor belt so as to form a color toner image, the plurality of developing means being disposed to face the photoreceptor belt when the cartridge is installed in the apparatus; and

means for moving the cartridge, the moving means including means for moving the cartridge vertically and means for moving the cartridge horizontally.

14. The apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the plurality of developing means are arranged to be detached from the apparatus after the cartridge is moved or detached from the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the developing means is movable and detachable from the apparatus, and

wherein the cartridge is arranged to be detached after the plurality of developing means is moved or detached from the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the developing means is movable and detachable from the apparatus;

and

wherein a supply part of the developing means is covered when the developing means is moved or detached from the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 14,

wherein the plurality of developing means is detachable from the apparatus, and

wherein the cartridge is arranged to be detached from the apparatus after the plurality of developing means is moved or detached from the apparatus.

17. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

a photoreceptor belt for forming a latent image thereon, the photoreceptor belt being stretched to form a loop plurality of rotatable rollers;

a cartridge, adapted to be installable into and detachable from the apparatus, for housing the photoreceptor belt;

a plurality of developing means for developing the latent image on the photoreceptor belt so as to form a color toner image, the plurality of developing means being disposed to face the photoreceptor belt when the cartridge is installed in the apparatus; and

means for moving the plurality of developing means, the moving means including means for moving the plurality of developing means vertically and means for moving the plurality of developing means horizontally.

19. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the cartridge is movable, and

wherein the plurality of developing means are arranged to be detached from the apparatus after the cartridge is moved or detached from the apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the developing means is detachable from the apparatus;

and

wherein a supply part of the developing means is covered when the developing means is moved or detached from the apparatus.

21. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

a photoreceptor belt for forming a latent image thereon, the photoreceptor belt being stretched to form a loop around a plurality of rotatable rollers;

a plurality of developing means for developing the latent image on the photoreceptor belt so as to form a color toner image, the plurality of developing means being disposed to fae the photoreceptor belt when the cartridge is installed in the apparatus;

a toner supply unit including a plurality of toner containers for supplying toner to the plurality of developing means; and

a cartridge, adapted to be installable into and detachable from the apparatus, for housing the photoreceptor belt and the toner supply unit, the toner supply unit being adapted to be detachable from the cartridge when the cartridge is detached from the apparatus.