Belt type image forming unit

• US 5,341,194 A
• Filed: 04/15/1992
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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): Grimley, A. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, SUSAN SHUK YIN
• Application Number:
  US07/869,894
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 355/212, 355/296, 355/299, 355/301, 355/326, 355/245, 355/300, 355/211, 355/282, 355/200, 355/285-295, 355/210, 355/219, 355/221, 355/215, 355/298
• US Class Current: 399/160
• 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 15/283 using a reusable recording medium in form of a band
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/754 relating to band, e.g. tensioning G03G15/757 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/0005 for removing solid developer or debris from the electrographic recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1807 colour
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge

Abstract

The invention provides a photoreceptor belt for forming a latent image on its imaging surface. The photoreceptor belt is stretched in the form of a loop around a plurality of rollers so as to be rotated for carrying a formed image. Both ends of the photoreceptor belt are bonded in the manner that the leading end in relation to the rotation direction is positioned inside than the trailing end in relation to the form of loop and the inner surface of the trailing end is superimposed on the outer surface of the leading end. Cleaning device for cleaning the imaging surface of the photoreceptor belt is disposed to have a cleaning direction opposite to the rotation direction of the photoreceptor belt. The photoreceptor belt is positioned to stop where the bonded ends of the belt are proximate to the corona charging device. The photoreceptor belt is then positioned to stop where the bonded ends of the belt are proximate to the fixing device when the next image formation is not conducted within a period of time after the previous image formation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming a toner image, wherein a photoreceptor belt is moved to a corona charging device, an image exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device in that order, thereafter the photoreceptor is returned to the corona charging device to conduct a next image formation;

said apparatus comprising;

said photoreceptor belt having an image surface on which toner image can be formed, both ends of said photoreceptor belt being bonded to form a loop, said loop being stretched between a plurality of rollers and rotated to carry a formed image,

a position control means for controlling a stop position of the bonded ends of said photoreceptor belt, to locate said bonded ends proximate to said corona charging device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the position control means changes the stop position of the bonded ends of said photoreceptor belt from the location proximate to said corona charging device to a location proximate to said fixing device when the next image formation is not carried out within a predetermined period of time after the previous image formation.