Development device and image forming apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A development device comprising:
- a plurality of development units, each of the plurality of development units including;
an image carrier carrying a developer image formed by developer;
a cleaning member cleaning the image carrier by removing a waste substance; and
a first conveyance member for conveying waste substance removed by the cleaning member,wherein the plurality of development units are integrally, unitarily and monolithically formed as a single unit detachably disposed with respect to an image forming apparatus,a second conveyance member collectively conveying waste substance conveyed from the first conveyance member of each of the plurality of development units; and
at least one waste substance container storing the waste substance conveyed from the second conveyance member,wherein, a number of the waste substance containers disposed is smaller than a number of development units disposed, the number of the waste substance containers being greater than or equal to one.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A development device includes a plurality of development units and a waste substance container or containers storing the waste substance removed by the cleaning member. Each of the plural development units includes an image carrier carrying a developer image formed by developer and a cleaning member cleaning the image carrier by removing a waste substance. A number of the waste substance containers disposed is smaller than a number of development units disposed, and the number of the waste substance containers is greater than or equal to one.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A development device comprising:
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a plurality of development units, each of the plurality of development units including; an image carrier carrying a developer image formed by developer; a cleaning member cleaning the image carrier by removing a waste substance; and a first conveyance member for conveying waste substance removed by the cleaning member, wherein the plurality of development units are integrally, unitarily and monolithically formed as a single unit detachably disposed with respect to an image forming apparatus, a second conveyance member collectively conveying waste substance conveyed from the first conveyance member of each of the plurality of development units; and at least one waste substance container storing the waste substance conveyed from the second conveyance member, wherein, a number of the waste substance containers disposed is smaller than a number of development units disposed, the number of the waste substance containers being greater than or equal to one. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A development device comprising:
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a plurality of development units, each of the plurality of development units including; an image carrier carrying a developer image formed by developer; a cleaning member cleaning the image carrier by removing a waste substance; and a first conveyance member for conveying waste substance removed by the cleaning member, wherein the plurality of development units are integrally, unitarily and monolithically formed as a single unit detachably disposed with respect to an image forming apparatus, a second conveyance member collectively conveying waste substance conveyed from the first conveyance member of each of the plurality of development units; a waste substance container storing the waste substance conveyed by the second conveyance member; and a rotation drive member allowing an end portion of the first conveyance member to rotate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of development units, each of the plurality of development units including; an image carrier carrying a developer image formed by developer; a transfer medium transferring the developer image thereon; a cleaning member, disposed on a downstream side relative to a contact point between the image carrier and the transfer medium in a rotation direction of the image carrier, cleaning the image carrier by removing a waste substance; and a first conveyance member for conveying waste substance removed by the cleaning member, wherein the plurality of development units are integrally, unitarily and monolithically formed as a single unit detachably disposed with respect to the image forming apparatus, a second conveyance member collectively conveying waste substance conveyed from the first conveyance member of each of the plurality of development units; and a waste substance container, disposed to one of the developer units disposed on a most upstream side in a conveyance direction of the transfer medium, storing the waste substance conveyed by the second conveyance member. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification