IP Library Granted Patent US 7,428,394
Granted Patent B2
US 7,428,394 · App. 11/138,207 · Granted Sep 23, 2008

Electronic color photography apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,428,394
App. No.
11/138,207
Granted
Sep 23, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic color photography apparatus includes a photosensitive body and a plurality of detachable developing devices. A power for moving the developing devices close to the photosensitive body is created by a retracting force of a slanted teeth gear which is driven at one side of a body of the electronic color photography apparatus.

Claims (41)

1. An electronic color photography apparatus comprising:

a photosensitive body; and

a plurality of detachable developing devices,

wherein among approaching and separating actions of the developing devices, a power for moving said developing devices close to said photosensitive body is created by a retracting force of a slanted teeth gear which is driven at one side of a body of the electronic color photography apparatus.

2. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a power for contacting the developing devices with the one side of body of the electronic color photography apparatus comprises a mechanism for smoothing the movements of the developing devices to come close to the photosensitive body.

3. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said mechanism for smoothing the movements of the developing devices to come close to the photosensitive body comprises a roller which is provided on the body of the electronic color photography apparatus.

4. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive body comprises a photosensitive belt.

5. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive body comprises latent image holding means provided in a substantially center part of a frame body of the electronic color photography apparatus, in an annular shape elongated in a vertical direction.

6. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein while a development process is not conducted, said developing devices are retracted by a spring for imposing a load in a direction of moving said developing devices away from the photosensitive body to a distance that the development process is unaffected by particles on the photosensitive body.

7. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive body is rendered to rotate along an oblong orbit.

8. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive body is arranged in an elongated shape in a vertical direction.

9. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each developing device comprises a developing roller, and

wherein a developing device driving mechanism actuates the developing roller.

10. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a first slanted teeth gear transferring a driving force of the developing device driving mechanism to the developing roller;

a second slanted teeth gear meshed with said first slanted teeth gear, and provided with one end side of a rotation axis of the developing roller; and

a stopper operable to determine a retracted position of the developing devices.

11. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of detachable developing devices are provided with a plate which is in parallel with a direction of approaching and separating the developing device to the photosensitive body, and

wherein the electronic color photography apparatus further comprises a smoothly rotating roller placed at a position opposed to the plate.

12. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the smoothly rotating roller is engaged with a damper for absorbing a shock of interference between the smoothly rotating roller and the developing devices.

13. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a gear is in mesh with the slanted teeth gear for actuating a developing roller, and is adapted to come into mesh with a stopper for determining a retracted position of the developing device when it is retracted.

14. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of developing devices approaches the photosensitive body, while keeping a developing roller in parallel with the photosensitive body at both sides.

15. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a smoothly rotating roller,

wherein the rotating roller comprises a damper for absorbing and moderating a shock of interference between the rotating roller and said plurality of developing devices.

16. An electronic color photography apparatus comprising:

a photosensitive body; and

a plurality of detachable developing devices, wherein among approaching and separating actions of the developing devices, a power for moving said developing devices close to said photosensitive body is arranged at one side of a body of the electronic color photography apparatus so as to form a substantially uniform nip in a lateral direction of paper.

17. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the photosensitive body comprises a photosensitive belt.

18. An electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein rotation of the photosensitive body is a same direction as a rotation of a transfer belt at contact points of the transfer belt with the photosensitive body.

19. An electronic color photography apparatus comprising:

a plurality of developing devices capable of being filled with toners, each developing device having:

a developing roller; and

a position determining section in parallel with a moving direction of the developing device;

a main body of the electronic color photography apparatus, the main body placing a roller to be contact with the position determining section;

a photosensitive belt forming a latent image by coming close to or being contact with the developing roller when the developing devices are moved, so that the electric color photography apparatus performs a color photography by transferring the latent image to a recording medium;

a developing device driving mechanism actuating the developing roller;

a first slanted teeth gear transferring a driving force of the developing device driving mechanism to the developing roller;

a second slanted teeth gear meshed with said first slanted teeth gear, and provided with one end side of a rotation axis of the developing roller; and

a stopper operable to determine a retracted position of the developing devices.

20. The electronic color photography apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the roller is disposed on the main body of the electronic color photography apparatus through a spring.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2009
From: RICOH PRINTING SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 022191/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2005
From: YOSHIDA, TOMOFUMI; WAKAMATSU, KAZUHIRO; SAITO, MASAHIKO; KIYONO, YASUHIRO; OOHARA, SHUNICHI
To: RICOH PRINTING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 016448/0540 →