IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,729,635
Granted Patent B2
US 7,729,635 · App. 11/398,624 · Granted Jun 1, 2010

Image forming apparatus including movement mechanism

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,729,635
App. No.
11/398,624
Granted
Jun 1, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a first unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus body, a second unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus body; and a movement mechanism that moves at least one of the first unit and the second unit to satisfy the condition that each of the first unit and the second unit is disposed not to hinder the other from being attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body.

Claims (43)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming apparatus body;

a first unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus body;

a second unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus body; and

a movement mechanism that moves at least one of the first unit and the second unit to satisfy the condition that each of the first unit and the second unit is disposed not to hinder the other from being attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body;

wherein the first unit has a development device and the second unit has a developer accommodating portion in which a developer to be supplied to the development device is accommodated;

wherein the image forming apparatus body has an opening portion with which at least one of the first unit and the second unit is attached and detached and an opening/closing cover that opens and closes the opening, and

wherein the movement mechanism cooperates with the opening of the opening/closing cover, and

wherein the second unit is connected to the first unit, and the movement mechanism moves at least a part of the second unit to a position at which the part of the second unit is drawn out of the image forming apparatus body, after moving the second unit cooperating with the opening of the opening/closing cover to disconnect the second unit from the first unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second unit is connected to the first unit, and the movement mechanism moves at least one of the first unit and the second unit, and disconnects the second unit from the first unit.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second unit is disposed at the position that a longitudinal direction of the second unit is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first unit, and

wherein the movement mechanism activates the second unit to turn around a support portion provided at the image forming apparatus body in a condition that an end portion of the second unit, which portion is provided at a side of the first unit, is placed outside one end portion and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the first unit.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second unit is disposed at a position that a longitudinal direction of the second unit is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first unit; and

wherein the movement mechanism activates the second unit to move in the longitudinal direction of the first unit in a condition that no part of the second unit is present between one end portion and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the first unit.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a direction, in which the first unit is taken out of the image forming apparatus body, is substantially same as a direction in which the second unit is taken out of the image forming apparatus body.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second unit is disposed at a position that at least a part of the second unit is placed between one end portion and the other end portion in a longitudinal direction of the first unit with the second unit being mounted in the image forming apparatus body.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming apparatus body;

a first unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus body;

a second unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus body; and

a movement mechanism that moves at least one of the first unit and the second unit to satisfy the condition that each of the first unit and the second unit is disposed not to hinder the other from being attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body;

wherein the first unit has a developer removing device that removes a developer from a surface of an image carrying body and the second unit has a developer collecting portion that collects a developer removed by the developer removing device;

wherein the image forming apparatus body has an opening portion with which at least one of the first unit and the second unit is attached and detached and an opening/closing cover that opens and closes the opening, and

wherein the movement mechanism cooperates with the opening of the opening/closing cover, and

wherein the second unit is connected to the first unit, and the movement mechanism moves at least a part of the second unit to a position at which the part of the second unit is drawn out of the image forming apparatus body, after moving the second unit cooperating with the opening of the opening/closing cover to disconnect the second unit from the first unit.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second unit is connected to the first unit, and the movement mechanism moves at least one of the first unit and the second unit, and disconnects the second unit from the first unit.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second unit is disposed at the position that a longitudinal direction of the second unit is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first unit, and

wherein the movement mechanism activates the second unit to turn around a support portion provided at the image forming apparatus body in a condition that an end portion of the second unit, which portion is provided at a side of the first unit, is placed outside one end portion and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the first unit.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second unit is disposed at a position that a longitudinal direction of the second unit is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first unit; and

wherein the movement mechanism activates the second unit to move in the longitudinal direction of the first unit in a condition that no part of the second unit is present between one end portion and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the first unit.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a direction, in which the first unit is taken out of the image forming apparatus body, is substantially same as a direction in which the second unit is taken out of the image forming apparatus body.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second unit is disposed at a position that at least a part of the second unit is placed between one end portion and the other end portion in a longitudinal direction of the first unit with the second unit being mounted in the image forming apparatus body.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming apparatus body;

a first unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus body;

a second unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus body; and

a movement mechanism that moves at least one of the first unit and the second unit to satisfy the condition that each of the first unit and the second unit is disposed not to hinder the other from being attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body;

wherein the image forming apparatus body has an opening portion with which at least one of the first unit and the second unit is attached and detached and an opening/closing cover that opens and closes the opening,

wherein the movement mechanism cooperates with the opening of the opening/closing cover;

wherein the second unit is connected to the first unit, and the movement mechanism moves at least a part of the second unit to a position at which the pad of the second unit is drawn out of the image forming apparatus body, after moving the second unit cooperating with the opening of the opening/closing cover to disconnect the second unit from the first unit;

wherein the movement mechanism axially moves at least the pad of the second unit to a position at which the part of the second unit is drawn out of the image forming apparatus body, after moving the second unit cooperating with the opening of the opening/closing cover to disconnect the second unit from the first unit.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein, after the mechanism axially moves at least the part of the second unit to a position at which the part of the second unit is drawn out of the image forming apparatus body, the moving mechanism moves at least the part of the second unit along with the cover to another position.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , when the moving mechanism moves at least the part of the second unit along with the cover to another position, at least the part of the second unit is rotated.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 12, 2021
From: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
To: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
Reel/Frame 058287/0056 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2006
From: OKOSHI, TAKESHI; OKIMURA, NAOMASA; SEZAKI, YUKINORI
To: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017762/0225 →