Patent · US Expired

Image forming apparatus with use of a laser beam

US5017961A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
4References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 29, 1989
Grant dateMay 21, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 29, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/0435
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a laser beam radiating unit utilized as a light source, and an optical system that the surface of an original reflects a laser beam radiated from the radiating unit to project an image reflected from the original onto a photosensitive member. In this apparatus, an image is formed selectively in a print mode that an image results from turning on and off the laser beam, in a copy mode that a copy of an original results from exposure of the photosensitive member to the laser beam reflected from the surface of an original or in a composite mode that a composite image is formed of a copy of an original and an image resulting from turning on and off the laser beam. Also, this apparatus comprises a reflector for directing the laser beam to the photosensitive member, and the reflector is automatically set at the reflecting position when the original cover is open or the print mode is selected. Further, this apparatus comprises a lock system for locking an original cover; the lock system works to lock the original cover when the copy mode or the composite mode is selected and to unlock the cover when the print mode is selected.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.