Patent · US Expired

Image forming apparatus having detachable process cartridge with protective transfer zone cover

US5250989A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
10References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 2, 1992
Grant dateOct 5, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 2, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G21/1832
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Image forming apparatus provided with a process cartridge including at least a belt-shaped image carrier. A protective cover automatically covers a transfer section of the image carrier installed in the process cartridge, in response to a traveling motion of the process cartridge from a first position in which an image can be formed, to a second position in which the process cartridge can be attached to or detached from the apparatus. The protective cover also automatically exposes the transfer section of the image carrier in response to the input of a power source to the apparatus, or the input of an image forming signal for forming a latent image on the image carrier, or the process of mounting of the process cartridge to the apparatus.

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