Patent · US Expired

Image formation apparatus and image formation method

US6240271A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
10References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 28, 1999
Grant dateMay 29, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 28, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/0106
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Developing devices are provided adjacent to a light sensitive element. An intermediate transfer drum is provided adjacent to the light sensitive elements. After exposure of the light sensitive element, a first color or third color image is formed on the light sensitive element. On the other hand, after exposure of the light sensitive element, a second color or fourth color image can be formed on the light sensitive element. The first color image is transferred from the transfer unit to the intermediate transfer drum at the first transfer portion, and the second color image is transferred from the transfer unit at the second transfer portion so as to be superimposed on the first color image. Similarly, the third color image is transferred so as to be superimposed on the second image and the fourth color image is transferred so as to be superimposed on the third color image to the intermediate transfer drum. Accordingly, the first to fourth color images are superimposed. Thereby, downsizing of the device and cost reduction are achieved and image formation speed is facilitated.

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