Image forming apparatus
US7106981B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 1, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/1823
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of printing units each having an image bearing member for rotation about an axis and a process member which cooperates with the image bearing member in an image forming process; a transfer member for moving in contact with the image bearing member of each of the plurality of printing units, an image on each of the image bearing members being transferred onto the transfer member or a recording medium that is transported on the transfer member; a switch unit for switching between a contact state where the image bearing members in the plurality of printing units are in contact with the transfer member and a separate state where the image bearing member(s) in the printing unit(s) other than one of the plurality of printing units are separated from the transfer member; a memory for storing life expectancies of the image bearing member and the process member with regard to the printing unit(s) other than the one of the plurality of printing units; and a control section for controlling the switch unit based on a print job and the life expectancies stored in the memory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.