Claims
- 1. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a photoreceptor endless belt;
- a plurality of spaced apart guide members, each of said guide members having a guide surface portion for guiding said endless belt, each of said guide surface portions including a contact portion which contacts said endless belt, said guide surface portions together defining a substantially convex guide surface;
- a plurality of developing means each positioned to face a respective one of said guide surface portions of said spaced apart guide members; and
- said endless belt being mounted on said plurality of guide members to pass between said substantially convex guide surface and each of said plurality of developing means.
- 2. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said substantially convex guide surface is generally saucer shaped.
- 3. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said substantially convex guide surface has a flat portion forming a base of said saucer shape and two curved portions respectively forming sides of said saucer shape.
- 4. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- two rotatable rollers;
- said guide members being positioned between said two rotatable rollers;
- said photoreceptor endless belt being stretched around said rotatable rollers so as to pass between said substantially convex guide surface and said plurality of developing means and slidably contacting said contact portions of said spaced apart guide members.
- 5. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- two rotatable rollers;
- said guide members being positioned between said rotatable rollers;
- image forming means, including said plurality of developing means, positioned to face said substantially convex guide surface;
- said photoreceptor belt being stretched around said two rotatable rollers so as to pass between said substantially convex guide surface and said image forming means; and
- spacing means for positioning said image forming means to face said spaced apart guide members with a predetermined distance therebetween.
- 6. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
- said endless belt has first and second flat surfaces;
- said apparatus further comprises:
- support members for said photoreceptor endless belt mounted to support said first and second flat surfaces of said endless belt; and
- said spacing means includes a movable contacting member for contacting said support members to position said image forming means.
- 7. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:
- cleaning means for cleaning said endless belt;
- wherein said image forming means includes charging means and image exposure means; and
- wherein said photoreceptor endless belt is stretched around said rotatable rollers so as to pass between said substantially convex guide surface and said plurality of image forming means and said cleaning means.
- 8. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said photoreceptor endless belt has first and second flat surfaces, said apparatus further comprising:
- support members for said endless belt positioned to support said first and second flat surfaces of said endless belt; and
- a movable contacting member for contacting said support members to position said plurality of image forming means.
- 9. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said photoreceptor endless belt and said cleaning means are formed as one unit which is detachable from said color image forming apparatus.
- 10. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said photoreceptor endless belt and said cleaning means are formed as one unit which is detachable from said color image forming apparatus.
- 11. A color image forming apparatus comprises:
- a photoreceptor endless belt;
- a plurality of developing means;
- a plurality of spaced apart guide means, each of said guide means having a guide surface portion thereof which faces a respective one of said plurality of developing means, said guide surface portions together defining a substantially convex guide surface;
- said endless belt being mounted on said guide means to pass between said substantially convex guide surface and said plurality of developing means;
- friction reducing means provided between said substantially convex guide surface and said plurality of developing means for reducing friction as said endless belt moves over said substantially convex guide surface; and
- said guide surface portion of each of said guide means having a defined contact area thereon, said plurality of developing means being respectively positioned to face each of said contact areas.
- 12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said friction reducing means comprises at least one recess formed in said substantially convex guide surface, said plurality of developing means being positioned to oppose said substantially convex guide surface in areas other than where said at least one recess is formed.
- 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said friction reducing means comprises recesses formed in at least a portion of each of said plurality of developing means.
- 14. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recesses spaced between said plurality of developing means to reduce friction when said endless belt moves, said recesses not facing said contact portions of said guide surface portions of said guide members.
- 15. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recesses spaced between said spaced apart guide members to reduce friction when said endless belt moves, said recesses not facing said developing means.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
1-153743 |
Jun 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-177729 |
Jul 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-192874 |
Jul 1989 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/535,121 filed, Jun. 8, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,411.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (11)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0044919 |
Feb 1982 |
EPX |
57-34576 |
Feb 1982 |
JPX |
60-75850 |
Apr 1985 |
JPX |
60-76766 |
May 1985 |
JPX |
60-95456 |
May 1985 |
JPX |
60-95458 |
May 1985 |
JPX |
60-102677 |
Jun 1985 |
JPX |
63-133743 |
Jul 1985 |
JPX |
60-158475 |
Aug 1985 |
JPX |
61-10770 |
May 1986 |
JPX |
61-149972 |
Jul 1986 |
JPX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Bean, "Spacing Method for Developer Roller", Jul./Aug. 1980, vol. 5, No. 4, p. 355. |
Curran et al., "Tensioning System for Photoconductor Belt", Mar. 1982, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 24, No. 10, pp. 5019-5020. |
Research Disclosure, No. 192, Apr. 1980, p. 152, K. J. Powers "Positioning an Electrophotographic Toning Station", entire disclosure. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
535121 |
Jun 1990 |
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