Claims
- 1. An image forming apparatus for forming a developed image, comprising:
- a developing device for developing an image on an image bearing member;
- a passage along which said developing device is movable between an inside position where said developing device is inside said apparatus and an outside position where said developing device is at least partly outside said apparatus;
- a movable cover for covering an opening to said passage; and
- means for moving said developing device along said passage, said moving means including a driving source for outputting a driving force and transmission means for transmitting the driving force to said developing device to move it, wherein said moving means is responsive to an opening operation of said movable cover to move said developing device from the inside position to the outside position.
- 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover has a support for movably supporting said developing device when said cover is opened.
- 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said moving means moves said developing device from the inside position onto said comver, and wherein said transmission means is in engagement with said developing device even when said developing device is supported by said cover support.
- 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said developing device includes an opening for enabling supply of developer thereto when said developing device is supported by said cover support.
- 5. An image forming apparatus for forming a developed image, comprising:
- a developing device for developing an image on an image bearing member;
- a passage along which said developing device is movable between an inside position where said developing device is inside said apparatus and an outside position where said developing device is at least partly outside said apparatus;
- means for automatically moving said developing device along said passage, said automatic moving means including a driving source for outputting a driving force and transmission means for transmitting the driving force to said developing device to move it; and
- a movable cover for covering an opening to said passage;
- wherein said automatic moving means moves said developing device through said passage toward the inside position, and is responsive to opening of said cover to move said developing device through said passage toward the outside position.
- 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said cover has a support for movably supporting said developing device when said cover is opened.
- 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said moving means moves said developing device from the inside position onto said cover, and wherein said transmission means is in engagement with said developing device even when said developing device is supported by said cover support.
- 8. An apparatus according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein said developing device includes an opening for enabling supply of developer thereto when said developing device is supported by said cover support.
- 9. An apparatus according to claim 5, 6 or 7, further comprising means for pressing said developer device, which has been moved from the outside position by said automatic moving means from the outside position, toward the image bearing member to position said developing device relative to the image bearing member, wherein said pressing means is engageable with said developing device at a position different from a position where said transmitting means is engaged with said developing device, and wherein said pressing means is retractable from said passage of said developing device when said developing device is automatically moved by said automatic moving means.
- 10. An image forming apparatus for forming a developed image, comprising:
- a developing device for developing an image on an image bearing member;
- a passage along which said developing device is movable between an inside position where said developing device is inside said apparatus and an outside position where said developing device is at least partly outside said apparatus;
- means for automatically moving said developing device along said passage;
- means for pressing said developing device toward the image bearing member to position said developing device relative to the image bearing member, said pressing means being retractable from said passage of said developing device when said developing device is automatically moved by said automatic moving means;
- a cover for opening and closing said passage; and
- safety means, including drive means and means limiting the movement of said drive means, for permitting operation of said moving means when said cover is opened.
- 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said cover includes a covering plate having an end adjacent which it is rotatably supported on said apparatus, and wherein said covering plate, when it is opened, supports said movable developing device.
- 12. An image forming apparatus for forming a developed image, comprising:
- a movable device for developing an image on an image bearing member;
- a passage along which said developing device is movable between an inside position where said developing device is inside said apparatus and an outside position where said developing device is at least partly outside said apparatus;
- means for automatically moving said developing device along said passage, said automatic moving means including a driving source for outputting a driving force and transmission means for transmitting the driving force to said developing device to move it; and
- means for pressing said developing device, after being moved by said automatic moving means from the outside position, toward the image bearing member to position said developing device relative to the image bearing member, wherein said pressing means is engageable with said developing device at a position different from a position where said transmitting means is engaged with said developing device, and wherein said pressing means is retractable from said passage of said developing device when said developing device is automatically moved by said automatic moving means.
- 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for detecting said developing device and means responsive to said detecting means to stop said developing device.
- 14. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a switch for moving said developing device toward said outside position and control means for operating said moving means in response to actuation of said switch.
- 15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said moving means comprises a reversible motor.
- 16. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said passage has a length in a direction of movement of said developing device, longer than a length of said developing device measured in the direction.
- 17. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for forming a latent image on the image bearing member and an additional developing device having a different configuration from said movable developing device.
- 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said passage is disposed below an optical element of said latent image forming means and above said additional developing device.
- 19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said movable developing device is provided with a portion for receiving the driving force from said moving means, and said additional developing device is independent from said driving source.
- 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said additional developing device contains a black developer which is different in color from a color of the developer contained in said movable developing device.
- 21. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said pressing means includes first and second pressing members for pressing opposite ends of the developing device in a direction of the developing device movement, and includes driving means common to the first and second pressing members.
- 22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said pressing means presses a rear end of said movable developing device, with respect to a direction of movement of said movable developing device toward the image bearing member.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
61-163477 |
Jul 1986 |
JPX |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 071,316 filed July 9, 1987, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Foreign Referenced Citations (9)
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
71316 |
Jul 1987 |
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