| US 7,542,702 B2 | ||
| Image forming apparatus having a simple cassette of image bearing photoconductors | ||
| Masanori Saito, Tokyo (Japan); and Nobuyuki Yanagawa, Shizuoka-ken (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Feb. 23, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/359,617. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2005-050807 (JP), filed on Feb. 25, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0204277 A1, Sep. 14, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G03G 21/18 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 399—112 [399/113] | 7 Claims |
| 1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of image carrying members each configured to form and carry a toner image;
an image carrier holder configured to rotatably hold the plurality of image carrying members and to allow each of the plurality
of image carrying members to be independently removed therefrom; and
an image carrier cassette configured to include the plurality of image carrying members and the image carrier holder, and
to be detachably installed to the image forming apparatus, wherein
the image carrier holder has protrusions around the plurality of image carrying members, and ends of the protrusions extend
beyond the plurality of image carrying members, wherein the image carrier cassette allows each of the plurality of image carrying
members to be independently removed therefrom and attached thereto under a condition that the image carrier cassette is installed
in the image forming apparatus.
|