Patent ID: 6070031
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A color image forming apparatus comprising:(a) a rotary image forming body;(b) a plurality of charging devices provided along the image forming body for charging the image forming body;(c) a plurality of exposure devices each provided inside the image forming body for imagewise exposing the image forming body to form a latent image;(d) a plurality of developing devices each storing therein a different colored developer, said plurality of developing devices being provided along the image forming body for developing the latent image formed on the image forming body to form a Plurality of different colored toner images, wherein the plurality of different colored toner images are superimposed on the image forming body through successive repeating of charging by the charging devices, imagewise exposing by the exposure devices and developing by the developing devices to form a superimposed colored toner image during one rotation of the image forming body, andwherein the superimposed colored toner image is then collectively transferred onto a transfer member; and(e) a process cartridge integrally including the plurality of charging devices,wherein the image forming body includes therein the plurality of exposure devices and the plurality of developing devices,wherein the plurality of developing devices are detachably attachable to the process cartridge,wherein the image forming body includes a flange member, and each of the plurality of developing devices comprises a gap keeping member for keeping a gap between the image forming body and each of the plurality of developing devices,wherein the gap keeping member is brought into pressure contact with the image forming body while facing the flange member,wherein the apparatus further comprises a bearing member for supporting the image forming body, a driving gear for driving the image forming body, and a holding member for holding the plurality of exposure means, andwherein the bearing member is arranged inside the flange member, the driving gear and the gap keeping member are arranged outside the flange member, and the holding member is arranged inside the bearing member.