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(11) | EP 0 351 894 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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(54) | Image-forming machine |
(57) An image-forming machine comprising a main body (204) of the image-forming machine
and a process unit (210) to be detachably mounted on the main body (204), said process
unit (210) including a process unit frame (216) to be mounted on the main body (204)
and an image bearing member (222) mounted on the process unit frame (216) and adapted
to be moved in a predetermined direction, wherein an image-forming area (224) on which
to form an image exists on a greater portion of the surface of the image bearing member
(222) and a non-image-forming area (226) on which substantially no image is to be
formed exists in the remainder of said surface, a transfer opening (292) for bringing
a sheet material into intimate contact with the image-forming area (224) of the image
bearing member (222) is formed in the process unit frame (216), and said machine is
constructed such that when an image-forming step is over, the non-image-forming area
(226) of the image bearing member (222) is positioned at the transfer opening (292)
of the process unit (210). |