Abstract: A copying apparatus including a photosensitive drum having an image carrying surface and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a developer storage device, a developing roller having a developing surface for conveying a developer from the developer storage device to the image carrying surface, and a matching roller near each end of the developing roller for contacting the photosensitive drum to provide a predetermined gap between the image carrying surface and the developing surface. The developing unit is slidably supported in both a first direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum and in a second direction transverse to the axis of rotation of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to a photoreceptor so that an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor is developed with the developer. The developing apparatus comprises a developer conveyer, having a rigid surface, for conveying the developer to a developing zone; a developer layer-thickness regulator, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion of the curvature radius between 0.5 mm and 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of the developer to be conveyed to the developing zone; and a supporter for supporting the developer layer-thickness regulator.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for forming a color image on a photoreceptor, in which along the rotation direction of the photoreceptor there are provided an imagewise exposure process to form a latent image, a development process including a plurality of developing devices to form a color toner image, each of the plural developing devices having a toner hopper, and a transfer process to transfer the formed color toner image onto a copy paper. The apparatus comprises a housing for including at least the photoreceptor, the plural developing devices and the plural toner hopper as one unit, and a support guide for supporting the housing to be movable in the axial direction of the photoreceptor so that the unit is attached to and detached from the apparatus.

Abstract: A recording apparatus that includes an image carrier that has a movable image surface adapted for carrying a latent image to be developed. The apparatus further includes a developing unit that has a developer surface for conveying a developer thereon. A guide member is provided for slidably mounting the developing unit thereon. Biasing elements are included for releasably biasing the developing unit between at least two positions. The first position is a biased position wherein the developer surface faces the movable image with a development gap therebetween to transfer the developer onto the latent image. The second position is a released position wherein the developer surface is spaced from the movable image surface with a gap larger than the development gap. The guide member allows the developing unit to further slide in a direction transverse to the biasing direction.