Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming section for forming an image in a plurality of operational modes and a display device for executing display in a plurality of colors. Color information corresponding to the plurality of operational modes is stored in a memory. A CPU reads color information corresponding to an operational mode to be executed from the memory and controls the color to be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: In a system wherein a plurality of paper feeding devices can be serially connected to a recording device body, where the recording device body is regarded as an electrically upstreammost device, an electrically downstreammost paper feeding device controls only the device itself, a paper feeding device one upstream controls the device's self and the paper feeding device one downstream, and a paper feeding device further one upstream controls the device's self and the paper feeding device one downstream. The recording device body controls only one closest downstream paper feeding device even if the paper feeding devices connected are increased to any number. For every paper feeding device, where a plurality of paper feeding devices are connected downstream thereof, the device controls only the device's self and one closest downstream paper feeding device.

Abstract: An apparatus and techniques for reducing the electrostatic sticking of a transfer member to the image carrying body of an image forming apparatus. The visible image on the image carrying body is formed by charged participles. A collective transfer unit collectively transfers the visible image from the image carrying body to a transfer member. A transfer member judging unit judges whether a transfer member exists downstream of and in the vicinity of a transfer position of the collective transfer unit. A pre-stop processing unit for preventing, if the transfer member presence judging unit judges that a transfer monitor exists when the stopping unit stops the device, the transfer member from electrostatically sticking to the image carrying body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a printer engine for forming an image on a paper sheet fed from a paper cassette. A paper feeder feeds the paper sheet from the paper cassette to the printer engine while separating it from the other paper sheets stacked on the cassette. A switchback path branches off the transport path of the paper feeder for temporarily storing the paper sheet fed from the paper cassette. The paper sheet fed from the paper cassette enters the switchback path with its leading edge at the head. A roller pair is positioned on the switchback path for switching back the paper sheet received in the switchback path such that the paper sheet leaves the switchback path toward the printer engine with its trailing edge at the head.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to enable a maintenance work to be executed with appropriate timing. When jam occurrence is detected by jam sensors placed in a plurality of positions in a sheet transporting path, a control section changes a display state such as a shape and a blinking period of a mark in a display section, in accordance with history information which is stored in a storage section. When the display contents of the display section is visually checked, the part where the jam has occurred can be identified from the display position of the mark, and the jam occurrence history in the part can be known from the shape and the blinking period of the mark. Therefore, it is possible to correctly judge the necessity of a maintenance work.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a fixing apparatus and an image-forming apparatus. The fixing apparatus and the image-forming apparatus include a heating roller; a heating element disposed in the heating roller; a pressing roller pressure-contacting the heating roller to fix an image onto a transfer sheet passing through a pressure-contacting section between the heating roller and the pressing roller; and a cooling device to cool the heating roller. In the fixing apparatus, the cooling device is activated during a predetermined time period after consecutive fixing operations are completed. While, the image-forming apparatus further includes a control section to activate the cooling device during a predetermined time period after consecutive fixing operations are completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, a charger for contacting with and charging the image bearing member to form a latent image on the image bearing member, a developing device for developing the latent image formed on the image bearing member with a toner, the developing device collecting the toner on the image bearing member, an intermediate transfer member, and a transfer charger for transferring a toner image on the image bearing member to the intermediate transfer member, wherein the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer member by the transfer charger is transferred to a recording material, and when the image forming operation is interrupted, the toner image on the image bearing member which is not yet transferred to the intermediate transfer member is transferred to the intermediate transfer member by the transfer charger.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording medium conveyance method and apparatus, which can prevent a properly conveyed recording medium from being determined as jamming to thereby avoid an unnecessary operation of dealing with a jam. A timing measuring means 102 measures timing in which the recording medium passes a predetermined location downstream of a separation electrifier, which separates a moving recording medium from a photosensitive drum, in accordance with information acquired by a post-separation sensor, which detects the recording medium at the predetermined location downstream of the separation electrifier.

Abstract: A sheet attachment detecting apparatus includes a rotary member which is rotatable for conveying a sheet and whose surface is electrically conductive, an electrically conductive member which can be abutted on and separated from the surface of the rotary member, and an attachment detector which applies a power to the rotary member and the electrically conductive member for detecting the attachment of the sheet around the rotary member.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying apparatus, starting sound is reduced and downsizing is contrived without causing any increase in cost. The sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a plurality of pairs of rotary members disposed along a sheet conveying path for guiding a sheet, and conveying the sheet, a plurality of rotary driving devices for rotating the pairs of rotary members, and a control device for staggering the starting time of each rotary driving device and starting the rotary driving devices.

Abstract: A transfer jam detecting apparatus for a wet type electrophotographic color printer capable of detecting various kinds of jams occurring at a transfer roller, including: a printed matter entrance sensor disposed on a front side of a transfer roll, for detecting an entrance of a printed matter into the transfer roll; a feed roll disposed by a shaft to be rotated in either direction on a transfer section printed matter guide disposed on a rear side of the transfer roll, the feed roll being passively rotated by the conveyed printed matter; a pressing roll assembly disposed on an upper portion of the feed roll, for pressing the printed matter in a manner that the feed roll is passively rotated by the conveyed printed matter; and feed roll rotational direction detecting section for detecting the presence of a jam by detecting the rotation and rotational direction of the feed roll.

Abstract: A multi-functional fuser backup roll release mechanism and operating process are defined. In the event of a paper jam, the primary gear train from a prime mover to driven rolls of the imaging apparatus is interrupted, and a secondary drive train is engaged. The drive train operates a drive shaft, rotating a worm gear to control a cam and lever apparatus connected to springs and bellcranks at opposite ends of the backup roll. Upon the detection of a paper jam, or prolonged inactivity of the fuser, the nip between the fuser hot roll and backup roll is opened. During normal operation, the mechanism can be used to control the nip force between the fuser roll and the backup roll, to provide the optimal nip load for the media being processed, and the print glossiness desired.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an automatic document feeder. Even if a document is jammed in the automatic document feeder, what is required of the user is to set all documents on a document tray once again, including the jammed document, documents from which image information have already been copied, and documents from which image information have not yet been copied. Of the documents re-set on the document tray, the documents from which image information have been copied are discharged onto a discharge tray, without executing a copying operation. In other words, a copying operation is executed only for the documents from which image information have not been copied. The number of documents from which image information are copied is counted by checking the outputs from an alignment sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resetting a sheet processing device is disclosed in which even if a trouble occurs, a sheet processing can be continued after resetting without wasting the previous processing. In a sheet processing device in which a set of sheets conveyed from an image forming device is discharged to a discharge tray after a predetermined processing process, the processing process is finely divided into plural function units and the function units are individually reset. In a memory device, a status flag indicating the condition of each module unit is assigned to each unit. The presence of a partially performed operation is confirmed by the status flag, and only the function unit having partially performed operation is reset to its initial condition.

Abstract: A recording apparatus often has a timing to shift to a standby status if there is no residual paper in the apparatus, for example, when a power source is turned on, when the apparatus is recovered from a sleep mode, when a door is closed, when the power source is reset, or the like. When the residual paper is detected in the apparatus at such a timing, the apparatus is controlled to a proper wait status in order to discharge the residual paper and waits for an instruction from the outside. In response to the paper discharging instruction from the outside, a discharging operation of the residual paper is executed.

Abstract: A position detecting sensor for detecting that a sheet having come into an openable both-face conveying path for reversing the surfaces of the sheet having an image formed on one surface thereof and conveying the reversed sheet to an image forming portion has arrived at a predetermined re-feeding position, and the position detecting sensor is designed to be capable of detecting also the presence or absence of the occurrence of jam in the both-face conveying path, the mounting and dismounting of a both-face conveying portion and the opening and closing of the both-face conveying path.

Abstract: A image forming apparatus with a sensing control system having an optical sensor and a control device. An detected object is recognized by using the difference of an output characteristics correspond to a quantity of reflected light. Thus, one or more detected objects may be precisely detected by the one optical sensor.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus service system, each image forming apparatus adds, when an abnormal or preabnormal phenomenon or similar factor to be reported occurs therein, information relating to its operation and including the cumulative number of images formed to information representative of the above factor. The information and additional information are sent to a central control unit managing the image forming apparatus. Each central control unit collects and stores the information received from image forming apparatuses lying in its coverage apparatus by apparatus and transfers the day's (one day) information stored to a server at a preselected time via a WAN (Wide Area Network). The server stores the information received from all the central control units in a format suitable for a data base. A person using each data processing unit is capable of downloading desired information from each central control unit or the server via the WAN by operating a keyboard or a mouse.

Abstract: A video controller which manages an optional controller for controlling a sheet stapling device inputs a job from a computer, reserves an instruction of a sheet process in unit of sheet for plural sheets to the optional controller according to the input job, and outputs to the optional controller an instruction to execute a pull-up process of a stapling member in preference to execution of the already-reserved instruction according as the stapling member was supplemented in the sheet stapling device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes, a network interface for connecting the image forming apparatus to a network as a network terminal, an electronic mail communication control unit for communicating an electronic mail with another network terminal through said network interface, a memory for storing an address of a predetermined network terminal, a sensor for detecting an abnormal condition of the image forming apparatus, a controller for producing the electronic mail according to the address stored in the memory, and wherein the electronic mail communication control unit sends an electronic mail produced by the controller to the predetermined network terminal when the sensor detects an abnormal condition such as when the sensor detects a paper jam, toner empty and paper-out.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion disposed within a main body of the apparatus to form an image, a first display attached to an upper portion of the main body to display information regarding the handling of the apparatus, and an open/close mechanism provided on a frame of the main body to be openable opened during the maintenance. In addition, a second display mechanism is disposed at a position viewable by an operator from a position where the open/close mechanism is opened and includes a single display for selectively displaying a plurality of information data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a charging member, contactable to said image bearing member, for being supplied with a voltage to charge said image bearing member; a developing device for forming a toner image by developing with toner an electrostatic image formed on said image bearing member, and also being capable of cleaning said image bearing member to remove residual toner; and a transferring device for transferring the toner image onto a transfer material. When the apparatus stops during an image forming operation as during a jam, the voltage applied to said charging member is a superimposed voltage of an AC voltage and DC voltage and is a DC voltage without the AC voltage thereafter between resumption after jamming and the start of image formation.

Abstract: Disclosed are a multifunctional apparatus equipped with a jam recovery device and a selective jam recovery method. The multifunctional apparatus has an image forming unit enabling the apparatus to record image data onto a recordable medium. The multifunctional apparatus can record two types of data. When a page of a first type of data is stored in a page queue processor of the multifunctional apparatus and starts to be recorded onto a first page of a recordable medium, the page queue processor deletes the page of the first type of data according to whether the first page of the recordable medium has been successfully discharged from the multifunctional apparatus and, importantly, also according to a condition of a discharge error recovery function.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus. If a sheet is jammed, the sheet is stopped in a sheet convey path at a position where the sheet can easily be removed by optimum treatment procedure. Sensors are disposed in a sheet convey path constituted by a plurality of units of an image forming apparatus portion and a sheet is stopped at an optimum position by a sheet position counter for recognizing the present position of the sheet in the sheet convey path.

Abstract: A postprocessing system having a system cabinet coupled to a copier main body through a coupling section, a postprocessing unit placed in the system cabinet so that it can be moved up and down, and a cover attached to the front of the system cabinet so that it can be opened and closed. When a paper jam occurs, the user can open the cover to open the inside of the system cabinet and remove jammed paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a main body, a fixing device arranged in the main body and supported so that it can be pulled out of the main by for fixing an image formed on one side of a paper, a duplex device arranged in the main body and supported so that it can be pulled out of the main body for once housing a paper having an image fixed on one side and taking it out with the other side having no image fixed facing toward the fixing device; and a coupling unit for coupling so that the fixing device and the duplex device can be pulled out of the main body simultaneously.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reversing unit which reverses and feeds recording material fed from a fixing device, and a guiding device including first and second guide members facing each other to form a part of a first conveying path in which a recording material with a toner image fixed thereto is conveyed to the reversing unit from the fixing device. The second guide member forms, in cooperation with a third guide member, a part of a second conveying path in which the recording material is conveyed to an outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus. The first and second guide members are movable between a sheet guide position in which the first and second guide members guide the recording material along the first and second conveying paths, and a sheet jam removing position in which each of the first and second conveying paths is opened for removal of a jammed sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for predicting a location of a sheet being transported along a path of movement after the occurrence of a sheet jam. A sheet jam detecting device is disposed along the path of movement of the sheet. The sheet jam detecting device detects the sheet jam along the path of movement and generates a sheet jam signal. A sensor is operatively associated with the transport to detect the continued movement of the transport after the jam detecting device detects the sheet jam. The sensor generates a transport signal. A processor is in communication with the jam detecting device and the sensor for receiving the sheet jam signal and the transport signal. The detector predicts the location of the sheet as a function of these signals. An apparatus of this type may be used in a printing machine for detecting the location of sheets after the occurrence of a sheet jam.

Abstract: A unit which detects a discharged condition of each of media with a simple and low-cost structure. For this purpose, this unit is designed to output a signal indicative of the passage of the medium, a signal indicative of a full accumulated condition of the media within the medium discharged section and a signal representative of the occurrence of a jam condition of the medium during the passage of the medium. This unit is applicable to printers such as an electrophotographic type printer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided with a main body including a video controller, having video signal generation device for generating a video signal from image information based on a recording command from an external apparatus and control device, and with a supervisory controller including optional unit control device for controlling at least an optional unit connectable to the main body. The video controller includes a process time informing device for informing the supervisory controller of an image development process time, and the supervisory controller includes a paper transport time memory for storing the paper transport time from the optional paper feed source to the entrance of the printing apparatus, a comparator for comparing the process time informed by the process time informing device with the paper transport time stored in the paper transport time memory, and a paper feed source changing device for changing the paper feed source in case the comparator identifies that the process time is shorter.

Abstract: A method for driving an electrographic imaging unit. The method involves interrupting the operation of the imaging unit when an operational error occurs, resuming the operation of the imaging unit when the operation error is cleared within a predetermined time, and operating at least one of a photosensitive belt, a transfer roller, a fixation roller and a cleaning roller when the operational error is not cleared within the predetermined time.

Abstract: The sheet end detector unit (10) is provided with a supporting plate (13), a depressed bearing part (14) for bearing against a sheet discharge roller shaft (5) and a pair of leg pieces (15) which engage with the sides of a unit attachment hole (3) provided in a sheet guide plate (1). The supporting plate (13) supports the sheet end detector unit (10) which is readily positioned on the sheet discharge roller shaft (5) by simply inserting the supporting plate (13) through the attachment hole (3) so that the legs (15) are securely engaged at one side of the supporting plate (13) and the other side of the supporting plate (13) abuts against the rear side of the sheet guide plate (1).

Abstract: An improved sheet jam removal system for a sheet feeding system with an enclosed internal sheet feeding path unit and connecting first and second sheet stacking trays. The first tray is overlying the second and is pivotally cantilever mounted about a first pivot axis so that when a sheet feeding jam occurs the first tray readily manually pivots upwardly about the first pivot axis to expose sheets in the second tray, and also a camming surface on the tray, which may be provided by edge guides adjacent the first pivot axis, engages and automatically unlatches, with high leverage, a top cover of the enclosed sheet feeding path unit, which top cover pivots open about a second pivot axis spaced from the first. The top cover may be spring loaded to automatically pop further open for full exposure and removal of sheets inside the unit upon said automatic unlatching.

Abstract: A method for processing a paper jam error in an image forming apparatus for performing successive image forming operations on successive sheets of paper using an electrophotographic developing process. The method includes determining when a paper jam occurs due to a paper feed failure of a current sheet of paper while the image forming apparatus performs successive image forming operations on successive sheets of paper; and when the paper jam occurs due to the paper feed failure of the current sheet of paper, completing an image forming operation of an immediately preceding sheet of paper, and then processing the paper jam which occurs due to the paper feed failure of the current sheet of paper.

Abstract: A detecting device includes: an actuator with its end placed in a conveying path of a moving object such as a sheet etc., pivotally supported by a rotary shaft so that it can sway as the moving object passes by; a slit arm integrally formed with the actuator and having a slit therein and an optical sensor disposed below the actuator. In this arrangement, the slit arm having a slit therein is placed in the path of the optical sensor. An urging portion for returning the actuator to the standby position is provided for the slit arm. The abutment surface P of the urging portion abutting the unit base of the optical sensor is formed inclined. A component force E causing the actuator to bounce, which is proportional to a repulsive force D normal to the abutment surface P when the abutment surface abuts the unit base abutment surface P, is smaller than the repulsive force D. Therefore, the distance of the bouncing of the actuator becomes smaller, thus preventing chattering.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which transfers a toner image formed on an image carrier to a recording medium with a transfer device and separates the recording medium from the image carrier by discharging the recording medium with a discharging device. The image forming apparatus includes a support member which supports the transfer device and which includes a first support element pivotally mounted to a main body of the apparatus and a second support element. The second support element is pivotally mounted to the first support element at one end and unattached at the other end. The second support element may be solely supported by the first support element. The first support element is supported from below and by pivoting a support member out from under the first support element, the transfer device moves between a working position facing a surface of the image carrier and a recessed position separated from the image carrier by a larger distance than when the transfer device is in the working position.

Abstract: A method for managing recording sheet jams in an image-forming apparatus includes detecting a current jam in the image-forming apparatus, storing a number of image formation operations performed by the image-forming apparatus when the current jam is detected, and a first determining step for determining whether the current jam is a true jam or a false jam based on a number of image formation operations obtained for a previous jam and a number of image formation operations for the current jam.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus service system of the present invention includes a shared managing unit capable of predicting whether or not a serviceman's visit is necessary on the basis of data received from each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, including low CV layer apparatuses, operated in a broad area including a number of service stations. The service system therefore allows a serviceman to take an adequate measure rapidly and efficiently before a critical trouble occurs in any one of the apparatuses.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image on a recording sheet comprises a jam data holder storing a predetermined number of jam occurrence data arranged in time sequence, whereby when the jam data holder receives the newest jam occurrence data, the jam data holder adds the newest jam occurrence data into the predetermined number of jam occurrence data and eliminates the oldest jam occurrence data from the predetermined number of jam occurrence data; a calculator for calculating jam occurrence frequency when the jam data holder receives the newest jam occurrence data, wherein the calculator references the jam occurrence data from the predetermined number of jam occurrence data stored in the jam data holder, calculates a number N of jam occurrences, the total sheet number T1 when the oldest jam occurrence was detected and the total sheet number T2 when the newest jam occurrence was detected and calculates a jam occurrence frequency based on the difference between the total sheet number T2 and the total sheet number T1

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet has a first conveyance path for guiding the sheet, and a second conveyance path arranged in continuation from the first conveyance path to guide the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance path. A conveyor drum, which may be an image transfer drum, retains the sheet on its surface and conveys the sheet such that the sheet moves along said second conveyance path. The drum and the second conveyance path are supported such that they can be moved in a direction which intersects the direction of sheet conveyance, so as to be drawn out of the main part of the apparatus. A sheet jam detector is provided for detecting a sheet jam at a predetermined position which is on the drum and which is spaced from the inlet of the second conveyance path by a distance greater than the length of the sheet which has the greatest length among the sheets which are to be handled by the apparatus, as measured along the second path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging station, an exposure station forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged image bearing member, and a developing station for developing the latent image formed on the surface of the image bearing member. A stop control device is provided for immediately stopping a charging operation by the charging device when the image forming apparatus must stop due to the detection of an irregular state during an image forming process. The image bearing member continues moving by at least the distance along that member from the charging to the developing station before the stop control device stops the developing operation and the moving of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A host computer 104 at a remote administrative site receives a jam code and the number of accumulated copies made from a photocopier 100 at which jamming has occurred, an accumulated jam curve is calculated based on the received data, a certain filtering process is performed, the risk of jamming is estimated based on the filter output and a membership function between the filter value and risk, thus judging whether or not to visit the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a fixing device used therein capable of discriminating transport condition of a sheet in the fixing device without sheet sensors. The fixing device is provided with a fixing roller for heating unfixed toner borne on a sheet and fixing the toner onto the sheet. A temperature sensor is arranged for detecting the temperature of the fixing roller, which temperature sensor communicating with a controller of the image forming apparatus or the fixing device. The controller discriminates the transport condition of the sheet based on the temperature change of the fixing roller detected by the temperature sensor so as to execute varied control.

Abstract: A mode for sorting sheets having two sides, on which images have been printed, is performed such that sheets each having one printed side are stacked in an automatic double side device, and the sheets stacked in the automatic double side device are sequentially extracted and conveyed. If a jam takes place during extraction and conveyance of the sheets, the position, at which the jam has taken place, is displayed on an LCD display unit. After the jammed sheet has been removed, the printing operation is caused to restart. If few sheets are stacked in the automatic double side device before the printing operation is completed, a copy key is depressed to perform control to perform the printing operation once again. Also, a method for replacing the images of the sheets which are jammed during the double sided copying operation is provided.

Abstract: In a service system, a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a control unit for remote-controlling them are connected by a communication line. A plurality of terminal units are located at respective service stations and also connected to the control unit. The image forming apparatuses each sends, when an event indicative of or predictive of an error occurs therein, information representative of the event to the control unit. The control unit received the information analyzes it and then selectively sends information relating to maintenance or repair to the image forming apparatuses to the terminal units.

Abstract: A method of removing a paper from a laser printer when a jam occurs includes the steps of starting printing after initialization of a laser printer system, and ascertaining if a jam occurs during the printing performance. The method also includes the steps of proceeding with printing in the absence of a jam, and ascertaining if the cover of the system is opened and then closed when the jam occurs. The printing mechanism motor of the laser printer may be driven at its maximum motor speed, to remove the paper, when the cover is opened and then closed. The time required to clear jams is greatly decreased, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the use of the laser printer.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus and method for controlling and enabling clean and convenient clearance of a stalled copy sheet from a copy sheet handling system of an electrostatographic reproduction machine. The automatic apparatus and method include a programmable controller for declaring detection of an error in copy sheet movement; position determiner for determining a first actual position of the copy sheet at a moment of detection of an error. The position determiner means includes a first sensing device mounted upstream of an image transfer station of the machine relative to a direction of sheet movement, and a second sensing device, mounted downstream of the first sensing device relative to the direction of sheet movement.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of paper sensors are arranged along a preselected paper transport path. A jam detecting section detects jams location by location in response to the output signals of the paper sensors. A plurality of jam alarm counters are each assigned to the respective location. Each jam alarm counter counts jam information representative of jams occurred at the respective location. When the jam alarm counter counts a preselected number of jam information, jam alarm information is generated and sent to a remote control unit via a transmitting section. However, when the count of a copy counter increases to a preselected standard jam value stored in an alarm level memory, the existing count of the jam alarm counter is reset.

Abstract: In a color electrophotographic printer, an intermediate transfer belt is provided to layer toner images of a plurality of colors, and the toner images on the belt are transferred onto a paper sheet. In order to remove a paper sheet when a paper jam happens, a door is provided in a case of the printer, while a cover is provided to protect a transfer region where the intermediate transfer belt contacts with a paper sheet for transferring the toner images. When the door is opened, the cover moves to cover a portion of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt exposed to the door. When the jammed paper sheet is removed, the image forming process is resumed immediately on the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt. Further, an intermediate transfer unit including the intermediate transfer belt and the cover detachable from the printer may be provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has two units which are engageable with a photoconductive element and provided with a substantially identical configuration. Various electrophotographic process devices including a developing device and a cleaning device and to be arranged around the photoconductive element are selectively arranged in the two units. The photoconductive element is passed over two rollers such that part of the element forms parallel flat portions. The two units and the photoconductive element are rotatable integrally with each other.