Image forming apparatus having belt unit

• US 7,623,809 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nakano, Hiroshi, Kato, Atsushi, Igarashi, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Hoan H
• Application Number:
  US11/476,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20070177894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 399/107, 399/116, 399/117, 399/121, 399/297, 399/298, 399/299, 399/302, 399/308
• US Class Current: 399/121
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/168 for the transfer unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1642 for the transfer unit

Abstract

A plurality of image bearing members is supported by an apparatus main body and is arranged in a predetermined direction. A belt unit is configured to be detachably mounted on the apparatus main body. The belt unit includes a belt frame, a plurality of belt support rollers, a belt, and a plurality of transfer members. The plurality of belt support rollers is supported by the belt frame. The belt is movably supported by the plurality of belt support rollers and extends in the predetermined direction. Each of the plurality of transfer members is disposed in confrontation with a corresponding one of the plurality of image bearing members with the belt interposed therebetween. A positioning member fixes, relative to the apparatus main body, each of the plurality of transfer members at a position in the predetermined direction when the belt unit is mounted on the apparatus main body.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an apparatus main body;

a plurality of image bearing members supported by the apparatus main body and arranged in a predetermined direction;

a belt unit configured to be detachably mounted on the apparatus main body, the belt unit including;

a belt frame;

a plurality of belt support rollers supported by the belt frame;

a belt movably supported by the plurality of belt support rollers and extending in the predetermined direction; and

a plurality of transfer members each disposed in confrontation with a corresponding one of the plurality of image bearing members with the belt interposed therebetween; and

a positioning member that fixes, relative to the apparatus main body, each of the plurality of transfer members at a position in the predetermined direction when the belt unit is mounted on the apparatus main body.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of urging members provided at the apparatus main body, each urging member urging a corresponding one of the plurality of transfer members toward the plurality of image bearing members.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer bias applying unit provided at the apparatus main body, the transfer bias applying unit being electrically connected to the plurality of transfer members and applying a transfer bias between each transfer member and the corresponding one of the plurality of image bearing members.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each transfer member comprises a transfer roller having a roller shaft that extends in an axial direction and that has a diameter in a radial direction, the transfer roller being rotatable about the roller shaft.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the positioning member comprises a bearing member that rotatably supports the roller shaft.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the transfer roller is loosely mounted on the belt frame so as to be capable of displacing along the radial predetermined direction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the belt frame is formed with a roller-shaft insertion hole, the roller-shaft insertion hole having a size in the radial predetermined direction that is larger than the diameter of the roller shaft.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the belt unit includes a regulating member that is provided at an end of the roller shaft and that extends in the radial direction;

and

wherein the belt frame is formed with a groove having an inner surface, the regulating member being configured to be fitted in the groove such that the regulating member is positioned with respect to the axial direction.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the regulating member has a contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the groove, the contact surface having a convex shape.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the belt is a conveying belt that conveys a sheet-like medium to positions in confrontation with the plurality of image bearing members.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the belt is an intermediate transfer belt onto which a developer image is transferred from the plurality of image bearing members, the intermediate transfer belt transferring the developer image onto a sheet-like medium.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the belt frame is formed of a synthetic resin material.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding member provided at the apparatus main body, the holding member being made of one material, the holding member supporting the plurality of image bearing members and the positioning member in a state where the plurality of image bearing members and the positioning member are fixed at positions.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the holding member comprises a metal frame.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shift in a position of each transfer member relative to the corresponding one of the plurality of image bearing members in the predetermined direction when a temperature of the belt frame is changed by 30 degrees Celsius is less than or equal to 50 micrometers.

16. A belt unit comprising:

a belt frame;

a plurality of belt support rollers supported by the belt frame;

a belt movably supported by the plurality of belt support rollers, the belt extending in a predetermined direction;

a transfer roller disposed in confrontation with the belt, the transfer roller having a roller shaft that extends in an axial direction and that has a diameter in a radial direction, the transfer roller being rotatable about the roller shaft; and

a regulating member that is provided at an end of the roller shaft and that extends in the radial direction,

wherein the transfer roller is mounted on the belt frame so as to be capable of displacing in the radial direction, and

the belt frame is formed with a groove having an inner surface, the regulating member being configured to be fitted in the groove such that the regulating member is positioned with respect to the axial direction.

17. The belt unit according to claim 16, wherein the belt frame is formed with a roller-shaft insertion hole, the roller-shaft insertion hole having a size in the radial direction that is larger than the diameter of the roller shaft.

18. The belt unit according to claim 17, wherein the roller-shaft insertion hole is substantially rectangular.

19. The belt unit according to claim 16, wherein the regulating member has a contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the groove, the contact surface having a convex shape.

20. The belt unit according to claim 16, further comprising:

a second transfer roller disposed in confrontation with the belt, the second transfer roller having a second roller shaft that extends in an axial direction and that has a diameter in a radial direction, the second transfer roller being rotatable about the second roller shaft,

wherein the second transfer roller is loosely mounted on the belt frame so as to be capable of displacing along the predetermined direction.