Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11042115-B1
Application number	US-202017121886-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2020
Priority date	Mar 23, 2020
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

According to one embodiment, in an image forming apparatus, a frame that supports a transfer belt conveying a toner image in a conveyance direction and image forming units aligned along the transfer belt is provided with a dowel hole between the image forming units in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction and is also provided with an elongated hole having a long axis in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction, a dowel between the exposure units of a chassis supporting exposure units in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction is fitted to the dowel hole, and another dowel is inserted into the elongated hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image carrier configured to convey a toner image from upstream to downstream in a conveyance direction;
a first image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image carrier;
a second image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image carrier downstream of the first image forming unit;
a third image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image carrier downstream of the second image forming unit;
a fourth image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image carrier downstream of the third image forming unit;
a chassis configured to
support a first exposure unit for exposing the first image forming unit, a second exposure unit for exposing the second image forming unit, a third exposure unit for exposing the third image forming unit, and a fourth exposure unit for exposing the fourth image forming unit, and
the chassis comprising a first fitting portion, and a second fitting portion between the second exposure unit and the third exposure unit in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction; and

a frame comprising a third fitting portion configured to fit with the first fitting portion, and a fourth fitting portion configured to fit with the second fitting portion,
the frame configured to support the chassis whose relative position is positioned at the fourth fitting portion, the first image forming unit, the second image forming unit, the third image forming unit, the fourth image forming unit, and the image carrier, wherein

one of the first fitting portion and the third fitting portion is an elongated hole having a long axis in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction, and the other of the first fitting portion and the third fitting portion is positioned within the elongated hole.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the chassis has the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion on a front side and a rear side.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the frame has the third fitting portion and the fourth fitting portion on a front side and a rear side.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the frame has the first fitting portions on left and right sides of the second fitting portion.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the first image forming unit comprises a fifth fitting portion, and
the first exposure unit comprises a sixth fitting portion configured to fit with the fifth fitting portion.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the image carrier is positioned at an inclination angle whereby an upstream portion is higher than a downstream portion in the conveyance direction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the image carrier comprises a transfer belt, and the image forming apparatus further comprises a transfer belt cleaner.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first image forming unit, the second image forming unit, the third image forming unit, and the fourth image forming unit independently comprises one of yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first exposure unit, the second exposure unit, the third exposure unit, and the fourth exposure unit each comprise an LED array.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the first image forming unit, the second image forming unit, the third image forming unit, and the fourth image forming unit comprises a decolorable toner.

11. An image processing mechanism, comprising:
a first image forming unit configured to form a toner image on an image transfer belt;
a second image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image transfer belt downstream of the first image forming unit;
a third image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image transfer belt downstream of the second image forming unit;
a fourth image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image transfer belt downstream of the third image forming unit;
a chassis configured to
support a first exposure unit for exposing the first image forming unit, a second exposure unit for exposing the second image forming unit, a third exposure unit for exposing the third image forming unit, and a fourth exposure unit for exposing the fourth image forming unit, and
the chassis comprising a first fitting portion, and a second fitting portion between the second exposure unit and the third exposure unit in a direction parallel to a conveyance direction; and

a frame comprising a third fitting portion configured to fit with the first fitting portion, and a fourth fitting portion configured to fit with the second fitting portion,
the frame configured to support the chassis whose relative position is positioned at the fourth fitting portion, the first image forming unit, the second image forming unit, the third image forming unit, the fourth image forming unit, and the image transfer belt, wherein

one of the first fitting portion and the third fitting portion is an elongated hole having a long axis in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction, and the other of the first fitting portion and the third fitting portion is positioned within the elongated hole.

12. The image processing mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein
the chassis has the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion on a front side and a rear side.

13. The image processing mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein
the frame has the third fitting portion and the fourth fitting portion on a front side and a rear side.

14. The image processing mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein
the frame has the first fitting portions on left and right sides of the second fitting portion.

15. The image processing mechanism according to claim 14 , wherein
the first image forming unit comprises a fifth fitting portion, and
the first exposure unit comprises a sixth fitting portion configured to fit with the fifth fitting portion.

16. The image processing mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein
the image transfer belt is positioned at an inclination angle whereby an upstream portion is higher than a downstream portion in the conveyance direction.

17. The image processing mechanism according to claim 11 , further comprising a transfer belt cleaner.

18. The image processing mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein
the first image forming unit, the second image forming unit, the third image forming unit, and the fourth image forming unit independently comprises one of yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner.

19. The image processing mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein
the first exposure unit, the second exposure unit, the third exposure unit, and the fourth exposure unit each comprise an LED array.

20. The image processing mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein
at least one of the first image forming unit, the second image forming unit, the third image forming unit, and the fourth image forming unit comprises a decolorable toner.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Otsuka Takuya

Classifications

• G03G21/1666

  for the exposure unit · CPC title

• G03G21/1647 Primary

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G21/1619 Primary

  Frame structures · CPC title

• G03G15/0189

  primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt (G03G15/0184 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/011

  for exposing · CPC title