Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11226574-B1
Application number	US-202017117313-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2020
Priority date	Dec 10, 2020
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an main body, a processing unit, and a pressing member. The main body includes a transfer belt wound around a plurality of rollers. The processing unit can be inserted into and removed from the main body. The processing unit includes a drum that faces the transfer belt in a state of being inserted into the main body. The processing unit forms an image on the surface of the drum. The pressing member is provided on the main body and includes a contacted portion and a contacting portion. The contacted portion comes into contact with the processing unit when the processing unit is inserted into and removed from the main body. The contacting portion comes contact with the transfer belt due to contact with the processing unit to push the transfer belt in a direction away from the processing unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an apparatus main body including a transfer belt wound around a plurality of rollers in an endless manner;
a processing component configured to be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body, the processing component including a photosensitive drum facing the transfer belt in a state of being inserted into the apparatus main body, and configured to form an image on the surface of the photosensitive drum; and
a pressing member provided on the apparatus main body and including a contacted portion that comes into contact with the processing component when the processing component is inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body, and a contacting portion that comes into contact with the transfer belt due to contact with the processing component to push the transfer belt in a direction away from the processing component.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the pressing member is arranged in a non-contact state with respect to the transfer belt when the contacted portion is not in contact with the processing component.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the processing component includes a housing that rotatably supports the photosensitive drum, and
the housing includes a rib extending in an insertion and removal direction of the processing component at a position where the processing component comes into contact with the contacted portion of the pressing member when the processing component is inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the rib is in a non-contact state with the pressing member when the processing component is inserted into the apparatus main body.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the processing component is configured to be inserted into and removed from the front side of the apparatus main body with respect to the apparatus main body, and
the pressing member is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a contact prevention mechanism for preventing the processing component from contacting the transfer belt when the processing component is inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the contact prevention mechanism includes a push-up member rotatably attached to a frame of the apparatus main body, and a rib provided in the processing component.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the processing component is configured to avoid contacting the transfer belt when the processing component is inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the processing component comprises a cylindrical drum and a photosensitive layer.

10. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an apparatus main body including a transfer belt wound around a plurality of rollers in an endless manner;
a plurality of processing components provided so that the plurality of processing components are separable from each other along a traveling direction of the transfer belt and configured to be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body, each of the plurality of processing components including a photosensitive drum facing the transfer belt in a state of being inserted into the apparatus main body, and configured to form an image on a surface of the photosensitive drum;
a moving mechanism that rotates the transfer belt with the downstream side in the traveling direction as a fulcrum to separate the transfer belt from the plurality of photosensitive drums;
a pressing member provided on the apparatus main body corresponding to a first processing component on the most downstream side in the traveling direction of the transfer belt and including a contacted portion that comes into contact with the first processing component when the first processing unit is inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body and a contacting portion that comes into contact with the transfer belt due to contact with the first processing component to push the transfer belt in a direction away from the first processing component.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the pressing member is arranged in a non-contact state with respect to the transfer belt when the contacted portion is not in contact with the first processing component.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the first processing component includes a housing that rotatably supports the first photosensitive drum, and
the housing includes a rib extending in an insertion and removal direction of the first processing component at a position where the first pressing member comes into contact with the contacted portion of the pressing member when the first processing component is inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the rib is in a non-contact state with the pressing member in a state where the first processing component is inserted into the apparatus main body.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the first processing component configured to be inserted into and removed from the front side of the apparatus main body with respect to the apparatus main body, and
the pressing member is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , comprising four processing components.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the four processing components comprise a black toner processing component, a yellow toner processing component, a cyan toner processing component, and a magenta toner processing component.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of processing components comprises a different processing component for each type of toner used by the image forming apparatus.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a plurality of contact prevention mechanisms for preventing the plurality of processing components from contacting the transfer belt when the plurality of processing components are inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein
the plurality of contact prevention mechanisms include a push-up member rotatably attached to a frame of the apparatus main body, and a rib provided in each of the processing components.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the plurality of processing components are configured to avoid contacting the transfer belt when the plurality of processing components are inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Kouzu Norio

Classifications

• G03G21/1842 Primary

  for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1814

  Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1647

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G2221/1642

  for the transfer unit · CPC title

• G03G2215/00139

  Belt · CPC title