Image forming apparatus with a transfer device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12222672-B2
Application number	US-202318465788-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2023
Priority date	Sep 14, 2022
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer unit, and a transfer device including a belt. The drawer unit includes a first cartridge, a support member to which the first cartridge is detachably attached, and a first photosensitive drum disposed on the support member or the first cartridge. The drawer unit is moved to a first inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a first outer position outside the apparatus main body. The transfer device is moved to a second inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a second outer position outside the apparatus main body. The belt contacts the first photosensitive drum with the transfer device at the second inner position. The transfer device is moved from the second inner to the second outer position when the drawer unit is moved from the first inner to the first outer position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a base substrate;
an apparatus main body;
a drawer unit including (i) a first cartridge, (ii) a support member to which the first cartridge is detachably attached, (iii) a first photosensitive drum disposed on the support member or the first cartridge, and (iv) a first developing roller disposed on the support member or the first cartridge, wherein the drawer unit is configured to be moved to a first inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a first outer position outside the apparatus main body; and
a transfer device including a belt, wherein the transfer device is configured to be moved to a second inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a second outer position outside the apparatus main body, and the belt is configured to contact the first photosensitive drum with the transfer device at the second inner position, and
wherein the transfer device is configured to be moved from the second inner position to the second outer position when the drawer unit is moved from the first inner position to the first outer position.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a coupling member configured to couple the support member with the transfer device,
wherein the coupling member is configured to be moved between a coupling position where the support member is coupled with the transfer device and a release position retracted from the coupling position.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the transfer device is configured to be moved from the second inner position to the second outer position in a state where the coupling member is positioned at the release position and the drawer unit is at the first inner position.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fixing device configured to heat the recording material; and
an opening and closing member configured to cover an opening of the apparatus main body in a closed state,
wherein the apparatus main body includes a first end provided with the opening of the apparatus main body and a second end opposite to the first end in a horizontal direction,
wherein the fixing device is closer to the first end than to the second end, and
wherein, when being moved from the first inner position to the first outer position through the opening of the apparatus main body, the drawer unit is configured to be moved in a moving direction intersecting with a rotation axis of the first photosensitive drum, and be moved away from the second end.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, when being moved from the second inner position to the second outer position, the transfer device is configured to be moved away from the second end.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, in a state where the opening and closing member is open, the drawer unit is at the first outer position, and the transfer device is at the second outer position, the opening and closing member supports the transfer device and the transfer device supported by the opening and closing member supports the drawer unit.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the drawer unit includes a second cartridge detachably attached to the support member and a second photosensitive drum disposed on the second cartridge or the support member, and a second developing roller disposed on the support member or the first cartridge.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein, with the drawer unit at the first inner position, the second photosensitive drum is closer to the first end than the first photosensitive drum is, and a rotation axis of the second photosensitive drum is located above the rotation axis of the first photosensitive drum in a vertical direction.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, when being moved from the first inner position to the first outer position, the drawer unit is configured to be moved in a direction oblique to the horizontal direction.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein, when being moved from the first inner position to the first outer position, the drawer unit is configured to be moved in a direction obliquely upward with respect to the horizontal direction.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein, in the closed state, the opening and closing member is configured to cover a first path for the recording material traveling toward the fixing device to pass through, and
wherein the opening and closing member includes a second path for the recording material that has passed through the fixing device to pass through.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein, with the opening and closing member in the closed state, at least a part of the second path is configured to be located in a space for the drawer unit to pass through in being moved from the first inner position to the first outer position.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Imaizumi Chikara
• Murasaki Satoshi
• Furuta Kiyoshi
• Noda Shinya
• Niwa Kunihiro
• Misao Yoji
• Koyama Tomooku
• Katafuchi Tomoki
• Inoue Tomonari
• Sekimizu Koichi

Classifications

• G03G2221/1869

  Cartridge holders, e.g. intermediate frames for placing cartridge parts therein · CPC title

• G03G21/168

  for the transfer unit · CPC title

• G03G21/1685

  for the fixing unit · CPC title

• G03G21/1623

  Means to access the interior of the apparatus · CPC title

• G03G21/1647 Primary

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title