Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12399447-B2
Application number	US-202318465866-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2023
Priority date	Sep 14, 2022
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording material includes an apparatus main body having a first end provided with an opening and having a second end, a fixing device to heat the recording material, an opening and closing member, a drawer unit having a first photosensitive drum, and a transfer device. When being moved from a first inner position inside the apparatus main body to a first outer position outside the apparatus main body through the main body opening, the drawer unit is to be moved in a moving direction intersecting with a rotation axis of the first photosensitive drum, and is to be moved away from the second end. When being moved from a second inner position inside the apparatus main body to a second outer position outside the apparatus main body, the transfer device is moved away from the second end.

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:
an apparatus main body including a first end provided with a main body opening and a second end opposite to the first end in a horizontal direction;
a fixing device configured to heat the recording material;
an opening and closing member attached to the apparatus main body, wherein the opening and closing member is configured to be moved from a closed position, where the main body opening is covered, to an open position where the main body opening is exposed so that the opening and closing member separates from the fixing device;
a drawer unit including (i) a first cartridge, (ii) a support member to which the first cartridge is detachably attached, and (iii) a first photosensitive drum 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 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 including a belt, wherein the belt is configured to contact the first photosensitive drum with the transfer device at the second inner position,
wherein the fixing device is closer to the first end than to the second end,
wherein, when being moved from the first inner position to the first outer position through the main body opening, 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, and
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.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , 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.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , 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.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , 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.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , 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.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein, when being moved from the first inner position to the first outer position, the drawer unit further is configured to be moved in a direction obliquely upward with respect to the horizontal direction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1
wherein, at the closed position, 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.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein, when the opening and closing member is at the closed position, at least a first part of the second path is configured to be located in a first space for the drawer unit to pass through in being moved from the first inner position to the first outer position.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein, when the opening and closing member is at the closed position, at least a second part of the second path is configured to be located in a second space for the transfer device to pass through in being moved from the second inner position to the second outer position.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer device includes a driving roller configured to drive the belt, and a driven roller where the driving roller is located downstream of the driven roller in a direction where the transfer device is moved from the second inner position to the second outer position.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material toward the fixing device,
wherein at least a part of the conveyance unit is located in a first space for the drawer unit to pass through in being moved from the first inner position to the first outer position.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drawer unit is configured to be moved from the first inner position to the first outer position and the transfer device is configured to be moved from the second inner position to the second outer position with the fixing device coupled to the apparatus main body.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the drawer unit is configured to pass under the fixing device in being moved from the first inner position to the first outer position, and
wherein the transfer device is configured to pass under the fixing device in being moved from the second inner position to the second outer position.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a transfer roller;
wherein the belt is configured to contact the first photosensitive drum so that a first transfer portion is formed between the first photosensitive drum and the belt, and
wherein the transfer roller is configured to contact the belt so that a second transfer portion is formed between the belt and the transfer roller.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 ,
wherein, in a state where the opening and closing member is in the closed position, the transfer roller is located inside a space through which the transfer device passes when moved from the second inner position to the second outer position, and
wherein, in a state where the opening and closing member is in the open position, the transfer roller is located outside the space.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the drawer unit is moved from the first inner position to the first outer position, a moving direction of the drawer unit changes.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the transfer device is moved from the second inner position to the second outer position, a moving direction of the transfer device changes.

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

• G03G2215/066

  Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material · CPC title

• G03G15/751

  relating to drum (G03G15/757 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/5008

  Driving control for rotary photosensitive medium, e.g. speed control, stop position control · CPC title

• G03G15/2064

  combined with pressure · CPC title

• G03G15/0189

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