Biasing force adjusting device, transfer device, and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12552186-B2
Application number	US-202217885557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2021
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A biasing force adjusting device includes a roller, a roller holder, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The roller faces a mover. The roller holder holds the roller and is displaceable with respect to the mover. The first biasing member applies a first biasing force to the roller holder to press the roller against the mover. The second biasing member applies a second biasing force greater than the first biasing force to the roller holder to press the roller against the mover.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A biasing force adjusting device comprising:
a roller to face a mover; a roller holder holding the roller and being displaceable with respect to the mover; a first biaser having a first spring structure to apply a first biasing force to a first portion of the roller holder to press the roller against the mover; a second biaser having a second spring structure to apply a second biasing force to a second portion of the roller holder to press the roller against the mover, wherein a biasing force to the roller is switchable from a first state to a second state, only the first biaser is biasing the first portion of the roller holder in the first state, and wherein the first biaser and the second biaser are arranged in parallel.

2 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a shaft supporting the roller holder rotatably, wherein the roller holder is to be rotated around the shaft as a fulcrum by at least one of the first biasing force or the second biasing force.

3 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first biaser is to apply the first biasing force to the roller holder to form a contact between the mover and the roller at a first contact position, and wherein the second biaser is to apply the second biasing force to the roller holder to form a contact between the mover and the roller at a second contact position different from the first contact position.

4 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 3 ,
wherein a contact force between the mover and the roller at the second contact position is set to be greater than a contact force between the mover and the roller at the first contact position.

5 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the roller is separated from the mover when the first biasing force and the second biasing force are not applied to the roller holder.

6 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a movable body movable in a predetermined direction, wherein the roller holder, the first biaser, and the second biaser are to, in conjunction with a movement of the movable body, switch among a state in which the mover and the roller contact at a first contact position, a state in which the mover and the roller contact at a second contact position, and a state in which the roller is separated from the mover.

7 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 6 , wherein:
the movable body includes a regulator to regulate the movement of the movable body in the predetermined direction.

8 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a plurality of regulators including the regulator, the plurality of regulators being coaxially rotatable.

9 . A transfer device comprising the biasing force adjusting device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the mover is a transfer belt.

10 . An image forming apparatus comprising the transfer device according to claim 9 .

11 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first portion of the roller holder and the second portion of the roller holder are integrated in the roller holder.

12 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first biaser and the second biaser bias a same portion of the roller via the roller holder.

13 . A biasing force adjusting device comprising:
a roller to face a mover; a roller holder holding the roller and being displaceable with respect to the mover; first means for biasing to apply a first biasing force to the roller holder to press the roller against the mover; second means for biasing to apply a second biasing force greater than the first biasing force to the roller holder to press the roller against the mover, wherein a biasing force to the roller is switchable from a first state to a second state, only the first means for biasing is biasing the roller holder in the first state, and wherein the first means for biasing and the second means for biasing are arranged in parallel.

14 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a shaft supporting the roller holder rotatably, wherein the roller holder is to be rotated around the shaft as a fulcrum by at least one of the first biasing force or the second biasing force.

15 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 13 ,
wherein the first means for biasing is to apply the first biasing force to the roller holder to form a contact between the mover and the roller at a first contact position, and wherein the second means for biasing is to apply the second biasing force to the roller holder to form a contact between the mover and the roller at a second contact position different from the first contact position.

16 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 15 ,
wherein a contact force between the mover and the roller at the second contact position is set to be greater than a contact force between the mover and the roller at the first contact position.

17 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 13 ,
wherein the roller is separated from the mover when the first biasing force and the second biasing force are not applied to the roller holder.

18 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a movable body movable in a predetermined direction, wherein the roller holder, the first means for biasing, and the second means for biasing are to, in conjunction with a movement of the movable body, switch among a state in which the mover and the roller contact at a first contact position, a state in which the mover and the roller contact at a second contact position, and a state in which the roller is separated from the mover.

19 . A transfer device comprising the biasing force adjusting device according to claim 13 ,
wherein the mover is a transfer belt.

20 . An image forming apparatus comprising the transfer device according to claim 19 .

21 . The biasing force adjusting device according to claim 1 , wherein:
only the second biaser is biasing the second portion of the roller holder in the second state.

Assignees

• Goto Yutaka
• Kogure Seiichi
• Kikuchi Hiroshi
• Kimura Hideki
• Takahashi Yutaka
• Shimada Kazuhiro
• Ishizuka Yusuke
• Akiyama Takuya
• Aoki Yuuki
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Goto Yutaka
• Kogure Seiichi
• Kikuchi Hiroshi
• Kimura Hideki
• Takahashi Yutaka
• Shimada Kazuhiro
• Ishizuka Yusuke
• Akiyama Takuya
• Aoki Yuuki

Classifications

• B65H5/062

  between rollers or balls · CPC title

• B65H2405/1117

  pivotable, e.g. around an axis perpendicular to transport direction, e.g. arranged at rear side of sheet support · CPC title

• G03G15/1675

  with means for controlling the bias applied in the transfer nip · CPC title

• G03G2215/00156

  by controlling drive mechanism · CPC title

• B41J25/312 Primary

  with print pressure adjustment mechanisms, e.g. pressure-on-the paper mechanisms · CPC title