Frame structure and image forming apparatus including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9229418-B2
Application number	US-201313899659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2013
Priority date	Jun 7, 2012
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

A frame structure for use in an image forming apparatus includes a main frame, a front plate to position a first end of a latent image carrier within the image forming apparatus, a rear plate fixed to the main frame to position a second end of the latent image carrier opposite the first end within the image forming apparatus, and a writing device frame fixed to the rear plate to position a latent image writing unit that writes a latent image onto the latent image carrier within the image forming apparatus. The front plate is fixed to the writing device frame. The rear plate is fixed to the main frame at least at three separate positions, at least one position being offset from a hypothetical line connecting the other two positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A frame structure for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a main frame having multiple posts;
a front plate to position a first end of a latent image carrier within the image forming apparatus;
a rear plate fixed to the main frame to position a second end of the latent image carrier opposite the first end within the image forming apparatus;
a writing device frame fixed to the rear plate and connected to at least two posts of the multiple posts to position a latent image writing unit that writes a latent image onto the latent image carrier within the image forming apparatus, the front plate being fixed to the writing device frame; and
an adjustment member to adjust levelness of the writing device frame onto which the latent image writing unit is installed,
wherein the front plate is fixed to the writing device frame without fixing to the at least two posts,
wherein the rear plate is fixed to the main frame at least at three separate positions, at least one position being offset from a hypothetical line connecting the other two positions.

2. The frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein the writing device frame comprises a support stay extending in an axial direction of the latent image carrier to support the latent image writing unit, one end of the support stay being supported by the rear plate.

3. The frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment member is fixed to the main frame after the adjustment of the levelness of the writing device frame.

4. The frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment member adjusts a position of one end of a front side of the writing device frame relative to the main frame in a vertical direction.

5. The frame structure according to claim 1 , wherein multiple latent image carriers and a transfer device that sequentially transfers images from the multiple latent image carriers onto a transfer body included in the transfer device are positioned within the image forming apparatus by the front plate and the rear plate.

6. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a latent image carrier;
a latent image writing unit to write a latent image onto the latent image carrier;
a developing device to develop the latent image formed on the latent image carrier with developer to form a visual image on the latent image carrier;
a transfer device to transfer the visual image from the latent image carrier onto a recording medium; and
a frame structure for use in the image forming apparatus, comprising:
a main frame having multiple posts;
a front plate to position a first end of the latent image carrier within the image forming apparatus;
a rear plate fixed to the main frame to position a second end of the latent image carrier opposite the first end within the image forming apparatus;
a writing device frame fixed to the rear plate and connected to at least two posts of the multiple posts to position the latent image writing unit within the image forming apparatus, the front plate being fixed to the writing device frame; and
an adjustment member to adjust levelness of the writing device frame onto which the latent image writing unit is installed, wherein the rear plate is fixed to the main frame at least at three separate positions, at least one position being offset from a hypothetical line connecting the other two positions,

wherein the front plate is fixed to the writing device frame without fixing to the at least two posts.

7. A frame structure for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a main frame having multiple posts;
a front plate to position a first end of a latent image carrier within the image forming apparatus;
a rear plate fixed to the main frame to position a second end of the latent image carrier opposite the first end within the image forming apparatus;
a writing device frame fixed to the rear plate and connected to at least two posts of the multiple posts to position a latent image writing unit that writes a latent image onto the latent image carrier within the image forming apparatus, the front plate being fixed to the writing device frame; and
an adjustment member to adjust levelness of the writing device frame onto which the latent image writing unit is installed, wherein the front plate is fixed to the writing device frame without fixing to the at least two posts, wherein
the rear plate is fixed to the main frame at least at three separate positions, at least one position being offset from a hypothetical line connecting the other two positions,
the adjustment member includes a support protrusion, and
the adjustment member rotates about the support protrusion to adjust the level of the writing device frame.

Assignees

• Funayama Yusuke
• Takemoto Hideyuki
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Funayama Yusuke
• Takemoto Hideyuki

Classifications

• G03G21/1619 Primary

  Frame structures · CPC title