Image-forming apparatus having structure for stably supporting belt unit

{
  "publication_number": "US9448528B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Image-forming apparatus having structure for stably supporting belt unit",
  "abstract": "An image-forming apparatus includes a main body, a belt unit detachably attachable to the main body, a coupling and a first restricting part. The belt unit includes: a first roller defining an axis extending in an axial direction, a second roller opposing the first roller in a first direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a belt looped over the first roller and the second roller. The coupling is configured to move in the axial direction to come into engagement with the first roller for inputting a drive force into the first roller. The first restricting part is provided on the main body and is configured to restrict the first roller from moving in a second direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction when the belt unit is attached to the main body.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An image-forming apparatus comprising: a main body; a belt unit attachable to the main body, the belt unit comprising: a belt; a first roller defining an axis extending in an axial direction and configured to rotate about the axis; and a second roller opposing the first roller in a first direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the belt being looped over the first roller and the second roller and extending in the first direction; a coupling configured to move in the axial direction to come into engagement with the first roller for inputting a drive force into the first roller; a first restricting part provided on the main body and configured to restrict the first roller from moving in a second direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction when the belt unit is attached to the main body; a second restricting part provided on the main body and configured to restrict the belt unit from moving in the first direction; and a second restricted part provided on the belt unit and configured to abut on the second restricting part when the belt unit is attached to the main body.",
    "2. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first restricting part comprises a pair of restricting surfaces positioned to interpose the axis of the first roller therebetween.",
    "3. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the belt unit includes a first restricted part configured to be restricted by the first restricting part, the first restricted part having a cylindrical surface configured to contact the first restricting part.",
    "4. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cylindrical surface defines an axial center that is coincident with the axis of the first roller.",
    "5. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first restricting part has end portions in the first direction, at least one of the end portions being open.",
    "6. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first pressing member provided on the main body and configured to press the second restricted part toward the second restricting part.",
    "7. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second restricting part is positioned to be spaced away from the first restricting part in the first direction, the second restricting part being positioned closer to the second roller than the first restricting part is to the second roller in the first direction.",
    "8. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprises: a third restricting part configured to restrict the belt unit from moving in the second direction, the third restricting part being formed with the second restricting part; and a third restricted part provided on the belt unit and configured to abut on the third restricting part when the belt unit is attached to the main body.",
    "9. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second restricting part is provided on the first restricting part, the second restricting part being a surface extending in the second direction; and wherein the second restricted part is a bearing provided on the first roller.",
    "10. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprises: a third restricting part provided on the main body and configured to restrict the belt unit from moving in the second direction, the third restricting part opposing the first restricting part in the first direction and being positioned closer to the second roller than the first restricting part is to the second roller in the first direction; and a third restricted part provided on the belt unit and configured to abut on the third restricting part when the belt unit is attached to the main body.",
    "11. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a photosensitive member configured to be mounted in and removed from the main body, the photosensitive member mounted in the main body being configured to make contact with the belt of the belt unit attached to the main body; and a first interlocking mechanism provided on the main body and configured to move the coupling in the axial direction to bring the coupling into engagement with the first roller of the belt unit attached to the main body in conjunction with mounting of the photosensitive member in the main body.",
    "12. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first interlocking mechanism is further configured to move the coupling in the axial direction to cause the coupling to disengage from the first roller of the belt unit attached to the main body in conjunction with removal of the photosensitive member from the main body.",
    "13. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a retaining member configured to retain the photosensitive member, the retaining member being configured to move between a mounted position mounted in the main body and a removed position displaced from the mounted position, wherein the first interlocking mechanism is configured to move the coupling in the axial direction in conjunction with movement of the retaining member between the mounted position and the removed position.",
    "14. An image-forming apparatus comprising: a main body; a belt unit attachable to the main body, the belt unit comprising: a belt; a first roller defining an axis extending in an axial direction and configured to rotate about the axis; and a second roller opposing the first roller in a first direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the belt being looped over the first roller and the second roller and extending in the first direction; a coupling configured to move in the axial direction to come into engagement with the first roller for inputting a drive force into the first roller; a first restricting part provided on the main body and configured to restrict the first roller from moving in a second direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction when the belt unit is attached to the main body; a third restricting part provided on the main body and configured to restrict the belt unit from moving in the second direction, the third restricting part opposing the first restricting part in the first direction and being positioned closer to the second roller than the first restricting part is to the second roller in the first direction; and a third restricted part provided on the belt unit and configured to abut on the third restricting part when the belt unit is attached to the main body.",
    "15. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a second pressing member provided on the main body and configured to press the third restricted part toward the third restricting part, the second pressing member being positioned closer to the second roller than to the first roller when the belt unit is attached to the main body.",
    "16. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: a photosensitive member configured to be mounted in and removed from the main body, the photosensitive member mounted in the main body being configured to make contact with the belt of the belt unit attached to the main body; and a first interlocking mechanism provided on the main body and configured to move the coupling in the axial direction to bring the coupling into engagement with the first roller of the belt unit attached to the main body in conjunction with mounting of the photosensitive member in the main body.",
    "17. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first interlocking mechanism is further configured to move the coupling in the axial direction to cause the coupling to disengage from the first roller of the belt unit attached to the main body in conjunction with removal of the photosensitive member from the main body.",
    "18. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a retaining member configured to retain the photosensitive member, the retaining member being configured to move between a mounted position mounted in the main body and a removed position displaced from the mounted position, wherein the first interlocking mechanism is configured to move the coupling in the axial direction in conjunction with movement of the retaining member between the mounted position and the removed position.",
    "19. An image-forming apparatus comprising: a main body; a belt unit attachable to the main body, the belt unit comprising: a belt; a first roller defining an axis extending in an axial direction and configured to rotate about the axis; and a second roller opposing the first roller in a first direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the belt being looped over the first roller and the second roller and extending in the first direction; a coupling configured to move in the axial direction to come into engagement with the first roller for inputting a drive force into the first roller; a first restricting part provided on the main body and configured to restrict the first roller from moving in a second direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction when the belt unit is attached to the main body; a photosensitive member configured to be mounted in and removed from the main body, the photosensitive member mounted in the main body being configured to make contact with the belt of the belt unit attached to the main body, the photosensitive member having a rotational shaft; a locking member configured to lock and unlock a position of the rotational shaft; and a second interlocking mechanism provided on the main body and configured to move the coupling in the axial direction to bring the coupling into engagement with the first roller of the belt unit attached to the main body in conjunction with locking of the locking member over the rotational shaft of the photosensitive member mounted in the main body.",
    "20. The image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second interlocking mechanism is further configured to move the coupling in the axial direction to cause the coupling to disengage from the first roller of the belt unit attached to the main body in conjunction with unlocking of the locking member over the rotational shaft of the photosensitive member mounted in the main body."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a belt unit that is detachably mountable in a main body of the image forming apparatus.\n\nIn one conventional image-forming apparatus provided with a belt unit that is detachably mountable in a main body of the image-forming apparatus, the belt unit includes a belt, and a drive roller and a follow roller over which the belt is mounted in a taut state (for example, please refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-075618). The main body of this image-forming apparatus is provided with a position-fixing part for fixing the position of the belt unit, and a belt drive gear that inputs a drive force into a drive roller gear provided on the drive roller. This drive force serves to press the belt unit against the position-fixing part.\n\nHowever, changing the distance between the axes of the belt drive gear and the drive roller gear tends to change the conveying speed of the belt. In order to suppress such fluctuations in the conveying speed of the belt, a construction employing a coupling was conceived, whereby the coupling engages the drive roller in its axial direction and inputs a drive force into the drive roller. However, since the drive force inputted by the coupling does not generate a force for pressing the belt unit against the position-fixing part, as does the drive force of the belt drive gear, any disturbance or the like that changes the vertical position of the belt unit could cause the behavior of the belt to become unstable.",
  "cpc": [
    "G03G 15/161",
    "B65G 23/04",
    "G03G 15/1605",
    "G03G 15/1615",
    "G03G 15/1665",
    "G03G 15/75",
    "G03G 15/751",
    "G03G 15/754",
    "G03G 21/16",
    "G03G 21/1647",
    "G03G 21/1671",
    "G03G 2215/00139",
    "G03G 2215/0119",
    "G03G 2215/0141",
    "G03G 2221/1642",
    "G03G 5/08235",
    "G03G 5/10",
    "G03G 5/14704"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 23/04",
    "G03G 15/16",
    "G03G 21/16"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Brother Industries Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Wataru Yamaguchi"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-06-25",
  "publication_date": "2016-09-20",
  "grant_date": "2016-09-20",
  "priority_date": "2014-07-01",
  "application_number": "US-201514750255-A",
  "family_id": "55016946",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
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}