Image forming apparatus, method of supporting fixing unit and method of adjusting position of fixing unit
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorJunichi MURANO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, a fixing unit is supported by a unit holder attached to a structure frame. The structure frame includes a first upright panel and a second upright panel. A protrusion is provided on the first upright panel and a guide groove that receives the protrusion is provided on the unit holder. An eccentric cam engages with the unit holder at an engaging position and that is to be operated to move the first unit holder in the first direction relative to the structure frame for position adjustment. The engaging position is located on a vertical line extending through a center of mass of the fixing unit.
Claims15
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a structure frame that includes a first upright panel and a second upright panel, the structure frame forming a skeleton of the image forming apparatus;
- a first unit holder that is attached to the first upright panel;
- a first engaging member that extends in a first direction and provided on any one of the first unit holder and the first upright panel;
- a second engaging member that engages with the first engaging member with substantially no play in a second direction other than the first direction and provided on other one of the first unit holder and the first upright panel;
- a detachable unit that is positioned and held by the first unit holder between the first upright panel and the second upright panel;
- and
- a position adjusting member that engages with the first unit holder at an engaging position and that is to be operated to move the first unit holder in the first direction relative to the structure frame for position adjustment, the engaging position being on a vertical line extending through a center of mass of the detachable unit.
A method of supporting a fixing unit in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a structure frame that forms a skeleton of the image forming apparatus, a unit holder that positions and holds a fixing unit in the structure frame, and a position adjusting member that adjusts a position of the unit holder relative to the structure frame, the method of supporting the fixing unit comprising:
- forming a first engaging member on any one of the unit holder and the structure frame, the first engaging member extending in a first direction;
- forming a second engaging member on other one of the unit holder and the structure frame;
- bringing the second engaging member into engagement with the first engaging member with substantially no play in a second direction other than the first direction such that the unit holder is movable in the first direction relative to the structure frame for position adjustment;
- and
- arranging an eccentric cam, which is the position adjusting member, on a vertical line that extends through a center of mass of the fixing unit, the eccentric cam including a pivot shaft that is to be rotatably fitted into the structure frame into engagement therewith and an eccentric shaft that is to be rotatably fitted into the unit holder into engagement therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.