# US 2018/0024472 A1 · Image forming device

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- Number: US 2018/0024472 A1
- Document ID: US20180024472A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/529,121
- Filed: 2016-03-31
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-04-06
- Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Takehiro Sato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180024472A1

## CPC

- G03G 15/1605: {using at least one intermediate support (G03G15/1625 takes precedence)}
- G03G 15/0136: {transfer member separable from recording member or vice versa, mode switching}
- G03G 15/16: of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern {, e.g. magnetic transfer}
- G03G 15/1615: {relating to the driving mechanism for the intermediate support, e.g. gears, couplings, belt tensioning}
- G03G 21/16: Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G 21/1633: {using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence)}
- G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means}
- G03G 21/168: {for the transfer unit}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An image forming device (1) has an image carrier (331), a transfer member (35), a holding member (81) which holds the transfer member, a pressing member (83) which changes a position between a first position and a second position to make the transfer member contact and separate from the image carrier, a first moving member (325) and a second moving member (10P1) which are movable, and a first interlocking mechanism (33T) and a second interlocking mechanism (10Q). The first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism press the pressing member to change a position of the pressing member in conjunction with the first moving member and the second moving member. The pressing member includes a first pressed portion (83P1) which is pressed by the first interlocking mechanism, and a second pressed portion (83P2) which is pressed by the second interlocking mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming device comprising:
an image carrier which carries a developer image;
a transfer member configured to be in contact with the image carrier and forms, together with the image carrier, a transfer nip portion through which a sheet passes, and transfers the developer image onto the sheet;
a holding member which holds the transfer member;
an urging member which urges the holding member toward the image carrier;
a pressing member capable of changing a position between a first position at which the transfer member makes contact with the image carrier by an urging force of the urging member and a second position at which the holding member is pressed against the urging force of the urging member to separate the transfer member from the image carrier;
a first moving member which is movable;
a second moving member which is movable;
a first interlocking mechanism which presses the pressing member in conjunction with the first moving member to change a position of the pressing member from the first position to the second position; and
a second interlocking mechanism which presses the pressing member in conjunction with the second moving member to change a position of the pressing member from the first position to the second position,
wherein the pressing member includes a first pressed portion which is pressed by the first interlocking mechanism, and a second pressed portion which is pressed by the second interlocking mechanism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of photosensitive drums to be rotated to have an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface thereof;
an intermediate transfer belt arranged to be opposed to the plurality of photosensitive drums and driven to circulate;
a driving roller arranged to be opposed to the transfer member and in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt to cause the intermediate transfer belt to circulate; and
a stretching roller in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt at a position different from the driving roller, wherein
the image carrier is the intermediate transfer belt,
the first moving member is the stretching roller, and
the first interlocking mechanism moves the stretching roller between a first position at which the stretching roller presses the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt and a second position more separate from the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt than the first position, and presses the first pressed portion of the pressing member in conjunction with moving of the stretching roller from the first position to the second position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image forming device according to claim 2, further comprising:
a plurality of primary transfer rollers arranged to be opposed to the plurality of photosensitive drums with the intermediate transfer belt provided therebetween for transferring the developer image to the intermediate transfer belt from the photosensitive drums,
wherein the stretching roller is the plurality of primary transfer rollers, and
the first interlocking mechanism moves each of the primary transfer rollers between the first position at which each of the primary transfer rollers presses the intermediate transfer belt to each of the photosensitive drums and the second position at which each of the primary transfer rollers is separated from each of the photosensitive drums.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The image forming device according to claim 3, wherein
the first interlocking mechanism has:
a rack movable in a direction linking axes of the plurality of primary transfer rollers;
a driving mechanism which moves the rack; and
a plurality of supporting members engaged with the rack and rotatably supporting the respective primary transfer rollers,
the rack includes:
a first rail which regulates each of the supporting members such that each of the primary transfer rollers is arranged at the first position;
a second rail arranged at an interval from the first rail in the moving direction of the rack to regulate each of the supporting members such that each of the primary transfer rollers is arranged at the second position; and
a rack pressing portion arranged in a front end portion of the rack in the moving direction and capable of pressing the pressing member, and
in conjunction with moving of the rack by the driving mechanism to move each of the primary transfer rollers from the first position to the second position, the rack pressing portion presses the first pressed portion of the pressing member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein
the pressing member includes:
a supporting point portion;
the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion; and
a pressing portion arranged between the supporting point portion, and the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion to press the holding member, and
when the first pressed portion or the second pressed portion is pressed, the pressing member rotates around the supporting point portion, so that the pressing portion presses the holding member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The image forming device according to claim 5, wherein
the holding member includes:
a pivoting portion which rotatably supports the transfer member;
an urged portion which is urged by the urging member; and
a pressed portion for separating which is arranged between the pivoting portion and the urged portion and is pressed by the pressing portion of the pressing member toward a direction in which the transfer member is separated from the image carrier.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The image forming device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a casing;
an opening/closing cover which can be opened and closed with respect to the casing; and
a grasping lever which is supported by the opening/closing cover so as to be rocked and is grasped in opening operation of the opening/closing cover with respect to the casing,
wherein the second moving member is the grasping lever, and
the second interlocking mechanism presses the second pressed portion of the pressing member in conjunction with grasping and rocking of the grasping lever.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The image forming device according to claim 7, wherein
the second interlocking mechanism includes:
a first link allowed to rotate and capable of pressing the second pressed portion of the pressing member;
a lever link movable downward in conjunction with rocking of the grasping lever; and
a second link allowed to rotate by pressing by the lever link moving downward, thus rotating the first link.