# US 2020/0401066 A1 · Image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 2020/0401066 A1
- Document ID: US20200401066A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/906,341
- Filed: 2020-06-19
- Published: 2020-12-24
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-24
- Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Takashi MORITA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200401066A1

## CPC

- G03G 15/161: {with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent}
- G03G 21/10: Collecting or recycling waste developer
- G03G 2215/1661: of transfer belt
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, an intermediate transfer belt, a cleaning blade, a counter-roller, and a supporting member. The intermediate transfer belt is endless and, to it, toner images formed on the outer circumferential faces of the plurality of image carriers are transferred by being sequentially superposed on each other. The cleaning blade is arranged with its tip end portion in contact with the outer circumferential face of the intermediate transfer belt and removes deposits left on the outer circumferential face of the intermediate transfer belt. The counter-roller is arranged at a position opposite the cleaning blade across the intermediate transfer belt and is in contact with the inner circumferential face of the intermediate transfer belt. The supporting member supports the cleaning blade. The supporting member supports the cleaning blade rotatably about the rotation axis of the counter-roller.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of image carriers;
an endless intermediate transfer belt to which toner images formed on outer circumferential faces of the plurality of image carriers are transferred by being sequentially superposed on each other;
a cleaning blade which is arranged such that a tip end portion thereof makes contact with an outer circumferential face of the intermediate transfer belt and which removes deposits left on the outer circumferential face of the intermediate transfer belt;
a counter-roller which is arranged at a position opposite the cleaning blade across the intermediate transfer belt and which makes contact with an inner circumferential face of the intermediate transfer belt; and
a supporting member which supports the cleaning blade,
wherein
the supporting member supports the cleaning blade rotatably about a rotation axis of the counter-roller.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support rollers around which the intermediate transfer belt is rotatably stretched,
wherein
the counter-roller is one of the support rollers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing which accommodates the deposits on the intermediate transfer belt removed by the cleaning blade,
wherein
the housing is fixed to the cleaning blade.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
a first gear which rotates about the rotation axis of the counter-roller as the counter-roller rotates;
a collection screw which is arranged inside the housing and which discharges the deposits on the intermediate transfer belt out of the housing to collect the deposits; and
a second gear which is rotated by the first gear about a rotation axis of the collection screw and which rotates the collection screw.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein
the cleaning blade and the supporting member are configured as a single member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation restricting portion
which makes contact with at least one of the cleaning blade and the supporting member, and
which restricts the rotation angle of the cleaning blade about the rotation axis of the counter-roller within a predetermined range of angles.