Intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus and method thereof
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKatsuyuki Yokoi, Atsushi Kato
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus designed such that an intermediate transfer unit storage portion can be pulled in a horizontal direction from an accommodating portion of a casing and a processing unit storage portion, to which developing cartridges and a photosensitive belt mechanism are detachably attached, can be pulled from the intermediate transfer unit storage portion.
Claims31
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a casing;
- a processing unit that includes a developing device and a photosensitive medium;
- and
- an intermediate transfer unit that includes an intermediate transfer medium, wherein the processing unit is attached to and detached from the intermediate transfer unit in a common direction when only the processing unit is removed from the casing and the intermediate transfer unit is attached to and detached from the casing in the common direction when the processing unit integrated with the intermediate transfer unit is removed from the casing.
A method of removing, from a casing, a processing unit, that includes a developing device and a photosensitive medium, and an intermediate transfer unit, that includes an intermediate transfer medium, attached to the processing unit, comprising:
- separating the processing unit from the intermediate transfer unit when only the processing unit is removed from the casing;
- and
- separating the intermediate transfer unit from the casing when both the processing unit and the intermediate transfer unit are removed from the casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.