Belt unit installed apparatus, image forming apparatus having the same, and method of installing/removing belt unit
AssigneeOki Data Corporation
InventorYuichi Shoji
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A belt unit installed apparatus includes an apparatus frame; a belt unit attached to the apparatus frame, said belt unit having a first roller, a second roller, a belt placed between the first roller and the second roller, and a belt frame for supporting the first roller and the second roller; an engaging member disposed on the belt frame for engaging the apparatus frame; a receiving portion formed in the apparatus frame for engaging the engaging member; and an urging member disposed on the apparatus frame for urging the engaging member. The engaging member maintains an engagement state relative to the receiving portion when the engaging member engages the receiving portion.
Claims20
A belt unit installed apparatus comprising,
- an apparatus frame;
- a belt unit attached to the apparatus frame, said belt unit having a first roller, a second roller, a belt placed between the first roller and the second roller, and a belt frame for supporting the first roller and the second roller;
- an engaging member disposed on the belt frame for engaging the apparatus frame;
- a receiving portion formed in the apparatus frame for engaging the engaging member;
- an urging member disposed on the apparatus frame for urging the engaging member so that the engaging member maintains an engagement state relative to the receiving portion when the engaging member engages the receiving portion;
- a protruding member disposed on the belt frame adjacent to the engaging member, said protruding member having a pressing portion for pressing the urging member away from the receiving portion when the belt unit is removed from the apparatus frame.
A method of installing/removing a belt unit to and from an apparatus frame, comprising the steps of:
- pressing a shaft supporting member disposed on the belt unit on an urging member extending into a receiving portion disposed on the apparatus frame against urging force of the urging member to expand an opening of the receiving portion;
- inserting the shaft supporting member into the receiving portion while the shaft supporting member receives the urging force of the urging member when the opening becomes a size equal to an outer diameter of the shaft supporting member;
- setting the shaft supporting member in the receiving portion so that the urging member abuts against and presses the shaft supporting member into the receiving portion;
- lifting a handle disposed on the belt unit so that the belt unit becomes an inclined state;
- abutting a protruding member disposed on the belt unit against the urging member as the belt unit is inclined;
- moving the urging member away from the opening of the receiving portion with the protruding member as the belt unit is inclined further;
- and
- lifting and removing the belt unit from the a apparatus frame when the opening becomes a size equal to the outer diameter of the shaft supporting member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.