Transfer belt device, method of assembling the same, and image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsTomofumi Inoue, Takeshi Sakashita, Mitsutoshi Kichise, Yuuji Meguro, Takeru Muramatsu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Rollers including a tension roller are arranged in parallel. A pair of supporting members supports both ends of the rollers. A transfer belt is supported by the rollers. A biasing member applies a tension to the transfer belt by biasing the tension roller in a predetermined direction. The tension roller is movably supported in a straight-line direction. The biasing member is arranged in an area surrounded by the supporting members and the transfer belt in a direction of traversing from one supporting member to other supporting member.
Claims14
A transfer belt device comprising:
- a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel including a tension roller;
- a pair of supporting members that supports both ends of the rollers;
- a transfer belt that is supported by the rollers;
- a biasing member that applies a tension to the transfer belt by biasing the tension roller in a predetermined direction;
- and
- a linking unit including
- a pair of holding members that is slidably arranged, and supports both ends of the tension roller, on the supporting members, and
- a pair of rotating members that slide the holding members along the supporting members such that the tension roller moves in a straight-line direction, wherein
- the biasing member is arranged in an area surrounded by the supporting members and the transfer belt in a direction of traversing from one of the supporting members to the other one of the supporting members.
An image forming apparatus comprising a transfer belt device including
- a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel including a tension roller;
- a pair of supporting members that supports both ends of the rollers;
- a transfer belt that is supported by the rollers;
- a biasing member that applies a tension to the transfer belt by biasing the tension roller in a predetermined direction;
- and
- a linking unit including
- a pair of holding members that is slidably arranged, and supports both ends of the tension roller, on the supporting members, and
- a pair of rotating members that slide the holding members along the supporting members such that the tension roller moves in a straight-line direction, wherein
- the biasing member is arranged in an area surrounded by the supporting members and the transfer belt in a direction of traversing from one of the supporting members to the other one of the supporting members.
A method of assembling a transfer belt device that includes a transfer belt supported on a plurality of rollers including a tension roller arranged in parallel on a pair of supporting members, the method comprising:
- linking a biasing member arranged in an area surrounded by prior arrangement positions of the supporting members and the transfer belt in a direction of traversing from one of the pair of supporting members to the other one of the pair of supporting members and a link unit, the link unit including a pair of holding members that is slidably arranged, and supports both ends of the tension roller, on the supporting members and a pair of rotating members that slide the holding members along the supporting members such that the tension roller moves in a straight-line direction;
- holding the link unit in a predetermined position resisting a biasing force of the biasing member by a position holding unit;
- linking the tension roller to the link unit in a state in which the link unit is held in a predetermined position;
- arranging the transfer belt on outer peripheries of the rollers including the tension roller;
- releasing a held position of the link unit after arranging the transfer belt on the outer peripheries of the rollers;
- and
- applying a tension to the transfer belt by the biasing force of the biasing member being transferred to the tension roller upon releasing the held position of the link unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.