Apparatus and spacer for use therein
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorWataru Yamaguchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spacer configured to minimize movement of a transfer unit (for example, a belt unit) is described. An apparatus may include a main body and a transfer unit disposed in the main body. The spacer may include various contact portions that contact a portion of the transfer unit and a portion of the main body to minimize relative movement of the transfer unit.
Claims19
An apparatus comprising:
- a main body including an opposed portion and defining a space for receiving one or more process cartridges configured to form an image on a recording medium;
- a transfer unit disposed in the main body, the transfer unit including a pair of rollers spaced apart, a frame supporting the rollers, and an endless belt extending around the rollers, the belt including an extending portion facing the opposed portion of the main body;
- a locking mechanism configured to fix the transfer unit in the main body;
- and
- a spacer, different from the one or more process cartridges, disposed between the transfer unit and the opposed portion of the main body, the spacer including a first contact portion, a second contact portion that is spaced apart from the first contact portion, and a connection portion that connects the first and second contact portions, the first contact portion being configured to contact the opposed portion, the second contact portion being configured to contact the extending portion of the endless belt.
A spacer for use in an apparatus including a transfer unit in a main body, the transfer unit including a pair of rollers spaced apart, a frame holding the rollers, and an endless belt extending around the rollers, the belt including an extending portion, the spacer being configured to minimize the transfer unit from moving out of position with respect to the main body, the spacer comprising:
- a first contact portion contacting an opposed portion, wherein the opposed portion is a part of the main body, the opposed portion facing the extending portion of the belt of the transfer unit;
- a second contact portion spaced apart from the first contact portion, the second contact portion having a flat surface configured to contact the extending portion of the belt;
- and
- a connection portion extending between the first contact portion and the second contact portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.