US 11,835,890 B2
Image forming apparatus
Norihiro Matsumoto, Tokyo (JP); Fuyuko Koyama, Kanagawa (JP); Yasuhiro Fukase, Kanagawa (JP); and Takeo Kawanami, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/839,915.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-101096 (JP), filed on Jun. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0404742 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G03G 15/16 (2006.01); G03G 15/01 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/162 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0131 (2013.01); G03G 15/1615 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of image bearing members;
a transfer unit including:
an intermediate transfer belt;
a plurality of transferring members that sandwich the intermediate transfer belt between the plurality of image bearing members and the plurality of transferring members;
a biasing member that biases each of the plurality of transferring members toward the plurality of image bearing members via the intermediate transfer belt; and
a frame that supports the intermediate transfer belt, the plurality of transferring members, and the biasing member; and
an apparatus main body that supports the plurality of image bearing members and the transfer unit, and including:
a supporting portion that supports the transfer unit; and
a biasing force receiving portion disposed between the plurality of transferring members in a moving direction of a surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and configured to support the transfer unit,
wherein the apparatus main body is configured to be movable between a supporting position where the transfer unit is supported and a non-supporting position where the transfer unit is not supported,
wherein the apparatus main body further includes a first opening/closing member configured to:
perform a first opening/closing operation of switching between a first open state where an inside of the apparatus main body is exposed and a first closed state where the inside of the apparatus main body is not exposed; and
move the biasing force receiving portion between the supporting position and the non-supporting position,
wherein the first opening/closing member positions the biasing force receiving portion at:
the supporting position while the first opening/closing member is in the first closed state; and
the non-supporting position while the first opening/closing member is in the first open state,
wherein the apparatus main body further includes a second opening/closing member disposed at a position that differs from the first opening/closing member and configured to perform a second opening/closing operation of switching between a second open state where the inside of the apparatus main body is exposed and a second closed state where the inside of the apparatus main body is not exposed, and
wherein the transfer unit is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body while the first opening/closing member is in the first open state and the second opening/closing member is in the second open state.