US 12,287,594 B2
Transfer unit and image forming apparatus including same
Kenichiro Kawasaki, Osaka (JP); Kazuhisa Hirahara, Osaka (JP); and Takashi Kainuma, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed by KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Apr. 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/623,498.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-062645 (JP), filed on Apr. 7, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0337969 A1, Oct. 10, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/16 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/1615 (2013.01) [G03G 15/6529 (2013.01); G03G 2215/00409 (2013.01); G03G 2215/00679 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transfer unit comprising:
a seamless transfer belt that is moved along a direction in which a plurality of image carrying members are arranged;
a plurality of transfer rollers that are arranged opposite the image carrying members through the transfer belt, and sequentially transfer and stack, on the transfer belt, toner images formed on outer circumferential surfaces of the image carrying members;
a backup roller that is provided on an upstream side relative to the transfer roller arranged most upstream in a direction of travel of the transfer belt so as to be in parallel with the transfer roller, and is extended parallel to an axis line of the transfer roller;
a plurality of pairs of first bearing holders, each pair rotatably supporting both ends of a corresponding one of the transfer rollers;
a pair of second bearing holders that rotatably support both ends of the backup roller; and
a pair of sliders that are supported to be able to be reciprocated in the direction of travel of the transfer belt and support the pairs of first bearing holders and the pair of second bearing holders,
wherein each of the sliders includes
a plurality of first step ribs that slidably support the first bearing holders and
a second step rib that slidably supports the second bearing holder,
each of the first step ribs includes
a first inclination portion that is inclined upward as the first inclination portion is extended to a downstream side in the direction of travel of the transfer belt,
a first upper portion that is extended from an upper end of the first inclination portion to the downstream side in the direction of travel of the transfer belt and
a first lower portion that is extended from a lower end of the first inclination portion to the upstream side in the direction of travel of the transfer belt,
the second step rib includes
a second inclination portion that is inclined upward as the second inclination portion is extended to the downstream side in the direction of travel of the transfer belt,
a second upper portion that is extended from an upper end of the first inclination portion to the downstream side in the direction of travel of the transfer belt and
a second lower portion that is extended from a lower end of the first inclination portion to the upstream side in the direction of travel of the transfer belt,
each of the sliders is reciprocated such that each of the first bearing holders slides on a corresponding one of the first step ribs to be reciprocated in a direction toward and away from the transfer belt and the second bearing holder slides on the second step rib to be reciprocated in the direction toward and away from the transfer belt and
the first step rib arranged most upstream in the direction of travel of the transfer belt and the second step rib are arranged side by side in an axial direction of the transfer roller, and overlap each other when viewed in the axial direction.