US 12,147,173 B2
Transfer unit, image forming apparatus, and method for manufacturing transfer unit, with end seal member abutting against cleaning blade and intermediate transfer belt that abut against each other
Yuichiro Inaba, Kanagawa (JP); and Norihiro Matsumoto, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Feb. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/170,567.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-034925 (JP), filed on Mar. 8, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0288844 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 15/16 (2006.01); G03G 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/16 (2013.01) [G03G 21/0011 (2013.01); G03G 15/161 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1648 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transfer unit transferring a developer image onto a transfer medium, the transfer unit comprising:
a first unit comprising: (1) an intermediate transfer belt on which the developer image is formed; (2) a cleaning blade provided to extend in a width direction of the intermediate transfer belt to abut against the intermediate transfer belt, and remove a developer on the intermediate transfer belt; and (3) a collecting container for collecting the developer removed by the cleaning blade; and
a second unit comprising: (1) an end seal member to engage with the first unit, wherein the end seal member prevents the developer removed by the cleaning blade from leaking outside the transfer unit, the end seal member being opposed to a tip portion of the cleaning blade in a direction orthogonal to the width direction near an end of the cleaning blade in the width direction; and (2) a transport path for transporting the developer removed by the cleaning blade to the collecting container,
wherein the second unit engages with the first unit so that the end seal member abuts against the cleaning blade and the intermediate transfer belt that abut against each other.