This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-130614 filed Jul. 3, 2017.
The present invention relates to an assembly removable structure and an image forming apparatus.
An assembly removable structure according to an aspect of the invention includes an assembly that includes a connectable member and that is attached to and removed from a receiving member of an apparatus body in a first direction, a connection member disposed on the apparatus body to be movable forward and backward in a cross direction that crosses the first direction, the connection member being connected to the connectable member while being in a projecting state, a switch member that is operated independently of a lid member and that is capable of switching the connection member between a first position, in which the connection member is connected to the connectable member, and a second position, in which the connection member is removed from the connectable member, the lid member rendering the receiving member open and closed, and a holding device that holds the switch member in the second position when the assembly is removed from the receiving member.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
An assembly removable structure and an image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment are described as examples.
The image forming apparatus 10 includes a box-shaped apparatus body 11. The apparatus body 11 houses a receiving member 13 (see
For example, the covering 12 has a U-shaped cross section when viewed in the Z direction and extends in the Y direction. The covering 12 is arcuately movable about the hinge 16 between a closed position, in which it closes the opening 11A, and an open position, in which it allows the opening 11A to open. In the state where a fixing unit 52, described below, is attached to the receiving member 13, the covering 12 in the closed position covers a pair of positioning rollers 23, a second transfer portion 29, and the fixing unit 52, and the covering 12 in the open position allows the pair of positioning rollers 23, the second transfer portion 29, and the fixing unit 52 to be exposed from the apparatus body 11. The pair of positioning rollers 23 are described below. In other words, the covering 12 renders the receiving member 13 open and closed.
The image forming apparatus 10 includes a power supply 21, a transport portion 22, an image forming unit 24, a removable structure 50, which is an example of an assembly removable structure, a driver 26, and a controller 28. The transport portion 22 includes multiple rollers including the pair of positioning rollers 23 to transport sheets P along a transport path A. The sheets P are an example of a recording medium. The transport path A, for example, extends in the Y direction from a lower portion on the −Y side to an upper portion on the Y side of the apparatus body 11.
The image forming unit 24 is an example of a developer image forming device, and includes multiple image forming units 25 and a transfer unit 27. The image forming unit 24 forms toner images G using toner T on a sheet P transported by the transport portion 22. The toner T is an example of a developer. The toner images G are an example of an image and a developer image. The multiple image forming units 25 perform, for example, charging, exposure, and development operations in the known electrophotographic system.
The transfer unit 27 includes an intermediate transfer belt 27A to which toner images G are first-transferred and which second-transfers the first-transferred toner images G onto the sheets P at the second transfer portion 29 on the transport path A. The controller 28 controls operations such as power supply from the power supply 21 to each component of the image forming apparatus 10, transportation of the sheets P performed by the transport portion 22, an image forming operation of the image forming unit 24, and an operation of the driver 26.
The driver 26 includes a motor, which is not illustrated and rotates a coupling member 54 (see
The receiving member 13 shown in
The bottom wall 32 has a shape of a rectangle having its length in the X direction and its width in the Z direction. The inner wall 34 stands erect in the Y direction from the −X side end portion of the bottom wall 32. A stud 34A, extending toward the X side, is disposed on the inner wall 34. The side wall 36 stands erect in the Y direction from the −Z side end portion of the bottom wall 32.
A side plate 37 extending in the X−Y plane is disposed on the Z side of the Z side end portion of the bottom wall 32 and the Z side end portion of the inner wall 34. The side plate 37 includes a portion extending toward the −Y side from the Z side end portion of the bottom wall 32, and a portion extending toward the −X side from the Z side end portion of the inner wall 34. A front plate 38 extending in the Y−Z plane is disposed on the −Y side of the X side end portion of the bottom wall 32. The front plate 38 extends toward the −Y side from the X side end portion of the bottom wall 32. The front plate 38 has a through hole 39, extending through the front plate 38 in the X direction. A stud 59 (see
The side plate 37 has a hole 42 and a cut 44 at a portion on the −X side of the inner wall 34. The hole 42 extends through the side plate 37 in the Z direction. The hole 42 extends longer in the X direction than in the Y direction. The cut 44 is disposed on the Y side of the hole 42. For example, the cut 44 has a U shape that is open to the X side when viewed in the Z direction.
A support pin 46 and a support pin 47 are disposed on the side plate 37 (apparatus body 11). For example, the support pins 46 and 47 have a cylindrical shape of the same size. The support pin 46 extends from the side plate 37 to the Z side from a portion on the −Y side of the hole 42 while having its axis extending in the Z direction. The support pin 47 extends from the side plate 37 to the Z side from a portion on the −Y side of the bottom wall 32 while having its axis extending in the Z direction. The support pins 46 and 47 have their attachment heights in the Y direction aligned with each other and are arranged in the X direction. The support pins 46 and 47 are disposed to guide a link member 56, described below, in the X direction.
A coil spring, which is not illustrated and presses a fixing unit 52 away (to the X side), is disposed at a portion of the apparatus body 11 illustrated in
The removable structure 50 is described now.
The removable structure 50 illustrated in
The fixing unit 52 illustrated in
The housing 61 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape extending in the Z direction. The housing 61 includes a bottom portion 61A, extending longer in the Z direction than in the X direction when viewed in the Y direction, and a side portion 61B, standing erect in the Y direction at the −Z side end portion of the bottom portion 61A. The side portion 61B has a through hole 61C, which extends through in the Z direction. The housing 61 has both end portions in the Z direction protruding further to the −X side than the center portion in the Z direction.
The bottom portion 61A illustrated in
At a portion of the bottom portion 61A illustrated in
The fixing roller 62 illustrated in
The halogen heater 63 generates heat with energization to heat the fixing roller 62. A gear 66 is attached to the core bar 62A on the outer circumference of the −Z side end portion. The fixing roller 62 has its temperature detected by a temperature sensor, not illustrated. When the temperature sensor detects a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature, the halogen heater 63 is energized. When the temperature sensor detects a temperature higher than or equal to the predetermined temperature, the halogen heater 63 is stopped being energized.
For example, the pressing roller 64 includes a cylindrical core bar 64A and a coating portion 64B on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical core bar 64A. The coating portion 64B includes an elastic layer and a release layer. The pressing roller 64 is disposed in the housing 61 on the X side of the transport path A (see
The coupling member 65 is cylindrical and disposed in the housing 61 to be rotatable about the axis extending in the Z direction relative to the side portion 61B. The coupling member 65 includes multiple protrusions, not illustrated, at intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential surface of the coupling member 65 at a portion coupled with the coupling member 54. The coupling member 65 has its −Z side end portion exposed to the outside of the housing 61 through the through hole 61C. A rotation shaft 67 is attached to the Z side end portion of the coupling member 65.
A gear 68 is attached to the rotation shaft 67. The gear 68 transmits a rotational force to the gear 66 via a gear 69. Thus, the fixing roller 62 is rotated when the coupling member 54 is rotated. The fixing roller 62 is thus rotated by the rotational force transmitted from the driver 26 via the coupling member 54 and the coupling member 65, described below, and fixes the toner image G (see
The fixing unit 52 illustrated in
When the fixing unit 52 is attached to the receiving member 13 in the X direction, the stud 34A is inserted into the through hole 61F (see
The coupling member 54 illustrated in
The coupling member 54 has multiple recesses, not illustrated and spaced at intervals in the circumferential direction. These recesses are engaged with protrusions, not illustrated, of the coupling member 65 (see
The link member 56 illustrated in
The first link member 72 illustrated in
As illustrated in
The upright portion 72B illustrated in
A crank portion 72E is, for example, disposed between the long holes 72G and 72H in the lengthwise portion 72A. When viewed in the Y direction, the crank portion 72E is cranked so that the portion on the X side protrudes to the Z side beyond the portion on the −X side. A shaft portion, not illustrated, is disposed at a portion of the lengthwise portion 72A between the crank portion 72E and the long hole 72H. The shaft portion has a cylindrical shape having an axis extending in the Z direction and has a screw hole to which a bolt 89, described below, is fastened. The shaft portion protrudes from the lengthwise portion 72A to the X side.
The overhanging portion 72F extends to the −Z side from a −Y side portion of the peripheral portion of the long hole 72H in the lengthwise portion 72A. The overhanging portion 72F has a plate shape having a thickness in the Y direction. When a hook portion 87 of a lock member 82, described below, comes into contact with the Y side of the overhanging portion 72F, the overhanging portion 72F restricts rotation of the lock member 82.
The guide portion 721 extends to the −Z side from the Y side portion of the peripheral portion of the long hole 72H in the lengthwise portion 72A. The guide portion 721 has a plate shape having a thickness in the Y direction. The guide portion 721 has a Y-side upper portion flatly extending in the X−Z plane. The guide portion 721 allows part of the fixing unit 52 (see
The second link member 74 illustrated in
The long hole 74C has a size appropriate for the distance by which the link member 56 needs to move for the coupling member 54 to move forward in the Z direction. Specifically, the long hole 74C has a dimension in the X direction that is longer than or equal to twice the dimension (diameter) of the coupling member 54 in the X direction and longer than the distance in the X direction from a second position to a first position of the link member 56.
At the −Z side edge of the long hole 74C in the cam 74B, a flat portion 76A extending in the X direction is disposed on the X side of the center in the X direction, and an overhanging portion 76B projecting to the −Z side is disposed on the −X side. The flat portion 76A and the overhanging portion 76B are connected together by an inclined portion 76C. While the overhanging portion 76B and the contact surface 55 of the coupling member 54 are in contact with each other, the coupling member 54 retracts away from the coupling member 65 (see
On the other hand, while the flat portion 76A and the contact surface 55 are in contact with each other, the coupling member 54 is in the projecting state, that is, connected to the coupling member 65 (see
The position of the link member 56 is switched in the X direction. The link member 56 is switched between the first position and the second position by being moved in the X direction. The link member 56 is moved independently of the covering 12 (see
The holding portion 80 includes the above-described support pin 47, which is an example of a body member and a guide member, a lock member 82, which is an example of a hook member, and a coil spring 84, which is an example of a pressing member.
The lock member 82 includes, for example, a coupling portion 86, which is connected to the first link member 72 to be rotatable about its axis extending in the Z direction, a hook portion 87, extending from the coupling portion 86 to the X side, and a release portion 88, extending from the coupling portion 86 to the −X side.
The coupling portion 86 has a plate shape having a thickness in the Z direction. The thickness of the coupling portion 86 in the Z direction is about the same as the dimension of the crank portion 72E in the Z direction. The coupling portion 86 has a through hole, not illustrated and extending through the coupling portion 86 in the Z direction. The through hole receives the above-described shaft portion disposed at the lengthwise portion 72A of the first link member 72. In the state where the coupling portion 86 is disposed on the −Z side of a portion of the lengthwise portion 72A between the crank portion 72E and the long hole 72H, the shaft portion, not illustrated, of the lengthwise portion 72A is inserted into the through hole of the coupling portion 86 and a safety bolt 89 is fastened to the screw hole of the shaft portion. Thus, the coupling portion 86 is rotatable about its axis extending in the Z direction, around the shaft portion of the lengthwise portion 72A. In other words, the coupling portion 86 is rotatable in the X−Y plane relative to the first link member 72.
The hook portion 87 includes, for example, a plate portion 87A and a recess 87B. The plate portion 87A extends from the coupling portion 86 to the X side in the X−Y plane. The recess 87B extends to the −Z side from the −Y side end portion of the plate portion 87A to form a flange. The recess 87B has a trapezoidal shape having a X-direction center portion set back to the Y side (open to the −Y side). The X side end portion of the recess 87B is bent back into a V shape so as to protrude to the −Y side when viewed in the Z direction. The recess 87B has a size with which the inner wall surface of the recess 87B and the outer peripheral surface of the support pin 47 (see
The release portion 88 illustrated in
The front wall 88A extends from the coupling portion 86 to the −Z side to be in a rectangular plate shape extending in the Y−Z plane. The front wall 88A is disposed on the X side of the crank portion 72E (see
The side wall 88E illustrated in
In the state where the lock member 82 is coupled with the first link member 72, the coil spring 84 is held between the upper wall 88D and the upper surface of the lengthwise portion 72A to expand or contract in the Y direction. The coil spring 84 has its one end portion hooked on the through hole 88F of the side wall 88E. When viewed in the Z direction, the coil spring 84 presses the release portion 88 toward the Y side so that the release portion 88 moves to the Y side about the coupling portion 86 and so that the hook portion 87 moves to the −Y side about the coupling portion 86. In other words, the coil spring 84 presses the lock member 82 so that the hook portion 87 rotates in a direction in which it is hooked on the support pin 47 (see
In the state where the fixing unit 52 is removed from the receiving member 13, the holding portion 80 holds the link member 56 in the second position. Specifically, when the link member 56 is placed in the second position, the holding portion 80 holds the link member 56 in the second position with an operation of removing the fixing unit 52 from the receiving member 13. The holding portion 80 releases the held link member 56 with an operation of attaching the fixing unit 52 to the receiving member 13.
The operation of the first exemplary embodiment is described now.
As illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
The fixing unit 52 moves to the −X side while moving the release portion 88 to the −Y side. The hook portion 87 that has moved (rotated) to the Y side enters a recess 61D (see
Subsequently, as illustrated in
In the state, illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
Here, the moment of the pressing force from the coil spring 84 (see
As described above, in a removable structure 50, the holding portion 80 holds the link member 56 in the second position while the fixing unit 52 is removed from the receiving member 13. Thus, to attach the fixing unit 52 to the receiving member 13 another time, the fixing unit 52 is attached to the receiving member 13 while the coupling member 54 (see
In the removable structure 50, the link member 56 is held in the second position with an operation of removing the fixing unit 52 from the receiving member 13. Specifically, the removal of the fixing unit 52 is interlinked with the operation of the holding portion 80 (lock member 82) for holding the link member 56. This structure further simplifies holding of the link member 56 than the structure in which the removal of the fixing unit 52 from the receiving member 13 is performed independently of holding of the link member 56.
In the removable structure 50, the held link member 56 is released with an operation of attaching the fixing unit 52 to the receiving member 13. Specifically, an attachment of the fixing unit 52 is interlinked with an operation of the holding portion 80 (lock member 82) for releasing the held link member 56. This structure further simplifies release of the held link member 56 than the structure in which the attachment of the fixing unit 52 to the receiving member 13 is performed independently of release of the held link member 56.
In addition, the lock member 82 of the holding portion 80 is coupled with (included in) the link member 56 in the removable structure 50. In a comparative example having a structure including the lock member 82 disposed on a component different from the link member 56, the area over which the link member 56 moves differs from the area over which the lock member 82 moves. This structure hinders the lock member 82 and the link member 56 from being interlinked together. In the removable structure 50, on the other hand, the lock member 82 is disposed on the link member 56, and the area over which the link member 56 moves is closer to the area over which the lock member 82 moves than in the case of the comparative example. This structure facilitates interlinking of the lock member 82 and the link member 56 with each other.
In the removable structure 50, the coil spring 84 (see
In the removable structure 50, the support pin 47 also serves as a guide member that guides the link member 56 in the X direction. This structure reduces the number of components compared to the structure including the support pin 47 and a guide member as separate members.
In the removable structure 50, the link member 56 has its position switched in the X direction. The first position is located closer to the rear side (−X side) of the apparatus body 11 than the second position. Thus, the link member 56 is pushed to the −X side to connect the coupling member 54 to the coupling member 65. This structure needs a smaller space between the fixing unit 52 and a covering 12 (see
In the image forming apparatus 10, the rotational force caused in the driver 26 is transmitted to the fixing roller 62 (see
An assembly removable structure and an image forming apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment are described now as examples. Components or portions basically the same as those of the first exemplary embodiment are denoted with the reference signs the same as those of the first exemplary embodiment and not described.
For example, the link member 102 illustrated in
The first link member 104 illustrated in
The lengthwise portion 72A has a long hole 72G and a long hole 72H. Between the crank portion 72E and the overhanging portion 72F of the first link member 104, a shaft portion 72J protrudes to the −Z side from the lengthwise portion 72A. The shaft portion 72J has a cylindrical shape having an axis extending in the Z direction. The shaft portion 72J has a screw hole 73.
As illustrated in
The position of the link member 102 when the coupling member 54 is in a retracted state apart from the coupling member 65 (see
As described above, the link member 102 has its position switched in the X direction. The link member 102 is moved in the X direction to be switched between the first position and the second position. The link member 102 is operated independently of the covering 12 (see
The restricting portion 110 illustrated in
The stopper member 112 illustrated in
The arm 114 has a plate shape extending in the X direction and having a thickness in the Z direction. The arm 114 has a thick portion 114A at the −X side end portion. The thick portion 114A has a thickness in the Z direction equivalent to the dimension of the crank portion 72E in the Z direction. The thick portion 114A has a through hole 119, extending through the thick portion 114A in the Z direction. The through hole 119 receives the shaft portion 72J of the first link member 104.
The shaft portion 72J is inserted into the through hole 119 and a screw, not illustrated, is fastened to the screw hole 73 of the shaft portion 72J. Thus, the stopper member 112 is rotatable about its axis extending in the Z direction around the shaft portion 72J. In other words, the stopper member 112 is coupled to the first link member 104 to be rotatable relative to the first link member 104 in the X−Y plane. When the member 112 is coupled to the first link member 104, the arm 114 has its X side end portion (distal end portion) aligned with the X side end portion of the long hole 72H in the Y direction. The dimension of the arm 114 in the X direction is longer than the long hole 72H. When viewed in the Z direction, the arm 114 has its part overlapping part of the long hole 72H in the X direction when the stopper member 112 is rotated relative to the first link member 104.
The recess 116 is, for example, disposed at a −Y side portion of an X-direction center portion of the arm 114. The −Y side portion refers to the portion near the support pin 47 (see
The recess 116 is disposed to come into contact with the Y side of the support pin 47 (see
The protrusion 118 is, for example, disposed at a portion on the X side and the Y side (on the opposite side from the support pin 47) of an X-direction center portion of the arm 114. Specifically, the protrusion 118 is disposed at a portion of the arm 114 on the X side of the recess 116. The protrusion 118 includes an upright surface 118A, which faces the X side and stands erect from the arm 114 in the Y direction, and an upper surface 118B, which extends to the −X side from the Y side end portion of the upright surface 118A.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As described above, the restricting portion 110 restricts an attachment of the fixing unit 52 to the receiving member 13 with the operation of moving the link member 102 to the first position, and releases the attachment with the operation of moving the link member 102 to the second position.
An operation of the second exemplary embodiment is described now.
As illustrated in
Here, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the state, illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the link member 102 is in the second position while the fixing unit 52 is removed from the receiving member 13, the fixing unit 52 is allowed to be attached to the receiving member 13. On the other hand, when the link member 102 is mistakenly placed in the first position, as described above, the stopper member 112 restricts an attachment of the fixing unit 52 to the receiving member 13.
As described above, in the removable structure 100, when the link member 102 is in the first position, the stopper member 112 restricts an attachment of the fixing unit 52 to the receiving member 13. Specifically, the fixing unit 52 is prevented from being attached to the receiving member 13 while the coupling member 54 is projecting to the X side toward the apparatus body 11.
In the removable structure 100, the fixing unit 52 is prevented from being attached to the receiving member 13 with an operation of placing the link member 102 in the first position. Specifically, switching of the link member 102 to the first position and restriction on an attachment of the fixing unit 52 are performed concurrently. This structure further simplifies restriction on the attachment of the fixing unit 52 than the structure where switching of the link member 102 is performed independently of restriction on the attachment of the fixing unit 52 to the receiving member 13.
In the removable structure 100, the attachment is released with an operation of placing the link member 102 in the second position. Specifically, switching of the link member 102 to the second position and release of the attachment of the fixing unit 52 are performed concurrently. This structure further simplifies the release of the attachment of the fixing unit 52 than the structure where switching of the link member 102 is performed independently of the release of the attachment of the fixing unit 52 to the receiving member 13.
In addition, in the removable structure 100, the stopper member 112 of the restricting portion 110 is coupled to (included in) the link member 102. Thus, the area over which the link member 102 moves is closer to the area over which the stopper member 112 moves than in the structure where the stopper member 112 is apart from the link member 102. This structure facilitates interlinking of the stopper member 112 and the link member 102 with each other.
In the removable structure 100, the support pin 47 also serves as a guide member that guides the link member 102 in the X direction. This structure reduces the number of components compared to the structure including the support pin 47 and a guide member as separate members.
In the removable structure 100, the link member 102 has its position switched in the X direction. The first position is located closer to the rear side (−X side) of the apparatus body 11 than the second position. Thus, the link member 102 is pushed to the −X side to connect the coupling member 54 to the coupling member 65. This structure needs a smaller space between the fixing unit 52 and a covering 12 (see
In the image forming apparatus 10, the rotational force caused in the driver 26 is transmitted to the fixing roller 62 (see
The present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments.
The connectors 122 and 124 each include multiple terminals, not illustrated, and are capable of being energized while being connected together. The connector 122 is movable toward and away from the apparatus body 11 (see
The image forming apparatus 120 prevents connection portions (terminals) of the connectors 122 and 124 from being degraded with the effects the same as those of the removable structure 50 according to the first exemplary embodiment. This structure further reduces variation of power fed to the halogen heater 63 than the structure not including the removable structure 50. This structure thus prevents a reduction of the amount of heat fed to the toner fixed to the sheet P compared to the predetermined amount of heat, and thus reduces defects (such as a cold-offset) of the toner image G.
The removable structure 50 may either hold the link member 56 with an operation of removing the fixing unit 52 or release the held link member 56 with an operation of attaching the fixing unit 52. For example, the structure may manually release the link member 56 automatically held in the second position with an operation of removing the fixing unit 52. Alternatively, the structure may include a member that manually holds the link member 56 in the second position after the removal of the fixing unit 52, and may automatically release the link member 56 held by the member with an operation of attaching the fixing unit 52.
In the removable structure 50, instead of the support pin 47, the lock member 82 may include a portion protruding toward the apparatus body 11, the apparatus body 11 may have a recess that comes into contact with the protruding portion, and the lock member 82 may be held by bringing the protruding portion and the recess into contact with each other. Specifically, the body member is not limited to a protrusion protruding from the apparatus body 11 and may be a recessed member disposed on the apparatus body 11 or a recess formed in the apparatus body 11. Instead of the coil spring 84, the removable structure 50 may utilize the weight of the lock member 82. Instead of the coil spring 84, the removable structure 50 may include an extension spring to pull the hook portion 87 to the −Y side.
In the removable structure 50, the support pin 47 may have only a function of receiving the hook portion 87 without a function of a guide member that guides the link member 56 in the X direction. In the removable structure 50, the first position may be disposed closer to the front side (X side) of the apparatus body 11 than the second position. Modification examples of the removable structure 50 may include a connector 122 and a connector 124 instead of the coupling members 54 and 65.
In the removable structure 100, the link member 102 may either restrict an attachment of the fixing unit 52 with an operation of placing the link member 102 in the first position, or release the attachment with an operation of placing the link member 102 in the second position. For example, in the structure that restricts an attachment of the fixing unit 52 with an operation of placing the link member 102 in the first position, the release may be manually performed while the link member 102 is in the second position. Alternatively, the link member 102, while in the second position, may protrude with an operation of removing the fixing unit 52 to restrict the attachment of the fixing unit 52.
The removable structure 100 may exclude the support pin 47 and the recess 116. For example, the stopper member 112 may include a protrusion that protrudes toward the apparatus body 11, and the protrusion may be guided by a guide portion (for example, a guide groove) formed on the apparatus body 11 to rotate the stopper member 112.
In the removable structure 100, the support pin 47 may have only a function of coming into contact with the stopper member 112 without a function of a guide member that guides the link member 102 in the X direction. In the removable structure 100, the first position may be disposed closer to the front side (X side) of the apparatus body 11 than the second position. The removable structure 100 according to an exemplary embodiment or the removable structure 100 according to a modification example may include a connector 122 and a connector 124 instead of the coupling members 54 and 65.
An operator may be notified of whether the link member 56 is being held or released or whether an attachment of the fixing unit 52 is restricted or released through a display such as a display panel or with a sound.
The assembly is not limited to the fixing unit 52 and may be, for example, the image forming unit 25, the transfer unit 27, or a unit for correcting bends of the sheets P.
The fixing unit 52 may be attached and removed in the Z direction or the Y direction instead of the X direction. The direction in which a switching member switches the connection member may be determined to be a direction the same as the direction in which the fixing unit 52 is attached or removed.
A rotator may be, instead of the fixing roller 62, a fixing belt or a transfer roller of a transfer unit.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017-130614 | Jul 2017 | JP | national |