Patent ID: 11953848
Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 8:
9. A method for assembling a belt unit,
the belt unit including
a belt that is endless,
a plurality of stretching rollers that are arranged in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt,
a pair of side frames that rotatably support opposite end parts of the stretching rollers in an axial direction thereof, and
one or more shafts of which opposite end parts in an axial direction thereof are non-rotatably supported by the pair of side frames,

the belt unit being attachable and detachable with respect to a main body of an image forming apparatus,
wherein
the pair of side frames are each provided with bearing holes that rotatably support the opposite end parts of the plurality of stretching rollers and positioning holes into which the opposite end parts of the shafts are inserted;
the shafts each have formed therein a first engagement groove that engages with a first holding jig that horizontally holds that shaft; and
the plurality of stretching rollers each have formed therein a second engagement groove that engages with a second holding jig that horizontally holds that stretching roller during assembly of the belt unit,
the method comprising:
a positioning step of engaging the first engagement groove of that shaft with the first holding jig to arrange the shafts opposite the positioning holes corresponding thereto and restrict a phase of the shafts in a circumferential direction thereof, and engaging the second engagement groove of that stretching roller with the second holding jig to arrange the stretching rollers opposite the bearing holes corresponding thereto;
a frame attaching step of attaching the side frames from outside in the axial direction of the shafts held by the first holding jig and the plurality of stretching rollers held by the second holding jig; and
a separating step of separating the first holding jig and the second holding jig from the shafts and the plurality of stretching rollers,
wherein
in the positioning step, when held by the first holding jig or the second holding jig, the end parts of the shafts and the plurality of stretching rollers are arranged at positions different from each other in the axial direction thereof; and
in the frame attaching step, the shafts and the plurality of stretching rollers are inserted into the positioning holes and the bearing holes at different timings.