Patent ID: 9409429
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: B41J,G03G

Claim Text:
1. A belt unit for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising: a belt member; a belt supporting unit including a plurality of supporting rollers, a pair of side units, attaching portions, and a connected portion, wherein the plurality of supporting rollers are configured to support said belt member, the pair of side units are configured to support end portions of each of the plurality of supporting rollers, the attaching portions are provided proximate to positions where the pair of side units support the end portions of one of the supporting rollers, and the connected portion is provided at an end of one of the side units; and a cleaning unit, attached to said belt supporting unit in an attached position, configured to clean a deposited matter on said belt member, said cleaning unit including attached portions, a connecting portion, and a contact portion, wherein the attached portions are provided at longitudinal end portions, respectively, of said cleaning unit and are engaged with the attaching portions, respectively, to mount said cleaning unit in the attached position, the connecting portion is provided in a position different from each of the attached portions and proximate to a longitudinal central portion of said cleaning unit and is connectable with the connected portion, and the contact portion is provided on an outer surface of said cleaning unit and contacts a horizontal surface when said cleaning unit is placed on the horizontal surface so that a longitudinal direction of said cleaning unit is directed in a horizontal direction, and wherein, when said belt supporting unit is in a standing state in which one of the side units is directed downward and a direction of rotation axis of the supporting rollers is directed in a vertical direction, said cleaning unit is placed on the horizontal surface in a state in which the contact portion contacts the horizontal surface, and the connected portion and the connecting portion are connected, said cleaning unit maintains said belt supporting unit in the standing state.