Patent ID: 9098047
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a frame made of resin and configured to support the image forming unit; a drive source configured to generate driving force, the drive source being on a one-end side of a transmission path for the driving force; a gear arranged on the other-end side of the transmission path and configured to be rotated by the driving force generated in the drive source, one of axial ends of a shaft of the gear being supported by the frame; a first supporting member made of metal, fixed to the frame, and configured to support the other of axial ends of the shaft of the gear thereon; a second supporting member made of metal, fixed to the frame, and configured to support the drive source thereon; an endless belt configured to transmit the driving force from the one-end side to the other-end side; a first pulley configured to transmit the driving force generated in the drive source to the endless belt, the first pulley being supported by the second supporting member; a second pulley arranged to have the endless belt strained there-around and configured to transmit the driving force transmitted from the first pulley via the endless belt toward the other-end side, the second pulley being supported by the first supporting member; a processing unit comprising operable components, which are configured to be driven by the driving force transmitted from the second pulley via the gear, the processing unit being detachably attached to the frame; and a joint configured to switch transmission and disconnection of the driving force from the second pulley to the processing unit by moving along an axial direction of the second pulley between an engaged position, in which the joint is engaged with the processing unit, and a separated position, in which the joint is separated from the processing unit.