Patent ID: 8027616

Claim:
A belt unit comprising: a pair of roller members spaced from and opposing each other in a first direction, each of the roller members having an axis extending in a second direction; an endless belt extending around the roller members; a plurality of transfer members arranged along the first direction between the roller members and spaced from one another, the transfer members being enclosed by the endless belt; and a frame that rotatably supports the roller members and the transfer members, wherein the frame comprises: a pair of resin side frames spaced from each other in the second direction, each of the resin side frames extending in the first direction; and a resin bridging beam extending between the side frames, wherein each of the transfer members comprises: a rotary shaft extending along the second direction; an elastic member which covers the rotary shaft so as to expose axial end portions of the rotary shaft; and bearing members which support the axial end portions of the rotary shaft, respectively, and wherein each of the side frames comprises bearing storing portions configured to store the bearing members of the transfer members, the bearing storing portions being integrally formed in the side frame, wherein the side frames are arranged outside relative to an image transfer area in the second direction, the image transfer area being defined as a portion in which an image is transferred by the transfer members, wherein an upper portion of each of the transfer members contacts the endless belt, and wherein each of the side frames comprises covering portions arranged inside relative to the bearing storing portions in the second direction and arranged below the respective transfer members and outside the image transfer area, and wherein each of the covering portions is configured to cover an end portion of the elastic member.