| US 7,593,664 B2 | ||
| Image-forming device and belt unit having belt tension-adjusting mechanism | ||
| Yasushi Okabe, Nagoya (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 16, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/376,115. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2005-089137 (JP), filed on Mar. 25, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0216056 A1, Sep. 28, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G03G 15/16 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 399—101 [399/165; 399/297; 399/302; 399/303] | 11 Claims |
| 1. An image-forming device comprising:
an image-carrying member that carries a developer image;
a plurality of support members;
an endless belt disposed in confrontation with the image-carrying member and supported on the plurality of support members
to circularly move there around;
a transferring member that transfers the developer image in a direction from the image-carrying member to the endless belt;
a tension-adjusting mechanism that adjusts a tension generated in the endless belt between a first tension at which the developer
image is transferred in the direction from the image-carrying member to the endless belt and a second tension greater than
the first tension; and
a cleaning unit that cleans an outer surface of the endless belt and comprises a cleaning roller disposed in opposition to
the outer surface of the endless belt, and a backup roller disposed in opposition to the cleaning roller with the endless
belt interposed between the backup roller and the cleaning roller,
wherein the cleaning roller and the backup roller are configured to selectively provide one of a first state in which the
cleaning roller and the backup roller pinch the endless belt and a second state in which the endless belt is free from the
pinching by the cleaning roller and the backup roller, and
wherein the tension-adjusting mechanism sets the second tension in the endless belt, and the cleaning roller and the backup
roller are in the first state when the cleaning unit is cleaning the endless belt.
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