US 11,679,610 B2
Image forming apparatus and head unit positioning method
Shunsuke Yamasaki, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed by KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/691,177.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-039511 (JP), filed on Mar. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0288958 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. B41J 25/308 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 25/308 (2013.01) 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a conveyance part which conveys a medium along a conveyance direction;
a head unit disposed so as to face the conveyance part and ejecting liquid droplets to the medium;
a distance changing part which moves the head unit between a printing position where a printing operation is performed on the medium and a retreat position separated away from the conveyance part farther than the printing position;
three blocks provided in one of the conveyance part and the head unit at intervals in the conveyance direction and a width direction crossing the conveyance direction; and
three pins provided in the other of the conveyance part and the head unit at positions facing the three blocks, wherein
each of the three blocks has a positioning groove having a pair of inclined surfaces which are inclined such that the positioning groove becomes narrower as the positioning groove is separated away from the other of the conveyance part and the head unit,
the three blocks contain:
two first blocks in which the positioning grooves are extended along one of the conveyance direction and the width direction, and the inclined surfaces are formed in the same direction; and
one second block in which the positioning groove is extended along the other of the conveyance direction and the width direction, and the inclined surfaces are formed in a direction of the inclined surfaces of the first block which is turned by an angle between the conveyance direction and the width direction in a plan view, and
the pins come into two-point contact with the inclined surfaces of the blocks in a state where the head unit is positioned in the printing position.