Photosensitive belt cartridge of electrophotographic printer, photosensitive belt replacing apparatus employing the same and method thereof

Abstract

A photosensitive belt replacing apparatus of an electrophotographic printer. The disclosed photosensitive belt replacing apparatus includes: a main cartridge receiving the photosensitive belt to be replaced and installed as a continuous loop belt, and allowing the received photosensitive belt to be installed in the belt unit by being moved into an installation position of the photosensitive belt within the printer while hanging on and sliding along the insertion rails provided at the belt unit; a belt separating mechanism installed at the belt unit, and binding the photosensitive belt to the belt unit by applying a tight tension to the photosensitive belt of the main cartridge moved into the installation position and therefore allowing the photosensitive belt to remain installed in the belt unit when the main cartridge is removed from the installation position; a belt cutting mechanism installed in the printer for cutting the photosensitive belt which has been installed in the belt unit as a continuous loop belt and has been used so that the photosensitive belt can be removed; and a belt recovering mechanism for winding the photosensitive belt cut by the belt cutting mechanism and removing the photosensitive belt from the belt unit. With the photosensitive belt replacing apparatus, since the operation of replacing a photosensitive belt is nearly automatically performed, the operation can be very conveniently performed in a relatively short time, and therefore the photosensitive belt always can be installed at an exact position.