JP2007057759A - Connector device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain the coming-off or deformation of a compression coil spring through which a fixing device and an image forming apparatus main body are connected, and to secure stable connection even when the attachment/detachment of the fixing device is repeated. <P>SOLUTION: A spring supporting member 30 holding the conductive compression coil spring 36 is attached to the recessed part 52 of the fixing device 50. In the compression coil spring 36, a protruded part 36A is formed at a center part between coil parts 36B and 36C. A projecting part 34 is erected on the base plate 32 of the spring supporting member 30, and is interposed by the protruded part 36A, whereby the compression coil spring 36 is held. The coil part 36B is compressed to abut on a leaf spring 40 at the recessed part 52. When the fixing device 50 is attached to the housing part 262 of the image forming apparatus main body 200, the coil part 36C abuts on a leaf spring 264 to be compressed, so that the leaf spring 40 and the leaf spring 264 are electrically connected through the compression coil spring 36. By interposing the projecting part 34 by the protruded part 36A, the compression coil spring 36 is prevented from being deformed or coming off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector device that supplies power by connecting a unit that is detachably mounted to the device body and the device body, and an image forming apparatus that includes the connector device.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, an image carrier such as a photoconductor is charged, and a laser beam is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier. A toner image made of powder toner is formed by visualization. Then, after the toner image is transferred to a recording medium such as paper, the toner image on the recording medium is fixed by a fixing device to form an image.

  The fixing device includes a heating roller in which a heater is built in a rotating body, and a pressure roller that presses a recording medium against the heating roller. Then, the recording medium on which the toner image is formed is passed between the heating roller and the pressure roller, and the toner image is melted and fixed on the recording medium by heating and pressing. The fixing device is configured as a unit that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and can be removed from the image forming apparatus main body when replacing the life or the like, or when performing jam processing of a recording medium to be conveyed. It has become. When the unit is mounted in the opening of the image forming apparatus main body, power supply means is provided for connecting the unit and the image forming apparatus main body and supplying electric power from one to the other.

  As this power supply means, for example, a plate spring is provided in a detachable unit, and when the unit is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the plate spring is compressed and brought into contact with the power supply plate of the image forming apparatus main body. The contact is secured.

  In such a power supply means, in order to connect the detachable unit and the image forming apparatus main body, a fixed connection structure using a screw or the like cannot be formed, and accuracy between the leaf spring and the power supply plate is required. In addition, there is a problem in that it is difficult to obtain a stable connection with the power feeding plate by the pressure contact force of the leaf spring, and the leaf spring is likely to be deformed by repeated attachment and detachment of the unit.

  As a countermeasure against this, for example, a power feeding device has been proposed in which a coil spring is attached to a terminal of the unit, and the unit is moved in the expansion / contraction direction of the coil spring to come into contact with the power feeding plate of the device body. However, in this power supply device, the length of the coil spring is necessary, and this may cause deformation or disconnection of the coil spring by attaching / detaching the unit.

On the other hand, as another power feeding device, a configuration is provided in which a concave portion is provided in the connector portion of the apparatus body, a coil spring is disposed in the concave portion, a convex terminal of the unit is inserted into the concave portion, and the coil spring is compressed and connected. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this power feeding device, since the coil spring does not protrude from the concave portion, deformation of the coil spring when the unit is attached or detached can be suppressed to some extent. However, there is a problem that the shape of the convex terminal of the unit and the concave portion of the apparatus main body and the insertion direction of the unit are limited, the positional accuracy when the unit is mounted is required, and the structure for attaching and detaching the unit is limited. .
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-182063

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when connecting a unit attached to and detached from the apparatus main body to the apparatus main body, the deformation and detachment of the spring member is suppressed, and the unit can be repeatedly attached and detached. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector device and an image forming apparatus that can achieve stable connection.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the connector device according to the first aspect of the present invention is configured such that the unit is detachably disposed on the device main body, and the unit and the device main body are electrically connected to each other when the unit is mounted. A connector device for supplying power by connecting to a unit, comprising a conductive compression coil spring capable of contacting the connection object on the unit side and the connection object on the device body side when the unit is mounted, The unit is provided with a support member that supports an intermediate portion of the coil spring.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the support member that supports the intermediate portion of the conductive compression coil spring is provided in the unit. When the unit is attached, the compression coil spring comes into contact with the connection object on the unit side and the connection object on the apparatus main body, so that the unit and the apparatus main body are electrically connected. Since the intermediate portion of the compression coil spring is supported by the support member, it is possible to prevent the compression coil spring from being detached or deformed between the connection object on the unit side and the connection object on the apparatus body side even when the unit is repeatedly attached and detached. . For this reason, it becomes possible to suppress power feeding failure.

  The connector device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the connector device according to the first aspect, wherein a convex portion is formed by widening a winding interval at a central portion of the compression coil spring, and the support member is formed by the convex portion. It is characterized by sandwiching.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the compression coil spring is firmly held by the support member by forming a convex part by widening the winding interval in the center part of the compression coil spring and sandwiching the support member by this convex part. it can. For this reason, even if the attachment and detachment of the unit is repeated, it is possible to prevent the compression coil spring from being detached and deformed, and to suppress power feeding failure. Further, by sandwiching the support member with the convex portion of the compression coil spring, the connector device can be attached to a narrow portion, and space saving can be achieved.

  A connector device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the connector device according to the second aspect, wherein the support member includes a base plate supported by the unit and a standing wall standing from the base plate. The convex portion is sandwiched between the standing walls.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the base plate is supported by the unit, and the convex portion of the compression coil spring is sandwiched between the standing walls standing from the base plate. When the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body, the compression coil spring is guided by the base plate, and the compression coil spring sandwiched between the standing walls is compressed and brought into contact with the connection object on the apparatus main body side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the compression coil spring from being detached or deformed between the connection object on the unit side and the connection object on the apparatus main body side, and it is possible to suppress power supply failure.

  A connector device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the connector device according to the third aspect, characterized in that a cylindrical body to be inserted into the compression coil spring protrudes on both surfaces of the standing wall. .

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the compression coil spring is inserted into the cylindrical body formed on both surfaces of the standing wall, it is possible to more reliably prevent the compression coil spring from coming off and deforming even when the unit is repeatedly attached and detached. .

  A connector device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the connector device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the wall that guides the rectilinear movement of the compression coil spring around the support member. It is characterized by providing a part.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the linear motion of the compression coil spring is guided by the wall portion provided around the support member, it is possible to more reliably prevent the position of the compression coil spring from being shifted or detached.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the apparatus main body is an image forming apparatus main body, and the unit is a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus main body and the fixing device The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided between the two.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the connector device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is provided between the image forming apparatus main body and the fixing device, the fixing device side Detachment and deformation of the compression coil spring between the connection object and the connection object on the image forming apparatus main body side can be prevented, and power feeding failure can be suppressed.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein the support member is detachable from a housing of the fixing device.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the support member can be detached from the casing of the fixing device, the compression coil spring can be easily attached by attaching the support member to the casing of the fixing device. . For this reason, in order to attach the compression coil spring to the casing of the fixing device, it is not necessary to insert the compression coil spring in a narrow range, and the assemblability is improved. In addition, the compression coil spring and the support member can be easily exchanged, and the maintainability is improved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the disconnection and deformation | transformation of the compression coil spring which electrically connects a unit and an apparatus main body can be suppressed, and the stable connection can be ensured even if attachment / detachment of a unit is repeated.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a connector device and an image forming apparatus according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 11 to which the connector device 10 of the first embodiment is applied.

  The image forming apparatus 11 is provided with a fixing device 50 including a unit that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 200. The fixing device 50 and the image forming apparatus main body 200 are electrically connected to each other. A connector device 10 for supplying power is provided. The image forming apparatus main body 200 is provided with an opening / closing cover 202 that rotates about a support shaft 202 </ b> A. The fixing device 50 is loaded in the image forming apparatus main body 200 by opening the opening / closing cover 202. It has become. When the fixing device 50 is loaded into the image forming apparatus main body 200, the connector device 10 is connected at the same time so that power can be supplied from the power supply unit 250 of the image forming apparatus main body 200 to the fixing device 50. The completion of loading is detected. The connector device 10 will be described later. After the fixing device 50 is loaded in the image forming apparatus main body 200, the image forming apparatus 11 becomes operable by closing the opening / closing cover 202.

  Further, the image forming apparatus main body 200 is provided with a process cartridge 204 in which an image forming unit is integrated into a unit. A photosensitive drum 216 that rotates in a predetermined direction is provided inside the process cartridge 204. Around the photosensitive drum 216, from the upstream side in the rotation direction, a charging roller 218 for charging the photosensitive drum 216, a developing roller 220 for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, and a photosensitive member A transfer roller 222 for transferring the developed toner image on the drum to a sheet is disposed. Further, a cleaning member 224 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum after transfer is provided on the downstream side of the transfer roller 222 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 216. Further, the image forming apparatus main body 200 is provided with an exposure device 214 that irradiates the photosensitive drum 216 with image light between the charging roller 218 and the developing roller 220.

  In the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 200, paper feed cassettes 206 and 208 for storing paper are disposed so as to be able to be pulled out to the outside. A paper feed roller 205 is provided for picking up and transporting the sheets one by one. Further, transport rollers 210 and 211 and transport rollers 212 and 213 are provided for transporting the paper supplied from the paper feed roller 205 to a position where the photosensitive drum 216 and the transfer roller 222 face each other. A fixing device 50 is loaded on the downstream side of the transfer roller 222 in the paper conveyance direction, and a paper discharge tray 230 for discharging the fixed paper is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 50. The fixing device 50 fixes the toner image on the paper between the heating roller 14 and the pressure roller 16.

  In such an image forming apparatus 11, the photosensitive drum 216 is charged by the charging roller 218, and image light is irradiated from the exposure device 214, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 220, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 216.

  On the other hand, the paper is supplied from the paper feed cassette 206 or the paper feed cassette 208 by the paper feed roller 205, and is transported to the position where the photosensitive drum 216 and the transfer roller 222 are opposed by the transport rollers 210 and 211 and the transport rollers 212 and 213. . Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 216 is transferred onto a sheet by the transfer roller 222, and further, the toner image is melted by being heated and pressed between the heating roller 14 and the pressure roller 16 of the fixing device 50. The image is fixed on the paper. Thereafter, the paper on which the image is formed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 230.

  Next, the fixing device 50 provided with the connector device 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing device 50 includes a housing 12 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the heating roller 14 and the pressure roller 16 are rotatably supported on the housing 12. Has been. The heating roller 14 and the pressure roller 16 are configured such that their peripheral surfaces face each other and are in pressure contact (nip) with a predetermined pressure. That is, the pressure roller 16 is urged toward the heating roller 14 by the load spring 18.

  Further, the fixing device 50 is provided with a paper inlet / outlet formed by the heating roller 14 and the pressure roller 16 along the width direction, and the paper guided through the conveying path 232 is Then, it is carried in from the carry-in port, passes through the nip portion constituted by the heating roller 14 and the pressure roller 16, and is carried out from the carry-out port.

  The heating roller 14 is composed of a hollow cored bar (for example, an iron or aluminum base tube) provided with a release layer (for example, a PFA tube) having a low friction coefficient on the surface layer, and a heater (not shown) is disposed inside. . The pressure roller 16 is provided with a heat-resistant elastic body layer (for example, silicone sponge, Asker hardness: 40 degrees) on a stainless steel or iron core, and a surface layer having a low friction coefficient release layer (such as a PFA tube). Is provided.

  A driven gear 20 is provided on the back surface of the fixing device 50, and the heating roller 14 rotates by meshing with a drive gear (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 200. As a result, the sheet is conveyed in a nipped state, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet.

  On the back surface of the fixing device 50, a connector device 10 for electrically connecting the fixing device 50 and the image forming apparatus main body 200 to supply power is disposed (see FIG. 1). The fixing device 50 is connected to the power supply unit 250 of the image forming apparatus main body 200 via the connector device 10 (see FIG. 1), and the heater (not shown) of the heating roller 14 rises to a predetermined temperature. Thus, the toner image on the conveyed paper is melted. Further, a thermostat 24 for preventing an abnormal temperature rise of the heating roller 14 is provided on the back surface of the housing 12 facing the heating roller 14, and a heater (illustrated) disposed in the heating roller 14 from the connector device 10. A wiring 26 for energizing is connected via the thermostat 24.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connector device 10 includes a spring support member 30 that can be attached to and detached from the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the spring support member 30 is provided with a base plate 32 parallel to the axial direction of the conductive compression coil spring 36, and a direction perpendicular to the base plate 32 is provided at a substantially central portion of the base plate 32. A protruding portion 34 is erected on the side. The compression coil spring 36 forms a convex portion 36A by widening the winding interval at the center, and the coil portions 36B and 36C are separated on the left and right sides of the convex portion 36A. A groove portion 34A capable of locking the convex portion 36A is formed on the edge side from the central portion of the tip of the protruding portion 34. And the protrusion part 34 is inserted | pinched between the convex part 36A of the compression coil spring 36, and the convex part 36A is inserted and latched in the groove part 34A. As a result, the compression coil spring 36 is firmly held by the protrusion 34 of the spring support member 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 12 has a concave portion 52 to which the spring support member 30 can be attached. As shown in FIG. 4A, the spring support member 30 is provided with a snap fit 38 substantially parallel to the base plate 32, and a locking portion 38 A of the snap fit 38 is formed in the concave portion 52. The spring support member 30 is attached to the concave portion 52 by being locked to the protruding portion 53. The snap fit 38 is made of resin and is locked to the protrusion 53 using its elastic deformation. Further, the spring support member 30 can be removed from the concave portion 52 by elastically deforming the locking portion 38A and removing it from the projection 53. Thereby, exchange of the spring support member 30 and the compression coil spring 36 is possible, and maintenance property improves.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the concave portion 52 is provided with a metal leaf spring 40 which is a connection object of the fixing device 50, and a wiring (not shown) is connected to the leaf spring 40. Yes. When the locking portion 38A of the snap fit 38 is locked to the protrusion 53 and the spring support member 30 is attached to the concave portion 52 (see FIG. 4), the base plate 32 comes into contact with the concave portion 52, and the coil of the compression coil spring 36 The portion 36B is compressed and comes into contact with the leaf spring 40. On the other hand, the coil portion 36C of the compression coil spring 36 is in a free state, and the tip of the coil portion 36C protrudes from the housing 12 (see FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the image forming apparatus main body 200 is provided with a housing portion 260 in which the fixing device 50 is mounted. In the housing portion 260, a metal leaf spring 264, which is an object to be connected to the image forming apparatus main body 200, is placed on the wall surface 262 facing the back side of the housing 12 at the same position as the coil portion 36 C of the compression coil spring 36. Is provided. The leaf spring 264 is connected to wiring (not shown) for supplying power from the power supply unit 250 (see FIG. 1).

  Next, the operation of the connector device 10 of this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, when the fixing device 50 is mounted in the housing portion 260 of the image forming apparatus main body 200, the fixing is performed along the guide members 261 on both sides provided in the housing portion 260. Device 50 is inserted. After the fixing device 50 is mounted in the housing portion 260 of the image forming apparatus main body 200, the fixing device 50 closes the opening / closing cover 202 of the image forming apparatus main body 200, thereby pressing the elastic pressing member 203 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape provided on the inner surface thereof. Then, it is fixed by sliding slightly on the wall surface 262 side.

  When the fixing device 50 is mounted in the housing portion 260 of the image forming apparatus main body 200, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the compression coil spring 36 of the fixing device 50 is moved in the direction of arrow A (axial direction). The coil portion 36C is inserted into contact with the leaf spring 264 and compressed. That is, the coil portion 36C is compressed and abuts against the plate spring 264 with the protruding portion 34 sandwiched between the convex portions 36A of the compression coil spring 36, and the plate spring 40 of the fixing device 50 and the plate spring 264 of the image forming apparatus main body 200. Are electrically connected by a compression coil spring 36. As a result, power is supplied from the power supply unit 250 of the image forming apparatus main body 200 to the fixing device 50 via the compression coil spring 36 of the connector device 10.

  In such a connector device 10, the compression coil spring 36 is firmly held by the protrusion 34 by sandwiching the protrusion 34 of the spring support member 30 between the convex portions 36 </ b> A of the compression coil spring 36. Further, the coil portion 36 </ b> C is guided by the base plate 32. For this reason, even if the fixing device 50 is repeatedly attached to and detached from the housing portion 260 of the image forming apparatus main body 200, the compression coil spring 36 can be prevented from being detached or deformed, and poor power feeding can be suppressed. Moreover, the connector device 10 can be attached to a narrow portion by sandwiching the protruding portion 34 of the spring support member 30 into the compression coil spring 36 with the convex portion 36A and attaching the spring support member 30 to the concave portion 52. For this reason, space saving of the connector apparatus 10 is possible.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the cylindrical part 44 inserted inside the coil part 36B and the coil part 36C may be provided on both surfaces of the protrusion part 34. As shown in FIG. Since the coil part 36B and the coil part 36C are guided by the cylindrical body 44, the compression coil spring 36 can be prevented from coming off and deforming more reliably, and stable power feeding can be achieved.

  Next, the connector apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member same as 1st Embodiment, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the connector device 60, square U-shaped base portions 62 having wall portions 62 </ b> A and 62 </ b> B are provided on both sides of the compression coil spring 36. A protruding portion 34 is formed on the base portion 62 and a compression coil spring 36 is held. A plate-like piece 64 that covers the compression coil spring 36 is provided above the wall portions 62A and 62B. The inner side of the ends of the coil portions 36B and 36C of the compression coil spring 36 is surrounded by the base portion 62 and the plate-like piece 64. ing.

  In such a connector device 60, by providing the base portion 62 having the wall portions 62 </ b> A and 62 </ b> A around the compression coil spring 36 and the plate-like piece 64, the linear motion of the compression coil spring 36 is guided. For this reason, even if the fixing device 50 is repeatedly attached and detached, the linear motion of the compression coil spring 36 is guided by the wall portions 62A and 62A of the base portion 62 and the plate-like piece 64, and the position of the compression coil spring 36 may be shifted or removed. Is prevented. For this reason, power feeding failure can be suppressed.

  In the above embodiment, the connector device 10 is provided to electrically connect the fixing device 50 and the image forming apparatus main body 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The connector device of the present invention can be applied as long as it is configured to connect a unit detachable to the device body and the device body. For example, the connector device of the present invention can also be applied to a connection portion between a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus main body and a developing unit and an image forming apparatus main body.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus including a connector device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing device including a connector device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the fixing device with which the connector apparatus was mounted | worn. It is the perspective view and sectional drawing which show the spring support member which comprises a connector apparatus. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process in which a compression coil spring of a connector device is connected to the image forming apparatus main body when the fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a process of mounting the fixing device to the image forming apparatus main body. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the spring support member of a connector apparatus. It is sectional drawing and the top view which show the connector apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector apparatus 11 Image forming apparatus 12 Case 14 Heating roller 16 Pressure roller 30 Spring support member (support member)
32 Base plate 34A Groove 34 Projection (standing wall)
36 Compression coil spring 36A Convex part 36B Coil part 36C Coil part 38 Snap fit 40 Leaf spring (object to be connected)
44 cylindrical body 50 fixing device 52 concave portion 60 connector device 62 base portion 62 cylindrical body 62A wall portion 64 plate-like piece (wall portion)
200 Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 250 Power Supply Unit 264 Leaf Spring (Connection Object)

Claims (7)

A connector device in which a unit is detachably disposed in a device main body, and when the unit is mounted, the unit and the device main body are electrically connected to supply power,
The unit includes a conductive compression coil spring capable of contacting the connection object on the unit side and the connection object on the apparatus body side when the unit is mounted, and a support member that supports an intermediate portion of the compression coil spring is provided on the unit. A connector device provided.   2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein a convex portion is formed by expanding a winding interval in a central portion of the compression coil spring, and the support member is sandwiched by the convex portion. The support member includes a base plate supported by the unit, and a standing wall standing from the base plate,
The connector device according to claim 2, wherein the convex portion is sandwiched between the standing walls.   The connector device according to claim 3, wherein a cylindrical body to be inserted into the compression coil spring protrudes from both surfaces of the standing wall.   The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a wall portion that guides the linear motion of the compression coil spring is provided around the support member.   The apparatus main body is an image forming apparatus main body, and the unit is a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium, and any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided between the image forming apparatus main body and the fixing device. An image forming apparatus comprising the connector device according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the support member is detachable from a housing of the fixing device.

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