JP2009151034A - Electric substrate support structure, movable body, image forming apparatus, and usage of electric substrate support structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric substrate support structure, enabling use of a common movable body to replacement substrates on the premise that each of the replacement substrates differed in plate thickness includes a connector provided on a plate surface thereof, and uses a surface opposite to the connector mounted surface as a reference mount surface to the movable body, an image forming apparatus using the electric substrate support structure, the movable body, and a usage of the electric substrate support structure. <P>SOLUTION: When the lower surface of a supported guide part 51 is allowed to abut on a support guide part 44, and one of guided parts 51 and 49 is allowed to abut on one of guide parts 54 and 56, a clearance (s) in a plate thickness direction (lateral direction) formed between the other 48 of the guided parts and the other 46 of the guide parts 54 and 46 and a difference in plate thickness Δt between a plurality of replacement substrates are set so as to satisfy the relation of s≥cosθ×Δt. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical board support structure and a movable body, an electrophotographic copying apparatus including the electrical board support structure, an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, a printer, a plotter, a multifunction peripheral, and a printing apparatus, and a method of using the electrical board support structure About.

  An electrical board (hereinafter referred to as a substrate) used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer is fixed to an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter also referred to as a machine main body) and is common to other substrates. A main board that performs functions and is not basically exchanged (for example, called a controller board), and an exchange board that is connected to the main board and exchanged as necessary (for example, called an option board). There is.)

  The replacement board is replaced in order to improve performance such as image formation speed, image quality, and image processing function, or to cope with specification change, addition of an optional function, addition of memory, and the like. Substrate replacement is performed in the factory assembly process. Also, after completion of the image forming apparatus, even before shipment or after shipment, it is performed in order to meet a user's request.

  When replacing the replacement board, HDD expansion and maintenance may also be performed. To improve workability, the replacement board is removed from the machine body by removing the controller board that can be attached to and removed from the machine body. Done.

  For example, a plurality of controller boards having interchangeability with respect to the machine main body are prepared in advance, and different replacement boards are prepared for these controller boards. The replacement board is exchanged by replacing the controller board already mounted on the main body with the controller board. Alternatively, the service board or the like removes the controller board already mounted on the machine body from the machine body, replaces only the replacement board, and then replaces the replacement board by returning the controller board to the machine body.

  As described above, the controller board, which is fixed in advance to the machine body, is used as a common board, and only the controller board is changed, whereby the functions of the image forming apparatus and the performance such as PPM (processing speed) are differentiated.

  From the viewpoint of cost reduction and prevention of confusion at the time of assembly, it is desirable to use a common replacement board to be attached to the controller board. For example, when the outer shape of the replacement board is different, a connector for making electrical contact with the connector for the main board is usually attached to the plate surface of the replacement board, and the surface opposite to the connector mounting face is Since the mounting reference surface is used, when the controller board is mounted on the machine main body, the fitting position shifts between the main body board connector and the replacement board connector, which impairs the compatibility of the controller board.

  An example will be described. A connector is provided on the plate surface of the replacement board mounted on the controller board. When the controller board is mounted on the machine body by being guided by the guide means provided on the machine body and the guided means provided on the controller board, the connector provided on the plate surface of the replacement board on the controller board Is connected to a connector of a fixed board provided in advance in the machine body.

  That is, the connector position on the board surface of the replacement board on the controller board is determined in accordance with the position of the connector attached to the board surface of the main body board provided in advance in the machine body, and both connectors are connected. . However, in recent years, a replacement board mounted on a controller board having a thickness smaller than that of a conventional replacement board has been used.

  The connector on the main body board provided in advance in the machine main body is positioned in accordance with the conventional connector on the replacement board having a large plate thickness. With respect to the thick replacement board, a connector for the main board is attached to the board surface, and the board surface on the back side of the connector attachment surface is attached to a predetermined reference position of the controller board.

  When a replacement board with a thin plate thickness is attached to the same controller board for use, for example, for this thin replacement board, a connector for the main board is attached to the board surface, and the board surface on the back side of this connector mounting surface is attached. When the controller board is attached to the predetermined reference position of the controller board as an attachment surface, the connector attached to the plate surface of the thin replacement board when the controller board is guided to the same guide reference and attached to the machine body In this case, the difference between the thicknesses of the replacement board having a thick fitting board and the thin exchange board at the fitting position on the connector on the main board may be shifted, and the electrical connection through the mechanical fitting may become incompatible.

As a replacement board attached to the controller board, there are a conventional thick board and a thin board depending on the user's wishes and specifications.
In order to eliminate the connection incompatibility as described above, for example, if the plate surface to which the connector is attached is used as the reference surface for the controller board for both the thick replacement substrate and the thin replacement substrate, the connectors between the connectors due to the difference in the plate thickness are used. However, it is difficult in practice.

  As another countermeasure, when the thin replacement board is attached to the controller board, the height of the reference for mounting the replacement board may be adjusted. For example, it is replaced with one having a higher difference in plate thickness. Alternatively, a controller board equipped with such a high mounting base may be prepared in advance.

  However, if the above assortment etc. is performed, at least two types of controller boards having a mounting standard for a thick replacement board as in the past and a controller board having a mounting standard for a thin replacement board are used. Since it is necessary to prepare controller boards, parts cannot be shared, the manufacturing process increases, and factories and service personnel have to manage multiple types of controller boards with different part dimensions. It is.

  On the other hand, as a conventional technique related to an electrical board support structure, there is an electrical board support structure in which a circuit equipped with electrical components is configured, and among various electrical boards, it is easily affected by electromagnetic radiation or noise due to electromagnetic waves. A storage case capable of storing the substrates together, and a relay portion provided detachably on one surface of the storage case to connect the electrical board connected to the electrical board located in the storage case; There is known a configuration in which the electrical board disposed in the storage case and the electrical board on the side connected to the electrical board from the outside of the storage case can be directly connected via the relay portion ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is no description that gives technical suggestion for solving the above-mentioned problem related to the electrical board support structure regarding the controller board that enables the use of boards having different thicknesses.

JP 2005-84410 A

  The present invention has been made under the circumstances described above, and has a case where a connector is provided on the plate surface of an exchange board having a different plate thickness, and the surface opposite to the connector mounting surface is used as a reference mounting surface for the movable body. It is an object to provide an electrical board support structure that enables a common movable body to be used for an exchange board, an image forming apparatus using the electrical board support structure, a movable body, and a method of using the electrical board support structure. And

In order to achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a machine body that holds an electrical board (hereinafter referred to as a body board), and a movable body that can be attached to and detached from the machine body. The movable body is a replaceable electric board that is electrically connected to and separated from the main body board via a connector, and holds a plurality of other electric boards (hereinafter referred to as exchange boards) having different thicknesses. An electric circuit board support structure that is movable in an attaching / detaching direction and electrically contacts and separates the main body board and the replacement board in accordance with the movement, and guides the movable body to the machine main body during the attachment / detachment. The movable body is provided with guided means guided by the guide means, and the guide means moves the movable body in a plane parallel to a plane including the thickness direction of the replacement substrate and the attaching / detaching direction. Supporting support guides A pair of guide portions disposed opposite to each other in the thickness direction of the substrate and having a length in the attaching / detaching direction, the guided means being in contact with the support guide portion, A guided portion that is positioned between opposing intervals of the guide portion and that is in contact with any one of the guide portions and is guided in the attaching / detaching direction, and the supported guide portion is applied to the supported guide portion, and A gap amount s in the plate thickness direction formed between the other of the guided portions and the other of the guide portions in a state where one of the guided portions is applied to one of the guide portions, and between the plurality of replacement substrates It is assumed that the relationship with the plate thickness difference Δt is set so that s ≧ Δt.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electrical board support structure according to the first aspect, the replacement board has a plate surface perpendicular to the supported guide portion and parallel to a plane including the attaching / detaching direction to the movable member. The main body substrate is disposed so that the plate surface of the main body substrate is perpendicular to the plate surface of the replacement substrate, and the replacement substrate retains the direction in which each plate surface is perpendicular to the main body substrate. However, the attaching / detaching operation was made possible.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electrical substrate support structure according to the first aspect, the replacement substrate has a plate surface perpendicular to the supported guide surface and parallel to a plane including the attachment / detachment direction to the movable member. The main body substrate is disposed in a direction parallel to the plate surface of the replacement substrate, and the replacement substrate maintains a direction in which the respective plate surface is parallel to the main body substrate. However, the attaching / detaching operation was made possible.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electrical board support structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, a plurality of sets of connectors for connecting the main body board and the replacement board are provided.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electric board support structure according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, an electric board (hereinafter referred to as a board P4) is arranged so that the plate surface of the replacement board is parallel to the plate surface. .) Is attached to the movable body, and the connector on the substrate P4 is paired with the connector for the main body substrate, and has first guiding means for guiding the connection between the paired connectors.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electrical substrate support structure according to the fifth aspect, the substrate P4 is attached to the movable body via a support for the substrate P4, and the first guiding means is: The support for the substrate P4 and the machine body to which the connector for the main body substrate is attached are respectively provided, and the support for the substrate P4 is disposed in the thickness direction of the replacement substrate with respect to the movable body. It was decided that it was attached to be movable.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electrical substrate support structure according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, there are three or more replacement substrates, and a difference Δtmax between the maximum thickness tm and the minimum thickness ts therein. It is assumed that s ≧ Δtmax is set.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the electrical board support structure according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the electronic board support structure further includes a biasing unit that presses one of the two guided portions against one of the two guide portions. It was.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the electrical board support structure according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, one of the pair of guide portions has a length in the attaching / detaching direction. A plurality of protrusion-shaped bodies are arranged on the support guide portion along the attaching / detaching direction, and the movable body provided on the machine body among the plurality of protrusion-shaped bodies is configured. While at least a part of the protrusion-shaped body closest to the body insertion port satisfies the relationship of s ≧ Δt with respect to the gap amount s, the vicinity of the insertion port is the other guide portion of the pair of guide portions. The distance is large, and the distance is gradually reduced as it approaches the main body substrate side.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the electrical circuit board support structure according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, one of the guide portions is a protrusion-shaped body having a length in the attaching / detaching direction. The protrusion-shaped body is a separate member that can move on the machine body, and the gap amount s can be adjusted.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the electrical substrate support structure according to the first aspect, the replacement substrate is held by the movable member in a direction perpendicular to the support surface and parallel to a plane including the attachment / detachment direction. The machine body has means for holding an electrical board (hereinafter referred to as board P5), and the electrical board (hereinafter referred to as board P4x) is held by the movable body so as to be parallel to the plate surface of the replacement board. The connector for the substrate P4x is connectable to the connector for the substrate P5 attached to the machine body, and includes second guiding means for guiding the connector to the connector.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the electrical substrate support structure according to the eleventh aspect, the substrate P4x is attached to the movable body via a support for the substrate P4x, and the connector for the substrate P5 is supported. The second guiding means is attached to the support body on which the substrate P4x is mounted and the support body on which the connector for the substrate P5 is mounted or the machine body, respectively. It was decided that
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electrical board support structure according to the twelfth aspect, the board P4x or the board P5 is movable in a direction perpendicular to a connector connection direction, and the support on which the board P4x is mounted. The body or the support on which the connector for the substrate P5 is mounted is attached to each attachment target so as to be movable.
According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electrical substrate support structure according to the thirteenth aspect, the movable directions of the substrate P4x and the substrate P5 are perpendicular to each other in the same plane.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electrical board support structure according to any one of the fifth to fourteenth aspects, between the connectors in which the guide length in the first guiding means or the second guiding means forms the pair. It was decided that it was longer than the fitting length.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electrical board support structure according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, an electrical board connector to be held by the machine body is disposed on the machine body instead of the electrical board. It was decided that
The invention described in claim 17 is a movable body used in the electrical board support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 16, and is a movable body that can be attached to and detached from the machine body.
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus including the electrical substrate support structure according to any of the first to sixteenth aspects is provided.
According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, when the movable body is attached and detached using the electrical board support structure according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects, the two guide portions are adapted according to the difference in the plate thickness. The contact of the two guided parts with respect to the above is performed by switching.
In a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a machine main body that holds an electrical board (hereinafter referred to as a main body board), and a movable body that can be attached to and detached from the machine main body. A replaceable electrical board that is electrically connected and separated via a connector, and is capable of moving in the attachment / detachment direction while holding a plurality of other electrical boards having different thicknesses (hereinafter referred to as replacement boards), An electrical circuit board support structure in which the main body board and the replacement board are electrically connected to and separated from each other along with the movement, and the machine body is provided with guide means for guiding the movable body during the attachment / detachment, and the movable body The body includes guided means guided by the guide means, and the guide means is movable on a plane parallel to a plane including a direction crossing the plate thickness direction of the replacement substrate at an angle θ and the attaching / detaching direction. A support guide that supports the body, A pair of guide portions disposed opposite to each other in the thickness direction of the replacement substrate and having a length in the attaching / detaching direction, and the guided means is a supported guide portion that contacts the support guide portion; A guided portion that is positioned between the opposing intervals of the guide portion and is in contact with any one of the guide portions and guided in the attaching / detaching direction, and the supported guide portion is applied to the supported guide portion, and , A gap amount s in the plate thickness direction formed between the other of the guided portions and the other of the guide portions in a state where one of the guided portions is applied to one of the guide portions, and the plurality of replacements The relationship between the thickness difference Δt between the substrates is set to satisfy s ≧ cos θ · Δt.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to use a common movable body for substrates with different plate thicknesses, and it is possible to share components and improve work efficiency.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1] Outline of Image Forming Apparatus A tandem type electrophotographic image forming apparatus as an example of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The image forming apparatus of this example is a copying machine, but can also be used as a printer, a scanner, or a facsimile machine by connecting with a LAN cable or a telephone line.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter also referred to as a machine main body). A pressure plate 33 (see FIG. 2) attached to the upper part of the machine and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 40 (see FIG. 3) are shown. Shown in a removed state. An image forming unit 2 is disposed on a paper feeding unit 3 at the center of the machine body 1. A document reading unit 5 is disposed on the image forming unit 2 with the paper discharge unit 4 interposed therebetween, and a so-called in-body discharge type paper discharge unit 4 is provided.

  On the front side of the document reading unit 5, input means for operating a plurality of functions of the machine body (various keys such as a start key, a numeric keypad, a function setting key, a reset key, and a clear / stop key) and various input information And an operation unit 6 having display means for displaying the state of the apparatus (liquid crystal display panel, liquid crystal touch panel also serving as input means, etc.).

  2 shows an overall schematic configuration of the internal mechanism of the machine main body 1 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the arrow A. In the image forming unit 2 of the machine main body 1, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta ( Four image forming stations for forming images of M) and black (B) are arranged in tandem along the intermediate transfer unit 17 having an endless belt-like intermediate transfer belt 17a. An optical writing device 13 is installed under the two image forming stations.

  Each image forming station has the same configuration, and has photosensitive drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11B as image carriers, respectively, and dedicated charging devices 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12B, and developing devices, respectively. 14Y, 14C, 14M, 14B, primary transfer rollers 15Y, 15C, 15M, 15B, and cleaning devices 16Y, 16C, 16M, 16B are arranged.

  The optical writing device 13 is arranged for four image forming stations, has one deflector at the center, distributes light beams from four light sources into four systems by one deflector, and performs deflection scanning. A latent image is written on each of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11B. Four light sources using laser diodes (LD) prepared for each color and a laser beam emitted from the light sources are collimated. Scanning and imaging lenses such as an optical system, a polygon mirror (rotating polygonal mirror) and a polygon motor and a fθ lens arranged in the optical path of each light source and correction. And an optical system composed of a lens, a mirror and the like. Then, the laser light emitted from the laser diode according to the image information of each color is deflected and scanned by the polygon scanner, and irradiated to the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11B of each color.

  In the image forming unit 2, toner bottles 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32B for supplying toner to the developing devices 14Y, 14C, 14M, and 14B of the respective image forming stations are provided below the in-body discharge unit 4. It has been. The toner bottles 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32B are filled with yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (B) toners from the left in the drawing, and a conveyance path (not shown) from here. As a result, the toner of each color is supplied to the developing devices 14Y, 14C, 14M, and 14B of each color by a predetermined supply amount.

  The intermediate transfer belt 17a of the intermediate transfer unit 17 is supported by a driving roller, a driven roller, or the like, and is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. A secondary transfer roller 22 is provided on the right side of the intermediate transfer belt 17a. An intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 18 is provided on the left side of the intermediate transfer belt 17a.

  On the other hand, the paper feed unit 3 provided in the lower part of the machine body 1 is provided with two-stage paper feed cassettes 3a and 3b in which recording paper SS as a recording material is stored. The recording paper SS is fed by the paper feeding devices 19a and 19b, and is fed toward the registration roller 21 via the transport rollers 20a and 20b. The recording sheet SS fed to the registration roller 21 is sent out toward the secondary transfer roller 22 at a predetermined timing.

  A fixing unit 9 is installed above the secondary transfer roller 22. In the fixing unit 9, for example, a fixing belt 9c supported by a fixing roller 9a and a heating roller 9b, and a pressure roller 9d in pressure contact with the fixing belt 9c are provided.

  Above the fixing unit 9, there are provided a transport roller 23 and a paper discharge roller 24 for transporting the recording paper SS and discharging the paper toward the paper discharge unit 4 provided in the in-body paper discharge unit. Are provided with a switching claw 25 for switching the conveyance path during double-sided printing, a reverse conveyance roller 26 for reversing the conveyance direction of the recording paper SS in a switchback manner, and a reverse conveyance path 27. The recording paper SS temporarily stacked on the reverse conveyance path 27 is reversed in conveyance direction by the reverse conveyance roller 26, conveyed by the conveyance rollers 28 and 29 through the double-side conveyance path, and re-fed to the registration roller 21. The

  The document reading unit 5 disposed on the upper part of the machine body 1 includes a contact glass 5a serving as a document table on which the document is placed, an illumination light source 5b that illuminates the document, and a first mirror that reflects reflected light from the document. 5c, a second mirror 5d, a third mirror 5e, an image forming lens 5f for forming an image of reflected light from the original, and an image sensor 5g such as a CCD as a reading means arranged at the image forming position for reading the original image. And.

  On the document reading unit 5, a pressure plate 33 that presses a document placed on the contact glass 5a, or an automatic document feeder (ADF) 40 that automatically feeds a document to the contact glass 5a, instead of the pressure plate 33, is provided. Is provided.

A case of making a copy using this image forming apparatus will be described.
When making a copy, first, the pressure plate 33 is opened and a document is set on the contact glass 5a of the document reading unit 5, or when an ADF is provided instead of the pressure plate 33, the document is set on the document table of the ADF.

  Next, when the start switch of the operation unit 6 is pressed, when the document is set on the contact glass 5a, the document reading unit 5 is immediately driven. When the document is set on the document table of the ADF, the document is conveyed. Then, after moving onto the contact glass 5a, the document reading unit 5 is driven.

  Then, the first traveling body on which the light source 5b and the first mirror 5c are mounted and the second traveling body on which the second mirror 5d and the third mirror 5e are mounted are traveled, and the light emitted from the light source 5b is applied to the document surface. The reflected light from the document surface is reflected by the first mirror 5c of the first traveling body and directed to the second traveling body, and is reflected by the second and third mirrors 5d and 5e of the second traveling body, and the imaging lens. 5f is inserted into an image sensor 5g such as a CCD as a reading means, and the content of the original is read by the image sensor 5g. Thereafter, when the mode setting in the operation unit 6 or the automatic mode selection is set in the operation unit 6, the image forming operation is started in the full color mode or the monochrome mode according to the reading result of the original.

  In the image forming unit 2, first, the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11B are uniformly charged by the charging devices 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12B, and then the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11B are The laser beam is exposed and scanned by an optical writing device 13 having four laser light sources, a common deflector, and four scanning optical systems, and electrostatic latent images are formed on the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11B. Is made.

  Each electrostatic latent image is developed by attaching different color toners by the four color developing devices 14Y, 14C, 14M, and 14B, and is applied to the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11B. Yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner images are formed.

  Next, a primary transfer voltage is applied to the primary transfer rollers 15Y, 15C, 15M, and 15B, and the toner on the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11B is sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17a. At this time, the image forming operation for each color is executed while shifting the timing from the upstream side toward the downstream side so that the toner image is transferred to the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 17a.

  On the other hand, the recording paper SS as a recording material is fed by the paper feeding devices 19a and 19b from any of the paper feeding cassettes 3a and 3b provided in the paper feeding unit 3 in time with the primary transfer operation. When the manual feed recording sheet SS is set on the manual feed table 8, the manual feed record sheet SS is fed from the manual feed table 8 by the paper feed roller 30 and is fed into the image forming apparatus by the transport roller 31. When the leading edge of the recording sheet SS reaches the registration roller 21, it is detected by a sensor (not shown) and timed based on the detection signal, and the recording sheet SS is intermediated between the secondary transfer roller 22 and the registration roller 21. It is sent out toward the secondary transfer nip portion between the transfer belts 17a.

  The image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17a is conveyed to the secondary transfer nip portion and is collectively transferred to the recording paper SS sent to the secondary transfer nip portion. The recording sheet SS onto which the image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 9 where the image is fixed by heat and pressure. The recording sheet SS is conveyed toward the sheet discharge unit 4 by the conveyance roller 23, and the in-body sheet discharge unit by the sheet discharge roller 24. The paper is discharged. As a result, a color image is formed on the recording paper SS.

  When the duplex mode is selected by the operation unit 6 and duplex copying is performed, the conveyance path is switched by the switching claw 25, and the fixed recording paper SS is temporarily stacked on the reverse conveyance path 27, and then the reverse conveyance roller 26. Then, the direction of travel is reversed in a switchback manner, and the double-sided conveyance path is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 28 and 29 and fed again to the registration roller 21 in accordance with the timing of the image forming operation.

  Then, the sheet is fed again to the secondary transfer nip portion by the registration roller 21, and the image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17a is also transferred to the back side of the recording sheet SS. The recording paper SS on which the image is also transferred to the back side is conveyed to the fixing unit 9 and the image is fixed by heat and pressure. The recording sheet SS is conveyed toward the paper discharge unit 4 by the conveyance roller 23, and is discharged by the paper discharge roller 24. The paper is discharged in the direction of arrow E. As a result, color images are formed on both sides of the recording paper SS.

  The residual toner on the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11B is cleaned by the respective cleaning devices 16Y, 16C, 16M, and 16B, and then the charging device 12Y, in which the bias of the AC component is superimposed and applied to the direct current. 12C, 12M and 12B are charged simultaneously with static elimination to prepare for the next image formation. The residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 17a is cleaned by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 18 to prepare for the next image forming process.

[2] Electrical board support structure I
(1) Controller Board and Controller Board Mounting Unit FIG. 3 shows a state in which an automatic document feeder (ADF) 40 is mounted on the upper part of the machine body 1 shown in FIG. Further, in order to describe the electrical board support structure according to the present invention, the machine body 1 is shown in a state viewed from the direction of arrow F in FIG. The direction of the arrow F is opposite to the direction of the arrow E described above as the paper discharge direction, and these directions are orthogonal to the plate surface of the outer plate 42 of the machine body 1.

  In FIG. 3, assuming that the operator is facing the outer plate 42, in the three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, the front-rear direction on the X-axis, the left-right direction on the Y-axis, the up-down direction on the Z-axis, In addition, after + direction on the X-axis, forward-direction on the X-axis, + direction on the Y-axis to the right,-direction on the Y-axis to the left, + direction on the Z-axis The direction of-on the Z axis corresponds to the bottom.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the left side surface portion of the machine body 1 in FIG. 3 and 4, a concave mounting portion 43 for accommodating a controller board 41 as a movable body on which the replacement board is mounted is formed on the left side portion and the rear portion of the machine body 1. The mounting portion 43 is configured as a rectangular parallelepiped three-dimensional space surrounded by a bottom plate 44, a top plate 45, a side plate 46, and a partition plate 47 so that the controller board 41 can be accommodated.

  3 and 4 show the outer cover removed, the left side facing the side plate 46 is open as a space. Further, since the controller board 41 is also shown as being removed from the machine body, the rear space facing the partition plate 47 is also opened and the inside is exposed.

  In the machine main body 1, the bottom plate 44 and the top plate 45 are configured by planes including the XY axes, the side plates 46 are configured by planes including the XZ axes, and the partition plates 47 are configured by plates parallel to the plane including the YZ axes. Part. A portion of the partition plate 47 that intersects the side plate 46 and its vicinity are cut out in the vertical direction to form an opening 47a. The substrates inside and outside the opening are connected through the opening 47a. There are various sizes and shapes of the opening 47a corresponding to the arrangement and size of the substrate which vary depending on the model of the image forming apparatus.

  The inside of the opening 47a is an area in which the substrate P1 corresponding to the main body substrate and other electrical components that are not subject to replacement even if there is a change in specifications or selection of an optional function is placed and accommodated. Depending on the model, the machine body 1 may be provided with another board added to the machine body. In FIG. 3, a part of the main body substrate P1 held by the machine main body 1 is illustrated so as to be seen from the opening 45a. A substrate P5 added as needed is also held by the machine body 1.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram of the entire controller board 41 as viewed from the rear upper side, FIG. 6 is a diagram of the upper part of the controller board 41 as viewed from the front upper side, and FIG. 5 to 7, the controller board 41 is composed of a structure integrally formed by a front plate 52, a rear plate 48, a right plate 49, an upper plate 50, a lower plate 51, and the like.

  When the controller board 41 is positioned on the mounting portion 43, including the attachment / detachment process, the front plate 52 and the rear plate 48 are parallel to the YZ plane, the right plate 49 is parallel to the XZ plane, the upper plate 50, the lower plate 51. Is parallel to the XY plane. The controller board 41 is attached to and detached from the machine main body 1 while holding the board 2 or the board P3 corresponding to the replacement board. For example, the substrate 2 is attached to one of the plurality of controller boards 41 and the substrate P3 is attached to the other, and one of the controller boards is attached to the machine body 1 as necessary. Alternatively, when the board 2 (or board 3) is attached to the controller board 41 already mounted on the machine body 1, the controller board 41 is removed from the machine body 1 and the board 3 ( Or, it may be replaced with the substrate 2) and mounted on the machine body 1. In any case, the attaching / detaching direction is the arrow B direction (front-rear direction).

  FIG. 8 schematically shows the boards disposed on the machine main body 1 and the controller board 41 and the mounting relationship of the connectors on these boards. The substrate 2 is mounted with the left surface of the right plate 49 of the controller board 41 and the plate surface parallel to each other. A substrate P1 is attached to the left surface of the side plate 46 (machine main body 1) so that the plate surface is parallel to the plate surface of the substrate P2. The thickness t2 of the substrate P2 is greater than the thickness t3 of the substrate P3, and t2−t3 ≧ Δt. The same applies to the following.

  A substrate P3 is attached to another controller board 41 in the same manner as the substrate P2. The substrate P2 or the substrate P3 can be electrically connected to and separated from the substrate P1 via a connector.

  The connector is a pair of a convex connector having a convex fitting portion and a concave connector having a concave fitting portion for electrical contact and separation, and a mechanical fitting portion between the convex connector and the concave connector. Contact and separation of electrical contacts are performed through fitting between each other. Hereinafter, a convex connector or a concave connector is referred to as a connector, and is indicated by a symbol combining an alphabet C and a number.

  The connector C1 for the board P1 is generally provided on the board P1, but as the board P1 connector, it is provided directly on the side plate 46 (machine body) or on an appropriate support base, and is connected to the board P1 with a conductive wire. It is sometimes done. In any case, it is placed at a certain place. The same applies to the following.

  The connector C2 for the substrate P2 is disposed on the plate surface of the substrate P2, and the connector C3 for the substrate P3 is disposed on the plate surface of the substrate P3. Connectors C2 and C3 are paired with connector C1. These connectors C 1, C 2, and C 3 are arranged in such a manner that the connection direction is aligned with the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41.

  Depending on the specifications of the image forming apparatus, the controller board 41 is provided with a substrate P4 connected to the substrate P1 in addition to the controller board 41, or a substrate P5 is added to the machine body side and connected to the substrate P5. The substrate P4x to be added may be provided in addition to the controller board 41, or the substrate P5x may be added to the machine body side. These added substrates will be described in (8) Substrate Arrangement Mode.

  The substrate P2 and the substrate P3 have the same shape except for the plate thickness and other dimensions. Moreover, the attachment reference | standard for attachment to the controller board 41 is common, and it attaches to the common attachment reference | standard position provided in the controller board 41 side.

  For example, in the case where the position is set so that the axis of the fitting portion of the connector C1 for the board P1 on the main body side and the axis of the fitting portion of the connector C2 for the board P2, which is the replacement board, are aligned. When the controller board 41 loaded with P3 is guided by the same guide standard as the controller board 41 loaded with the board P2 and used in the machine body, the axis of the fitting portion of the connector C3 on the board P2 is the connector C1. It will shift | deviate only by the difference in plate | board thickness with respect to the axis line of this fitting part. The following provides a means for eliminating such nonconformity.

(2) Guiding means In FIG. 3, when the controller board 41 is mounted on the machine main body 1 from the position shown in the figure, it is provided on the side of the machine main body 1 along the path indicated by the one-dot chain line with the posture shown in the figure. It is mounted on the concave mounting portion 43. In addition, it can be removed by a reverse route. The attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41 with respect to the mounting portion 43 is the front-rear direction indicated by the arrow B or the arrow E. A stopper 45 a bent downward is formed at the rear end of the top plate 45.

  When the controller board 41 is mounted on the mounting portion 43, the stopper 45a is guided when the guided means (controller body 41 side) is guided by the guide means (machine body side) described below and the controller board 41 advances backward. The upper end of the rear plate 48 comes into contact with the stopper 45a and stops. This stop position is determined so that the board connector (C2 or C3 or the like) on the controller board 41 and the connector (C1 or the like) provided on the machine body side have an appropriate fitting depth.

  With the upper end of the rear plate 48 in contact with the stopper 45a, the hole 48h provided in the rear plate 48 and the hole 45h provided in the stopper 45a are matched. To do.

  The controller board 41 can be smoothly attached to and detached from the machine body 1, and the electrical connection and disconnection between the connectors on the boards provided on the machine body 1 and the controller board 41 can be smoothly performed. As described above, the machine body 1 is provided with guide means for guiding the controller board 41 in the front-rear direction which is the attaching / detaching direction (the operation direction for the electrical contact / separation). Similarly, the controller board 41 is provided with guided means guided by the guiding means.

  3, 4, and 9, the guide means for guiding the controller board 41 in the front-rear (X-axis) direction is spaced from the support guide portion (bottom plate 44) in the thickness direction of the substrate P <b> 2 or the substrate P <b> 3. And a pair of guide portions (the convex portion 54 and the side plate 46) arranged to face each other. In this example, another pair of guide portions is provided as a guide portion by a combination of the convex portion 53 and the side plate 46.

  The support guide unit will be described. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the controller board 41 in the process of being guided by the guide means in the mounting portion 43 is removed from the mounting portion 43. 3, 4, and 9, the board surface of the board P <b> 2 or the board P <b> 3 is attached in parallel with the right board 49. The controller board 41 includes a plane (XY plane) including a left-right direction (Y-axis direction) that is the thickness direction of the substrate P2 or the substrate P3 and a front-rear direction (X-axis) that is an attaching / detaching direction (arrow B direction). It is supported by parallel support surfaces and guided in the attaching / detaching direction. This support surface is the surface of the bottom plate 44, and the bottom plate 44 constitutes a support guide portion that receives and supports the load of the controller board 41.

  Although the upper plate 50 can also serve as a support guide portion, it is easier to guide in a state where the upper plate 50 is applied to only one of the opposed plates, so the space between the top plate 45 and the top plate 45 is slightly spaced in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. Yes. For example, in FIG. Therefore, the controller board 41 is not directly supported. Therefore, in such a case, the support guide portion is not used. However, if the upper board 50 is brought into contact with the top plate 45 by using a means for biasing the controller board 41 upward, the support guide portion is obtained. In that case, conversely, the space between the bottom plate 44 and the lower plate 51 is slightly opened in the vertical direction.

  The guide part will be described. The pair of guide portions are arranged to face each other with a distance in the thickness direction (Y-axis direction) of the substrate P2 or the substrate P3 and having a length in the attaching / detaching direction. Make a pair on the right surface of the side plate 46). In order to achieve a stable guiding function, the convex portion 53 is provided by shifting the position in the vertical direction, and the side plate 46 is positioned to the vicinity of the convex portion. A guide part is provided (specifically, the right surface of the side plate 46). These convex portions 53 and 54 constitute a protrusion-shaped body having a length in the attaching / detaching direction.

(3) Guided means The guided means of the controller board 41 guided by the guide means includes (I) a supported guide portion (lower plate 51) that contacts the support guide portion (bottom plate 44), and (II). A pair of guided portions (left of the lower plate 51) are positioned between the opposing intervals of the pair of guide portions (the convex portion 54 and the side plate 46) and are guided in the attachment / detachment direction in contact with one of the guide portions. A right end surface 51a and a right side surface 49). In addition, another pair of guided portions (the left end surface 50 a of the upper plate 50 and the right side surface of the right plate 49) are provided as guided portions corresponding to the convex portions 53 and the side plates 46.

(4) Clearance Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a lower plate 51 as a supported guide portion is placed on the bottom plate 44 as the support guide portion, and is one of the two guided portions. A state in which the left end surface 51a of the lower plate 51 is in contact with the right side portion of the convex portion 54 facing the same (in this state, the left end surface 51a of the lower plate 51 is simultaneously applied to the right side portion of the convex portion 54 in opposition thereto. In this state, a gap amount s between the right surface of the right plate 49, which is the other of the two guided portions, and the left surface of the side plate 46, and the thickness of the substrate P2 and the substrate P3. Is set so that the relationship with the difference Δt is the relationship of the equation (1).
s ≧ Δt (Formula 1)

  In relation to the above equation 1, for example, when the clearance amount s <Δt, the movement amount of the controller board 41 in the left-right direction is smaller than the required movement amount. This restricts the connection between the connectors. On the other hand, when s> Δt, the side plate 46 is in a position away from the position where the controller board 41 is to be moved. If the allowable range of the axial misalignment that can be fitted is set in (2), it is possible to automatically join the connectors according to the movement of the controller board 41.

  In the above formula (1), s and Δt are connected by an equal sign, but it includes a permissible range of axial misalignment that can be fitted between connectors.

  When there are three or more exchange boards having the same outer shape and different plate thicknesses, and the difference between the maximum plate thickness tm and the minimum plate thickness ts is Δtmax, s ≧ Δtmax is satisfied instead of the above equation 1. Set as follows. When an exchange board having an intermediate thickness is used, a guide jig is appropriately set. For example, the guidance means described later is used as appropriate.

(5) Comparative Example FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the machine main body holding the mounting portion 43 and the substrate P1 as seen from above. In FIG. 11A, a substrate P1 is held on the machine body side via a bracket 55 fixed to the side plate 46. A connector C1 is fixed to the plate surface of the substrate P1.

  On the other hand, on the controller board 41, a thick substrate P2 having a thickness t2 is held on the right plate 49 via a bracket 56. A connector C2 that is paired with the connector C1 is fixed to the plate surface of the substrate P2.

  The fitting portion of both connectors so that the connector C1 and the connector C2 can be fitted with the lower plate 51 of the controller board 41 placed on the bottom plate 44 and the right plate 49 of the controller board 41 placed on the side plate 46. Is set to match the axis of Accordingly, if the controller board 41 is pushed forward in this state, the connector C1 and the connector C2 can be fitted and connected as shown in FIG.

  Next, a board P3 having a thin plate thickness t3 is mounted on the same bracket 56 of the controller board 41, and the lower board 51 of the controller board 41 is placed on the bottom board 44 and the right board 49 of the controller board 41 is placed. Is placed on the side plate 46, a difference in plate thickness difference t2−t3 ≧ Δt occurs in the left-right direction between the axial centers of the connector C1 and the connector C3.

  If the controller board 41 is pushed forward while ignoring this deviation, a fitting connection between the connectors cannot be obtained depending on the magnitude of Δt. As shown in FIG. May collide with the edge of the opening 47a or the partition plate 47 to disengage from the board P3, or the connector C3 may collide with the connector C1 on the board P1 as shown in FIG. 13B. .

(6) Different Use of Guided Means In the above case, if the controller board 41 is moved to the position left by Δt in FIG. 12, as shown in FIG. 14, the axis of the connector C3 with respect to the connector C1. Can be matched.

  In FIG. 14, when the board P3 having a small thickness is attached to the controller board 41, the distance between the side plate 46 serving as the guide portion and the right side surface of the controller board 41 serving as the guided portion (the right side surface of the right plate 49). Is separated by a clearance amount s having the same value as Δt, which is the difference in thickness between the board P2 and the board P2, which has a large board thickness, the axis of the connector C3 of the board P3 matches the axis of the connector C1 of the board P1, When the board P2 having a large thickness is attached to the controller board 41, the side plate 46 serving as the guide portion and the right side surface of the controller board 41 serving as the guided portion (the right side surface of the right plate 49) are brought into close contact ( The amount of clearance s ≧ 0), and the axis of the connector C2 of the board P2 matches the axis of the connector C1 of the board P1.

  Therefore, when the controller board 41 is attached to and detached from the mounting portion mounting portion 43 and the connector while satisfying the relationship of the above formula (1), the two guide portions are selected according to the difference in thickness between the board P2 and the board P3. The contact of the two guided portions (the left end surface 51a of the lower plate 51 and the right side surface of the right plate 49) with respect to (the convex portion 54 or the side plate 46) is switched. The contact of the two guided portions (the left end surface 50a of the upper plate 50 and the right side surface of the right plate 49) with the two guide portions (the convex portion 53 or the side plate 46) is also switched simultaneously.

  Specifically, when the thin board P3 is attached to the controller board 41, as shown in FIG. 15A, while pressing the controller board 41 to the left as indicated by the arrow 57, the upper plate 50 (lower The controller board 41 can be mounted on the mounting portion 43 by moving the left side surface of the plate 51) to the right side of the convex portion 53 (the convex portion 54) and moving in the arrow B direction. The connectors C1 and C3 are also connected. The inclined portion SL is formed at the front end portion of the upper plate 50 (lower plate 51) because the upper plate 50 (the convex portion 54) with respect to the convex portion 53 (the convex portion 54) in the initial state of mounting the controller board 41 to the machine body. This is for smooth engagement of the lower plate 51).

  On the other hand, when the thick board P2 is attached to the controller board 41, as shown in FIG. 15B, the controller board 41 is pressed to the right as indicated by the arrow 58 while the right side of the right plate 49 (FIG. 15). Is shown on the right side of the controller board 41) and is moved in the direction of the arrow B by placing it on the left side of the side plate 46, so that the controller board 41 is guided and mounted on the mounting portion 43, and the connectors C1, C2 is also connected.

  At this time, the force in the direction of the arrow 57 for applying the left side surface of the upper plate 50 (lower plate 51) to the right side portion of the convex portion 53 (convex portion 54) can be seen from FIG. 41 is a direction in which 41 is separated from the side plate 46, and is a direction in which it is difficult for an operator to apply force. In particular, when the replacement board is replaced after the machine is completed, the mounting portion 43 is covered with a cover, which is more difficult. Therefore, it may be performed by applying a force to the front side using human power, but in the example shown in FIG. 15, the leaf spring 59 is used as the biasing means as a more preferable means. Using the urging means reduces the burden on the operator and stabilizes the attachment / detachment operation. As shown in FIG. 16, the leaf spring 59 has a mounting portion 59a provided with a mounting screw hole h3 and an angled bent portion 59b, and when pressed, as shown in FIG. 15 (b). Deforms into a flat plate shape.

  As shown in FIG. 17A, the leaf spring 59 is attached to the left surface of the side plate 46 with the attachment screw hole h3 using the attachment screw hole h3. However, when the leaf spring 59 is attached to the flat left surface, the leaf spring 59 is deformed. Even in the case of a flat plate, a step is formed on the left surface. In such a case, the plate thickness of the leaf spring hinders the close contact between the right surface of the right plate 49 (the right surface of the controller board 41 in FIG. 15) and the left surface of the side plate 46. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17B, a concave portion 46a is formed on the left surface of the side plate 46, and a mounting portion 59a of the leaf spring 59 is provided in the concave portion 46a. If the bent portion 59b protrudes outward from the concave portion 46a in a state before it becomes flat, the spring function is not hindered.

(7) Guide part (projection-shaped body)
Example 1: Constitution of protrusion-shaped body Convex parts 53 and 54 constituting one of the pair of guide parts are formed of a protrusion-shaped body having a length in the attaching / detaching direction, and the convex part 54 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 18. Thus, it forms in the cut-and-raised shape which has the inclination part 54a which inclines and rises from the baseplate 44, and the parallel part 54b parallel to the surface of the baseplate 44. FIG. Thus, by having the inclined portion 54b, the engagement with the left end surface 51a of the lower plate 51 can be performed smoothly. The same applies to the convex portion 53.

  When the member that performs the same function as the convex portion 54 is formed separately from the bottom plate without being cut and raised from the bottom plate 44 with respect to the convex portion 54, a step is formed on the bottom plate 44 at the mounting portion with respect to the bottom plate 44. This may occur, and measures to avoid interference with the bottom of the controller board 41 are required. In this regard, in the case of being formed by cutting and raising from the bottom plate 44 as in this example, there is no problem of a step generated by another member. Similarly to the convex portion 54, the convex portion 53 is formed by cutting and raising from the top plate 45.

  When the thickness of the replacement substrate is changed, it is necessary to adjust the clearance amount s, and when it is desired to change the positions of the convex portions 53 and 54, the above-described configuration by cutting and raising can be easily handled. Can not. In order to be able to easily cope with such a case, for example, the protrusion-shaped body constituting the convex portion 54 is mounted with attachment means that can be moved and adjusted with respect to the machine main body (bottom plate 44) as shown in FIGS. The convex part 54 is comprised by the bending piece 60 which is another member.

  The bent piece 60 is provided with mounting seats H4 at both ends in the front-rear direction, and an inclined portion H1 and a parallel portion H2 connected to the seat H4. On the other hand, a concave portion 44a having a width capable of moving the bent piece 60 for adjusting the clearance s is formed on the surface of the bottom plate 44, and the bent piece 60 is movably attached to the upper surface of the concave portion 61. The upper surface of the recess 61 is parallel to the surface of the bottom plate 44.

  Long holes 63 that are long in the left-right direction are formed in parallel in the two seats H4 arranged in the front-rear direction. The bent pieces 60 are attached to the recesses 61 by passing the stepped screws 64 through the long holes 63 and screwing the screw portions of the stepped screws 64 into the recesses 44a. Here, the stepped portion formed at the boundary between the fitting diameter portion 64a and the screw portion with respect to the elongated hole 63 of the stepped screw 64 does not contact the surface of the recess 44a (the lower surface of the fitting portion 64a is on the surface of the recess 44a. Since the seat portion H4 is strongly pressed against the concave portion 44a by tightening the stepped screw, the bending piece 60 is not displaced. When the position of the bent piece 60 is shifted, the stepped screw 64 is loosened without removing the stepped screw 64, the elongated hole 63 is slid with respect to the fitting portion 64a, and the stepped screw 64 is inserted at a desired position. tighten. The same applies to the convex portion 53.

Example 2: The shape of the protrusion-shaped body In the convex portion 53 (54) having a length in the attaching / detaching direction, the portion that is in contact with and guides the upper plate 50 (lower plate 51) satisfies the relationship of s ≧ Δt, Although installed parallel to the attachment / detachment direction (front-rear direction), if the portion closest to the insertion port 65 to the attachment portion 43 when the controller board 41 is attached is parallel to the attachment / detachment direction (front-rear direction), the upper plate in the initial attachment state It is difficult to smoothly guide 50 (lower plate 51) between the side plate 46 and the convex portions 53 and 54. This is even more so because the operator is in a positional relationship in which the upper plate 50, the lower plate 51, the convex portions 53, 54, etc. cannot be directly visually recognized when the controller board 41 is mounted.

  Therefore, in this example, another convex portion 54x is provided on the bottom plate 44 behind the convex portion 54 along the attaching / detaching direction. Similarly, another convex portion 53x is provided on the top plate 45 behind the convex portion 53 along the attaching / detaching direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 when the bottom plate 44 is viewed from above, the convex portion 53x (the convex portion 54x) is disposed closer to the insertion port 65 of the controller board 41 than the convex portion 53 (the convex portion 54). As for the convex portion 53x (the convex portion 54x), the portion in front of the position Q satisfies the relationship of s ≧ Δt with respect to the gap amount s, and the portion in the rear of the position Q (the portion closest to the insertion port 65). Is assumed to be s ≧ Δt at the position Q, and as it advances further to the rear than the position Q, it tends to move away from the side plate 46 in a C shape, and s ≧ Δt. In the figure, the opening angle with respect to the front-rear direction is indicated by α.

  With this configuration, when the controller board 41 is mounted on the mounting portion 43, the inclined portion SL formed at the tip of the upper plate 50 (lower plate 51) can easily catch the rear end of the convex portion 53x (the convex portion 54x). Thus, it can be guided to the normal guide portion after the position Q through the inclined portion. The guidance for the upper plate 50 (the lower plate 51) is further taken over by the convex portion 53 (the convex portion 54), so that the controller board 41 is smoothly guided and mounted at intervals of a predetermined gap amount s.

  The convex portion 53x (the convex portion 54x) can also be formed by cutting and raising, as illustrated for the convex portions 53 and 54 in FIG. 18, or as shown in FIG. 19 to FIG. In this way, it is possible to use a long hole and a stepped screw so that the movement can be adjusted.

(8) Arrangement Mode of Substrate Examples of various arrangements of a substrate attached to the machine main body (side plate 46), a substrate attached to the controller board 41, and connectors are illustrated.

8.1: Example that does not require guidance means Example 1: A description will be given with reference to FIG. This example is a modification of the arrangement of the board and connector described in FIG. The substrate P2 or the substrate P3 has a plate surface that is perpendicular to the bottom plate 44 and parallel to a plane including the attaching / detaching direction (parallel to the surface of the right plate 49), and the plate surface of the substrate P1 is the plate surface of the substrates P2 and P3. Is arranged in a direction parallel to the.

  The board P1 is provided with a connector C1-1 in addition to the connector C1, and a connector C2-1 is added to the board surface of the board P2 in addition to the connector C2. Similarly, a connector C3-1 is added to the plate surface of the substrate P3 in addition to the connector C3. These added connectors C2-1 and C3-1 are paired with the added connector C1-1. The connectors C 1, C 1-1, C 2, C 2-1, C 3, and C 3-1 are arranged in accordance with the connection direction of the controller board 41.

  In this example, a plurality of sets of connectors are provided on the substrates to be connected. For example, when the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C1 and the connector C2 are matched with each other, and the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C1-1 and the connector C2-1 are set to match. Then, there is no problem when the controller board 41 with the board P2 is mounted on the machine body 1, but when the controller board 41 with the board P3 is mounted on the machine body 1, the difference between the thicknesses of the connector C1 and the connector C1. There is a shift in the axis of the fitting portion between the connectors C3. The same applies to the connector C1-1 and the connector C3-1.

  However, when the difference in plate thickness and the position of the controller board 41 are corrected so that the axis of the fitting portion of the connector C3 matches the axis of the fitting portion of the connector C1, the connector C3-1 is directed in the same direction by the same amount. Therefore, regarding the added connector C3-1, the problem of incompatibility with the connector C1-1 due to the difference in board thickness between the board P2 and the board P3 is caused by the embodiment described above in accordance with the case described in FIG. It will be resolved.

Example 2: This will be described with reference to FIG. Compared with the example shown in FIG. 24, the arrangement of the substrates P2 and P3 is the same as the example shown in FIG. Regarding the relationship with the substrate P1, the plate surface of the substrate P1 is arranged so as to be perpendicular to the plate surfaces of the substrates P2 and P3.

  As in the example shown in FIG. 24, the board C1 is provided with a connector C1-1 in addition to the connector C1, and the board P2 is provided with a connector C2-1 in addition to the connector C2. Similarly, a connector C3-1 is provided on the plate surface of the substrate P3 in addition to the connector C3. These connectors C2-1 and C3-1 are paired with the connector C1-1. The connectors C 1, C 1-1, C 2, C 2-1, C 3, and C 3-1 are arranged in accordance with the connection direction of the controller board 41.

  In this example, a plurality of sets of connectors are provided on the substrates to be connected. For example, when the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C1 and the connector C2 are matched with each other, and the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C1-1 and the connector C2-1 are set to match. Then, there is no problem when the controller board 41 with the board P2 is mounted on the machine body 1, but when the controller board 41 with the board P3 is mounted on the machine body 1, the difference between the thicknesses of the connector C1 and the connector C1. There is a shift in the axis of the fitting portion between the connectors C3. The same applies to the connector C1-1 and the connector C3-1.

  However, when the difference in plate thickness and the position of the controller board 41 are corrected so that the axis of the fitting portion of the connector C3 matches the axis of the fitting portion of the connector C1, the connector C3-1 is directed in the same direction by the same amount. Therefore, regarding the added connector C3-1, the problem of the connector incompatibility with the connector C1-1 due to the board thickness difference between the board P2 and the board P3 is the above-described embodiment according to the case described in FIG. Is eliminated.

Example 3: This will be described with reference to FIG. Compared with the example shown in FIG. 24, the arrangement of the substrates P2 and P3 and the arrangement of the connectors C2-1 and C3-1 on these substrates are the same as the example shown in FIG. As for the substrate P1, the substrate P1 is arranged so that its plate surface is parallel to the plate surfaces of the substrates P2 and P3.

  The difference is that the substrate P5x is arranged with respect to the machine main body 1 (side plate 46) so that the plate surface of the substrate P1 is parallel to the plate surface.

  A connector C1 is provided on the substrate P1, a connector C5x is provided on the substrate P5x, and a connector C2-1 is provided on the plate surface of the substrate P2 in addition to the connector C2. Similarly, a connector C3-1 is provided on the plate surface of the substrate P3 in addition to the connector C3. Connectors C2 and C3 make a pair with connector C1, and connectors C2-1 and C3- make a pair with connector C5x. The connectors C 1, C 5 x, C 2, C 2-1, C 3, and C 3-1 are arranged with their connection directions aligned with the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41.

  For example, when the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C1 and the connector C2 are matched with each other and the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C5x and the connector C2-1 are set to match, There is no problem when the controller board 41 with the board P2 is mounted on the machine body 1, but when the controller board 41 with the board P3 is mounted on the machine body 1, the connector C1 and the connector C3 are different by the difference in plate thickness. The axis of the fitting part is displaced between the two. The same applies to the connector C5x and the connector C3-1.

  However, when the difference in plate thickness and the position of the controller board 41 are corrected so that the axis of the fitting portion of the connector C3 matches the axis of the fitting portion of the connector C1, the connector C3-1 is directed in the same direction by the same amount. Therefore, with respect to the added connector C3-1, the problem of connector connection incompatibility with the connector C5x due to the board thickness difference between the board P2 and the board P3 is solved by the above embodiment according to the case described in FIG. Is done.

8.2: Example requiring guidance means Example 1:
(Case 1): A description will be given with reference to FIG. On the controller board side, the board P2 or the board 3 is attached to the right board 49 with the board surface opposite to the connector mounting surface as the mounting reference. In addition, the substrate P4 is attached to the right plate 49 via the support 66 for the substrate P4 in a state where the substrate surface is parallel to the substrate P2 or the substrate P3 and arranged in the left-right direction.

  The substrate P2, the substrate P3, or the substrate P4 has a plate surface perpendicular to the bottom plate 44 and parallel to a plane including the attaching / detaching direction (parallel to the surface of the right plate 49), and the substrate surface of the substrate P1 is the substrate P2 or the substrate P3 or It arrange | positions so that it may become perpendicular | vertical with respect to the plate | board surface of the board | substrate P4.

  Connectors C1 and C1-1 are provided on the substrate P1, connectors C2 are provided on the plate surface of the substrate P2, connectors C3 are provided on the plate surface of the substrate P3, and connectors C4 are provided on the plate surface of the substrate P4. Connectors C2 and C3 make a pair with connector C1, and connector C4 makes a pair with connector C1-1. The connectors C 1, C 1-1, C 2, C 3, and C 4 are arranged with their connection directions aligned with the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41.

  The position of the connector C4 (board P4) on the controller board 41 connected to the connector C1-1 at the fixed position is in the fixed position both when combined with the board P2 and when combined with the board P3. ,does not change.

  On the other hand, the position of the connector C3 on the controller board 41 is shifted to a position approaching the right plate 49 by a thickness difference Δt compared to the position of the connector C2. This means that the distance between the connector C3 of the board P3 and the connector C3 of the board P4 is increased by the difference Δt in thickness with respect to the distance between the connector C1 and the connector C1-1 on the board P1, for example β. This means that Δβ + Δt.

Accordingly, the controller board 41 on which the board P3 and the board P4 are mounted is mounted on the machine body 1 when the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C1 and the connector C2 and the connector C4 and the connector C1-1 are matched. In the case of mounting to the connector C3, the problem of connection incompatibility of the connector C3 with the connector C1 due to the difference in board thickness between the board P2 and the board P3 is solved by the above-described embodiment according to the case described in FIG. Since the position of the connector C3 coincides with the position of the connector C1, the connector C4 is shifted to the left by a plate thickness difference Δt with respect to the connector C1-1 by spreading to β + Δt. Therefore, in order to eliminate this shift, the connector C4 must be shifted Δt to the right alone.
Regarding the position adjustment between the connectors C1-1 and C4, the support body supporting the board of at least one connector is displaced according to the movement of the controller board 41, and the fitting portion of the one connector is moved. This can be performed using guiding means (first guiding means) that functions to forcibly match the fitting portion of the other connector. This first guiding means will be described in (9) Guiding means. It should be noted that the vertical arrangement direction of the connectors on the board is only an example, and it is possible to adopt a horizontally long arrangement rotated 90 degrees instead of the vertically long arrangement shown in the figure. The same applies to the following examples.

(Case 2): A description will be given with reference to FIG. On the controller board side, the substrate P2 or the substrate P3 is attached to the right plate 49. Further, the substrate P4y is attached to the right plate 49 via a support 67 for the substrate P4y with the plate surface parallel to the substrate P2 or the substrate P3.

  The substrate P2, the substrate P3, and the substrate P4y are held so that their plate surfaces are perpendicular to the bottom plate 44 and parallel to a plane including the attaching / detaching direction (parallel to the surface of the right plate 49), and the substrate surface of the substrate P1 is the substrate P2 or It arrange | positions in the direction which becomes parallel with respect to the board surface of the board | substrate P3 or the board | substrate P4y.

  Connectors C1 and C1-1 are provided on the substrate P1, connectors C2 are provided on the plate surface of the substrate P2, connectors C3 are provided on the plate surface of the substrate P3, and connectors C4y are provided on the plate surface of the substrate P4y. The connectors C2 and C3 make a pair with the connector C1, and the connector C4y makes a pair with the connector C1-1. The connectors C 1, C 1-1, C 2, C 3, and C 4 y are arranged with their connection directions aligned with the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41.

  For example, assuming that the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C1 and the connector C2 and the connector C4 and the connector C1-1 are set to coincide with each other, the controller board 41 on which the board P2 and the board P4y are mounted is mounted on the machine body 1. There is no problem in the connection of the connector when it is mounted on.

  On the other hand, for the controller board 41 on which the thin substrate P3 and the substrate P4y are mounted, the connector C3 is shifted to the right by the plate thickness difference Δt with respect to the connector C4y. That is, since the board P3 is attached to the right board 49 with the board surface (right side) opposite to the connector mounting surface as the mounting surface, the connector C3 is thicker than the connector C4y at the time of this mounting. It is shifted to the right by the difference Δt. Accordingly, the connector C4y is shifted to the left by Δt with respect to the connector C3.

The problem of connection incompatibility of the connector C3 with the connector C1 due to the difference in thickness between the board P2 and the board P3 is that the connector C3 matches the connector C1 according to the embodiment described in the case described in FIG. Accordingly, the connector C4y is shifted to the left by the difference Δt in thickness with respect to the connector C1-1. To solve this, the connector C4y must be shifted Δt to the right.
Regarding the position adjustment between the connectors C4y and C1-1, the support body supporting the board of at least one connector is displaced according to the movement of the controller board 41, and the fitting portion of the one connector is moved. This is performed by using guiding means that functions to forcibly match the fitting portion of the other connector. For this guiding means, the guiding means described in (9) can be applied.

(Case 3): A description will be given with reference to FIG. On the controller board side, the board P2 or the board 3 is attached to the right board 49 with the board surface opposite to the connector mounting surface as the mounting reference. Further, the substrate P4x is attached to the right plate 49 via the support member 68 for the substrate P4x in a state where the substrate surface is aligned with the substrate P2 or the substrate P3 in the horizontal direction. The substrate P5x is attached to the side plate 46 via the support 69 with respect to the machine main body 1 (side plate 46) so that the plate surface of the substrate P1 and the plate surface are parallel to each other.

  The substrate P2, the substrate P3, and the substrate P4x have a plate surface perpendicular to the bottom plate 44 and parallel to a plane including the attaching / detaching direction (parallel to the surface of the right plate 49), and the substrate surfaces of the substrates P1 and P5 are the substrate P2 or the substrate. It arrange | positions so that it may become parallel with respect to the plate | board surface of P3 or board | substrate P4x.

  The substrate P1 corresponds to the substrate P2 or the substrate P3, and the substrate P5 corresponds to the substrate P4x. The board P1 is provided with a connector C1, the board P5 is provided with a connector C5, the board P2 is provided with a connector C2, the board P3 is provided with a connector C3, and the board P4x is provided with a connector C4x. ing.

  The connectors C2 and C3 make a pair with the connector C1, and the connector C4x makes a pair with the connector C5. The connectors C 1, C 5, C 2, C 4 x, C 3 are arranged with their connection directions aligned with the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41.

  For example, assuming that the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C1 and the connector C2 and the connector C4x and the connector C5 are set to coincide with each other, the controller board 41 on which the board P2 and the board P4x are mounted is mounted on the machine body 1. If you do, there is no problem with the connection of the connector.

  On the other hand, for the controller board 41 on which the board P3 and the board P4x are mounted, since the connector C3 is provided on the opposite side of the mounting surface of the board P3, the connector C3 is located to the right with respect to the connector C4x. The distance between the connector C4x is shifted by the thickness difference Δt (≧ t2−t3), and the distance between the connectors C1 and C5 is increased by the thickness difference Δt.

The problem of connection incompatibility of the connector C3 with the connector C1 due to the difference in thickness between the board P2 and the board P3 is the controller board so that the connector C3 is matched with the connector C1 according to the embodiment described above in accordance with the case described in FIG. This is solved by shifting 41 to the left with respect to the machine main body. However, the connector C4x is shifted to the left with respect to the connector C5 by Δt. In order to solve this problem, the connector C4x must be shifted to the right by Δt.
Regarding the position adjustment between the connector C5 and the connector C4x, according to the movement of the controller board 41, the support body supporting the board of at least one connector is displaced, and the fitting portion of the one connector is moved to the other. This is performed by using guiding means that functions to forcibly match the fitting portion of the connector. This guidance means (second guidance means) can be used. The second guiding means will be described in the section “(9) Guiding means”.

(9) Example of guiding means Here, the example described in each section of “8.2: Example 1 (Case 1: FIG. 27), (Case 2: FIG. 28), (Case 3: FIG. 29)” is used. The guidance means which can be used are illustrated. The first guiding means used in the (Case 1) and the second guiding means used in the (Case 3) are the same in the configuration of the members except for the attachment target. Will be described with reference to the same figure.

9.1: Guidance example 1
(A): An example of the first guiding means corresponding to the above (Case 1: FIG. 27) will be described with reference to FIG. Please refer to FIG. 35 for the layout of the boards and connectors. However, FIG. 30 shows a state in which the connector is arranged on the board in relation to FIG.

  As described above (Case 1: FIG. 27), when the controller board 41 on which the board P3 and the board P4 are mounted is mounted on the machine main body 1, the connector C4 is left by the plate thickness difference Δt with respect to the connector C1-1. In order to eliminate this shift, it is necessary to shift the connector C4 alone by Δt to the right. The first guiding means described here moves the controller board 41 forward in the attaching / detaching direction of the arrow B, and the connector C4 on the board P4 approaches the connector C1-1 on the board P1, so that the connector C1 The connector C4 can be shifted to the right by Δt with respect to −1.

  In FIG. 30A, the substrate P4 is provided on the support 66 via a bracket 80. Two engaging members J1 are provided on the support 66 so as to sandwich the connector C4 in the vertical direction. The engaging member J1 is a shaft body having a tapered tip, and its axis is aligned in the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41, and the engaging member J1 is formed on the other engaging member J2 to be engaged. It is fixed to the support 66 toward the joint hole 81. The engaging member J2 is fixed to a support body 70 attached to the machine main body 1 so as to be sandwiched in the vertical direction with the connector C1-1 interposed therebetween. The first guiding means includes an engaging member J1, an engaging member J2, and a holding means thereof.

As shown in FIG. 30 (b), the engaging member J1 introduction portion in the engaging hole 81 formed in the engaging member J2 is formed in a so-called r-shape that is rounded to facilitate the engagement. When the controller board 41 is mounted on the machine main body 1, the engaging member J1 approaches the engaging member J2 as the mounting operation proceeds, and before the fitting portions of the connector C1-1 and the connector C4 contact each other. Even if the tip of the taper portion of the engagement member J1 contacts the edge of the engagement hole 81 and both the engagement member J1 and the engagement member J2 are misaligned, one of them follows the other. As a result, the shaft 87 without the taper of the engagement member J1 and the engagement hole 81 are finally engaged with each other, and the connector C1-1 and the connector C4 are engaged.

  The length of the shaft portion 87 in the front-rear direction is a guide length in a state where the shaft portions 87 and the engagement holes 81 are aligned. If this guide length is not longer than at least the fitting length between the connector C1-1 and the connector C4, there is no forced guidance before the fitting between the two connectors is completed. Connection may become unstable.

  In this example, the feature of the taper fitting is used, and the axis of the engagement hole 81 of the engagement member J2 and the axis of the shaft of the engagement member J1 are adjusted in advance with respect to the connector C4. Stagger the amount in anticipation. The direction of shifting is a direction in which the support 66 is displaced so that the connector C4 moves to the right with respect to the connector C1-1. The amount of shifting is the connector with respect to the connector C1-1 due to the displacement of the support 66. C4 is an amount by which Δt can be displaced to the right, and is determined according to the actual situation. The arrangement of the engaging member J1 and the engaging member J2 may be interchanged.

  With such a configuration, the connector C4 can be shifted to the right by Δt with respect to the connector C1-1 by the first guiding means in accordance with the mounting operation of the controller board 41 to the machine body.

(B): An example of the second guiding means corresponding to the above (Case 3: FIG. 29) will be described with reference to FIG. Please refer to FIG. 40 for the layout of the boards and connectors.
As described above (Case 3: FIG. 29), when the controller board 41 on which the board P3 and the board P4x are mounted is mounted on the machine main body 1, the connector C3 is moved to the right by the plate thickness difference Δt with respect to the connector C4x. Due to this, the connector C4x is shifted to the left by Δt with respect to the connector C5. To eliminate this shift, it is necessary to shift the connector C4x by Δt to the right independently of the connector C5. The second guiding means described here moves the controller board 41 forward in the attaching / detaching direction of the arrow B, so that the connector C4x on the board P4x approaches the connector C5 on the board P5 with respect to the connector C5. Thus, the connector C5 can be shifted Δt to the right by itself.

  In FIG. 30A, the substrate P4x is provided on the support body 68 via the bracket 80. Two engaging members J1 were provided on the support 68 so as to be sandwiched in the vertical direction with the connector C4x interposed therebetween. The engaging member J1 is a shaft body having a tapered tip, and its axis is aligned in the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41, and the engaging member J1 is formed on the other engaging member J2 to be engaged. It is being fixed to the support body 68 toward the joint hole 81. The engaging member J2 is fixed to a support body 69 attached to the machine main body 1 so as to be sandwiched between the connector C5 in the vertical direction. The second guiding means includes the engaging member J1, the engaging member J2, and the holding means thereof. Since the operation mode of the second guiding means is the same as the operation of the first guiding means described in (a) above, description thereof is omitted.

  The axis of the engagement hole 81 of the engagement member J2 and the axis of the shaft of the engagement member J1 are shifted in advance. The direction of deviation is the direction in which the support 68 is displaced so that the connector C4x moves to the right with respect to the connector C5, and the amount of displacement is the right of the connector C4x with respect to the connector C5 due to the displacement of the support 68. Δt is an amount that can be displaced by Δt, and is determined according to the actual situation. The arrangement of the engaging member J1 and the engaging member J2 may be interchanged.

  With such a configuration, the connector C4x can be independently shifted to the right by Δt with respect to the connector C5 by the second guiding means as the controller board 41 is mounted on the machine body.

9.2: Guidance example 2
(A): An example of the first guiding means corresponding to the above (Case 1: FIG. 27) will be described with reference to FIG. Please refer to FIG. 35 for the layout of the boards and connectors. However, FIG. 31 shows the state in which the connector is arranged on the board in relation to FIG.

  As described in “9.1: Guiding unit example 1”, the first guiding unit described here moves the controller board 41 forward in the attaching / detaching direction of the arrow B so that the connector C4 on the board P4 is connected. As the connector C1-1 on the board P1 is approached, the connector C4 can be independently shifted to the right by Δt with respect to the connector C1-1.

  In FIG. 31A, the substrate P4 is provided on the support 66 via a bracket 80. Two engaging portions J1-1 were provided on a plate-like support 66 so as to sandwich the connector C4 in the vertical direction. The engaging portion J1-1 is formed by a notch having a Y-shaped contour formed at the end of the plate. Referring to FIG. 31 (b), the engaging portion J1-1 has the widest portion of the notch shape opened at the front end of the support 66, and the axial center OO in the front-rear direction is used as an axis. The opening width is gradually narrowed due to the tapered shape of the symmetrical inclined surface, and the opening width communicates with the narrow opening 82 having a constant width.

  The axis OO is aligned with the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41, and is set toward the other engaging portion J2-1 to be engaged. The engaging portion J2-1 has the same shape as the engaging portion J1-1. The engaging portion forming member 83 is bent and attached to the support body 70 so as to sandwich the connector C1-1 in the vertical direction. It is formed on the upper part and facing the engaging part J1-1.

  The part of the engaging part forming member 83 in which the engaging part J2-1 is formed is a plate-like part orthogonal to the plate-like support 66 on which the engaging part J1-1 is formed. The arrangement is such that the openings are opposed to each other. Moreover, the mutual small opening part 82 has an opening width which can be fitted to each plate thickness part.

  As the mounting operation for mounting the controller board 41 on the machine body 1 proceeds, the engaging portion J1-1 approaches the engaging portion J2-1, and eventually approaches so that the openings face in a cross shape. The engaging portion J2-1 and the engaging portion J1-1 come into contact with each other before the fitting portion between the connector C1-1 and the connector C4 comes into contact with each other. However, one is displaced so as to follow the other, and finally, the two narrow openings 82 are engaged with each other in the engaged state. The length in the front-rear direction of the narrow opening 82 is a guide length in a state where the axial centers of the engaging portion J2-1 and the engaging portion J1-1 are aligned. If this guide length is not longer than at least the fitting length between the connector C1-1 and the connector C4, there is no forced guidance before the fitting between the two connectors is completed. Connection becomes unstable.

  In this example, the feature of such taper fitting is utilized, and the necessary adjustment amount with respect to the connector C4 is previously set between the shaft center of the engaging portion J2-1 and the shaft center of the shaft body of the engaging portion J1-1. Look ahead and stagger. The shifting direction is a direction in which the support 66 is displaced so that the connector C4 moves to the right with respect to the connector C1-1. The amount of shifting is relative to the connector C1-1 by the displacement of the support 66. The amount by which the connector C4 can be displaced Δt to the right is determined according to the actual situation.

  With such a configuration, the connector C4 can be shifted to the right by Δt with respect to the connector C1-1 by the first guiding means in accordance with the mounting operation of the controller board 41 to the machine body.

(B): An example of the second guiding means corresponding to the above (Case 3: FIG. 29) will be described with reference to FIG. Please refer to FIG. 40 for the layout of the boards and connectors.
The second guiding means described here moves the controller board 41 forward in the attaching / detaching direction of the arrow B, so that the connector C4x on the board P4x approaches the connector C5 on the board P5 with respect to the connector C5. Thus, the connector C5 can be shifted Δt to the right by itself.

  In FIG. 31A, the substrate P4x is provided on the support 66 via a bracket 80. The two engaging portions J1-1 were provided on the plate-like support 68 so as to sandwich the connector C4x in the vertical direction. The engaging portion J1-1 is formed by a notch having a Y-shaped contour formed at the end of the plate. And the engaging part J1-2 of the same shape engaged with this engaging part J1-1 is formed in the engaging part formation member 83 attached to the support body 69. FIG. The engaging portion forming member 83 is fixed to a support 69 attached to the machine main body 1.

  Since the shapes of the engaging portions J1-1 and J1-2 are the same as those in the first guiding means described in (a) above, description thereof is omitted.

  When the controller board 41 is mounted on the machine body 1, the engaging portion J <b> 1-1 approaches the engaging portion J <b> 2-1 as the mounting operation proceeds, and the openings gradually approach each other in a cross shape. Even if there is a misalignment between the axial centers of the two, one is displaced so as to follow the other, and finally, both the openings 82 are engaged with each other to reach a fitted state.

  In this example, the feature of the taper fitting is used, and the axial center of the engaging portion J2-1 and the axial center of the shaft body of the engaging portion J1-1 are adjusted in advance with respect to the connector C4x. Look ahead and stagger. This shift direction is a direction in which the support body 68 is displaced so that the connector C4x moves to the right with respect to the connector C5. The shift amount is that the connector C4x moves to the right with respect to the connector C5 due to the displacement of the support body 68. This is an amount that can be displaced by Δt, and is determined according to the actual situation.

  With this configuration, the connector C4x can be shifted by Δt alone to the right by the second guiding means along with the mounting operation of the controller board 41 on the machine body.

9.3: Guidance example 3
This example is a modification of the above-mentioned “9.3: Guiding means example 2: FIG. 31”, and the substrate P4 or the substrate P4x itself is used as an engaging member constituting the first guiding means or the second guiding means. The engaging portion J2-1 is engaged. Such a mode is possible if the substrate P4 or the substrate P4x is orthogonal to the engaging portion J2-1. The width of the narrow opening 82 is set to a size that can be fitted in accordance with the thickness of the substrate P4 or the substrate P4x.

In this example, the first guiding means is configured when the connector C1-1 and the connector C4 are used, and the second guiding means is configured when the connector C5 and the connector C4x are used.
Since the operation mode is similar to the example of FIG. 31, the details are omitted.

9.4: Examples of other engaging members The members having the pair of engaging members J1 and J2 and the engaging portions J1-1 and J2-1 constituting the first guiding means and the second guiding means described above In the initial stage of engagement or fitting performed by moving one of the members in the axial direction and approaching the other between the members forming the shaft, even if there is a shift of the axial center between the two members, at the end of the engagement or fitting Has a characteristic that at least one of the two members is shifted in the direction perpendicular to the axis in the direction in which the axes of both the members are aligned with each other in the initial engagement state. The upper connector is shifted in the desired direction. An example of a member having such engagement characteristics is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 33, one engaging portion J1-2 includes a prism portion 84 provided on the member 86 and a truncated cone portion 85 integrated with the tip portion of the prism portion 84. The example in the figure has four corners, but other corners may be used. The other engaging portion J2-2 is formed of a hole provided in the member 87 and capable of fitting with the prism portion 84 of the engaging portion J1-2.

  A similar function can be obtained by attaching such a member 86 to the support 69 or 70 in the above example and attaching the member 87 to the support 66 or 68 in the above example.

9/5: Guide Length by Guiding Means FIG. 34 illustrates a pin connector as an example of a pair of connectors. One connector C88 has a convex fitting portion 88, and the other connector C89 has a concave fitting portion 89. The convex fitting part 88 is a rectangular parallelepiped convex part, and has pin holes h constituting a large number of electrical contacts on the surface part.

  The concave fitting portion 89 has a box shape having an inner peripheral surface to be fitted to the outer shape portion of the fitting portion 88, and is internally connected to the pin hole h to be electrically connected. Pins p are arranged. By mechanically fitting the fitting portion 89 and the fitting portion 88, electrical connection is established by fitting the pin p and the pin hole h.

  The height h from the seating surface 88a of the connector C88 is the fitting length between the paired connectors. The length of the shaft portion 87 in FIG. 30, the length of the narrow opening 82 in FIGS. 31 and 32, the engagement portions J1-1 and J2-1 in FIG. 33, the length of the prismatic portion 84 in FIG. Is the guide length in the 1st guidance means or the 2nd guidance means. This guide length is longer than the height h (fitting length). By guiding until the fitting is completed, the electrical connection is stably performed. As described above, in any example, the dimensions are set such that the guide portion contacts before the connectors start to contact each other.

(10) Specific example 10/1 of the electrical substrate support structure using the guiding means: This is a specific example of the substrate arrangement described with reference to FIG. 27 in “8.2: Example 1: (Case 1)”.

  FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the controller board 41 as viewed from above. The arrangement configuration of each board and the arrangement configuration of the connectors are as described with reference to FIG. If it supplements, the board | substrate P4 is attached to the support body 66 via the bracket 80. FIG. The support body 66 is a plate-like body, and the rear end portion is bent in an L shape and fixed to the rear plate 48.

  As described above, when the controller board 41 on which the substrate P3 and the substrate P4 are mounted is mounted on the machine main body 1, or when the substrate 3 is mounted instead of the substrate 2, there is a difference in thickness between the substrates P2 and P3. The problem of incompatibility of the connection of the connector C3 to the connector C1 is caused by the above-described embodiment according to the case described in FIG. 8 (the controller board 41 is shifted from the side plate 46 to the left by the plate thickness difference Δt as shown). Although it solved, connector C4 will shift | deviate to the left by board thickness difference (DELTA) t as shown in figure with respect to connector C1-1.

  As a countermeasure, as described in “(9) Guiding means section” with reference to FIGS. 30 to 34, the first guiding means is arranged between the support body 66 on the controller board 41 side and the support body 70 on the machine body 1 side. Or by using the substrate P4 itself as the first guiding means, the related member such as the support 66 and the substrate P4 can be forcibly deformed to fit the connector C4 to the connector C1-1. It was.

  In such a configuration, when the plate thickness difference is small, the force acting on the related member can be ignored. However, if the plate thickness difference Δt increases, the related member is burdened, which is not preferable. Therefore, in this example, the application of the first guiding means is left as it is, and the fixing of the support 66 to the rear plate 48 with respect to the rear plate 48 is released and the first guide means is movably attached.

  In FIG. 36, the attachment portion of the support 66 to the rear plate 48 has a movable attachment structure using a long hole. In FIG. 36, the first guiding means is not shown to avoid complication. Since the direction of the force received by the support 66 by using the first guiding means is the left-right direction that is the direction of displacement between the connector C1-1 and the connector C4 (direction of the plate thickness difference Δt), FIG. 36 to FIG. As shown in the drawing, a long hole 92 that is long in the left-right direction is formed in the rear plate 48, and a stepped screw 91 is threaded into the support body 66 to be fastened and fixed.

  Here, the stepped portion at the boundary between the fitting diameter portion 91a of the stepped screw 91 with respect to the elongated hole 92 and the threaded portion is in contact with the surface of the support 66 (the surface directly facing the rear plate 48). In a state where the stepped screw 91 is fully tightened, a slidable gap is formed between the surface of the support 66 and the rear plate 48.

  With this configuration, the connector C4 and the support 66 are integrated with the connector C1-1 without applying excessive force to the substrate P1 and the support 66 under the use of the first guiding means. Further, the connector C1-1 and the connector C4 can be connected to each other as shown in FIG. 39 by aligning the axial centers of the fitting portions of the connector C1-1 and the connector C4.

  In addition, when it is necessary to hold the support body 66 at the center position in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the elongated hole 92 in order to smoothly engage the engaging portions in the first guiding means, for example, FIG. As shown in FIG. 38, the support 66 is pulled in the left-right direction by the urging means 93 having the same strength.

10.2: This is a specific example of the substrate arrangement described in FIG. 29 in “8.2: Example 1: (Case 3)”.

  FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view of the controller board 41 as viewed from above. The arrangement configuration of each board and the arrangement configuration of the connectors are as described with reference to FIG. The substrate P4x is attached to the support 66 via a bracket 80. The support body 66 is a plate-like body, and the rear end portion is bent in an L shape and fixed to the rear plate 48.

  As described above, when the controller board 41 on which the substrate P3 and the substrate P4 are mounted is mounted on the machine main body 1, or when the substrate 3 is mounted instead of the substrate 2, there is a difference in thickness between the substrates P2 and P3. The problem of incompatibility of the connection of the connector C3 to the connector C1 is caused by the above-described embodiment according to the case described in FIG. 8 (the controller board 41 is shifted from the side plate 46 to the left by the plate thickness difference Δt as shown). Although solved, the connector C4x is shifted to the left by a plate thickness difference Δt as shown in the figure.

  As a countermeasure, as described in “(9) Guiding means” together with FIGS. 30 to 34, the second guiding means is provided between the support body 68 on the controller board 41 side and the support body 69 on the machine body 1 side. Or by using the board P4x itself as the second guiding means, the related member such as the support 68 and the board P4x can be forcibly deformed to fit the connector C4x to the connector C5.

  In such a configuration, when the plate thickness difference is small, the force acting on the related member can be ignored. However, if the plate thickness difference Δt increases, the related member is burdened, which is not preferable. Therefore, in this example, the application of the second guiding means is left as it is, and the fixing to the rear plate 48 of the support 68 is released and attached movably.

  In FIG. 41, the attachment part to the rear plate 48 of the support 68 has a movable attachment structure using a long hole. In FIG. 41, the second guiding means is not shown to avoid complication. Since the direction of the force received by the support 68 by using the second guiding means is the left-right direction which is the direction of displacement between the connector C4x and the connector C5 (direction of the plate thickness difference Δt), FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 43 and 44, a long slot 94 that is long in the left-right direction is formed in the rear plate 48, and a stepped screw 95 is threaded into the support body 68 to be fastened and fixed.

  Here, the stepped screw 95 is configured such that the stepped portion formed at the boundary between the fitting portion 95a and the threaded portion with respect to the elongated hole 93 abuts on the surface of the support 68 (the surface directly opposed to the rear plate 48). In a state where the stepped screw 95 is fully tightened, a slidable gap is formed between the surface of the support 68 and the rear plate 48.

  With this configuration, the connector C4x is integrally formed with the support body 68 with respect to the connector C5 without applying excessive force to the substrate P4x and the support body 68 when the first guiding means is used. The thickness difference Δt can be shifted to the right, and the axes of the fitting portions of the connector C5 and the connector C4x can be aligned to connect the connectors as shown in FIG.

  In this example in which a plurality of connectors are connected at the same time using the second guiding means, in order to further reduce the burden on the support 69, the attachment portion of the support 69 to the partition plate 47 is movable using a long hole. It has a type mounting structure. The force received by the support 69 by using the second guiding means is eliminated by the long hole 94, but the direction in which the stress acts is not limited to one direction, so FIGS. 41, 42 (a), 43, 44 As shown in FIG. 3, a long hole 96 is formed in the partition plate 47 in the vertical direction, and a stepped screw 97 is threaded into the support body 69 to be fastened and fixed.

  Here, the stepped screw 97, like the stepped screw 95, makes a slidable gap between the surface of the support 69 and the partition plate 47 in the tightened state.

  With this configuration, the shaft centers of the fitting portions of the connector C5 and the connector C4x can be obtained without applying excessive force to the board P4x, the board 5, and the support body 68 when the second guiding means is used. As shown in FIG. 41, the connectors can be connected to each other.

  If the substrate 4 or the substrate P4x can be connected to the substrate 2 or 3, the configuration as in this example is not necessary. Exchange. Therefore, it is more desirable to connect to the substrate P1 than to connect to the substrate P2 or P3. In this example, the substrate P1 is in parallel with the substrate P2 or P3, and it is physically difficult for the substrate P4x to be directly connected to the substrate P1, so the substrate P5 is relayed from the substrate P4x and connected to the substrate P1. It is in shape.

  In addition, the board P4x may be attached to another part without being attached to the controller board 41 so that it can be inserted and removed alone. When there is nothing to be attached or when there is no space for placing the guide rail, it is difficult to insert and remove the substrate P4x alone, so the configuration as in this example is necessary.

  In the above, it was possible to improve the assembling property at the time of mounting while maintaining the mounting compatibility of the substrates having different thicknesses.

[3] Electrical board support structure II
In the embodiment of the electrical board support structure I described above, the controller board 41 holds the board P2 or the board P3, which is the replacement board, as described with FIGS. 3, 4, 9, etc. It is supported by a support surface parallel to a plane (X-Y plane) including the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) that is the thickness direction and the front-rear direction (X-axis) that is the attachment / detachment direction (arrow B direction) and is guided in the attachment / detachment direction. This support surface is the surface of the bottom plate 44, and the bottom plate 44 constitutes a support guide portion that receives and supports the load of the controller board 41.

  That is, the support guide unit supports the controller board 41 on a plane parallel to the plane including the thickness direction of the replacement board held by the controller board 41 and the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41.

  In other words, the support guide section intersects with the thickness direction of the replacement board held by the controller board 41 at an angle θ when viewed from the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41. The controller board 41 is supported by a plane parallel to the plane including the direction and the mounting / removal direction of the controller board 41 ”. In such a case, the plate surface of the substrate P2 or the substrate P3 is inclined at an angle θ with respect to the surface of the support guide portion, that is, the surface of the bottom plate 44.

  In the example of the embodiment described so far, the substrate P2 or the substrate P3 has the plate surface of the support guide portion under the angle θ of 0 degrees or 180 degrees under the generalized expression. Since this corresponds to the case where the surface is inclined at an angle θ (≧ 0 degree or 180 degrees), the difference in thickness Δt is “Δt · cos θ ≧ Δt”. The above equation (1) showing the relationship between the amount of clearance s in the plate thickness direction formed between the right side of the right plate 49 and the left side of the side plate 46, and the plate thickness difference Δt between the substrate P2 and the substrate P3. S ≧ Δt holds as it is.

  Therefore, in the example of the embodiment described so far, when viewed from the attaching / detaching direction of the controller board 41, the support guide portion has an angle θ (where θ ≧ 0) with respect to the thickness direction of the replacement board held by the controller board 41. The controller board 41 is supported by a plane parallel to a plane including a direction (that is, a plate thickness direction) intersecting at an angle of 180 degrees or a direction in which the controller board 41 is attached and detached.

  Of course, the present invention can be implemented even when there is no limitation of θ ≧ 0 degrees or 180 degrees. In that case, instead of the above-described expression (1), s ≧ Δt · cos θ (Expression 2) Applies.

1 is an external perspective view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It is the disassembled perspective view explaining the controller board and its mounting part in a machine main body. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows a part of machine main body with which a controller board is mounted | worn. It is an external appearance perspective view of a controller board. It is the partial external appearance perspective view which showed the upper part of the controller board. It is the partial external appearance perspective view which showed the lower part of the controller board. It is the figure which illustrated arrangement | positioning of the board | substrate with which a machine main body and a controller board are mounted | worn. It is the fragmentary sectional exploded perspective view explaining the controller board and its mounting part in a machine main part. It is sectional drawing which showed the guidance aspect of the controller board in a machine main body. (A) is the figure which showed before connection of each connector of a machine main body side and a controller board side, (b) is the figure which showed after connection of each connector of the machine main body side and a controller board side. It is the figure explaining before the connection of each connector in case there exists a position shift. (A) (b) is the figure which illustrated the case where a connector collided with other parts. It is the figure explaining the state which the axial center of two connectors corresponds. (A) is a figure explaining the guide position of the controller board at the time of thick board | substrate mounting, (b) is the figure explaining the guide position of the controller board at the time of thin board | substrate mounting. It is a perspective view of a leaf | plate spring. (A) is the figure which showed the state which attached the leaf | plate spring to the side plate as it is, (b) is the figure which showed the state which attached the leaf | plate spring to the recessed part formed in the side plate. It is the perspective view which illustrated the controller board guide member. It is sectional drawing which showed the controller board guide member. It is a top view of the convex part for guidance. It is sectional drawing which expanded and showed the attaching part of the convex part for a guide. It is the figure which illustrated the arrangement | positioning aspect of the convex part for guidance. It is the top view which showed the form which the convex part for guidance has the introduction angle of a to-be-guided means. It is the figure which showed the example of arrangement | positioning of the board | substrate with which a main body and a controller board are mounted | worn. It is the figure which illustrated arrangement | positioning of the board | substrate with which a main body and a controller board are mounted | worn. It is the figure which illustrated arrangement | positioning of the board | substrate with which a main body and a controller board are mounted | worn. It is the figure which illustrated arrangement | positioning of the board | substrate with which a main body and a controller board are mounted | worn. It is the figure which illustrated arrangement | positioning of the board | substrate with which a main body and a controller board are mounted | worn. It is the figure which illustrated arrangement | positioning of the board | substrate with which a main body and a controller board are mounted | worn. (A) is the figure which illustrated the guide mechanism of the connector, (b) is the figure which expanded and showed the fitting part. (A) is the figure which illustrated the guide mechanism of the connector, (b) is the figure which expanded and showed the fitting part. It is the figure which illustrated the guide mechanism of the connector. It is the perspective view which illustrated the engaging member which comprises the guide mechanism of a connector. It is the perspective view which illustrated a pair of connectors. It is a figure explaining the position shift of a connector in case two connectors are connected simultaneously. It is a figure explaining the position shift of a connector in case two connectors are connected simultaneously. (A) is sectional drawing explaining the case where the main body side board and the support plate of a board | substrate are supported by an elongate hole, (b) is a front view of an elongate hole. It is the perspective view which showed the upper controller board in a machine main body. It is a fragmentary sectional view of a machine body in case two sets of connectors are in a fitting state. It is a fragmentary sectional view of a machine body in case one side of two sets of connectors has shifted in position between a pair of connectors. It is a fragmentary sectional view of a machine body in case two sets of connectors are connected between a pair of connectors. (A) is sectional drawing explaining the attachment part to the machine main body of a board | substrate support body, (b) is sectional drawing explaining the attachment part to the controller board of a board | substrate support body. It is a figure explaining the aspect which two long holes cross | intersect. It is the disassembled perspective view explaining the relationship where the long hole respectively formed in the controller board and the machine main body cross | intersects.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming device body (machine body)
42 Outer plate 43 Mounting portion 44 Bottom plate (support guide portion)
44a Recess 45 Top plate 46 Side plate 47a Opening 48 Rear plate 49 Right plate 49
50 Upper plate 50a Left end surface 51 Lower plate 51a Left end surface 52 Front plates 53 and 54 Convex brackets 55 and 56
59 Leaf springs 63, 92, 94, 96 Long hole 83 Engagement portion forming members C1, C2, C3, C4, C4x, C4y, C5, C5x, C1-1, C2-1, C3-1, C5x, C88, C89 connector H1 inclined part H2 parallel part J1, J2 engaging member J1-1, J2-1, J1-2, J2-2 engaging part P, P1 to P5, P4, P4x, P4y, P5x substrate

Claims (20)

A machine body that holds an electrical board (hereinafter referred to as a main body board) and a movable body that can be attached to and detached from the machine body. The movable body is electrically connected to and separated from the body board via a connector. Is a replaceable electrical board that can be moved in the direction of attachment and detachment while holding a plurality of other electrical boards having different thicknesses (hereinafter referred to as replacement boards). An electrical board support structure that is electrically connected to and separated from the replacement board,
The machine body is provided with guide means for guiding the movable body during the attachment / detachment,
The movable body includes guided means guided by the guiding means,
The guide means is disposed so as to be opposed to a support guide portion that supports the movable body on a plane parallel to a plane including the thickness direction of the replacement substrate and the attaching / detaching direction, and spaced apart in the thickness direction of the replacement substrate. A pair of guide portions having a length in the attaching / detaching direction,
The guided means is a supported guide portion that abuts on the support guide portion, and a guided portion that is located between the opposing intervals of the guide portions and is in contact with either one of the guide portions and guided in the attaching / detaching direction. And
The plate formed between the other of the guided portions and the other of the guide portions in a state where the supported guide portion is applied to the supported guide portion and one of the guided portions is applied to one of the guide portions. An electrical substrate support structure, wherein a relationship between a gap amount s in a thickness direction and a difference Δt in plate thickness between the plurality of replacement substrates is set to satisfy s ≧ Δt.   2. The electrical substrate support structure according to claim 1, wherein the replacement substrate is held by the movable member so that a plate surface thereof is perpendicular to the supported guide portion and parallel to a plane including the attachment / detachment direction. A plate surface is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the replacement substrate, and the replacement substrate can be attached and detached while maintaining a direction in which each plate surface is perpendicular to the main body substrate. An electrical circuit board support structure characterized by that.   2. The electrical board support structure according to claim 1, wherein the replacement board is held by the movable member so that a plate surface thereof is perpendicular to the supported guide surface and parallel to a plane including the attaching / detaching direction. A plate surface is arranged in a direction parallel to the plate surface of the replacement substrate, and the replacement substrate can be attached and detached while maintaining a direction in which each plate surface is parallel to the main body substrate. An electrical circuit board support structure characterized by that.   4. The electrical board support structure according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of sets of connectors for connecting the main body board and the replacement board. 5.   5. The electrical board support structure according to claim 1, wherein an electrical board (hereinafter, referred to as a board P <b> 4) is attached to the movable body so that the plate surface of the replacement substrate and the plate surface thereof are parallel to each other. The connector on the substrate P4 is paired with the connector for the main body substrate, and has the first guiding means for guiding the connection between the paired connectors.   6. The electrical substrate support structure according to claim 5, wherein the substrate P4 is attached to the movable body via a support for the substrate P4, and the first guiding means includes the support for the substrate P4 and the substrate P4. The support body for the substrate P4 is provided so as to be movable relative to the movable body in the thickness direction of the replacement board. An electrical circuit board support structure characterized by that.   7. The electrical board support structure according to claim 1, wherein there are three or more replacement boards, and a difference Δtmax between the maximum thickness tm and the minimum thickness ts is set such that s ≧ Δtmax. An electrical circuit board support structure characterized by comprising:   8. The electrical board support structure according to claim 1, further comprising an urging unit that presses one of the two guided parts against one of the two guide parts. 9.   9. The electrical circuit board support structure according to claim 1, wherein one of the pair of guide portions constitutes a protrusion-shaped body having a length in the attachment / detachment direction, A plurality of the protrusion-shaped bodies are provided in the support guide portion along the attaching / detaching direction, and the protrusion closest to the insertion port of the movable body provided in the machine body among the plurality of the protrusion-shaped bodies. While at least a part of the shape body satisfies the relationship of s ≧ Δt with respect to the gap amount s, the vicinity of the insertion port has a large interval with the other guide part of the pair of guide parts, and the main body substrate side An electrical circuit board support structure, wherein the distance is gradually reduced as the distance from the electrical circuit board approaches.   10. The electrical circuit board support structure according to claim 1, wherein one of the guide portions constitutes a protrusion-shaped body having a length in the attaching / detaching direction, and the protrusion-shaped body. Is a separate member movable on the machine body, and the gap amount s can be adjusted.   2. The electrical board support structure according to claim 1, wherein the replacement board is held by the movable member in parallel to a plane that is perpendicular to the support surface and includes the attaching / detaching direction, and the electrical machine board (hereinafter, board) P5), and an electric board (hereinafter referred to as board P4x) is held by the movable body so as to be parallel to the plate surface of the replacement board. An electrical circuit board support structure comprising a second guide means connectable to the connector for the board P5 attached to the machine main body and guiding to a connector connecting portion.   12. The electric board support structure according to claim 11, wherein the board P4x is attached to the movable body via a support for the board P4x, and the connector for the board P5 is attached to the machine body via a support. The second guiding means is attached to the support body on which the substrate P4x is mounted and the support body on which the connector for the substrate P5 is mounted or the machine body, respectively. Support structure.   The electrical board support structure according to claim 12, wherein the board P4x or the board P5 is movable in a direction perpendicular to a connector connection direction, and the support or the connector for the board P5 on which the board P4x is mounted. An electrical board support structure, wherein the mounted support body is attached to each attachment object so as to be movable.   14. The electrical board support structure according to claim 13, wherein the movable directions of the board P4x and the board P5 are perpendicular to each other in the same plane.   15. The electrical circuit board support structure according to claim 5, wherein a guide length in the first guiding means or the second guiding means is longer than a fitting length between the paired connectors. A feature of the electric circuit board support structure.   16. The electrical board support structure according to claim 1, wherein an electrical board connector to be held by the machine body is arranged not on the electrical board but on the machine body. Substrate support structure.   It is a movable body used for the electrical equipment substrate support structure in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 16, Comprising: The movable body which can be attached or detached with respect to the said machine main body.   An image forming apparatus comprising the electrical substrate support structure according to claim 1.   When attaching and detaching the movable body using the electrical board support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 16, the two guided portions are abutted against the two guided portions according to a difference in the plate thickness. A method of using an electrical substrate support structure, wherein the contact is switched. A machine body that holds an electrical board (hereinafter referred to as a main body board) and a movable body that can be attached to and detached from the machine body. The movable body is electrically connected to and separated from the body board via a connector. Is a replaceable electrical board that can be moved in the direction of attachment and detachment while holding a plurality of other electrical boards having different thicknesses (hereinafter referred to as replacement boards). An electrical board support structure that is electrically connected to and separated from the replacement board,
The machine body is provided with guide means for guiding the movable body during the attachment / detachment,
The movable body includes guided means guided by the guiding means,
The guide means includes a support guide portion that supports the movable body in a plane parallel to a plane that includes an angle θ with respect to the thickness direction of the replacement substrate and the attachment / detachment direction, and a thickness direction of the replacement substrate. And a pair of guide portions that are arranged opposite each other with a length in the attaching / detaching direction,
The guided means is a supported guide portion that abuts on the support guide portion, and a guided portion that is located between the opposing intervals of the guide portions and is in contact with either one of the guide portions and guided in the attaching / detaching direction. And
The plate formed between the other of the guided portions and the other of the guide portions in a state where the supported guide portion is applied to the supported guide portion and one of the guided portions is applied to one of the guide portions. An electrical circuit board support structure, wherein a relationship between a gap s in a thickness direction and a difference in thickness Δt between the plurality of replacement boards is set to satisfy s ≧ cos θ · Δt.

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