JP2011075615A - Image-forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming device which restrains influence due to noise generated from a cable to restrain deterioration in the image quality. <P>SOLUTION: The image-forming device includes a body housing which is provided with a photoreceptor drum and an aperture part; an upper cover which opens and closes the aperture part; a plurality of LED units 40, which are provided in an array form in the upper cover and are arranged facing the photoreceptor drum, when the upper cover is closed, and expose the surface of the photoreceptor drum to light; a control base board 100 which is provided in the upper cover and controls the light emission of each of the LED units 40; and a plurality of first cables 110 which electrically connect the respective LED units 40 with the control base board 100. Each of the first cables 110 is a flat cable and the cables are arranged so that they do not overlap one another. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a plurality of exposure members that expose a surface of a photoconductor in a state of facing the photoconductor.

  Conventionally, a plurality of LED units (exposure members) for exposing a photoconductor and a control board for controlling the LED unit are provided on a cover that opens and closes an opening of the main body housing. An image forming apparatus electrically connected by a cable is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-157138 A

  By the way, in the conventional image forming apparatus, since a plurality of cables connecting the control board and the LED unit are arranged together, noise generated from the cable affects other adjacent cables and image quality. There was a risk of lowering.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing a decrease in image quality by suppressing the influence of noise generated from a cable.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided in a state in which a main body housing provided with a photosensitive member and an opening, a cover that opens and closes the opening, and an array of the cover, A plurality of exposure members that are arranged to face the photoconductor when the cover is closed and expose the surface of the photoconductor; a control board that is provided on the cover and controls light emission of each exposure member; An image forming apparatus including a plurality of first cables that electrically connect the exposure members and the control board, wherein the first cables are flat cables and do not overlap each other. It is arranged.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the first cables (flat cables) are arranged so as not to overlap each other, so that the influence of noise generated from the cables can be made less susceptible to each other. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in image quality.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the first cables (flat cables) are arranged so as not to overlap each other, it is possible to suppress the influence of noise generated from the cables, and to suppress deterioration in image quality. can do.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a color printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the color printer of the state which opened the upper cover. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of an LED unit and a control board. It is a perspective view which shows the connection state of an LED unit and a control board. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the color printer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of an LED unit and a control board. It is a top view which shows the connection state of the LED unit which concerns on a 1st modification, and a control board. It is a top view which shows the connection state of the LED unit which concerns on a 2nd modification, and a control board. It is a top view which shows the connection state of the LED unit which concerns on a 3rd modification, and a control board.

[First Embodiment]
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, first, a schematic configuration of the color printer 1 as an example of the image forming apparatus will be described, and then a characteristic part of the present invention will be described in detail.

  Here, in the following description, the direction will be described with reference to the user who uses the color printer 1. That is, the left side in FIG. 1 is “front”, the right side is “rear”, the front side is “right”, and the back side is “left”. Also, the vertical direction in FIG.

<Schematic configuration of color printer>
As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer 1 includes a paper supply unit 20 that supplies a sheet P as an example of a recording sheet in a main body housing 10, and an image forming unit 30 that forms an image on the supplied sheet P. And a paper discharge unit 90 for discharging the paper P on which an image is formed.

  An upper cover 11 is provided on the upper side of the main body housing 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper cover 11 is an example of a cover that opens and closes an opening 10 </ b> A provided on the upper portion of the main body housing 10, and the front side pivots up and down around the rear pivot shaft 12. It is configured to be possible. A paper discharge tray 13 on which the paper P discharged from the inside of the main body housing 10 is placed is provided on the upper surface of the upper cover 11, and four LED units 40 are swingably held on the lower surface. A holding part 14 is provided.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the paper feed unit 20 is provided in the lower part of the main body housing 10, and a paper feed tray 21 that stores the paper P and a paper supply that supplies the paper P from the paper feed tray 21 to the image forming unit 30. The mechanism 22 is mainly provided. The paper P in the paper feed tray 21 is separated one by one by the paper supply mechanism 22 and supplied to the image forming unit 30.

  The image forming unit 30 mainly includes four LED units 40 as an example of a plurality of exposure members, four process units 50, a transfer unit 70, and a fixing unit 80.

  The LED units 40 are provided in a state of being arranged in the front-rear direction below the upper cover 11, and are disposed so as to oppose the photosensitive drum 51 when the upper cover 11 is closed. The LED unit 40 includes a head portion 41 and a support portion 42 that supports the head portion 41. At the tip of the head portion 41, a plurality of light emitting portions (LEDs) (not shown) are arranged in the axial direction (left-right direction) of the photosensitive drum 51. The support part 42 is attached to the upper cover 11 via the holding part 14. Such an LED unit 40 receives a signal from a control board 100 (to be described later) based on the image data, thereby causing the light emitting portion to blink and exposes the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 51.

  The process unit 50 is arranged in a front-rear arrangement between the upper cover 11 and the paper feeding unit 20, and is attached to and detached from the main body housing 10 through the opening 10 </ b> A exposed when the upper cover 11 is opened. It is configured to be mounted as possible. The process unit 50 mainly includes a photosensitive drum 51 as an example of a photosensitive member, a charger 52, a developing roller 53, a supply roller 54, a layer thickness regulating blade 55, and a toner accommodating portion 56. Yes.

  The transfer unit 70 is provided between the paper feeding unit 20 and the process unit 50, and includes a driving roller 71, a driven roller 72, and an endless conveyance belt 73 that is stretched between the driving roller 71 and the driven roller 72. And four transfer rollers 74 are mainly provided. The outer surface of the conveyance belt 73 is in contact with each photosensitive drum 51, and the transfer roller 74 is disposed inside the conveyance belt 73 so as to sandwich the conveyance belt 73 with each photosensitive drum 51.

  The fixing unit 80 is provided behind the process unit 50 and the transfer unit 70, and mainly includes a heating roller 81 and a pressure roller 82 that is disposed to face the heating roller 81 and presses the heating roller 81.

  In the image forming unit 30, the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 is uniformly charged by the charger 52 and then exposed by the LED unit 40, whereby an electrostatic latent image based on image data is formed on the photosensitive drum 51. It is formed. Further, the toner in the toner storage unit 56 is supplied to the developing roller 53 via the supply roller 54 and enters between the developing roller 53 and the layer thickness regulating blade 55 to form a thin layer having a constant thickness. Supported on.

  Then, the toner carried on the developing roller 53 is supplied from the developing roller 53 to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 51, whereby the electrostatic latent image is visualized and the toner on the photosensitive drum 51. A toner image is formed. Thereafter, the paper P supplied onto the conveyance belt 73 is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 51 and the conveyance belt 73 (transfer roller 74), so that the toner image formed on each photosensitive drum 51 becomes a sheet. The images are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto P. Then, the paper P is conveyed between the heating roller 81 and the pressure roller 82, whereby the toner image transferred onto the paper P is thermally fixed.

  The paper discharge unit 90 extends upward from the outlet of the fixing unit 80 and is formed so as to change the direction forward, a conveyance roller 92 that conveys the paper P, and a paper discharge that discharges the paper P. The roller 93 is mainly provided. The paper P on which the toner image has been thermally fixed is transported along the paper discharge path 91 by the transport roller 92 and is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 13 by the discharge roller 93.

<LED unit wiring structure>
Next, the wiring structure of the LED unit 40 that is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer 1 includes a paper supply unit 20, an image forming unit 30, and a paper discharge unit 90, a main board 10 </ b> B, a control board 100, and four first cables 110 (a plurality of first cables 110). 1 cable) and one second cable 120 (second cable).

(Main board)
The main board 10 </ b> B is a board that controls the operation of the color printer 1 (the paper feeding unit 20, the image forming unit 30, and the paper discharge unit 90) directly or indirectly through another control board such as the control board 100. The main body housing 10 is provided at an appropriate position.

(Control board)
The control board 100 is a board that outputs a signal to each LED unit 40 (head section 41) based on image data input to the color printer 1 (main board 10B) and controls light emission of the light emitting section (LED). . The control board 100 is provided in the upper cover 11 above the LED unit 40. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the control board 100 has a long rectangular shape in the arrangement direction (front and rear) of the LED units 40, and covers the left end portion of each LED unit 40 from above when viewed from above. Are provided over a range in which the LED units 40 are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control board 100 is arranged such that a component surface (a surface on which various components (not shown) are placed) faces downward, and each first cable 110 is connected to the component surface. Four connection connectors 101 and one connection connector 102 to which the second cable 120 is connected are provided. In other words, in the present embodiment, the connection connectors 101 and 102 are provided on the lower surface of the control board 100.

  The connection connector 101 is provided at a position directly above the corresponding LED unit 40. Further, the connection connector 102 is provided at a position on the right side of the rear side of the control board 100 and between the two rear LED units 40 when the control board 100 is viewed from directly above (see FIG. 3).

(First cable)
The first cable 110 is a flat cable obtained by bundling a plurality of conducting wires covered with an insulating resin film into a single band, and has flexibility. The first cable 110 electrically connects each LED unit 40 and the control board 100.

  Specifically, one end of the first cable 110 is electrically connected to the head portion 41 of the LED unit 40, passes through the support portion 42, and is drawn from the upper portion of the support portion 42, and the terminal 111 is connected to the other end. Is provided. The first cable 110 electrically connects the LED unit 40 (head portion 41) and the control board 100 by inserting the terminal 111 into the connection connector 101 of the control board 100.

  The first cables 110 have substantially the same length from the LED unit 40 (head portion 41) to the control board 100 (connecting connector 101), and are arranged so as not to overlap each other. More specifically, the first cables 110 are in a state of facing each other and are sufficiently separated from each other so that the process unit 50 can be disposed between the cables (see FIG. 1).

  The arrangement in which the first cables 110 (flat cables) overlap each other means that the belt-like (planar) first cables 110 are stacked or crossed so as to approach (or contact) each other while facing each other. To be placed. Accordingly, in the present invention, the first cables 110 are arranged so as not to approach (or contact) in a state of facing each other.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control board 100 and the LED unit 40 are electrically connected by the first cable 110 at the same position in the arrangement direction (front-rear direction) of the LED units 40. Furthermore, the connection connector 101 (connection position between the control board 100 and the first cable 110) and the position where the first cable 110 is pulled out from the LED unit 40 (connection between the head portion 41 of the LED unit 40 and the first cable 110). (Position) is arranged so as to overlap each other when the upper cover 11 is viewed from directly above.

(Second cable)
The second cable 120 is a flat cable obtained by bundling a plurality of conductive wires covered with an insulating resin film into a single band, and has flexibility. Although not shown, the total number of conductors included in the second cable 120 is smaller than the total number of conductors included in the four first cables 110. The second cable 120 is different from the data transfer rate per conductor of the first cable 110 and the protocol used in the data transfer rate per conductor of the first cable 110 and the protocol used.

  Such a second cable 120 electrically connects the main board 10B and the control board 100 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, the second cable 120 is provided with a terminal 121 at one end, and the terminal 121 is electrically connected to the control board 100 by being inserted into the connection connector 102 of the control board 100 (see FIG. 4).

  The second cable 120 is drawn rightward from the right edge of the control board 100, is bent rearward in the upper cover 11, extends rearward, and wraps around the rear side of the rotating shaft 12 to enter the main body casing. 10 Although not shown, the other end of the second cable 120 is electrically connected to the main board 10 </ b> B provided in the main body housing 10.

According to the first embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
Since the first cables 110 (flat cables) are arranged sufficiently apart from each other so as not to overlap with each other, the influence of noise generated from the first cables 110 can be made less susceptible to each other. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in image quality in the color printer 1.

  Since the length from the LED unit 40 to the control board 100 of each first cable 110 is substantially the same, the four first cables 110 can be used as a common component. Thereby, cost can be held down compared with the case where a plurality of cables having different lengths are prepared.

  Since the control board 100 and the LED unit 40 are electrically connected by the first cable 110 at the same position in the arrangement direction of the LED units 40, the length of the first cable 110 can be shortened. Thereby, component cost can be held down. Moreover, since the voltage drop between the control board 100 and LED unit 40 (head part 41) can be suppressed because the 1st cable 110 becomes short, the voltage applied to the 1st cable 110 can be made small. it can. As a result, noise generated from the first cable 110 can be reduced, so that deterioration in image quality in the color printer 1 can be further suppressed.

  Since the connection position between the control board 100 and the first cable 110 and the connection position between the LED unit 40 and the first cable 110 are arranged so as to overlap each other when the upper cover 11 is viewed from directly above. The length of the first cable 110 can be further shortened. In particular, in this embodiment, since the connection connector 101 is provided on the lower surface of the control board 100 (the surface on the LED unit 40 side), the length of the first cable 110 can be minimized. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the component cost and further suppress the deterioration of the image quality.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the paper P discharged from the apparatus (main body housing 10) is placed on the upper surface portion 11 </ b> A of the upper cover 11 at a position corresponding to the upper side of the LED unit 40. A paper discharge tray 13 ′ is provided as an example of a placement unit.

  The rear portion of the paper discharge tray 13 'has a concave shape that is recessed from the left and right side portions. In other words, the upper surface portion 11A of the upper cover 11 includes a recessed portion at the rear portion of the paper discharge tray 13 ′ and a non-recessed portion such as the left and right sides of the paper discharge tray 13 ′ (both left and right end portions of the upper surface portion 11A). Have.

  The control board 100 is in the upper cover 11 and is not recessed on the left side of the discharge tray 13 ′ so as not to overlap the concave discharge tray 13 ′ when the upper cover 11 is viewed from directly above. Is arranged. In addition, since the width (right and left length) of the recessed portion of the paper discharge tray 13 ′ is slightly larger than the left and right lengths of the LED unit 40, the control board 100 looks at the upper cover 11 from directly above. Are arranged so as not to overlap with the LED unit 40.

  The control board 100 is provided so as to extend back and forth over the range in which the LED units 40 are arranged, and each LED unit 40 is connected by the first cable 110 at the same position in the arrangement direction (front-rear direction) of the LED units 40. Electrically connected.

  Specifically, the connection board 101 is provided on the control board 100 at the same position in the front-rear direction as the first cable 110 drawn from the upper part of the LED unit 40. And the 1st cable 110 pulled out from the upper part of LED unit 40 is bent toward the left, and terminal 111 provided in the end is inserted in connection connector 101, and control board 100 and each LED unit 40 is electrically connected.

  The lengths from the LED unit 40 to the control board 100 (connecting connector 101) are substantially the same as each other, and the first cables 110 are arranged in a line-up state so as not to overlap (do not cross) each other. Yes.

According to the second embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
Since the first cables 110 are arranged so as not to overlap with each other, the influence of noise generated from the first cables 110 can be suppressed, and deterioration in image quality can be suppressed.

  Since the length from the LED unit 40 of each first cable 110 to the control board 100 is substantially the same, the four first cables 110 can be used as common parts, and the part cost can be reduced.

  Since the control board 100 and the LED unit 40 are electrically connected by the first cable 110 at the same position in the arrangement direction of the LED units 40, the length of the first cable 110 can be shortened. Thereby, component cost can be held down. In addition, since the voltage applied to the first cable 110 can be reduced, noise generated from the first cable 110 can be reduced, and deterioration in image quality can be further suppressed.

  Since the control board 100 is disposed on the left-side non-recessed portion of the paper discharge tray 13 ′ so as not to overlap the concave paper discharge tray 13 ′ when the upper cover 11 is viewed from directly above, Compared with a configuration in which the control board 100 and the concave paper discharge tray 13 overlap each other when viewed from directly above (see FIGS. 1 and 3), the height of the main body housing 10 can be suppressed. Thereby, size reduction of the color printer 1 can be achieved. Moreover, the space around the recessed part in the upper cover 11 can be used effectively.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. About a concrete structure, it can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

  In the said embodiment (1st Embodiment), although the connection connector 101 was illustrated in the structure provided in the lower surface of the control board 100, it is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, a configuration in which the connection connector 101 is provided on the upper surface of the control board 100 (a structure in which the component surface of the control board 100 faces upward) may be employed.

  In the said embodiment (1st Embodiment), when the connection position of the control board 100 and the 1st cable 110 and the connection position of the LED unit 40 and the 1st cable 110 are seen from the upper cover 11 from right above. In addition, although the configuration arranged so as to overlap each other is illustrated, it is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the connection position (connection connector 101) between the control board 100 and the first cable 110 and the connection position between the LED unit 40 and the first cable 110 (the first cable 110 is connected to the LED unit 40). It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the drawn position is shifted from side to side.

  In the embodiment and the modification shown in FIG. 7, the configuration in which the control board 100 and the LED unit 40 are connected by the first cable 110 at the same position in the arrangement direction of the LED units 40 is exemplified. It is not limited. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the control board 100 and the LED unit 40 may be connected by the first cable 110 at positions shifted from each other in the arrangement direction (front and rear) of the LED units 40.

  Furthermore, although the length from the LED unit 40 of each 1st cable 110 to the control board 100 was illustrated in the said embodiment and the modification shown in FIG.7, 8, the example was substantially the same, It is limited to this. It is not a thing. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the length from the LED unit 40 to the control board 100 of at least one first cable 110 may be different.

  7 and 8 show a configuration in which all the first cables 110 are drawn from the same edge (left edge) of the control board 100, but the present invention is not limited to this, and FIG. As shown, it is good also as a structure pulled out from the different edge part (left end edge or rear-end edge) of the control board 100. FIG.

  Here, the first cable 110 and the second cable 120 are desirably configured to be pulled out from the control board 100 in different directions. Specifically, for example, in the embodiment (first embodiment), as shown in FIG. 4, the second cable 120 is pulled out from the right edge of the control board 100 toward the right, and each first cable 110 is controlled. It is drawn downward from the left end of the substrate 100.

  7 and 8, the second cable 120 is drawn from the right end edge of the control board 100 toward the right, and each first cable 110 is connected to the left end edge of the control board 100 (the control board 100 excluding the right end edge). It is pulled out to the left from the edge. Furthermore, in the form shown in FIG. 9, the second cable 120 is drawn from the right end edge of the control board 100 toward the right, and the first cable 110 is connected to the left end edge or the rear end edge of the control board 100 (the control board excluding the right end edge). 100 edge) is pulled left or back.

  As described above, since the first cable 110 and the second cable 120 are pulled out from the control board 100 in different directions, the influence of noise can be made less susceptible to each other. The decrease can be suppressed.

  In the said embodiment, although the structure (refer FIG. 4) which connected the 1st cable 110 and LED unit 40 (head part 41) directly was illustrated, it is not limited to this. For example, it is good also as a structure connected by inserting the terminal provided in the edge part of the 1st cable 110 in the connection connector provided in the head part 41. FIG. Similarly, a connector may be used to connect the second cable 120 and the main board 10B. Further, the first cable 110 and the second cable 120 may be directly connected to the control board 100 without using a connector.

  In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of photosensitive drums 51 are exemplified as the photosensitive member. However, the photosensitive drum 51 is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, an endless photosensitive belt.

  In the above-described embodiment, the upper cover 11 that opens and closes the opening 10A of the main body housing 10 by rotating the front side up and down is illustrated as an example of the cover. However, the upper cover 11 is not limited thereto. The cover for opening and closing the opening may be used. Further, the cover is not limited to the upper cover 11 provided on the upper side of the main body casing, and may be a cover provided on the side surface of the main body casing, for example.

  In addition, when the cover provided on the side surface of the main body housing is adopted, the connection position between the control board and the first cable and the connection position between the LED unit (exposure member) and the first cable are located just beside the side cover. You may arrange | position so that it may mutually overlap when it sees from (the orthogonal direction of a cover).

  In the embodiment, the LED unit 40 in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged at the tip is exemplified as the exposure member. However, the exposure unit is not limited to this, for example, an exposure member using an EL element or a phosphor as a light emitting unit. Also good. Further, an exposure member having a configuration in which a large number of optical shutters such as liquid crystal elements and PLZT elements are arranged outside the backlight (on the photoconductor side) may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the color printer 1 is exemplified as the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a multifunction peripheral or a copying machine.
In the above embodiment, the recording sheet is a paper P such as a so-called plain paper or a postcard. However, the recording sheet is not limited to this, and may be an OHP sheet, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color printer 10 Main body housing | casing 10A Opening part 10B Main board 11 Upper cover 13 'Paper discharge tray 40 LED unit 41 Head part 42 Support part 51 Photosensitive drum 100 Control board 101 Connection connector 102 Connection connector 110 1st cable 111 Terminal 120 Second cable 121 Terminal P Paper

Claims (6)

A main body housing provided with a photoconductor and an opening;
A cover for opening and closing the opening;
A plurality of exposure members that are arranged in a state of being arranged on the cover, are arranged to face the photoconductor when the cover is closed, and expose the surface of the photoconductor;
A control board provided on the cover for controlling light emission of each exposure member;
An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of first cables that electrically connect the exposure members and the control board,
Each of the first cables is a flat cable, and is arranged so as not to overlap each other.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first cables have the same length from the exposure member to the control board. The control board is provided over a range in which the exposure members are arranged,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control board and the exposure member are electrically connected by the first cable at the same position in the arrangement direction of the exposure members. 4. .   The connection position between the control board and the first cable and the connection position between the exposure member and the first cable are arranged to overlap each other when the cover is viewed from directly above. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. On the upper surface of the cover, a concave placement portion on which the recording sheet discharged from the apparatus is placed is provided above the at least one exposure member,
The image according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control board is disposed so as not to overlap the placement portion when the cover is viewed from directly above. Forming equipment. A main board provided in the main body casing;
A second cable for electrically connecting the main board and the control board;
The second cable is pulled out from one end edge of the control board,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first cable is led out from an edge portion of the control board except for the one end edge.

Images