JP2011198608A - Connector fitting structure and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively suppress sliding wear of a connection point due to vibration in a connector that does not have a lock mechanism and is brought into and out of connection by insertion and by extraction.SOLUTION: In a connector fitting structure, for the purpose of loading a unit as a first device having a vibration source and a first connector onto a second device, a second connector to which the first connector can be connected is provided in an image forming apparatus as the second device. The second connector is able to be inserted into and extracted from the first connector and is connected to the first connector with out being locked. The second connector is fitted to the second device via elastic holder to be displaceable in the relative movement direction between the first device and the second device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector mounting structure and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for improving connector contact reliability when a unit having a vibration source is mounted on an apparatus main body.

  In an image forming apparatus, some units such as a process unit, a fixing unit, and a paper feed tray can be inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body via a guide rail and the like. It is configured to be able to perform such work.

  These units are mechanically usable when inserted into the image forming apparatus, and are electrically connected to the image forming apparatus main body via a connector.

  In this case, each unit and the image forming apparatus main body are connected via a connector, so that power is supplied from the image forming apparatus main body to a drive source such as a motor on the unit side, or a detection result by the unit sensor. Are transmitted to the image forming apparatus.

  For this reason, the electrical contacts of the connector are connected by insertion and the connection is released by removal. Note that guide pins may be provided around the connector for positioning at the time of insertion. Such connectors are generally known as “drawer connectors”.

  Here, when a vibration source is present on one side of this type of connector, the vibration is transmitted to the connector, and the contact of the connector is minutely vibrated to cause sliding wear. For this reason, there exists a possibility that the reliability of a contact may fall.

  In addition, the following patent document etc. are made | formed about the contact reliability improvement at the time of unit connection using such a connector.

JP 2003-303644 A JP-A-9-283208

  In the above Patent Document 1, the first device-side connector and the second device-side connector are connected, and the connected connectors are locked together so that sliding wear does not occur between the two connectors. is doing.

In Patent Document 2 described above, an elastic member for absorbing vibration is disposed between the housing on the unit side and the vibration source so that vibration is not easily transmitted to the connector.
Further, as another method, there has been a contrivance not to arrange a motor or the like serving as a vibration source on the unit side so that vibration does not occur in the vicinity of the connector.

  In the method of the cited document 1, a lock mechanism is required for the connector, but it is difficult to use the lock mechanism in the configuration of a unit that can be inserted into and removed from the main body. That is, in order to easily insert and remove the image forming apparatus and the unit, an attachment structure that does not include a lock mechanism that firmly fixes the connectors with screws or the like is preferable.

In the technique of the cited document 2, vibrations cannot be completely suppressed by the elastic member, and there is a problem that sliding wear cannot be suppressed in the case of a connector that does not lock.
In this way, when the connection part between the connectors is not firmly locked, if there is a vibration source on one side of the connector, the vibration is transmitted to the connector, and the contact of the connector is minutely vibrated to cause sliding wear. Will do. For this reason, there exists a possibility that the reliability of a contact may fall.

In addition, the method in which the vibration source is not arranged in the unit has a problem that it cannot be applied to a unit that requires various driving by a motor or the like.
The present invention effectively prevents sliding wear of the contact due to vibration and improves the reliability of the contact in a connector configured not to be provided with a lock mechanism but connected by insertion and released by removal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector mounting structure and an image forming apparatus that can be used.

The present invention for solving the above-described problems is as follows.
The present invention comprises a first device having a first connector and a second device having a second connector, and in conjunction with the relative movement between the first device and the second device, the first connector and the A connector mounting structure in an apparatus connecting portion configured to connect and disconnect electrical contacts with a second connector, and has an elastic member, and the first apparatus side by elastic deformation of the elastic member In a state where the main body of the second connector is attached to the second device in a state where the second connector is biased, vibration from a vibration source is generated when the first connector and the second connector are connected. When transmitted to the first connector or the second connector, the first connector and the second connector are moved following the elastic force of the elastic member.

  In the above invention, the second connector is provided on the second device so as to be movable in the insertion / extraction direction and biased toward the first device by elastic deformation of the elastic member. When the first connector is moved in the insertion / removal direction by the elastic member, the second connector is moved following the first connector in the state of being loaded in the two devices.

  For this reason, since the first connector and the second connector are connected by the vibration from the vibration source and move in an integrated manner, sliding wear occurs between the first connector contact and the second connector contact. It does not occur. That is, it is possible to effectively suppress the sliding wear of the contact due to vibration, and thereby improve the reliability of the contact.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the connector attachment structure of embodiment of this invention as a partial cross section. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of the connector attachment structure of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the connector attachment structure of the embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of the connector attachment structure of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of the connector attachment structure of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connector attachment structure of embodiment of this invention as a partial cross section. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connector attachment structure of embodiment of this invention as a partial cross section. It is explanatory drawing which shows the connector attachment structure of embodiment of this invention as a partial cross section.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a connector mounting structure of the present invention and an image forming apparatus provided with the connector mounting structure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<First embodiment>
First, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the whole structure of the connector attachment structure of this embodiment is demonstrated. Here, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the connector mounting structure of the embodiment of the present invention as a partial cross section, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view before connection of the connector mounting structure of the embodiment of the present invention. In the following first embodiment, a specific example is a case where the vibration source is present on the first device 100 side.

  Here, the first device 100 is a unit in which a motor for performing various types of driving and the like is mounted as a vibration source, and is configured to be removably loaded into the image forming apparatus main body via a guide rail (not shown). It has been done. When the present embodiment is applied to an image forming apparatus, the first device 100 corresponds to a process unit, a fixing unit, a paper feed tray, a replaceable post-processing unit, and the like. The first device 100 may be a unit housed in a housing or may be in the state of the substrate itself.

  In the description of this embodiment, the insertion / extraction direction of the first device 100 and the second device 201 is the Z direction, the direction intersecting the Z direction is the X direction, and the direction intersecting the Z direction and the X direction is the Y direction. It is said.

  In addition, when simply saying the X direction, it means the + X direction and the -X direction, when simply saying the Y direction, it means the + Y direction and the -Y direction, and simply called the Z direction. In the case, it means the + Z direction and the -Z direction.

  Further, the first device 100 and the second device 200 are connected and disconnected by relative movement by at least one movement. In the first embodiment, the second device 200 is in a fixed state and the first device 100 and the second device 200 are connected. A case where the device 100 side moves is taken as a specific example.

  The first connector 110 is a connector that is provided in the first device 100 and can be connected to the second connector 210 on the second device 201 side. The first connector 110 includes a cylindrical opening 110a inserted into the opening of the second connector 210, a base 110b fixed to the first device 100, and an electrical contact 110c (see FIG. 2). It is configured with.

  Here, the shape of the opening 110a is configured to have a rectangular opening in FIG. 3, but is not limited thereto, and may be various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon. . Further, the space surrounded by the opening 110a is configured to have one or a plurality of electrical contacts. In FIG. 3, the electrical contact 110 c is schematically shown, but various changes can be made to the shape of the contact. Further, the electrical contact may be for signal transmission, for power supply, or a combination thereof.

  The second connector 210 is provided in the second device 201 and can be connected to the first connector 110 on the first device 100 side. Here, the second device 201 may be a part or the whole of the casing of the image forming apparatus 200, or another component attached to the casing of the image forming apparatus 200, such as a substrate, a unit, a mounting portion, or the like. Any of them may be used. In the present embodiment, any one of these parts or all of the casing of the image forming apparatus 200 and other parts attached to the casing of the image forming apparatus 200, for example, a substrate, a unit, and an attachment portion are collectively referred to. The second device 201 will be called.

  The second connector 210 includes a cylindrical opening 210 a that is inserted into the opening of the first connector 110 and a base portion 210 b that is fixed to the second device 201. Here, the shape of the opening 210a may be various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon as long as it matches the connection with the opening 110a. In addition, the space surrounded by the opening 210a has an electrical contact 210c (see FIG. 2) that contacts the electrical contact 110c in the opening 110a.

  The first connector 110 and the second connector 210 do not require a locking mechanism that firmly fixes the connectors with fixing means such as screws, and can be easily inserted and removed as the first device 100 moves. It has become. In conjunction with this insertion / extraction, the connector is connected and disconnected. Here, when the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are connected, the electrical contacts come into contact with each other and become electrically conductive.

The second connector 210 is attached to the second device 201 via the elastic holding means 220, and is thereby displaceable in the insertion / extraction direction (Z direction) of the first connector 110.
Here, in the example shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, the elastic holding means 220 is an elastic that urges the stepped screw 221 and the base portion 210 b of the second connector 210 against the second device 201. And a member 222.

  The stepped screw 221 includes a head 221a, a cylindrical portion 221b in the shaft portion, and a screw portion 221c in the shaft portion. The screw portion 221c forms a male screw and is fastened to the female screw portion of the second device 201. The elastic member 222 is disposed around the cylindrical portion 221 b in the shaft portion of the stepped screw 221 and biases the second connector 210 toward the wall surface of the second device 201.

  In this state, the diameter of the screw hole 210bh of the base portion 210b is configured to be larger than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 221b of the stepped screw 221. And the surface where the 2nd connector 210 and the 2nd apparatus 201 contact | connect is the state urged | biased by the elastic member 222, and was press-contacted, and is not adhering. In accordance with this, it is desirable that a gap 203 is provided between the opening 210a of the second connector 210 and the second device 201 facing the opening 210a. As a result, the second connector 210 is displaceable with respect to the second device 201 in at least one of the insertion / extraction direction of the first connector 110 and the crossing direction (any direction in the XY plane).

  An elastic member that urges the base portion 210b against the second device 201 around the cylindrical portion 221b between the seating surface of the head portion 221a of the stepped screw 221 and the base portion 210b of the second connector 210. 222 is comprised.

  Thereby, the surface where the second connector 210 and the second device 201 are in contact is urged and pressed by the elastic member 222 and is not fixed. The first connector 110 can be displaced in the insertion / extraction direction (Z direction).

  The elastic member 222 may be a cylindrical rubber or a spring washer, but is preferably a coil spring. A damper may be arranged in addition to the coil spring.

  By being configured as described above, the second connector 210 is displaceable with respect to the second device 201, and when the first device 100 is loaded with respect to the second device 201, FIG. As shown, the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are connected. In this case, the first device 100 is loaded in the Z direction with respect to the second device 201, the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are in contact, and the second connector 210 pressed by the first connector 110 is an elastic member. Due to the elastic deformation of 222, the second device 201 is displaced in the + Z direction from the initial position. As a result, a gap 202 is generated in the portion that was the contact surface between the second device 201 and the second connector 210.

  Here, when the first connector 110 moves (vibrates) in the + Z direction with the first device 100 loaded in the second device 201, the tip of the first connector 110 presses the second connector 210, but the elastic member The second connector 210 also moves following the + Z direction by the action of 222. When the first connector 110 moves (vibrates) in the −Z direction, the second connector 210 also moves (vibrates) following the −Z direction by the action of the elastic member 222. That is, even if vibration in the insertion / removal direction is generated from the vibration source of the unit that is the first device 100, the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 move in a state of being integrated and following.

  For this reason, the electrical contact 110c of the first connector 110 and the electrical contact 210c of the second connector 210 are in a state of following each other while being in contact with each other according to the vibration in the + Z to −Z direction from the vibration source. Therefore, the sliding wear hardly occurs between the contact points. That is, it is possible to effectively reduce the sliding wear of the contact due to vibration and improve the reliability of the contact.

  Similarly, the electrical contact 110c of the first connector 110 and the electrical contact 210c of the second connector 210 are in contact with each other in response to vibration in any direction within the XY plane from the vibration source. In a state where they are integrated and followed, they move in any direction within the XY plane, and sliding wear is unlikely to occur between the contacts. In other words, it is possible to effectively suppress the sliding wear of the contact due to vibration in a connector that does not have a lock mechanism, is connected by insertion, and is disconnected by removal.

  FIG. 4 shows a modification of the above-described embodiment. Like FIG. 2, the diameter of the screw hole 210bh of the base portion 210b is configured to be larger than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 221b of the stepped screw 221, and the screw hole 210bh. The state where the elastic member 210bi is arranged in the cylindrical gap between the cylindrical portion 221b of the stepped screw 221 is shown. In the example of FIG. 4, even when the base portion 210b is displaced in any direction within the XY plane due to vibration on the first device 100 side, the inner cylindrical surface of the screw hole 210bh may collide with the cylindrical portion 221b. There is no effect.

  FIG. 5 is a modification of the above-described embodiment. Unlike FIG. 2, the gap is formed between the screw hole 210 bh of the base portion 210 b and the cylindrical portion 221 b of the stepped screw 221 so that there is almost no gap. Yes. However, the inner surface of the screw hole 210bh and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 221b of the stepped screw 221 are configured to slide without being fixed.

  By being configured as shown in FIG. 5 above, the second connector 210 is displaceable in the Z direction with respect to the second device 201, and when the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are connected. Moves in a state where the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are integrated and followed by the vibration in the Z direction from the vibration source of the unit which is the first device 100. For this reason, the contact of the first connector 110 and the contact of the second connector 210 vibrate in the Z direction in a state where they are integrated and follow each other, and no sliding wear occurs between the contacts. It becomes a state. That is, it is possible to effectively suppress the sliding wear of the contact due to the vibration in the Z direction in a connector that does not have a lock mechanism, is connected by insertion, and is disconnected by removal.

  FIGS. 6A to 6C are configuration examples of other embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 6A, the first connector 110 is attached to the first device 100 by the elastic holding means 120. Here, the elastic holding means 120 has the same configuration as the elastic holding means 220 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, and is provided between the stepped screw 121 and the seating surface of the stepped screw 121 and the base portion 110 b. The elastic member 122 is provided. Thereby, the 1st connector 110 becomes displaceable with respect to the 1st apparatus 100 in addition to the insertion / extraction direction or an insertion / extraction direction, and a crossing direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the elastic member 122 ′ can be further disposed between the base portion 110 b and the first device 100. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, an elastic member 122 ′ can be disposed between the base portion 110 b and the first device 100 instead of the elastic member 122.

  With these configurations, vibration transmitted from the first device 100 side to the second device 201 side is reduced, and therefore, in combination with the above-described embodiment, sliding wear of the contact due to vibration can be further effectively suppressed. Is possible.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of another embodiment of the present invention. Here, the base portion 110b of the first connector 110 is provided with a + Z-direction column 130 formed so as to have a thin tip. Then, a cylinder 230 in the −Z direction is provided on the base portion 210 b of the second connector 210 so as to correspond to the column 130. Here, the column 130 is provided so as to fit into the cylinder 230. Here, when the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are connected, the column 130 and the cylinder 230 are configured to come into contact with each other first. Thereby, when the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are connected, the column 130 and the cylinder 230 act as an insertion guide, and the positional deviation adjustment during insertion and the angular deviation adjustment during insertion are executed.

  When the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are connected, the contact of the first connector 110 and the contact of the second connector 210 are in contact with each other due to the fitting of the column 130 and the cylinder 230. It is more reliable and stable to move in an integrated and following state. For this reason, sliding wear is more reliably reduced. A connector that includes an insertion guide and can be connected without being locked is generally called a drawer connector.

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of still another embodiment of the present invention. Here, a base plate 110b of the first connector 110 is provided with a + Z-direction plate 140 provided with a convex portion in the middle. And the board 240 provided with the recessed part corresponding to the said convex part is provided in the base part 210b of the 2nd connector 210 so as to correspond to this board 140. FIG. Here, the convex portion of the plate 140 is provided so as to fit into the concave portion of the plate 240. Here, when the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are connected, the plate 140 and the plate 240 are configured to come into contact with each other first. As a result, when the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are connected, the plate 140 and the plate 240 act as insertion guides, and adjustment of displacement at the time of insertion is performed.

  Further, when the first connector 110 and the second connector 210 are connected, the contact of the first connector 110 and the contact of the second connector 210 are in contact with each other due to the fitting of the plate 140 and the plate 240. It is more reliable and stable to move in an integrated and following state. For this reason, sliding wear is more reliably reduced.

  7 to the connector mounting structure of the basic embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 or the connector mounting structure in which the elastic holding means 120 of FIG. 6 is added to the basic embodiment of FIG. 1 to FIG. The guide and the guide plate of FIG. 8 can be used in combination, and the sliding wear of the electrical contacts of the connector can be reduced more reliably.

  When the second device 201 is different from the image forming apparatus 200, in addition to the components of the above-described embodiment, a configuration that can be displaced in any of the XYZ directions shown in FIG. By providing the connection portion between the device 201 and the image forming apparatus 200, it is more reliable and stable that the contact of the first connector 110 and the contact of the second connector 210 move in an integrated and following manner while being in contact with each other. It is assumed that. For this reason, sliding wear is more reliably reduced.

<Other embodiments>
In the above description of the embodiment, the vibration source is present on the first device 100 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even when the second connector 210 vibrates due to vibration from the second device 201 side, good results can be obtained according to the above embodiments.

  Further, even when the first device 100 and the second device 201 vibrate with different amplitudes or different phases, that is, when vibrations occur with relatively different phases and amplitudes, According to the embodiment, good results can be obtained, and the sliding wear of the electrical contacts of the connector can be reliably reduced.

  Note that the XYZ directions in the above embodiments indicate relative directions for explanation, and do not indicate absolute positions and directions such as a horizontal plane direction, a vertical direction, and a longitude / latitude direction with respect to the ground plane. Absent.

100 First device 110 First connector 110a Opening portion 110b Base portion 200 Image forming apparatus 201 Second device 210 Second connector 210a Opening portion 210b Base portion 220 Elastic holding means 221 Stepped screw 222 Elastic member

Claims (14)

A first device having a first connector; and a second device having a second connector; in conjunction with the relative movement of the first device and the second device, the first connector and the second connector; It is a connector mounting structure in a device connecting portion configured to connect and disconnect electrical contacts of
An elastic holding means for attaching the main body of the second connector to the second device in a state of having an elastic member and being biased toward the first device by elastic deformation of the elastic member;
When the vibration from the vibration source is transmitted to the first connector or the second connector with the first connector and the second connector connected, the elastic force of the elastic member causes the first connector and Move following the second connector,
A connector mounting structure characterized by that. The second device is a device main body,
The first device is configured to be insertable / removable with respect to the apparatus main body.
The connector mounting structure according to claim 1. The elastic holding means further includes a stepped screw for holding the second connector with respect to the second device so as to be displaceable in a relative movement direction between the first device and the second device,
The elastic member is disposed around a shaft portion of the stepped screw, and biases the second connector toward the first device with respect to the second device.
The connector mounting structure according to any one of claims 1-2. The elastic member is a coil spring.
The connector mounting structure according to claim 3. The first connector is attached to the first device via a vibration absorbing member.
The connector mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The second device is attached to the image forming apparatus so as to be displaceable in a relative movement direction between the first device and the second device.
The connector mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The vibration source is provided on the first device side,
The connector mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein A first device having a first connector; and a second device having a second connector; in conjunction with the relative movement of the first device and the second device, the first connector and the second connector; An image forming apparatus provided with a connector mounting structure in an apparatus connecting portion, configured to connect and disconnect electrical contacts.
An elastic holding means for attaching the main body of the second connector to the second device in a state of having an elastic member and being biased toward the first device by elastic deformation of the elastic member;
When the vibration from the vibration source is transmitted to the first connector or the second connector with the first connector and the second connector connected, the elastic force of the elastic member causes the first connector and Move following the second connector,
An image forming apparatus. The second device is a device main body,
The first device is configured to be insertable / removable with respect to the apparatus main body.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8. The elastic holding means further includes a stepped screw for holding the second connector with respect to the second device so as to be displaceable in a relative movement direction between the first device and the second device,
The elastic member is disposed around a shaft portion of the stepped screw, and biases the second connector toward the first device with respect to the second device.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The elastic member is a coil spring.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10. The first connector is attached to the first device via a vibration absorbing member.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The second device is attached to the image forming apparatus so as to be displaceable in a relative movement direction between the first device and the second device.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The vibration source is provided on the first device side,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

Images