JP2014162202A - Method of producing exposure device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an exposure device from becoming a defective due to the machining accuracy of a body.SOLUTION: A method of producing an exposure device comprises a first step of preparing a base material 2224 bent so as to form a pair of wall parts 222A facing each other, and a connection wall 222B for connecting together the pair of wall parts 222A, and then opening a long hole 222C in the connection wall 222B in the longitudinal direction, and a second step for, after the first step, integrally molding the base material 2224 and resin to obtain a body 222.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an exposure apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the exposure apparatus 15 includes a plurality of light emitting elements 31, a substrate 33 on which the plurality of light emitting elements 31 are mounted, and light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements 31. Each of which has an optical system 32 and a substrate contact surface S1 with which the substrate 33 contacts, and a lens holder 34 that supports the optical system 32.

  Furthermore, the lens holder 34 is integrally formed with a base material portion 34a formed of metal and a substrate contact portion 34b formed of an insulating resin and having a substrate contact surface S1, and the lens holder 34 is further formed. The substrate contact portion 34b is integrally formed so as to sandwich the base material portion 34a from both the front and back sides by pouring molten resin into a hole T1 or a notch T2 provided in the base material portion 34a. ing.

JP 2011-088384 A

  It is an object of the present invention to cause an exposure apparatus to become a defective product due to the processing accuracy of the housing.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure apparatus manufacturing method comprising: preparing a base material bent so as to form a pair of wall portions facing each other and a connection wall connecting the pair of wall portions; And a step of making a long hole in the longitudinal direction of the connecting wall, and a step of integrally forming the base material and the resin to obtain a housing after the step.

  An exposure apparatus manufacturing method according to claim 2 of the present invention is the above-described exposure apparatus manufacturing method, wherein a die is disposed on the opposite side of the space formed between the opposing surfaces of the pair of wall portions, The punch is moved from the side opposite to the side on which the die is placed across the connecting wall to make a long hole in the connecting wall.

  The method of manufacturing an exposure apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention is a method of manufacturing the exposure apparatus, further comprising: fixing a substrate on which a light emitting element is disposed in the housing; Adjusting the fixing position of the optical element that forms an image of light from the light emitting element while emitting light from the light emitting element, and fixing the optical element to the casing.

  An exposure apparatus manufacturing method according to claim 4 of the present invention is the exposure apparatus manufacturing method, further covering a peripheral portion of the elongated hole and straddling the casing and the optical element. A step of applying a sealant as described above.

  According to the exposure apparatus manufacturing method of the first aspect of the present invention, compared to a case where a long hole is formed in the longitudinal direction of the base material and then bending is performed on the base material with the hole. It is possible to reduce the defective product rate of the exposure apparatus due to the processing accuracy of the body.

  According to the method of manufacturing an exposure apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention, when the punch moves to the space side across the connecting wall from the opposite side of the space formed between the opposed surfaces of the pair of wall portions. In comparison, the burr is prevented from protruding inside the housing.

  According to the method for manufacturing an exposure apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention, the assembly accuracy of the exposure apparatus is improved as compared with a case where adjustment is not performed using light from a light emitting element on a substrate fixed to a housing. .

According to the method of manufacturing an exposure apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the burrs from coming off the casing as compared with the case where the sealant is not applied so as to straddle the casing and the optical element.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a toner image forming unit included in the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a substrate constituting an exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a bottom view, and FIG. 2B is a schematic perspective view of a portion surrounded by a broken line portion of the front view. is there. FIG. 2A is a perspective view, FIG. 3B is a bottom view, and FIG. 3C is a side view, showing a housing that constitutes an exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged view of the part enclosed with the dashed-dotted line in FIG. It is a figure which shows the resin part of the housing | casing which comprises the exposure apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) And (B) is a perspective view, (C) is a front view, (D) is a side view, And (E) is a bottom view. It is a figure which shows the main body which comprises the housing | casing which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a bottom view, (B) is a side view, (C) is a top view of the whole figure and the said whole figure It is an enlarged view of the part enclosed with the dashed-dotted line in. (A) And (B) is typical sectional drawing which shows the structure of the modification of the exposure apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A), (B) and (C) are schematic bottom views showing the configuration of a modification of the exposure apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) are schematic bottom views showing the configuration of a modification of the exposure apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A), (B), and (C) are schematic views showing a manufacturing process of a main body of an exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) And (B) is the schematic which shows the manufacturing process of the exposure apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A), (B), and (C) are schematic views showing a manufacturing process of the exposure apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus will be described. Next, the configuration and operation of the exposure apparatus will be described. Furthermore, a modification of the exposure apparatus will be described. Finally, a manufacturing method (manufacturing process) of the exposure apparatus will be described.

  In the following description, directions indicated by arrows Z and -Z in the drawings are apparatus height directions (arrows Z and -Z are respectively referred to as an apparatus height direction upper side and a lower side), and directions indicated by arrows X and -X. The apparatus width direction (arrows X and -X are referred to as the right and left sides in the apparatus width direction, respectively). Further, the directions indicated by arrows Y and -Y are the apparatus depth direction (arrows Y and -Y are referred to as the front side and the back side, respectively).

  The apparatus depth direction is a direction orthogonal to each of the apparatus height direction and the leaving width direction. Symbols with “X” in “○” in the figure are arrows pointing from the front to the back, and symbols with “•” in “○” in the diagram are arrows pointing from the back to the front Means. The device height direction is the vertical direction.

<First Embodiment>
<< Configuration of image forming apparatus >>
〔The entire〕
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side. The image forming apparatus 10 includes, from the lower side to the upper side in the apparatus height direction, a recording medium storage unit 12 that stores a sheet member P, an image forming unit 14 that forms an image on the sheet member P, and a document that reads a document (not shown) The reading unit 16 is arranged and configured in this order. The image forming unit 14 includes a control unit 20 that controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. Here, the sheet member P is an example of a recording medium. Hereinafter, each of these units (the recording medium storage unit 12, the image forming unit 14, and the document reading unit 16) will be described.

[Recording medium container]
First, the recording medium storage unit 12 will be described.
The recording medium accommodating portion 12 includes a first accommodating portion 22, a second accommodating portion 24, a third accommodating portion 26, and a fourth accommodating portion 28 (hereinafter referred to as each accommodating portion) that can accommodate sheet members P having different sizes. I have. Each of the storage units includes a feed roll 32 that feeds the stored sheet members P one by one, a transport roll 34 that transports the fed sheet members P to a transport path 30 provided in the image forming apparatus 10, and It has.

<Transport section>
Next, the conveyance unit 37 constituting a part of the recording medium storage unit 12 and an image forming unit 14 described later will be described.

  The conveyance unit 37 refers to a conveyance mechanism from the feed roll 32 provided in each storage unit to the secondary transfer position T (described later) and the discharge unit 13 that is conveyed and discharged in the fixing device 100. The conveyance path constituting the conveyance unit 37 includes conveyance paths 30, 31, 33, and 35.

  On the downstream side of the conveyance rolls 34 provided in the respective storage units, conveyance rolls 36 that convey the sheet members P one by one are provided at three locations along the conveyance path 30. Of the transport rolls 36 provided at three locations, the transport roll 36 on the most downstream side in the transport direction of the sheet member P is provided in the image forming unit 14. Further, the sheet member P is temporarily stopped on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet member P with respect to the conveyance roller 36, and the toner image is transferred to a secondary transfer position T described later at a predetermined timing. An alignment roll 38 for performing alignment is provided.

  Further, on the downstream side of the secondary transfer position T in the conveyance path 30, a fixing device 100 that fixes the toner image secondarily transferred onto the sheet member P to the sheet member P is provided. Further, on the downstream side of the fixing device 100, a discharge unit 13 for discharging the sheet member P on which the toner image is fixed is provided.

  An auxiliary conveyance unit 96 that conveys the sheet member P onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred to the fixing device 100 is provided between the secondary transfer position T and the fixing device 100. The auxiliary conveyance unit 96 conveys the sheet member P in the direction of arrow A by a conveyance belt 96A that conveys the sheet member P, a support roll 97 that supports the conveyance belt 96A, and driving means (not shown) to the conveyance belt 96A. And a drive roll 98 that is rotationally driven.

  The image forming apparatus 10 can also form images on both sides of the sheet member P. Specifically, a double-sided conveyance path 31 through which the sheet member P is conveyed and reversed is connected to the conveyance path 30. In the double-sided conveyance path 31, a reversing unit 33 provided linearly along the apparatus height direction from the image forming unit 14 to the recording medium housing unit 12 and a sheet member P conveyed to the reversing unit 33 enter from the rear end. And a transport unit 35 that transports the sheet member P in the direction of arrow B.

  Further, the downstream end of the transport unit 35 is connected to the upstream side of the alignment roll 38 in the transport path 30 by a guide member (not shown). The reversing unit 33 and the conveying unit 35 are provided with a plurality of conveying rolls at predetermined intervals (not shown). In addition, switching between the conveyance path 30 and the double-sided conveyance path 31 is performed by a switching member (not shown).

(Image forming part)
Next, the image forming unit 14 will be described.
The image forming unit 14 includes toner image forming units 64Y, 64M, 64C, and 64K that form toner images of respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Further, the image forming unit 14 primarily transfers the toner images formed by the toner image forming units 64Y, 64M, 64C, and 64K to the intermediate transfer belt 82, and then performs secondary transfer from the intermediate transfer belt 82 to the sheet member P. The transfer device 68 is provided. Further, the image forming unit 14 includes a fixing device 100 that fixes the toner image secondarily transferred to the sheet member P to the sheet member P. The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners are examples of developers. The intermediate transfer belt 82 is an example of an intermediate transfer medium.

  Note that Y, M, C, and K in the symbols mean yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. In the following, when there is no need to distinguish between Y, M, C, and K, the description will be omitted.

<Toner image forming section>
The toner image forming unit 64 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 which is a schematic view of the toner image forming unit 64 viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 also shows a part of the transfer device 68 (intermediate transfer belt 82, primary transfer roll 84) that does not constitute the toner image forming unit 64. Each toner image forming unit 64 has basically the same configuration.

  The toner image forming unit 64 includes a photosensitive drum 62 that is rotated in the direction of the arrow + R by a driving unit (not shown), a charging device 72, an exposure device 200, a developing device 74, and a removing device 74. . Hereinafter, elements constituting the toner image forming unit 64 will be described. Here, the photosensitive drum 62 is an example of an image carrier.

(Photosensitive drum)
The photosensitive drum 62 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is driven to rotate about its own axis (in the direction of the arrow + R) by a driving unit (not shown). The photosensitive drum 62 includes an aluminum cylinder and a photosensitive layer formed on the cylinder in the order of an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer.

  The photosensitive drum 62 exhibits properties as an insulator in an environment where light does not strike (in the image forming apparatus 10), but a portion irradiated with light by an exposure device 200 described later exhibits properties as a semiconductor. It has become. The outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 is charged by a charging device 72 described later, and further, when light is irradiated by the exposure device 200, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface. In addition, an overcoat layer may be further formed on the outer peripheral surface of the above-described charge transport layer, and an electrostatic latent image may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the overcoat layer. As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drums 62 corresponding to the toner images of the respective colors are arranged in a straight line along the apparatus width direction.

(Charging device)
The charging device 72 is configured to charge the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 to a negative polarity. In this embodiment, the charging device 72 is a corona discharge (non-contact charging) scorotron charging device (see FIG. 2).

(Exposure equipment)
The exposure device 200 forms an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 charged by the charging device 72. Specifically, exposure light L emitted from the light emitting diode array 202 (LED array) is charged by the charging device 72 in accordance with image data received from an image signal processing unit (not shown) constituting the control unit 20. The outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 is irradiated, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface (see FIG. 3). In this embodiment, the exposure apparatus 200 is provided for each color toner image (each photosensitive drum 62) (see FIG. 2). Here, the light emitting diode array 202 is an example of a light emitting element. Since the exposure apparatus 200 is a main part of the present invention, details will be described later.

(Developing device and toner cartridge)
The developing device 74 (see FIG. 2) develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 with each color toner, thereby forming a toner image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62. It has become. Although not described in detail, the developing device 74 includes a container 74A that stores toner, and a developing roll 75 that supplies the toner stored in the container 74A to the photosensitive drum 62 while rotating (see FIG. 2). ). Each toner cartridge 79 (see FIG. 1) for replenishing toner is connected to a container 74A containing each toner via a replenishment path (not shown). The toner cartridges 79 are arranged in a straight line in the apparatus width direction on the upper side in the vertical direction with respect to the photosensitive drums 62 and the exposure apparatuses 200 (see FIG. 1). Each toner cartridge 79 is individually replaceable.

(Removal device)
The removing device 76 (see FIG. 2) includes a blade 77 that scrapes off toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 after the transfer of the toner image to the transfer device 68 from the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62. Further, the removing device 76 includes a container 76A that collects the toner scraped by the blade 77, and a transport device (not shown) that transports the toner in the container 76A to a waste toner box (not shown). .

<Transfer device>
The transfer device 68 will be described with reference to FIG. The transfer device 68 superimposes the toner image of the photosensitive drum 62 of each color on the intermediate transfer belt 82 and performs primary transfer, and secondarily transfers the toner image superimposed at the secondary transfer position T onto the sheet member P. It has become.

  Specifically, the intermediate transfer belt 82 has an endless shape and is wound around a plurality of rolls 88, 92, 94, 94A. In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 82 has a reverse obtuse triangular posture that is long in the apparatus width direction when viewed from the front side.

  The roll 92 functions as a drive roll that rotates the intermediate transfer belt 82 in the direction of arrow C by the power of a motor (not shown). The roll 94 </ b> A functions as a tension applying roll that applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 82. Further, the roll 88 functions as a counter roll of the secondary transfer roll 86.

  The intermediate transfer belt 82 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 62 corresponding to the toner image of each color from the lower side in the vertical direction at the upper side formed in the apparatus width direction with the above-described posture. Each toner image on each photoconductor drum 62 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 82 upon receiving a primary transfer voltage from the primary transfer roll 84.

  Further, the intermediate transfer belt 82 is in contact with the secondary transfer roll 86 at a vertically lower apex that forms an obtuse angle to form a transfer nip. The secondary transfer roll 86 receives a secondary transfer voltage from a power source (not shown) and transfers a toner image on which each toner image is superimposed onto the sheet member P passing through the transfer nip. Yes. Here, the secondary transfer position T is a position where the transfer nip is formed.

  In addition, the secondary transfer roll 86 is grounded to 0 (V), and the roll 88 receives a secondary transfer voltage from a power source (not shown), so that each sheet member P passing through the transfer nip The toner image on which the toner image is superimposed may be transferred.

  When a toner image of only a specific color toner is transferred to the sheet member P (for example, only black (K)), a toner image of only black (K) is formed by the toner image forming unit 64K, and the intermediate transfer belt 82 is formed. A black (K) only toner image is primarily transferred to the sheet member P, and a black (K) only toner image is secondarily transferred to the sheet member P.

<Fixing device>
The fixing device 100 (see FIG. 1) fixes the toner image on the sheet member P onto which the (multicolor) toner image on which the toner images are superimposed by the transfer device 68 is secondarily transferred. . In this embodiment, the fixing device 100 is configured to fix the toner image to the sheet member P by heating and pressurizing the toner image in the fixing nip. Here, the fixing nip refers to a nip portion formed by the heating roll 100A and the pressure roll 100B.

[Original reading section]
Next, the document reading unit 16 will be described.
The document reading unit 16 includes a document table 41 on which a document (not shown) can be placed, a platen glass 42 on which a single document is placed, a document reading device 44 that reads a document placed on the platen glass 42, And a document discharge unit 43 for discharging the read document.

  Further, the document reading device 44 includes a light irradiation unit 46 that irradiates light on a document placed on the platen glass 42. Further, the document reading device 44 includes one full-rate mirror 48 and two half-rate mirrors 52 that reflect the reflected light irradiated from the light irradiation unit 46 and reflected from the document in a direction along the platen glass 42, and a full rate. And an imaging lens array array 54 on which the reflected light reflected by the mirror 48 and the two half-rate mirrors 52 is incident. Further, the document reading device 44 includes a photoelectric conversion element 56 that converts the reflected light imaged by the imaging lens array 54 into an electric signal.

  One full-rate mirror 48 moves at a full rate along the platen glass 42, and the half-rate mirror 52 moves at a half rate along the platen glass 42.

  The electrical signal converted by the photoelectric conversion element 56 is subjected to image processing by an image signal processing unit (not shown) constituting the control unit 20 and used as image data by the exposure apparatus 200 described above.

<< Operation of image forming apparatus >>
Next, an image forming operation on the sheet member P by the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.
Upon receiving the image formation command, the control unit 20 (see FIG. 1) operates the toner image forming unit 64, the transfer device 68, and the fixing device 100. As a result, the photosensitive drum 62 and the developing roll 75 are rotated, and the intermediate transfer belt 82 is rotated. Further, the heating roll 100A and the pressure roll 100B provided in the fixing device 100 are rotated. Further, in synchronization with these operations, the control unit 20 operates the transport roll 36, the alignment roll 38, the auxiliary transport unit 96, and the like.

  As a result, the photosensitive drums 62 of the respective colors are charged by the respective charging devices 72 while being rotated. Further, the control unit 20 sends the image data subjected to the image processing by the image signal processing unit provided in the control unit 20 to each exposure apparatus 200. Each exposure apparatus 200 emits each exposure light L according to the image data, and forms a latent image on the outer peripheral surface of each charged photosensitive drum 62. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor drum 62 is developed with each color toner supplied from each developing device 74. As a result, toner images of the respective colors are formed on the photosensitive drums 62 of the respective colors.

  The toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 62 of the respective colors are sequentially transferred to the rotating transfer belt 82 by applying a primary transfer voltage through the primary transfer rolls 84 of the respective colors. As a result, a toner image in which toner images for four colors are superimposed is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 82. The superimposed toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer position T by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 82. At the secondary transfer position T, the sheet member P is supplied by the alignment roll 38 in synchronization with the conveyance of the superimposed toner image. By applying a secondary transfer voltage to the secondary transfer roll 86, the toner image superimposed from the intermediate transfer belt 82 is transferred to the sheet member P at the secondary transfer position T.

The sheet member P on which the superimposed toner image has been transferred is conveyed from the secondary transfer position T of the transfer device 68 toward the fixing nip of the fixing device 100 by the conveyance belt 96A that rotates around the auxiliary conveyance unit 96. The fixing device 100 applies heat and pressure (fixing energy) to the sheet member P that passes through the fixing nip described above. As a result, the toner image transferred to the sheet member P is fixed to the sheet member P.
The sheet member P discharged from the fixing device 100 is conveyed along the conveyance path 30 toward the discharge unit 13 outside the apparatus, and the image forming operation on the sheet member P is completed.

≪Configuration of main part≫
〔The entire〕
Next, an exposure apparatus 200 that is a main part of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the exposure apparatus 200 viewed from the front side of the apparatus depth direction. As shown in this figure, the exposure apparatus 200 includes a substrate 204 having a light emitting diode array 202, a lens array 216, and a housing 220 for fixing the substrate 204. Here, the lens array 216 is an example of an optical element.

  The exposure apparatus 200 is disposed to face the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 so that the longitudinal direction (apparatus depth direction) is along the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 62 (the own axis of the photosensitive drum 62). ing. In the following, in the description with reference to the drawings, directions for explaining the exposure apparatus 200 and components (for example, the substrate 204, the casing 220, etc.) constituting the exposure apparatus 200 are provided in the image forming apparatus 10 as the exposure apparatus. Do as the direction of the case.

〔substrate〕
FIG. 4A shows a bottom view of the substrate, and FIG. 4B shows a schematic perspective view of a portion surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 4A. The substrate 204 includes a base material 205 and a plurality of light-emitting diode arrays 202 arranged in a staggered pattern on the surface side (lower side in the device height direction) in the longitudinal direction (device depth direction). Further, the substrate 204 includes a plurality of driver ICs (not shown) that drive the plurality of light emitting diode arrays 202.

  One of the plurality of driver ICs provided on the substrate 204 is connected to several of the corresponding plurality of light emitting diode arrays 202. Specifically, a wiring 212 and a pad 210 formed at one end of the wiring 212 are formed on the surface side of the substrate 205, and a plurality of light emitting diodes in the pad 210 and the light emitting diode array 202 are formed. The input terminal 206 of one of the light emitting diodes is connected by a metal bonding wire 208. In FIG. 4B, only one input terminal 206 is shown for the light-emitting diode array 202, but in reality, the input terminals 206 corresponding to the number of light-emitting diodes (wiring 212, pad 210 and bonding wires associated therewith) are shown. 208) is formed.

  Each driver IC outputs a signal for driving a light emitting diode to emit light among a plurality of light emitting diodes in the corresponding several light emitting diode arrays 202 in accordance with the image data received from the image signal processing unit (not shown). It is designed to output. The light emitting diodes to which signals output from the respective driver ICs are input emit light toward the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 (see FIG. 3). Further, the substrate 204 is fixed to a housing 220 described later.

  The plurality of light emitting diode arrays 202 may be arranged linearly along the longitudinal direction (device depth direction).

[Lens Array]
Next, the lens array 216 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the lens array 216 is a SELFOC lens array (registered trademark) that is an aggregate of a plurality of rod lenses. As shown in FIG. 3, the lens array 216 is disposed between the light emitting diode array 202 and the photosensitive drum 62. The exposure light L bent by the lens array 216 is emitted from the lens array 216 and forms an image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62.

  The lens array 216 is fixed to a housing 220 described later, like the substrate 204. Further, the lens array 216 has an elongated shape that is long in the apparatus depth direction when viewed from the apparatus height direction, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. Further, the lateral direction of the lens array 216 is along the device width direction (see FIG. 3).

[Case]
Next, the housing 220 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the housing 220 includes a main body 222 and a resin portion 224. The housing 220 is required to have a function of fixing the substrate 204 and the lens array 216 with a predetermined accuracy.

  First, the main body 222 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 222 is formed with wall portions 222A that face each other in the apparatus width direction. Further, the wall portions 222A formed so as to face each other in the main body 222 are connected by a connecting wall 222B on the lower side in the apparatus height direction.

  FIG. 8 shows the main body 222. Specifically, FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are a bottom view, a side view, and a plan view of the main body 222, respectively. Each drawing shows an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a one-dot chain line.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C, an elongated opening 222C is formed in the connecting wall 222B of the main body 222 along the apparatus depth direction. A plurality of holes (corner holes) 222G are formed at the corners of the wall 222A and the connecting wall 222B in the main body 222 so as to be symmetrical with respect to the apparatus width direction across the opening 222C. Has been. Further, the plurality of corner holes 222G are arranged at predetermined intervals along the apparatus depth direction. In addition, the corner | angular part of the wall part 222A and the connection wall 222B in the main body 222 becomes R shape seeing from an apparatus depth direction (refer FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of holes (side holes) 222 </ b> F are formed in each wall portion 222 </ b> A of the main body 222 so as to be symmetrical with respect to the apparatus width direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the plurality of side holes 222F are arranged in pairs, symmetrically with respect to the vertical line passing through each corner hole 222G, as viewed from the device width direction. Has been.

  In the following description, the surface surrounding the space between the opposing surfaces of the wall 222A is referred to as an inner surface, and the back surface of the inner surface is referred to as an outer surface.

  Next, the resin part 224 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 7. FIG. 7 is a resin part 224 of this embodiment, (A) and (B) are perspective views, (C) is a front view, (D) is a side view, and (E) is a bottom view. .

  The housing 200 includes the main body 222 described above and a plurality of resin parts 224 fixed to the main body 222. Specifically, the plurality of resin parts 224 are based on a combination of a pair of resin parts 224 formed symmetrically with the opening 222C in the apparatus width direction, and the combination of the pair of resin parts 224 is an apparatus A plurality are arranged at predetermined intervals along the depth direction (see FIG. 5). Hereinafter, the configuration of one resin portion 224 will be described in detail. Hereinafter, in describing one resin portion 224, the resin portion 224 on the right side in FIG. 3 (left side in FIG. 7A) will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 7D and 7E, the resin portion 224 is long in the apparatus depth direction when viewed from the apparatus width direction, and has a symmetrical shape with respect to the center in the apparatus depth direction.

  A resin portion 224 illustrated in FIG. 7A is a perspective view when the main body 222 is removed from the housing 220 illustrated in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7A and FIG. 7C, the resin portion 224 includes a resin portion main body 223 and resin portion protrusions 224A, 224B, 224C, and 224D protruding from the resin portion main body 223. , Is composed of.

  Further, the resin part main body 223 includes a resin part main body wall part 223A, a resin part main body connection wall part 223B, and a resin part main body extension part 223C (particularly, FIGS. 3 and 7A). And FIG. 7C).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the resin part main body connecting wall 223B is formed in a plate shape in contact with the inner surface of the connecting wall 222B of the main body 222 when viewed from the apparatus depth direction. In addition, among the ends on the left side in the apparatus width direction of the resin part main body connecting wall part 223B, both end parts viewed from the apparatus width direction are in openings 222C formed in the connecting wall 222B of the main body 222 when viewed from the apparatus depth direction. (See FIGS. 3 and 7E).

  Next, the resin part main body wall part 223A will be described. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7D, the resin part main body wall part 223A extends from the both ends of the resin part main body connecting part 223B to the upper side in the apparatus height direction when viewed from the apparatus width direction. It is formed in a plate shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the resin portion main body wall portion 223 </ b> A is formed such that its plate surface comes into contact with the inner surface of the wall portion 222 </ b> A of the main body 222 when viewed from the apparatus depth direction. Further, the resin part main body wall part 223A is connected to the resin part main body connection wall part 223B at the right end of the resin part main body connection wall part 223B.

  Further, a substrate fixing surface 224E for contacting and fixing the substrate 204 is formed on the upper side in the apparatus height direction in the resin portion main body wall portion 223A (FIGS. 3, 7A, and 7). (See (C)).

  Next, the resin part main body extension part 223C will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7A and FIG. 7C, the resin portion main body extending portion 223C is viewed from the device width direction from the both end sides of the resin portion main body connecting wall portion 223B in the device height direction. It is formed in a plate shape so as to extend upward. As shown in FIG. 3, the resin portion main body extending portion 223C is connected to the resin portion main body connecting wall portion 223B and the left end portion of the resin portion main body connecting wall portion 223B when viewed from the apparatus depth direction. .

  Further, in the apparatus height direction, the position of the upper end of the resin part main body extending part 223C in the apparatus height direction is lower than the height of the resin part main body wall part 223A (see FIG. 3).

  The resin portion main body extending portion 223C is separated from the resin portion main body wall portion 223A and is opposed to the apparatus width direction (see FIGS. 3 and 7C).

  Next, the resin part protrusion part 224A will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7A and FIG. 7C, the resin portion protrusion 224A is directed downward from the portion protruding from the opening 222C of the resin portion main body connecting wall portion 223B in the apparatus height direction. It is formed in a plate shape thinner than the resin part main body extension part 223C so as to extend. Further, the resin portion protruding portion 224A is formed in contact with the opening edge 222D of the opening 222C formed in the connecting wall 222B of the main body 222 (see FIGS. 3 and 6). Moreover, the surface of the resin part protrusion part 224A at one end on the lower side in the apparatus height direction forms a flat surface together with the outer surface of the connecting wall 222B.

  The surface of the resin portion protruding portion 224A that is different from the surface that contacts the opening edge 222D of the opening 222C is a surface on one end side of the resin portion main body connecting wall portion 224B and the resin portion main body of the resin portion main body extending portion 224C. A plane is formed together with the surface opposite to the wall 223A (see FIGS. 3, 7A, and 7B).

  Next, the resin part protrusion part 224B will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the resin portion protruding portion 224 </ b> B is formed to protrude in a columnar shape on the side of the resin portion main body wall portion 223 </ b> A that contacts the inner surface of the wall portion 222 </ b> A of the main body 222. The resin portion protruding portion 224B closes a side hole 222F formed in the wall portion 222A of the main body 222 and forms a flat surface together with the outer surface of the main body 222 (see FIGS. 3 and 6).

  Next, the resin part protrusion part 224C will be described. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, the resin portion protrusion 224 </ b> C is located on the left side in the device width direction, that is, on the resin portion main body wall portion 223 </ b> A from the upper end in the device height direction of the resin portion main body extending portion 223 </ b> C. It is formed in a plate shape so as to extend toward the opposite side.

  Next, the resin part protrusion part 224D will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the resin portion protrusion 224 </ b> D is formed at the center of the resin portion 224 when viewed from the device width direction. Further, the resin portion protruding portion 224D is formed so as to close one of the plurality of corner hole 222G formed in the main body 222. And the exposed surface from the corner | angular part hole 222G of resin part protrusion part 224D is along the R shape of the corner | angular part of wall part 222A and connecting wall 222B (refer FIG.3 and FIG.6).

  Next, a description will be given focusing on the pair of resin portions 224. As shown in FIG. 3, the interval W3 between the resin portion protrusions 224C facing each other is narrower than the width W1 of the lens array 216 in the short direction (see FIG. 3). Further, the interval W2 between the resin portion protrusions 224A facing each other is wider than the width W1 in the short direction of the lens array 216 (see FIG. 3).

  This means that, as shown in FIG. 3, the resin portion 224 includes a resin portion protrusion 224 </ b> C that is disposed within a range between the opposing surfaces of the substrate 204 and the lens array 216. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the resin portion protruding portion 224 </ b> C does not overlap the optical path of the light emitted from the light emitting diode array 202 when viewed from the apparatus depth direction.

  As described above, the resin portion protruding portions 224A, 224B, and 224D have the same thicknesses as the thicknesses of the corners of the connecting wall 222B, the wall portion 222A, and the main body 222, respectively. This means that the resin portion protrusions 224A, 224B and 224D constituting the resin portion 224 are provided within the thickness range of the wall portion 222A and the connecting wall 222B (FIGS. 3, 5, and 6). reference). In addition, the thickness of the resin part 224 provided in the side hole 222B, the corner hole 222G, and the opening edge 222D may be equal to or less than the thicknesses of the connecting wall 222B, the wall part 222A, and the corners of the main body (not shown).

  As described above, the substrate 204, the lens array 216, and the housing 220 constituting the exposure apparatus 200 have been individually described. Hereinafter, these relationships will be described in more detail.

  As described above, the substrate 204 is fixed to the substrate fixing surface 224E of the housing 220. Furthermore, the lens array 216 is fixed in a state in which a part of the lens array 216 is inserted between the resin part main body connecting wall part 223B and the resin part main body extending part 223C which face each other. The lens array 216 is bonded and fixed to the main body 222 and the resin portion 224. The lens array 216 may be bonded and fixed to the resin portion 224 or the main body 222 instead of to the main body 222 and the resin portion 224.

  Here, specifically, the lens array 216 is bonded and fixed to the main body 216 and the resin portion 224 as follows. The ultraviolet curable adhesive 230 is applied to a plurality of predetermined locations so as to straddle the casing 200 and the lens array 216, and is further irradiated and fixed with ultraviolet rays (FIGS. 3 and 14B). reference). Further, a sealing agent 232 is applied to the entire opening 222C so as to straddle the lens array 216 and the housing 220 and to cover the applied ultraviolet curable adhesive 230 (see FIG. 14C). ). In the exposure apparatus 200 of FIG. 3, the sealant 232 is omitted.

<< Manufacturing method of exposure apparatus >>
Next, the manufacturing method (manufacturing process) and operation of the exposure apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[Manufacturing method of main body]
First, a manufacturing method (manufacturing process) from the sheet metal 2224 to the main body 222 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the sheet metal 2224 is an example of a base material.

  A plurality of holes are formed in the sheet metal 2224 by pressing (FIG. 12A). The plurality of holes are a side hole 222F and a corner hole 222G. Further, in this step, the surface of the sheet metal 2224 on which the movable die for pressing is abutted is the aforementioned outer surface side. Note that a sheet metal 2224 provided with a plurality of holes in advance may be prepared and manufactured from the next step.

  Next, bending is performed on the sheet metal 2224 in which a plurality of holes are formed (FIG. 12B). In this step, bending is performed at two locations along two straight lines in the apparatus depth direction that connect the hole portions corresponding to the corner hole 222G. Then, the sheet metal 2224 is formed with a pair of opposing wall portions 222A and a connecting wall 222B that connects the pair of wall portions 222A.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13A, a fixed die (die) 2224C is disposed between the opposing surfaces of the two wall portions 222A with respect to the bent metal sheet 2224. Then, pressing with a movable die (punch) 2224D is performed from the lower side in the apparatus height direction, and a long opening 222C is produced (see FIG. 12C). By this process, the main body 222 described above is completed.

  Finally, the main body 222 is installed at a predetermined location of the injection molding machine, resin is injected from the corner hole 222G, and the main body 222 and the resin portion 224 are integrally molded (insert molding), and the housing 220 is completed. (See FIG. 5).

  The side hole 222F and the elongated opening 222C may be manufactured by processing such as laser processing.

[Assembly method of exposure apparatus]
Next, an assembly method (assembly process) of the exposure apparatus 200 using the housing 220, the substrate 204, and the lens array 216 manufactured in the above process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as illustrated in FIG. 14A, when the lens array 216 is inserted above the opening 222 </ b> C provided in the housing 220 in the apparatus height direction, the lens array 216 faces the housing 220. It is placed on the resin portion protrusion 224C. As described above, this is possible because the separation distance W3 between the opposing resin portion protrusions 224C is smaller than the width W1 of the lens array 216 (see FIG. 3).

  Next, the position of the lens array 216 placed on the opposing resin portion protrusion 224 </ b> C is adjusted with respect to the housing 220 so as to have a predetermined positional relationship. In this case, the position of the lens array 216 is adjusted in a state where the lens array 216 is not in contact with the housing 220, that is, so-called air positioning. This assembly process is performed such that the connecting wall 222B provided on the housing 220 is on the upper side in the vertical direction.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 14B, the lens array 216 whose position is adjusted with respect to the housing 220 is bonded and fixed to the housing 220. Specifically, the ultraviolet curable adhesive 230 is applied to a plurality of predetermined locations so as to straddle the casing 200 and the lens array 216, and further irradiated with ultraviolet rays to be fixed (FIGS. 3 and 3). 14 (B)). The ultraviolet curable adhesive 230 is applied to any of the main body 222 and the resin part 224, the resin part 224, or the main body 222.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14C, the substrate 204 is brought into contact with and fixed to the housing 220 to which the lens array 216 is fixed. As described above, the substrate 204 is fixed in contact with the substrate fixing surface 224E formed on the resin portion 224 of the housing 220. Specifically, the substrate 204 is arranged on the wall of the housing 220 so that the surface side of the substrate 204 faces the lens array 216 from the side opposite to the side where the opening 222C of the housing 220 is provided (upper side in the apparatus height direction). It is inserted between the opposing surfaces of the part 222A. A part of the surface of the substrate 204 at both ends in the apparatus width direction is brought into contact with the substrate fixing surface 224E.

  Next, in a state where the substrate 204 and the substrate fixing surface 224E are in contact with each other, the ultraviolet curable adhesive 230 is applied to a plurality of predetermined positions so as to straddle the substrate 204 and the resin portion 224, and further irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Then, the substrate 204 is fixed to the housing 220. Through the above steps, the lens array 216 and the substrate 204 are fixed to the housing 220 (see FIG. 14C).

  Next, the sealant 232 is applied to the entire opening 222C so as to straddle the substrate 204 and the housing 220 and to cover the applied ultraviolet curable adhesive 230. Further, a sealant 232 is applied to the entire periphery of the lens array 216 and the housing 220 so as to straddle the lens array 216 and the housing 220.

  In this manner, by applying the sealant 232 to the entire peripheral edge portion, the space 226 (see FIG. 14C) surrounded by the housing 220, the lens array 216, and the substrate 204 is separated from the outside of the space 226. Blocked. Accordingly, dust or the like can be prevented from entering the space 226.

≪Function of main part≫
Next, operations of the exposure apparatus 200 having the above-described configuration, the image forming apparatus 10 including the exposure apparatus 200, and the method of manufacturing the exposure apparatus 200 will be described.

  According to the exposure apparatus 200 configured as described above, the resin part 224 constituting the housing 220 is provided between the opposing surfaces of the wall part 222A of the main body 222 and within the thickness range of the wall part 222A and the connecting wall 222B. Therefore, according to the exposure apparatus 200, the outer side of the main body 222 constituting the casing 220 is compared with the case where the resin portion is provided between the opposing surfaces of the wall portion of the main body and outside the thickness range of the wall portion and the connecting wall. It is possible to utilize the space.

  The exposure apparatus generates heat when the light emitting diode array irradiates the exposure light L. If it does so, a main body will expand | swell with a heat | fever and position shift with a board | substrate and a lens array may arise. However, in the exposure apparatus 200, the main body 222 is configured to be bilaterally symmetrical (centered on the optical path of the exposure light L) when viewed from the depth direction of the apparatus. Therefore, according to the exposure apparatus 200, the deviation of the imaging position of the exposure light L on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 can be suppressed to be smaller than in the case where the main body is configured asymmetrically when viewed from the depth direction of the apparatus. .

  Further, according to the image forming apparatus 10 including the exposure apparatus 200 having the above-described configuration, the imaging position of the exposure light L is shifted as compared with the case where the main body of the exposure apparatus is configured asymmetrically when viewed from the apparatus depth direction. Therefore, image formation defects due to the image are suppressed.

  Further, according to the image forming apparatus 10 provided with the exposure apparatus 200, the resin part is provided with a housing as compared with the case where the resin part is provided between the opposing surfaces of the wall part in the main body of the exposure apparatus and outside the thickness range of the wall part and the connecting wall. The space outside the main body 222 constituting the body 220 can be utilized.

  For example, according to the image forming apparatus 10, this outer space can be used as an air flow path (an exhaust flow path such as ozone, an air flow path for temperature adjustment) in the image forming apparatus 10. .

  Further, when viewed from the depth direction of the exposure apparatus 200, the resin part 224 does not exist outside the main body 222, so that the cross-sectional area is smaller than when the resin part exists outside the main body 222. Therefore, when the exposure apparatus 200 is taken out of the main body of the image forming apparatus 10 while being moved to the front side in the apparatus depth direction, the exposure apparatus 200 is less likely to interfere with components and the like constituting the main body of the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, according to the exposure apparatus 200 having the above configuration, the structure for removing the exposure apparatus 200 is further simplified as compared with the case where the resin portion is present outside the main body.

  Further, according to the image forming apparatus 10 provided with the exposure apparatus 200, the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 of the exposure light L is compared with the case where the main body of the exposure apparatus is configured asymmetrically when viewed from the depth direction of the apparatus. Image formation failure due to the shift of the image forming position at is suppressed.

  As described above, the resin portion 224 includes the resin portion main body 223 and the resin portion protrusions 224A, 224B, and 224D. The resin portion 224 is provided with the resin portion protruding portions 224A, 224B, and 224D corresponding to the opening edge 222D, the side hole 222B, and the corner hole 222G in the main body 222, respectively.

  The surface roughness of the edge of the side hole 222B, the edge of the corner hole 222G, or the opening edge 222D is formed to be rougher than the surface roughness of the outer surface or the inner surface of the main body 222. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus 200, the surface roughness of the edge of the side hole, the edge of the corner hole, or the opening edge is made rougher than the surface roughness of the outer surface or the inner surface of the main body. Compared with the case where it is not carried out, the adhesiveness of the resin part 224 with respect to the main body 222 is improved. In this case, the edge of the side hole, the edge of the corner hole, or the surface of the opening edge may be roughened by secondary processing. For example, the side hole 222B may be formed by a screw hole.

  When a long opening 222C is opened by pressing the sheet metal 2224, and then bending is performed so that a wall 222A facing the sheet metal 2224 having the opening 222C is formed, the opening 222C and the bending portion The width (bending margin) becomes narrower. Then, during bending, the shape of the opening 222C is deformed, and the processing accuracy of the main body 222 can be lowered. However, in this embodiment, after performing bending so that the wall portion 222A facing the sheet metal 2224 is formed, a long opening 222C is opened in the sheet metal 2224 by pressing. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus 200, the processing accuracy of the main body 222 (or the housing 220) is improved as compared with the case where the bending is performed after the opening is processed.

  In addition, according to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus, it is caused by the processing accuracy of the housing as compared with the case where a long hole is drilled in the longitudinal direction of the base material and then the base material with the hole is bent. It is possible to reduce the defective product rate of the exposure apparatus.

  In this embodiment, the punching process for the sheet metal 2224 and the press process for providing the opening 222C in the sheet metal 2224 are all performed from the same side (the outer surface side of the sheet metal 2224) toward the inner peripheral surface side. Then, burrs are formed toward the inner peripheral surface of the side wall 222F and the corner hole 222G and the opening edge 222D which is the outer periphery of the opening 222C. It doesn't protrude.

  The resin part 224 is provided so as to surround the burrs described above with respect to the main body 222 completed through such steps. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of this exposure apparatus 200, the adhesiveness of the resin part 224 with respect to the main body 222 improves compared with the case where a burr | flash is provided in the outer surface side of a main body.

  Further, according to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus 200, the opposing resin portion protrusion 224 </ b> C is used as a temporary placement table for the lens array 216. For example, when the exposure apparatus 200 is manufactured, the lens array 216 is temporarily placed on the housing 200 to make a semi-finished product, and then the position of the lens array 216 with respect to the housing 220 can be adjusted. Manufacturing is made more efficient. Therefore, according to the exposure apparatus 200 having the above-described configuration, the manufacturing time of the exposure apparatus 200 can be reduced as compared with the case where the resin portion is not provided with the protruding portion disposed within the range between the opposing surfaces of the substrate and the lens array. Can be shortened.

Further, as described above, the resin portion protruding portion 224A is fixed to the opening edge 222D of the opening 222C. On the other hand, when a part of the lens array is inserted into the opening and the side surface of the lens array directly contacts the main body, the side surface of the lens array can be damaged. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus 200, damage to the lens array 216 is suppressed as compared with the case where the resin portion is not fixed to the opening edge of the connecting wall.
Further, as described above, according to the method of manufacturing the exposure apparatus 200, burrs are formed on the opening edge 222D of the opening 222C toward the inner peripheral surface and do not protrude to the outside of the housing. On the other hand, a comparative example in which the punch is moved from the space side formed between the opposing surfaces of the pair of wall portions to the opposite side of the space side across the connecting wall, and an opening for inserting the lens array is opened. Then, a burr | flash will be formed toward the outer side from the edge part of the outer peripheral surface side of an opening edge. Then, when a part of the lens array is inserted into the opening, the end surface or the side surface of the lens array protrudes to the outside of the housing before being guided by the resin portion protrusion 224A formed on the opening edge 222D of the opening 222C. Can be damaged by direct contact with burrs. On the other hand, according to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus 200 of this Embodiment, the damage of the lens array 216 is suppressed compared with the said comparative example.
Further, in order to suppress damage to the lens array 216, it is only necessary to remove burrs that are outward from the end of the outer peripheral surface of the opening edge, but a step of removing is necessary. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of exposure apparatus 200 of the present embodiment, the manufacturing time due to the processing of the casing is reduced as compared with the comparative example.

<Modification of First Embodiment (Modification 1)>
Next, a modified example (modified example 1) of the exposure apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to schematic cross-sectional views of FIGS.

  9A is different from the exposure apparatus 200 (see FIG. 3) in that the main body 2221 is not provided with a hole, and the main body 2221 and the resin portion 2241 are bonded and fixed. Is different. That is, the housing may not be manufactured by insert molding.

  9B is different from the exposure apparatus 200 (see FIG. 3) in that the main body 2222 is provided with a protrusion 2222A instead of a hole, and the main body 2222 and the resin portion. 2242 is different in that it is fixed by the protrusion 2222A. That is, there may be no hole in the main body.

  The operation of these modified examples is the same as that of the first embodiment.

<Modification of First Embodiment (Modification 2)>
Next, a modified example (modified example 2) of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 10A, 10 </ b> B, and 10 </ b> C are schematic top views of a housing 2204, a housing 2205, and a housing 2206, which are modifications of the housing 220.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, a resin portion protrusion 2244A is fixed to the housing 2204 so as to cover the entire long opening edge 2224D of the connecting wall 2224B of the housing 2204. . That is, the resin portion fixed to the opening edge may be present not only on a part of the opening edge but also on the whole.

  As shown in FIG. 10 (B), the housing 2205 has a resin portion protruding portion 2245A on its long side facing the long side of the long opening edge 2225D of the connecting wall 2225B of the housing 2205. It is fixed to cover. That is, the resin portion fixed to the opening edge may be present not only on a part of the facing side (long side) where the lens array 216 to be inserted is in contact with the opening edge, but also on the whole.

  As shown in FIG. 10C, the housing 2206 has a resin portion protrusion 2246A on the opposite long side of the long opening edge 2226D of the connecting wall 2226B of the housing 2206 in the apparatus width direction. They are fixed so that they do not face each other. That is, the resin portion fixed to the opening edge may be asymmetric in the left and right directions in the apparatus width direction.

  The operation of these modified examples is the same as that of the first embodiment.

<Modification of First Embodiment (Modification 3)>
Next, a modified example (Modified Example 3) of the exposure apparatus manufacturing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on the differences from the above description.

  In this embodiment, the main body 222 is manufactured by replacing the process shown in FIG. 13A described above with the process shown in FIG. 13B. Specifically, a fixed die (die) is formed on the opposite side of the space 226 side formed between the opposing surfaces of the two wall portions 222A with respect to the bent metal plate 2224 (see FIG. 12B). 2224C is arranged. Then, pressing with a movable die (punch) 2224D is performed from the upper side in the apparatus height direction, and a long opening 222C is produced (see FIG. 12C). By this process, the main body 222 described above is completed.

  According to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus 200 configured as described above, the punch is more variable than the case where the punch moves from the opposite side of the space formed between the opposing surfaces of the pair of wall portions to the space side with the connecting wall interposed therebetween. Is prevented from protruding to the inside of the housing 220.

  In the exposure apparatus 200 manufactured with the above-described configuration, the burr protrudes outside the housing 220. Therefore, according to the exposure apparatus 200 of this embodiment, the burr is detached from the casing 220 and falls into the exposure apparatus 200 (inside the casing) as compared with the case where the burrs are protruded inside the casing. It is suppressed.

  Further, when the burr falls inside the exposure apparatus (inside the casing) and adheres to the light emitting diode array 202, the optical path of the light emitted from the light emitting diode array can be blocked by the burr. In order to prevent such a situation from occurring, it is necessary to remove burrs. However, according to the image forming apparatus 10 provided with the exposure apparatus 200, even if the burrs are not removed, the image quality is suppressed from being disturbed as compared with the case where the burrs are exposed inside the casing.

  In addition, after the main body 222 is completed, the exposure apparatus 200 is completed through another process (see FIG. 14) described above. In this other process, the sealant 232 is applied so as to straddle the housing 220 and the lens array 216. Then, the burr that has come out of the housing 220 is covered with the sealant 232, and is prevented from being detached from the housing 220 and falling into the exposure apparatus 200 (inside the housing).

  Therefore, according to the exposure apparatus 200 configured as described above, it is possible to suppress the burrs from dropping and adhering to the light emitting diode array 202, as compared with the case where the burrs are exposed inside the housing. Further, according to the image forming apparatus 10 including the exposure apparatus 200, it is possible to suppress the image quality from being disturbed as compared with the case where the burr is exposed inside the housing.

  In addition, in the exposure apparatus 200 having the above-described configuration, after the main body 222 is manufactured, the burr is covered with the sealant 232 without performing the deburring process on the burr on the outside of the housing 220. Is called. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus 200 having the above-described configuration, the manufacturing time of the exposure apparatus is shortened as compared with the case where the deburring process is further performed after the main body is manufactured.

<Modification of First Embodiment (Modification 4)>
Next, a modified example (Modified Example 4) of the exposure apparatus manufacturing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the above description.

  In this embodiment, when manufacturing the exposure apparatus 200, a housing 220 in which resin is integrally formed is prepared, and first, the substrate 204 is fixed to the housing 220.

  Next, a part of the lens array 216 is inserted above the opening 222 </ b> C formed in the housing 220 in the apparatus height direction. Then, the position of the lens array 216 with respect to the housing 220 is adjusted and fixed while light is emitted from the substrate 204 fixed to the housing 220. In this case, a photodetector (not shown) is arranged on the opposite side (lower side in the apparatus height direction) of the substrate 204 across the lens array 216, and the position where the light emitted from the lens array 216 forms an image is determined. Then, the position is adjusted so as to correspond to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62.

  According to this manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus, the manufacturing time of the exposure apparatus is shortened as compared with the case where the position of the lens array is adjusted and fixed using the light emitting diode array for adjustment.

  According to this exposure apparatus manufacturing method, the assembly accuracy of the exposure apparatus is improved as compared with the case where adjustment is not performed using light from the light emitting diode array on the substrate fixed to the housing.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, an exposure apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 11 focusing on parts different from the above description. FIGS. 11A, 11 </ b> B, 11 </ b> C, 11 </ b> D, and 11 </ b> E are modifications of the housing 220, which include a housing 2207, a housing 2208, a housing 2209, a housing 2210, and a housing. A schematic top view of 2211 is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the housing 2207 has a plurality of opposing resin portion protrusions 2247A symmetrically in the apparatus width direction with the long opening edge 2227D of the connecting wall 2227B of the housing 2207. It is fixed so that In addition, in the central portion (one-dot chain line) with respect to the apparatus depth direction, the pair of separation distances of the opposing resin portion protruding portions 2247A is the smallest. Further, as the distance from the central part in the apparatus depth direction to both ends, the opposing resin part protrusions 2247A are fixed apart at a predetermined interval so that the separation distance between the opposing resin part protrusions 2247A gradually increases. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, the housing 2208 has a pair of opposing resin protrusions 2248A symmetrically in the apparatus width direction with the long opening edge 2228D of the connecting wall 2228B of the housing 2208. It is fixed so that In addition, the separation distance between the opposing resin portion projecting portions 2248 </ b> A is the smallest at the center portion (one-dot chain line) with respect to the apparatus depth direction. Furthermore, as the distance from the center in the apparatus depth direction increases to both ends, the distance between the opposing resin protrusions 2248A is fixed to be gradually increased.

  As shown in FIG. 11C, the housing 2209 has a plurality of opposing resin protrusions 2249A symmetrically in the apparatus width direction with the elongated opening edge 2229D of the connecting wall 2229B of the housing 2209. It is fixed so that Further, only a pair of separation distances of the opposing resin portion protrusions 2249A are closest to each other in the central portion (dashed line) with respect to the apparatus depth direction. Specifically, only one of the pair of resin part protrusions 2249A is thick, and all the other resin part protrusions are all the same thickness (thinner than the one resin part protrusion 2249A).

  As shown in FIG. 11D, the housing 2210 has a plurality of opposing resin portion protrusions 2250A on the right and left sides in the apparatus width direction with respect to the opening edge 2230D of the connecting wall 2230B of the housing 2210. , Each is fixed. Further, in the central portion (one-dot chain line) with respect to the apparatus depth direction, only a pair of separation distances among the opposing resin portion protruding portions 2247A is the smallest.

  As shown in FIG. 11E, the housing 2211 has a pair of opposing resin portion protrusions 2251A on the long opening edge 2231D of the connecting wall 2231B of the housing 2211 on the right side in the apparatus width direction and Each is fixed on the left side. Further, one of the pair of opposing resin portion protrusions 2251A is provided with a convex portion 2253A at the center portion (dashed line) with respect to the apparatus depth direction. Thereby, the separation distance between the pair of opposing resin portion protrusions 2251A is the smallest in the central portion (dashed line) with respect to the apparatus depth direction.

  In this embodiment, a part of each opening of each housing 2207, 2208, 2209, 2210 and 2211 is formed narrow. In other words, the distance between the portions of the resin portions 224 facing each other in the apparatus width direction is formed to be closer than the distance between the portions of the other resin portions 224.

  According to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus 200, the tilt when the lens array 216 is inserted into the opening is suppressed as compared with the case where a part of the opening is not narrowly formed by the resin portion fixed to the opening edge. The

  Further, according to the manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus 200, the operation of inserting the lens array 216 into the opening 222C is facilitated as compared with the case where the entire opening is narrowly formed by the resin portion fixed to the opening edge.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. . For example, although an example of a light emitting element has been described as a light emitting diode array, OLED (organic EL) may be used instead of the light emitting diode array. In addition, the case 220 is described as being bent at two places as an example, but it may not be U-shaped when viewed from the depth direction of the apparatus, and may be U-shaped, for example. . Further, the temporary table 224C may not be provided.

  In the above description, the resin portion projecting portions 224A, 224B, and 224D constituting the resin portion 224 are provided within the thickness range of the wall portion 222A and the connecting wall 222B. When it is not necessary to utilize the space outside the main body 222 constituting the body 220, a part of the resin portion 224 may be formed outside the main body 222.

200, 200A, 200B, 200C Exposure apparatus 202 Light emitting diode array (an example of a light emitting element)
204 Substrate 216 Lens array (an example of an optical element)
220, 2204, 2205, 2206, 2207, 2208, 2209, 2210, 2211 Housing 222, 2223, 2222 Main body 222A, 2223 Wall 222B, 2224B, 2225B, 2226B, 2231B, 2228B, 2229B, 2230B, 2227B Connecting wall 222C Opening 222D Opening edge 2224 Sheet metal (an example of base material)
2224C Die 2224D Punch 224 Resin part 224C Resin part protrusion (an example of protrusion)
232 Sealant

Claims (4)

After preparing a base material bent so as to form a pair of wall portions facing each other and a connection wall connecting the pair of wall portions, a long hole is formed in the longitudinal direction of the connection wall Process,
After the step, a step of integrally molding the base material and the resin to obtain a housing;
A method for manufacturing an exposure apparatus including: In the step of forming the elongated hole, a die is disposed on the opposite side of the space formed between the opposing surfaces of the pair of wall portions, and a side on which the punch disposes the die across the connecting wall By moving from the opposite side to the side where the die is placed, a long hole is opened in the connecting wall.
The manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus of Claim 1. further,
Fixing the substrate on which the light emitting element is disposed in the housing;
After the step, adjusting the fixing position of the optical element that forms an image of light from the light emitting element while emitting light from the light emitting element, and fixing the optical element to the housing;
The manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus of Claim 1 or 2 containing this. further,
A step of applying a sealant so as to cover a peripheral portion of the elongated hole and straddle the casing and the optical element;
The manufacturing method of the exposure apparatus of Claim 3 containing this.

Images