JP2015141398A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device that allows an IC substrate on a process cartridge side and a connector on an exposure device side to be contacted with each other without causing a position deviation.SOLUTION: An IC substrate 11 is arranged in a center part of a process cartridge 5, and a connector 9 is arranged in a prescribed portion of an exposure device so that a plurality of electrodes is electrically connected to the IC substrate 11, so that, when the process cartridge 5 is loaded below the exposure device 4, even if the process cartridge 5 is loaded in a state where the process cartridge 5 tilts obliquely around an axis in upper/lower directions, the IC substrate 11 on a process cartridge 5 side faces the connector 9 on an exposure device side without causing a position deviation, and an electrode of the IC substrate 11 normally contacts with an electrode of the connector 9. Then, the connector 9 on the exposure device 4 side presses the IC substrate 11 on the process cartridge side, thereby the process cartridge 5 is suppressed from being tilted obliquely around the axis in forward and backward directions.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus configured such that a developing cartridge is detachably attached to an apparatus main body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus configured such that a developing cartridge is detachably attached to an apparatus main body is known. As this type of image forming apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228867 discloses a connecting unit that is provided with a storage unit on one side in the width direction of the process cartridge (a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction of the process cartridge with respect to the apparatus main body). Describes an image forming apparatus having a structure in which is arranged on one side in the width direction of the scanner.

  The storage means corresponds to, for example, an IC substrate on which various types of information relating to the process cartridge such as process cartridge type, toner capacity, remaining amount, lot number, process conditions, usage status, etc. are stored. This corresponds to a connector for reading various information stored in the storage means into the control device on the apparatus main body side.

JP 2003-195723 A

  Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the storage means (IC substrate) is arranged on one side in the width direction of the process cartridge, and the connection means (connector) corresponding to this is provided in the scanner (exposure apparatus). Since it is arranged on one side in the width direction, when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, if the process cartridge is mounted in an inclined state around an axis in the vertical direction with respect to the mounting direction on the apparatus main body, for example. The storage means (IC substrate) on the process cartridge side may be largely displaced with respect to the connection means (connector) on the scanner (exposure apparatus) side. In that case, the contact between the storage means (IC substrate) and the connection means (connector) may be incomplete, and the storage means (IC substrate) may be short-circuited and the stored contents may be lost.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which an IC substrate on the process cartridge side and a connector on the exposure apparatus side can face each other and make normal contact without causing a positional shift.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above-described problems includes an apparatus main body, an exposure apparatus provided in the apparatus main body, a cartridge configured to be detachably attached to the apparatus main body, and a cartridge An IC substrate having a storage device storing information on the connector and a connector having a plurality of electrodes for electrical connection with the IC substrate. The exposure apparatus has an exposure aperture configured to pass a light beam for exposing the cartridge. The IC substrate is disposed within the range of the exposure opening in the width direction orthogonal to the mounting direction of the cartridge. The connector is disposed at a predetermined position of the exposure apparatus so that the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected to the IC substrate in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the IC substrate is disposed within the range of the opening for exposure in the width direction of the cartridge, and the connector faces the IC substrate so that the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected to the IC substrate. When the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the cartridge may be mounted in an inclined state around an axis in the vertical direction with respect to the mounting direction on the apparatus main body. The IC substrate on the cartridge side faces the connector on the exposure apparatus side without causing a large positional shift, and the IC substrate is in electrical normal contact with the plurality of electrodes of the connector. In this contact state, the connector on the exposure apparatus presses the IC substrate on the cartridge side, whereby the process cartridge is prevented from being inclined obliquely about the axis in the front-rear direction.

  In addition, since the exposure apparatus is generally arranged close to the cartridge in order to reduce stray light when the cartridge is exposed, if the connector is arranged in the exposure apparatus, the connector can be arranged close to the IC substrate of the cartridge. The contact between the connector and the IC board can be secured stably.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the IC substrate is disposed at a position facing the exposure apparatus in the cartridge and the connector is disposed upstream of the exposure opening of the exposure apparatus in the cartridge mounting direction, the connector is exposed. This is preferable because it does not block the laser light passing through the opening. In addition, it is preferable that when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, there is no possibility that the IC substrate facing the connector interferes with the edge of the exposure opening and is damaged.

  Here, the exposure apparatus has a plate on which a holding portion for holding the connector and an opening for exposure are formed, and the holding portion includes a holding opening into which the connector is fitted and a connector fitted into the holding opening. It can be set as the structure which has a receiving part.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when the connector is held by the holding portion in a posture in which the connector is inclined downward toward the downstream side of the cartridge mounting direction with respect to the plate of the exposure device, the cartridge is mounted when the cartridge is mounted. The side IC board is preferable because it smoothly contacts the connector without being caught.

  Further, when the connector has a protruding portion protruding in the width direction from both sides in the width direction, and the receiving surface of the receiving portion that receives the connector in the holding portion formed on the plate of the exposure apparatus is inclined with respect to the plate, This is preferable because the connector can be easily held in a posture inclined with respect to the plate.

  Furthermore, a plurality of electrodes of the connector are arranged on the outer surface side facing the cartridge side of the plate, and a harness for connecting the connector to the main board mounted on the apparatus main body is arranged on the inner surface side opposite to the cartridge side of the plate. In this case, it is preferable that the harness does not jump out to the cartridge mounting path, and that the cartridge can be attached and detached smoothly.

  Here, the exposure apparatus includes a laser unit configured to emit laser light through the opening for exposure, and the plate has a fixing portion that fixes the laser unit to the inner surface side opposite to the cartridge side, The fixing portion may have a structure formed in a table shape protruding toward the inner surface side of the plate. In this case, it is preferable that the protruding height of the fixed portion is higher than the protruding height of the connector protruding to the inner surface side of the plate because the laser unit fixed to the inner surface of the plate does not contact the connector.

  In addition, as a holder for holding the connector on the plate, a holder that holds the connector between the plate and the plate can be provided. In this case, the holder has a protrusion that protrudes from the both sides in the width direction toward the cartridge side, and the protrusion protrudes higher toward the cartridge side than the plurality of electrodes of the connector. It is preferable that the plurality of electrodes of the connector overlap with the plurality of electrodes because the plurality of electrodes of the connector are prevented from coming into contact with the cartridge and being damaged.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the IC substrate is disposed in the range of the opening for exposure in the width direction of the cartridge, and the connector is arranged such that the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected to the IC substrate. Since the cartridge is disposed at a predetermined location, when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, even if the cartridge is mounted obliquely around an axis in the vertical direction with respect to the mounting direction on the apparatus main body, The IC substrate faces the connector on the exposure apparatus side without causing a large positional shift. As a result, the IC substrate can be in electrical normal contact with the plurality of electrodes of the connector.

1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a laser printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the exposure apparatus and process cartridge shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view in which the components of the exposure apparatus shown in FIG. 2 are exploded and shown upside down. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view further showing components of the exposure apparatus shown in FIG. 2 in an upside down direction. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower surface side of the exposure apparatus showing a state in which the component parts shown in FIG. 3 are assembled. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5 upside down from FIG. 5. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view (a) showing a cross section taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 5 upside down, and a partial cross section showing the cross section taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5 upside down from FIG. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view seen from the downstream side in the insertion direction of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 2. It is the top view seen from the upper surface side of the process cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing the IC substrate shown in FIG. 9 in an enlarged manner.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment is embodied as a laser printer 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1, for example. First, the configuration of the laser printer 1 will be schematically described with reference to FIG.

  Here, in the description with reference to FIG. 1, the description is based on the direction based on the user who uses the laser printer 1. That is, the description will be made assuming that the right direction is “front”, the left direction is “rear”, the up and down direction is “up and down”, the front direction is “left”, and the back direction is “right”.

<Schematic configuration of laser printer>
As shown in FIG. 1, a laser printer 1 includes a main body housing 2 as an example of an apparatus main body, a paper feeding unit 3 that supplies paper S, an exposure device 4, and a toner image (developer) on the paper S. A process cartridge 5 for transferring the image) and a fixing device 8 for thermally fixing the toner image on the paper S.

  The paper feeding unit 3 is provided in the lower part of the main body housing 2 and mainly includes a paper feeding tray 31, a paper pressing plate 32, a paper feeding mechanism 33, and a registration roller 34. The paper S stored in the paper feed tray 31 is moved upward by the paper pressing plate 32, supplied toward the process cartridge 5 by the paper feed mechanism 33, passes through the registration rollers 34, and the photosensitive drum 61 of the process cartridge 5. And the transfer roller 63.

  The exposure apparatus 4 is disposed in the upper part of the main body housing 2 and includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror 43, a lens 44, a reflecting mirror 45, and the like. In this exposure apparatus 4, laser light (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) based on image data emitted from the laser light emitting unit is scanned at high speed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61, thereby Expose the surface.

  The process cartridge 5 is attached to the lower side of the exposure apparatus 4 by being inserted toward the rear side with respect to the main body housing 2 through an opening formed when the front cover 21 provided in the main body housing 2 is opened. By pulling it out to the front side, it is taken out of the main body housing 2. The process cartridge 5 includes a drum unit 6 and a developing unit 7.

  The drum unit 6 mainly includes a photosensitive drum 61, a charger 62, and a transfer roller 63. The developing unit 7 is configured to be detachably attached to the drum unit 6, and includes a developing roller 71, a supply roller 72, a layer thickness regulating blade 73, and a toner that contains toner (developer). The housing 74 is mainly provided with an agitator 75.

  In the process cartridge 5, the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 is uniformly charged by the charger 62 and then exposed by high-speed scanning of the laser beam from the exposure device 4, whereby image data is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 61. An electrostatic latent image based on is formed. Further, the toner in the toner container 74 is supplied to the supply roller 72 while being stirred by the agitator 75, and is supplied from the supply roller 72 to the developing roller 71. Then, the toner enters between the developing roller 71 and the layer thickness regulating blade 73 and is carried on the developing roller 71 as a thin layer having a constant thickness.

  The toner carried on the developing roller 71 is supplied from the developing roller 71 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 61. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is visualized and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 61. Thereafter, the sheet S is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer roller 63 so that the toner image on the photosensitive drum 61 is transferred onto the sheet S.

  The fixing device 8 is provided behind the process cartridge 5. The fixing device 8 mainly includes a heating unit 81 having a halogen heater, a fixing belt, a nip plate, etc., which are not shown, and a pressure roller 82 that holds the fixing belt between the nip plates of the heating unit 81. In preparation.

  As the sheet S passes between the heating unit 81 and the pressure roller 82 of the fixing device 8, the toner image (toner) transferred onto the sheet S is thermally fixed onto the sheet S. Then, the sheet S on which the toner image is thermally fixed is discharged onto the discharge tray 22 by the discharge roller 23.

<Configuration of exposure apparatus>
As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure apparatus 4 includes a laser unit 41 that emits laser light L, and a scanner plate 42 that is a plate for accommodating and fixing the laser unit 41 inside. The laser unit 41 includes a polygon mirror 43 (see FIG. 1), a lens 44, and a reflecting mirror 45 in the emission path of the laser light L. As shown in FIG. 3, the laser unit 41 has a thick plate-like appearance, and the scanner plate 42 has a tray-like appearance that accommodates the laser unit 41.

<Configuration of scanner plate>
The scanner plate 42 holds an exposure opening 46 for emitting the laser light L reflected by the reflecting mirror 45 of the laser unit 41 toward the photosensitive drum 61 on the drum unit 6 side of the process cartridge 5 and the connector 9. For holding the laser unit 41 with four set screws B, and four fixing portions 48 for fixing the laser unit 41. The holder 10 for holding the connector 9 on the holding portion 47 is fixed to the scanner plate 42 by a pair of set screws B and B.

  The exposure opening 46 of the scanner plate 42 is formed in an elongated shape along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 61. The opening 46 for exposure is located on the upstream side (front side in FIG. 1) of the process cartridge 5 with respect to the main body housing 2 shown in FIG. It is formed along the left and right width directions of the device 4.

  The holding portion 47 of the scanner plate 42 is formed near the center in the longitudinal direction of the exposure opening 46 on the upstream side of the exposure opening 46 in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5. The holding portion 47 has a rectangular holding opening 47A into which the connector 9 is fitted, and a pair of left and right receiving portions 47B and 47B that receive both left and right sides of the connector 9 fitted into the holding opening 47A. The receiving portions 47B and 47B have receiving surfaces 47C and 47C that receive the upper surfaces of the left and right protruding portions 9A and 9A protruding from the left and right side portions of the connector 9, respectively.

  The four fixing portions 48 of the scanner plate 42 are recessed as being pushed inward from the outer surface 42A of the scanner plate 42 by left and right cuts, in other words, pushed inward from the inner surface 42B of the scanner plate 42 by left and right cuts. It is formed as a trapezoidal convex part. As shown in FIG. 7A, the height h1 at which the four fixing portions 48 protrude from the inner surface 42B of the scanner plate 42 is set higher than the height h2 at which the connector 9 protrudes from the inner surface 42B of the scanner plate 42. Has been. Thus, the laser unit 41 fixed to the inner surface 42B of the scanner plate 42 is prevented from contacting the connector 9.

<Configuration of holder>
As shown in FIG. 3, the holder 10 includes a rectangular opening 10A surrounding the connector 9 held by the holding part 47 of the scanner plate 42, and a pair of presser parts protruding from the left and right inner walls of the opening 10A and extending in the front-rear direction. 10B, 10B, a pair of left and right mounting portions 10C, 10C fixed to the scanner plate 42 with set screws B, B, and the developing unit 7 side of the lower process cartridge 5 from the left and right side portions on the rear side of the holder 10 And a pair of left and right projections 10D, 10D, and a frame portion 10E on the front side of the holder 10.

  The holder 10 has a pair of holding portions 10B, 10B protruding from the left and right inner walls of the opening 10A in a state where the pair of left and right mounting portions 10C, 10C are fixed to the outer surface 42A of the scanner plate 42 with set screws B, B. The lower surfaces of the left and right protrusions 9A, 9A of the connector 9 are pressed. As a result, the connector 9 is sandwiched and held between the scanner plate 42 and the holder 10.

<Configuration of connector>
The connector 9 is held by the holding portion 47 of the scanner plate 42 so that the center in the longitudinal direction within the range of the exposure opening 46 is upstream of the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5 in front of the exposure opening 46. It is arranged at a predetermined location near the part. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, this connector 9 has four electrodes for electrical connection with an IC board, which will be described later, that is, a group of electrodes 9B, 9C, arranged in the width direction of the connector 9. 9D, 9E.

  In order to connect such a connector 9 to a main board (not shown) provided in the main body housing 2 as the apparatus main body, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner surface 42B side of the scanner plate 42 extends from the connector 9. The harness H is routed around the laser unit 41. The group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E of the connector 9 are disposed on the outer surface 42A side of the scanner plate 42.

  Here, the protruding portions 9A protruding from the left and right side portions of the connector 9 are formed in a horizontally long inverted T shape in a side view. The receiving surface 47C of the receiving portion 47B formed on the scanner plate 42 so as to receive the protruding portion 9A is inclined with the rear side inclined downward with respect to the scanner plate 42 as shown in FIG. Yes. As a result, the connector 9 is held by the holding portion 47 of the scanner plate 42 in a posture that is inclined downward toward the downstream side in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5. The front portion of the connector 9 on the upstream side in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5 is covered and protected by the front frame portion 10E of the holder 10.

  A group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E of the connector 9 protrude downward toward the developing unit 7 side of the process cartridge 5. Here, one electrode 9B will be described as a representative example. As shown in FIG. 7B, the electrode 9B is bent at the front end to the rear end to be elastically deformed in the vertical direction. And protrudes downward from the rear portion of the connector 9. Since the electrode wire 9X is elastically deformable, the electrode 9B protrudes elastically downward. The electrode 9B is formed in a substantially right triangle shape in a side view, and has a contact slope 9N that slopes downward toward the downstream side in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5, and this contact slope 9N is an IC substrate described later. Smooth contact with the electrode.

  The protrusions 10D and 10D of the holder 10 overlap with the group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E when viewed from the width direction of the exposure apparatus 4 so as to protect the group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E. It is formed in a substantially triangular side shape that is slightly larger. The protrusions 10D and 10D protrude higher on the lower side of the developing unit 7 than the group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E.

<Configuration of IC substrate>
As shown in FIG. 2, the IC substrate 11 is arranged on the facing surface of the process cartridge 5 facing the exposure apparatus 4, that is, the facing surface of the developing unit 7 facing the connector 9 fixed to the front side of the scanner plate 42. It is installed. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the IC substrate 11 has a rectangular plate-like appearance that is horizontally long in the width direction of the process cartridge 5, and various information about the process cartridge 5, for example, a developing unit 7 has a storage device that stores information such as the remaining amount of toner stored in the toner storage unit 74, the distribution country (destination country), the toner filling amount (capacity), and the cartridge expiration date.

  As shown in FIG. 8, such an IC substrate 11 is disposed at the center in the width direction of the facing surface 7 </ b> A of the developing unit 7. That is, a wide concave portion 7B extending along the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5 is formed in the central portion in the width direction of the facing surface 7A of the developing unit 7, and the upper surface of the pedestal portion 7C formed to protrude into the concave portion 7B. The IC substrate 11 is fixed to the seating surface 7D. The seat surface 7D of the pedestal portion 7C is located in the same plane as the facing surface 7A around the recess 7B, and a pair of left and right projections 10D of the holder 10 shown in FIG. , 10D for receiving recesses 7E, 7E. The drum unit 6 has a concave portion 6B formed on the upper side thereof with a width equivalent to the concave portion 7B of the developing unit 7. That is, the process cartridge 5 has the recesses 7B and 6B in both the developing unit 7 and the drum unit 6.

  As shown in FIG. 8, on the left side of the process cartridge 5, a driving force input unit 5A for driving components such as the developing roller 71, the supply roller 72, and the agitator 75 shown in FIG. The driving force input unit 5 </ b> A has an input coupling 5 </ b> X that meshes with a driving unit (not shown) provided in the main body housing 2. As shown in FIG. 9, the IC substrate 11 is disposed closer to the driving force input portion 5 </ b> A side than the center line C in the width direction of the process cartridge 5, and at this position in the width direction of the process cartridge 5. It straddles the center line C. Such an IC substrate 11 is arranged in the range of the opening 46 for exposure formed in the scanner plate 42 of the exposure apparatus 4 in the width direction orthogonal to the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5.

  Here, on the IC substrate 11, a group of electrodes 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D that contact the group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E shown in FIG. 5 are arranged in the width direction of the process cartridge 5. It is arranged. The electrode 11A of the IC substrate 11 is a third electrode that comes into contact with the first electrode 9B of the connector 9, and constitutes a ground electrode. Further, the electrode 11B of the IC substrate 11 is a fourth electrode that contacts the second electrode 9C of the connector 9. The electrode 11C of the IC substrate 11 is in contact with the electrode 9D of the connector 9, and the electrode 11D of the IC substrate 11 is in contact with the electrode 9E of the connector 9.

  The third electrode 11A that constitutes the ground electrode of the IC substrate 11 is disposed at the center nearer to the center line C in the width direction of the process cartridge 5 than the fourth electrode 11B. The third electrode 11A is formed to extend longer on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5 than the other electrodes 11B, 11C, and 11D.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment configured as the laser printer 1 as described above, the process cartridge 5 is directed rearward from the main body housing 2 through the opening formed when the front cover 21 shown in FIG. 1 is opened. As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 5 is mounted below the exposure device 4.

  Here, the IC substrate 11 on the process cartridge 5 side is disposed in the center in the width direction of the process cartridge 5 as shown in FIG. 8 within the range in the longitudinal direction of the exposure opening 46 shown in FIG. The four-side connector 9 is held by a holding portion 47 in front of the exposure opening 46 at the center in the width direction of the scanner plate 42 facing the IC substrate 11.

  For this reason, when the process cartridge 5 is mounted below the exposure apparatus 4, even if the process cartridge 5 is mounted obliquely about an axis in the vertical direction with respect to the mounting direction, the IC on the process cartridge 5 side The substrate 11 faces the connector 9 on the exposure apparatus 4 side without causing a large positional deviation, and the group of electrodes 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D (see FIG. 8) of the IC substrate 11 are the group of electrodes 9B of the connector 9. , 9C, 9D, 9E (see FIG. 5) are in normal electrical contact.

  In this contact state, the connector 9 on the exposure apparatus 4 side presses the IC substrate 11 on the process cartridge 5 side, whereby the process cartridge 5 is prevented from being inclined obliquely about the front-rear direction axis. That is, the force by which the connector 9 pushes the process cartridge 5 downward is applied to the center of the process cartridge 5 in the width direction, so that the contact pressure between the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer roller 63 is not biased in the width direction.

  Therefore, according to the laser printer 1 of the present embodiment, the group of electrodes 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D (see FIG. 11) with the process cartridge 5 mounted below the exposure device 4 of the main body housing 2. 8) can be brought into electrical normal contact with a group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E (see FIG. 5) of the connector 9. In addition, it is possible to suppress the process cartridge 5 from being inclined obliquely about the axis in the front-rear direction.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the connector 9 is disposed upstream of the exposure opening 46 in the scanner plate 42 of the exposure apparatus 4 in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5. The laser beam L passing through 46 is not blocked. In addition, when the process cartridge 5 is mounted below the exposure apparatus 4, there is no possibility that the IC substrate 11 facing the connector 9 interferes with the edge of the exposure opening 46 and is damaged.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the connector 9 is held by the holding portion 47 so as to be inclined downward toward the downstream side in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 5 with respect to the scanner plate 42. When mounted below the exposure apparatus 4, the IC substrate 11 on the process cartridge 5 side can smoothly contact the connector 9 without being caught.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7A, the connector 9 has protrusions 9A protruding in the width direction from both sides in the width direction, and receives the connector 9 in the holding portion formed in the scanner plate 42. Since the receiving surface 47C of the receiving portion 47B is inclined with respect to the scanner plate 42, the connector 9 can be easily held in an inclined posture with respect to the scanner plate 42.

  On the other hand, a group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E of the connector 9 are arranged on the outer surface side of the scanner plate 42 facing the process cartridge 5 and connect the connector 9 to a main board (not shown) provided in the main body housing 2. Since the harness H is disposed on the inner surface side opposite to the process cartridge 5 side of the scanner plate 42, the harness H does not jump out to the mounting path of the process cartridge 5, and the process cartridge 5 can be easily attached and detached. Can be done.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7B, the left and right projections 10D, 10D projecting from the both sides in the width direction of the holder 10 to the process cartridge 5 side are the connectors 9 as viewed from the width direction of the exposure apparatus 4. The group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E overlap with each other, and protrude higher below the developing unit 7 than the group of electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E. It is possible to prevent the electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E from inadvertently contacting and damaging the process cartridge 5.

  The exposure apparatus 4 is generally disposed close to the process cartridge 5 in order to reduce stray light when exposing the photosensitive drum 61 of the drum unit 6, so if the connector 9 is disposed in the exposure apparatus 4, The connector 9 can be disposed close to the IC substrate 11 of the process cartridge 5, and the contact between the connector 9 and the IC substrate 11 can be secured stably.

  The laser printer 1 as one embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has been described above. However, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the laser printer 1 according to one embodiment, and the structure thereof is appropriately determined. Can be changed. For example, the process cartridge 5 constituting the laser printer 1 may have a structure in which the drum unit 6 and the developing unit 7 cannot be separated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E of the connector 9 are configured to be movable in the vertical direction (elastically deformable). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the IC substrate 11 of the above-described embodiment. The electrodes 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D may have the same configuration. In that case, the electrodes 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D of the IC substrate 11 may be configured to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction, similarly to the electrodes 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E of the connector 9 of the above-described embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser printer 2 Main body case 4 Exposure apparatus 41 Laser unit 42 Scanner plate 46 Exposure opening 47 Holding part 47A Holding opening 47B Reception part 47C Reception surface 48 Fixed part 5 Process cartridge 6 Drum unit 7 Development unit 9 Connector 9A Projection part 9B- 9E electrode 10 holder 10D protrusion 11 IC substrate H harness

Claims (11)

The device body;
An exposure apparatus equipped in the apparatus body;
A cartridge configured to be detachably attached to the apparatus main body;
An IC substrate having a storage device storing information about the cartridge;
A connector having a plurality of electrodes for electrical connection with the IC substrate;
The exposure apparatus has an exposure opening configured to pass a light beam for exposing the cartridge,
The IC substrate is disposed within the range of the opening for exposure in the width direction orthogonal to the mounting direction of the cartridge,
The connector is arranged at a predetermined position of the exposure apparatus so that the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected to the IC substrate in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. Forming equipment. The IC substrate is disposed at a location facing the exposure apparatus in the cartridge,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector is disposed upstream of the exposure opening of the exposure apparatus in the mounting direction of the cartridge. The exposure apparatus has a plate in which a holding portion for holding the connector and the opening for exposure are formed,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the holding portion includes a holding opening into which the connector is fitted, and a receiving portion that receives the connector fitted into the holding opening.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connector is held by the holding unit in a posture in which the connector is inclined downward toward the downstream side in the mounting direction of the cartridge with respect to the plate. The connector has protrusions that protrude in the width direction from both sides in the width direction,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a receiving surface of the receiving portion is inclined with respect to the plate. A main board equipped in the apparatus body;
Comprising a harness for connecting the main board and the connector;
The plurality of electrodes of the connector are arranged on the outer surface side of the plate facing the cartridge side,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the harness is disposed on an inner surface side of the plate opposite to the cartridge side. The exposure apparatus includes a laser unit configured to emit laser light through the exposure opening,
The plate has a fixing portion for fixing the laser unit to the inner surface side opposite to the cartridge side,
The fixing portion is formed in a base shape protruding toward the inner surface side of the plate,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a protruding height of the fixing portion is higher than a protruding height of the connector protruding toward the inner surface side of the plate. A holder for holding the connector on the plate;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the holder holds the connector between the plate and the plate. The holder has a protrusion protruding from the both sides in the width direction to the cartridge side,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion protrudes higher toward the cartridge than the plurality of electrodes of the connector.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the protrusion overlaps the plurality of electrodes of the connector when viewed from the width direction.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the holder covers at least a part of an end portion of the connector that is on the upstream side in the mounting direction of the cartridge.

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