JP2015205448A - Optical writing head positioning mechanism, process unit and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a spacer member is deformed as time passes under a load that is received from an optical writing head.SOLUTION: An optical writing head positioning mechanism includes a first portion 22 that contacts to a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a second portion 23 that contacts to an optical writing head which forms a latent image by exposing the latent image carrier, and is equipped with a spacer member 21 that is provided between the latent image carrier and the optical writing head, to decide a position of the optical writing head relative to the latent image carrier. At least a part of the second portion 23 comprises a material whose rigidity is higher than a material constituting the first portion 22.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical writing head positioning mechanism that determines the position of an optical writing head with respect to a latent image carrier, a process unit including the same, and an image forming apparatus.

  As an exposure apparatus that exposes a latent image carrier such as a photosensitive drum to form a latent image, an image forming apparatus using an optical writing head composed of an LED or an organic EL element is known. In such an image forming apparatus, since it is required to determine the position of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier with high accuracy, in general, the optical writing that determines the position of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier is performed. A head positioning mechanism is provided.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes an optical writing head positioning mechanism using a spacer member provided between a latent image carrier and an optical writing head.

  However, when the spacer member is used as the optical writing head positioning mechanism as described above, the positioning accuracy of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier when the spacer member deforms with time due to the load received from the optical writing head. May not be secured.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention contacts a first portion that contacts a latent image carrier that carries a latent image and an optical writing head that exposes the latent image carrier to form a latent image. An optical writing device including a spacer member that is provided between the latent image carrier and the optical writing head and determines a position of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier. The head positioning mechanism is characterized in that at least a part of the second portion is made of a material having rigidity higher than that of the material constituting the first portion.

  The present invention also provides a first portion that contacts a latent image carrier that carries a latent image, and a second portion that contacts the optical writing head that exposes the latent image carrier to form a latent image. An optical writing head positioning mechanism comprising a spacer member that is provided between the latent image carrier and the optical writing head and determines a position of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier. A reinforcing member is provided in the second portion.

  According to the present invention, since the rigidity of the second portion of the spacer member is improved, the deformation can be suppressed, and the positioning accuracy of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier can be ensured.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the process unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the optical writing head positioning mechanism which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the optical writing head positioning mechanism which concerns on a comparative example. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of an optical writing head positioning mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a spacer member, FIG. 1B is a front view of the spacer member, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the member between a photoconductor and an optical writing head. It is a figure which shows the structure of the optical writing head positioning mechanism which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a perspective view of a spacer member, (b) is a front view of a spacer member, (c) is a spacer. It is a figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the member between a photoconductor and an optical writing head.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings for explaining the present invention, components such as members and components having the same function or shape are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and once described, the description will be given. Omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a monochrome image forming apparatus. A process unit 1 as an image forming unit is detachably attached to an apparatus main body (image forming apparatus main body) 100 of such an image forming apparatus. The process unit 1 exposes a drum-shaped photoreceptor 2 as a latent image carrier that carries an image on the surface, a charging roller 3 as a charging unit that charges the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 2. An optical writing head 4 as an exposure unit for forming an electrostatic latent image, a developing roller 5 as a developing unit for visualizing the latent image on the photosensitive member 2, and the photosensitive member 2. A cleaning blade 6 is provided as a cleaning means for cleaning the surface, and a static eliminator (not shown) that neutralizes the surface of the photoreceptor 2.

  All of the above-described photoreceptor 2, charging roller 3, optical writing head 4, developing roller 5, cleaning blade 6, and static eliminating device are integrally provided on the support of the process unit 1. For this reason, these parts can be replaced at once by attaching and detaching the process unit 1 to and from the apparatus main body 100.

  Further, a transfer roller 7 is disposed at a position facing the photoconductor 2 as transfer means for transferring an image on the photoconductor 2 to a sheet. The transfer roller 7 is disposed at a position where the transfer unit 7 can come into contact with the photoreceptor 2 in a state where the process unit 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100, and a transfer nip is formed by the contact portion between the two. Further, the transfer roller 7 is connected to a power source (not shown) so that a predetermined direct current voltage (DC) and / or alternating current voltage (AC) is applied.

  A sheet feeding device 8 is disposed at the lower part of the apparatus main body 100. The paper feeding device 8 has a nip between a paper feeding cassette 9 that stores paper as a recording medium, a paper feeding roller 10 that feeds paper stored in the paper feeding cassette 9, and the paper feeding roller 10. A separation pad 11 and the like for separating the formed and overlapped sheets are provided. The paper includes cardboard, postcard, envelope, plain paper, thin paper, coated paper (coated paper, art paper, etc.), tracing paper, and the like. In addition, an OHP sheet, an OHP film, a fabric, or the like can be used as a recording medium other than paper.

  The sheet fed from the sheet feeding device 8 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in the drawing along the conveyance path provided in the apparatus main body 100. In this transport path, a pair of timing rollers 12 that transport the paper to the transfer nip at a transport timing downstream of the paper feed roller 10 in the paper transport direction and upstream of the transfer roller 7 in the paper transport direction. Is arranged.

  In the transport path, a fixing device 13 for fixing the image transferred to the paper is disposed downstream of the transfer roller 7 in the paper transport direction, and a pair of paper for discharging the paper to the outside of the device is further provided on the downstream side. The paper discharge roller 16 is disposed. The fixing device 13 includes a fixing roller 14 heated by a heat source such as a halogen lamp (not shown), and a pressure roller 15 that rotates while contacting the fixing roller 14 with a predetermined pressure. A fixing nip is formed at the contact points 14 and 15. In addition, a paper discharge tray 17 on which the paper discharged outside the apparatus by the paper discharge roller 16 is placed is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 100.

Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
When the image forming operation is started, the photosensitive member 2 is rotationally driven, and the surface of the photosensitive member 2 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging roller 3. Then, based on image information from a reading device or a computer (not shown), light is irradiated from the optical writing head 4 to the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the charged surface of the photoreceptor 2. The By supplying toner from the developing roller 5 to the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 2 formed in this way, the electrostatic latent image is visualized (visualized) as a toner image.

  When the image forming operation is started, the paper feed roller 10 starts to rotate, and only the uppermost paper among the papers stored in the paper feed cassette 9 is sent out to the transport path. The fed paper is temporarily stopped by the timing roller 12. Thereafter, rotation of the timing roller 12 is started at a predetermined timing, and the sheet is conveyed to the transfer nip in accordance with the timing at which the toner image on the photoreceptor 2 reaches the transfer nip.

  At this time, a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity of the toner image on the photoreceptor 2 is applied to the transfer roller 7, thereby forming a transfer electric field in the transfer nip. Then, the toner image on the photoreceptor 2 is transferred onto the paper by this transfer electric field. The residual toner on the photoreceptor 2 that could not be transferred onto the paper is removed by the cleaning blade 6. Thereafter, the surface of the photoreceptor 2 is neutralized by a neutralizing device (not shown).

  The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 13 and is heated and pressurized by passing through the fixing nip between the fixing roller 14 and the pressure roller 15 to fix the toner image on the sheet. Is done. The paper is then discharged out of the apparatus by the paper discharge roller 16 and placed on the paper discharge tray 17.

  Incidentally, the optical writing head 4 uses an LED or an organic EL element as a light emitting element. Since such a light emitting element has a shallow depth of focus (about 100 μm), it is necessary to determine the position of the optical writing head 4 with respect to the photoreceptor 2 with high accuracy. For this reason, the process unit 1 is provided with an optical writing head positioning mechanism for positioning the optical writing head 4 with respect to the photoreceptor 2. Hereinafter, the optical writing head positioning mechanism will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the optical writing head positioning mechanism 20 includes a spacer member 21 that is in contact with the photosensitive member 2 and the optical writing head 4 and is provided therebetween. The spacer member 21 functions as a regulating member that regulates the distance between the photosensitive member 2 and the optical writing head 4 and plays a role of determining the distance between them.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical writing head 4 is arranged extending in the axial direction (main scanning direction) of the photoreceptor 2. The optical writing head 4 includes a lens array 4a, a light emitting substrate (not shown), and a head frame 4b as a holding member that holds the lens array 4a and the light emitting substrate. The spacer members 21 are disposed on both ends of the optical writing head 4 in the longitudinal direction or in the axial direction of the photosensitive member 2, and are in contact with the head frame 4 b of the optical writing head 4 and the photosensitive member 2, respectively. Then, in a state where the spacer member 21 is in contact with both the photosensitive member 2 and the optical writing head 4, the spacer member 21 is moved from the optical writing head 4 to the photosensitive member 2 by an urging means (not shown) such as a coil spring. It is configured to receive a load.

  Here, when the maximum image forming area on which the toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 2 is A, the contact of the spacer member 21 with the photoreceptor 2 is suppressed in order to suppress wear of the photoreceptor 2 in the maximum image forming area A. The surface 21a is disposed outside the maximum image forming area A.

  Further, in the present embodiment, each spacer member 21 is in contact with the photosensitive member 2 at two locations separated from each other in the axial direction. That is, each spacer member 21 has two contact surfaces 21a that contact the photoreceptor 2 at positions separated from each other. These two contact surfaces 21a are arranged on both sides of the photosensitive member 2 so as to avoid the boundary (cleaning region end) of the cleaning region B where the cleaning blade 6 contacts.

  As described above, by arranging the contact surfaces 21a on both sides of the boundary of the cleaning region B, streaky residual toner generated in the vicinity of the boundary of the cleaning region B is transferred to the photoreceptor 2 and the spacer member 21 (contact surface 21a). To prevent intrusion. This prevents a decrease in the positional accuracy of the optical writing head 4 with respect to the photosensitive member 2 due to the residual toner entering between the photosensitive member 2 and the spacer member 21.

  In addition to the arrangement of the present embodiment as described above, in order to arrange the contact surface 21a of the spacer member 21 while avoiding the boundary of the cleaning region B, for example, two contact surfaces 21a are provided as shown in FIG. It is also conceivable to arrange them inside the boundary of the cleaning region B without dividing them. However, in this case, the length Lb of the cleaning area B in the photoconductor axis direction is equal to the length La of the maximum image forming area A in the photoconductor axis direction and the photoconductor axis direction of the contact surfaces 21a of both spacer members 21. It becomes longer than the total with the length Lc (Lb> La + 2Lc). As a result, the length of the cleaning blade 6 becomes long.

  Further, when the contact surface 21 a of the spacer member 21 is disposed outside the boundary of the cleaning region B, the axial length Ld of the photosensitive member 2 outside the cleaning region B is set to the photosensitive surface 21 a of the spacer member 21. It is necessary to make it longer than the length Lc in the body axis direction. Therefore, in this case, the entire axial length of the photosensitive member 2 becomes long.

  As described above, when the contact surface 21a is arranged inside or outside the cleaning region B without being divided into two, the length of the cleaning blade 6 and the total length of the photosensitive member 2 are increased, and in both cases, the size is reduced. Disadvantageous.

  On the other hand, when the contact surface 21a is divided and disposed on both sides of the boundary of the cleaning region B as in this embodiment, the length of the spacer member 21 in the photosensitive member axial direction is the same as the example shown in FIG. Even in such a case, the length of the cleaning blade 6 and the entire length of the photosensitive member 2 can be shortened. As a result, in this embodiment, both prevention of a decrease in the positional accuracy of the optical writing head 4 due to intrusion of residual toner between the photosensitive member 2 and the spacer member 21 and a reduction in the size of the apparatus are realized. Can do. In addition, the contact surface 21a which contacts the photoconductor 2 in one spacer member 21 may be three or more. Even in such a case, the same effect as described above can be obtained by disposing at least one contact surface 21a on each side of the contact surface 21a avoiding the boundary of the cleaning region B.

  However, when the contact surfaces 21a of the spacer member 21 with respect to the photosensitive member 2 are at positions separated from each other as in the present embodiment, the spacer member 21 is light-transmitted particularly at a location M (see FIG. 3) between the contact surfaces 21a. Due to the load received from the writing head 4, it becomes easy to deform over time. Such deformation of the spacer member 21 over time leads to a decrease in the positioning function of the optical writing head 4, and therefore measures to prevent or suppress this are necessary. Therefore, in the present invention, the following measures are taken to suppress the deformation of the spacer member 21.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
5A is a perspective view of the spacer member 21, FIG. 5B is a front view of the spacer member 21, and FIG. 5C is a diagram in which the spacer member 21 is disposed between the photosensitive member 2 and the optical writing head 4. It is a figure which shows a state. First, the configuration of the spacer member 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the spacer member 21 includes a first portion 22 having a contact surface 21 a that contacts the photoconductor 2 and a second portion 23 having a contact surface 21 b that contacts the optical writing head 4. Have. The second portion 23 may be fixed with respect to the optical writing head 4 or may be configured to be able to contact and separate.

  The first portion 22 has two legs 24. The contact surfaces 21a that contact the photoconductors 2 in the respective leg portions 24 are each formed in an arc shape following the surface shape of the photoconductor 2 {see FIG. 5 (a)}. As a result, each leg portion 24 can come into contact with the photoreceptor 2 in a stable posture.

  The second portion 23 includes a plate-like portion 25 and two columnar portions 26 configured integrally with the plate-like portion 25. The leg portion 24 is provided on the surface of the plate-like portion 25 on the surface of the photoreceptor 2 (the lower surface in FIG. 5). The second portion 23 (plate-like portion 25) and the first portion 22 (leg portion 24) may be molded separately or may be integrally molded. The leg portions 24 are arranged at both ends in the width direction of the plate-like portion 25 corresponding to the axial direction of the photoconductor 2 with a space therebetween. On the other hand, a columnar portion 26 is provided on the surface of the plate-shaped portion 25 on the optical writing head 4 side (the upper surface in FIG. 5). Each of the columnar portions 26 is disposed in the intermediate portion in the width direction where the leg portions 24 in the plate-like portion 25 are not provided. Further, the columnar portions 26 are arranged at intervals from each other in the direction orthogonal to the width direction of the plate-like portion 25, in other words, in the circumferential direction of the photoreceptor 2.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, in the state where the spacer member 21 is disposed between the photosensitive member 2 and the optical writing head 4, each leg portion 24 avoids the boundary of the cleaning region B on both sides thereof. Contact the photoreceptor 2. That is, in order to prevent the intrusion of toner and to reduce the size of the apparatus, the contact surfaces 21a that contact the photoreceptor 2 in the respective leg portions 24 are arranged one by one on both sides avoiding the boundary of the cleaning region B. It is configured. On the other hand, each columnar portion 26 comes into contact with the optical writing head 4 and receives a load F from the optical writing head 4 toward the photosensitive member 2 at the contact surface 21b.

  Here, in a state in which each leg portion 24 is in contact with the photoreceptor 2, the plate-like portion 25 is disposed with a space from the surface of the photoreceptor 2. A load F from the optical writing head 4 acts on the plate-like portion 25 via the columnar portion 26, but is supported by the leg portions 24 in the intermediate portion in the width direction of the plate-like portion 25 on which the load F acts. Cannot be obtained. In addition, since the plate-like portion 25 is arranged in a direction intersecting or orthogonal to the direction of the load F received from the optical writing head via the columnar portion 26 (downward direction in FIG. 5C), the load F It is difficult to obtain bending rigidity against For this reason, in particular, in the intermediate portion in the width direction of the plate-like portion 25, there is a tendency that deformation with time such that the plate-like portion 25 bends toward the photoreceptor 2 tends to occur.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the entire second portion 23 including the plate-like portion 25 that is easily deformed is made of a material having higher rigidity than the material constituting the first portion 22. Specifically, the first portion 22 is made of a material such as polyacetal, and the second portion 23 is made of a material such as polycarbonate or glass-filled resin having a rigidity higher than that of polyacetal. .

  In this way, by configuring the second portion 23 with a highly rigid material such as polycarbonate or glass-containing resin, the rigidity of the second portion 23 with respect to the load F received from the optical writing head 4 is increased, and the plate-like portion It is possible to suppress the deformation of the intermediate portion in the width direction of 25. Thereby, the positional accuracy of the optical writing head 4 can be maintained with high accuracy over a long period of time. In addition, only the plate-like portion 25 that is particularly likely to be deformed may be made of a material having higher rigidity than the material constituting the first portion 22.

  On the other hand, the first portion 22 is made of an elastic material such as polyacetal, so that the contact surface 21 a of the leg portion 24 can be brought into close contact with the photoreceptor 2. This makes it difficult for foreign matters such as toner to enter between the spacer member 21 and the photosensitive member 2, thereby preventing a decrease in positioning accuracy of the optical writing head 4. In addition, since the spacer member 21 and the photosensitive member 2 are in surface contact with each other, the contact pressure is reduced, and wear of both can be expected to be reduced.

Next, the configuration of the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
6A is a perspective view of the spacer member 21, FIG. 6B is a front view of the spacer member 21, and FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating the spacer member 21 disposed between the photosensitive member 2 and the optical writing head 4. It is a figure which shows a state. In order to omit redundant description, only the parts of the configuration of the second embodiment that are different from the configuration of the first embodiment will be described.

  In the spacer member 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, the first portion 22 having the leg portion 24 and the second portion 23 having the plate-like portion 25 and the columnar portion 26 have the same elasticity. It is integrally molded with a material (for example, polyacetal) having That is, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the second portion 23 is not made of a highly rigid material as in the first embodiment. Instead, a highly rigid thin plate-shaped reinforcing member 27 is provided in the second portion 23.

  In the present embodiment, the two reinforcing members 27 are provided corresponding to the locations where the columnar portions 26 are provided in the plate-like portion 25 (below the columnar portions 26 in FIG. 6). In the present embodiment, the reinforcing member 27 is integrally formed by insert molding or the like on the main body portion (the leg portion 24, the plate-like portion 25, and the columnar portion 26) made of the elastic material of the spacer member 21. However, you may make it assemble | attach the reinforcement member 27 later with respect to the main-body part shape | molded independently.

  Thus, in the second embodiment of the present invention, by providing the reinforcing member 27 in the plate-like portion 25, the reinforcing member 27 can receive the load F from the optical writing head 4, and the plate-like portion 25 Deformation of the intermediate portion in the width direction can be suppressed. In addition, in the present embodiment, each reinforcing member 27 is provided corresponding to the location where each columnar portion 26 is provided in the plate-like portion 25, and therefore particularly where the load is received from the columnar portion 26 of the plate-like portion 25. And the deformation of the part can be effectively suppressed. Thereby, as in the first embodiment, the positional accuracy of the optical writing head 4 can be maintained with high accuracy over a long period of time.

  In order to further increase the rigidity of the plate-like portion 25, it is preferable that the reinforcing member 27 is made of a material having higher rigidity than the elastic material constituting the first portion 22 and the second portion 23. For example, as a material of the reinforcing member 27, a general galvanized steel plate or spring steel can be applied.

  Also in the second embodiment, since the leg portion 24 is made of a material having elasticity, the leg portion 24 can be brought into close contact with the photosensitive member 2, and the space between the spacer member 21 and the photosensitive member 2 can be reduced. It is possible to prevent foreign matter from penetrating into the body and reduce wear of both.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the deformation of the second portion 23 is suppressed by adopting a material having high rigidity or providing a reinforcing member for at least a part of the second portion 23. It is possible to maintain the positional accuracy of the optical writing head 4 with high accuracy over a long period of time. On the other hand, the first portion 22 can be made of a material suitable for contact with the photoreceptor 2, such as a material having elasticity or slidability, and a good contact state can be ensured. That is, the function can be divided between the first portion 22 and the second portion 23, and it is possible to achieve both improvement in the positional accuracy of the optical writing head 4 and securing of a good contact state with the photosensitive member 2. It becomes.

  Further, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the second portion is made of a highly rigid material and the case where the reinforcing member is provided on the second portion have been described as examples. However, the second portion is made of a highly rigid material. In addition, a reinforcing member may be provided in the second portion. Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the present invention is applied to the spacer member 21 including the leg portion 24, the plate-like portion 25, and the columnar portion 26. The present invention can also be applied to spacer members having other configurations.

  The image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to a monochrome image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. The present invention provides an indirect transfer type color image forming apparatus that indirectly transfers images on a plurality of photoreceptors 2 to a sheet via an intermediate transfer belt (intermediate transfer body), and images on a plurality of photoreceptors 2. The present invention can also be applied to a color image forming apparatus of a direct transfer system that directly transfers the image to a sheet conveyed by a conveyance belt (conveyance body). Further, the image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied includes a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus using the drum-shaped photoconductor 2 as the latent image carrier has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. The present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus using a so-called photoreceptor belt. More specifically, a spacer member is brought into contact with the stretching roller (backup roller) of the photosensitive belt via the photosensitive belt, and light that determines the position of the optical writing head with respect to the photosensitive belt by the spacer member. The present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus provided with a write head positioning mechanism.

Moreover, the above-described embodiment of the present invention can be understood as follows.
That is, in the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the optical writing for forming the latent image by exposing the photosensitive member 2 to the first portion 22 that contacts the photosensitive member 2 that carries the latent image. And a second portion 23 that comes into contact with the head 4 and is provided between the photosensitive member 2 and the optical writing head 4 to determine the position of the optical writing head 4 with respect to the photosensitive member 2. In the optical writing head positioning mechanism including the member 21, at least a part of the second portion 23 is made of a material having higher rigidity than the material constituting the first portion 22.

  The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment includes the first portion 22 that contacts the photosensitive member 2 that carries a latent image, and the optical writing that exposes the photosensitive member 2 to form a latent image. And a second portion 23 that comes into contact with the head 4 and is provided between the photosensitive member 2 and the optical writing head 4 to determine the position of the optical writing head 4 with respect to the photosensitive member 2. In the optical writing head positioning mechanism including the member 21, a reinforcing member 27 is provided in the second portion 23.

  In the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the reinforcing member 27 is made of a material having rigidity higher than that of the first portion 22 or the second portion 23. is there.

  In the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the first portion 22 has the leg portion 24 that contacts the photoconductor 2, and the second portion 23 is the photoconductor 2. The leg portion 24 is provided on the side surface, and contacts the optical writing head 4 with the plate-like portion 25 disposed at a distance from the surface of the photoreceptor 2 via the leg portion 24. And a columnar portion 26 provided on the surface of the plate-like portion 25 where the leg portion 24 is not provided on the optical writing head 4 side, and at least the plate-like portion 25 is The leg portion 24 is made of a material having higher rigidity than the material constituting the leg portion 24.

  In the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the first portion 22 has the leg portion 24 that contacts the photoconductor 2, and the second portion 23 is the photoconductor 2. The leg portion 24 is provided on the side surface, and contacts the optical writing head 4 with the plate-like portion 25 disposed at a distance from the surface of the photoreceptor 2 via the leg portion 24. And a columnar portion 26 provided on the surface of the plate-like portion 25 where the leg portion 24 is not provided on the optical writing head 4 side. A member 27 is provided.

  In the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the reinforcing member 27 is provided corresponding to the portion of the plate-like portion 25 where the columnar portion 26 is provided.

  Further, in the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the leg portions 24 are arranged at both ends in the width direction of the plate-like portion 25, and the columnar portions 26 are arranged at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the plate-like portion 25. Is arranged.

  In the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the plate-like portion 25 is arranged in a direction intersecting with the direction of the load received from the optical writing head 4 via the columnar portion 26. It is.

  In the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the leg portion 24 is made of an elastic material.

  In the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the first portion 22 includes a plurality of the leg portions 24, and the contact surface 21a that contacts the photoreceptor 2 in each leg portion 24 is provided. At least one is disposed on each side of the photosensitive member 2 to avoid the boundary of the cleaning region B by the cleaning blade 6 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive member 2.

  In the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to the above-described embodiment, the optical writing head 4 has an LED or an organic EL element.

  Further, the process unit according to the above-described embodiment includes the photosensitive member 2 on which a latent image is formed by exposure of the optical writing head 4 and the optical writing head that determines the position of the optical writing head 4 with respect to the photosensitive member 2. The positioning mechanism 20 is provided.

  The image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment includes the optical writing head 4, the photosensitive member 2 on which a latent image is formed by exposure of the optical writing head 4, and the optical writing head for the photosensitive member 2. 4 is provided with an optical writing head positioning mechanism 20 that determines the position 4.

1 process unit 2 photoconductor (latent image carrier)
4 Optical writing head 6 Cleaning blade (cleaning means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Optical writing head positioning mechanism 21 Spacer member 21a Contact surface 21b Contact surface 22 1st part 23 2nd part 24 Leg part 25 Plate part 26 Columnar part 27 Reinforcement member

Japanese Patent No. 4073234

Claims (15)

A first portion that contacts the latent image carrier that bears the latent image; and a second portion that contacts the optical writing head that exposes the latent image carrier to form a latent image. In an optical writing head positioning mechanism comprising a spacer member provided between an image carrier and the optical writing head and determining a position of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier,
An optical writing head positioning mechanism characterized in that at least a part of the second part is made of a material having rigidity higher than that of the material constituting the first part. A first portion that contacts the latent image carrier that bears the latent image; and a second portion that contacts the optical writing head that exposes the latent image carrier to form a latent image. In an optical writing head positioning mechanism comprising a spacer member provided between an image carrier and the optical writing head and determining a position of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier,
An optical writing head positioning mechanism, wherein a reinforcing member is provided in the second portion.   3. The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing member is made of a material having rigidity higher than that of the first portion or the second portion. The first part is
A leg portion that contacts the latent image carrier;
The second part is
The leg portion is provided on the surface on the latent image carrier side, and a plate-like portion disposed with a space from the surface of the latent image carrier through the leg portion;
And a columnar portion provided on the surface of the plate-like portion on the optical writing head side where the leg portion is not provided, in contact with the optical writing head,
The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least the plate-like portion is made of a material having rigidity higher than that of the material constituting the leg portion. The first part is
A leg portion that contacts the latent image carrier;
The second part is
The leg portion is provided on the surface on the latent image carrier side, and a plate-like portion disposed with a space from the surface of the latent image carrier through the leg portion;
And a columnar portion provided on the surface of the plate-like portion on the optical writing head side where the leg portion is not provided, in contact with the optical writing head,
The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing member is provided on the plate-like portion.   The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the reinforcing member is provided corresponding to a portion of the plate-like portion where the columnar portion is provided. The leg portions are arranged at both ends in the width direction of the plate-like portion,
The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the columnar portion is arranged at a middle portion in the width direction of the plate-like portion.   8. The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the plate-like portion is disposed in a direction crossing a direction of a load received from the optical writing head via the columnar portion. 9.   9. The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the leg portion is made of an elastic material.   The first portion has a plurality of the leg portions, and a contact surface of each leg portion that contacts the latent image carrier is avoided from a boundary of a cleaning area by a cleaning unit that cleans the surface of the latent image carrier. The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 4, wherein at least one is disposed on each side of the lever.   The optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the optical writing head includes an LED or an organic EL element.   A process unit comprising the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 1. A latent image carrier on which a latent image is formed by exposure of the optical writing head, and an optical writing head positioning mechanism that determines the position of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier,
The process unit according to claim 12, comprising the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 1 as the optical writing head positioning mechanism.   An image forming apparatus comprising the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 1. An optical writing head; a latent image carrier on which a latent image is formed by exposure of the optical writing head; and an optical writing head positioning mechanism that determines a position of the optical writing head with respect to the latent image carrier. ,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, comprising the optical writing head positioning mechanism according to claim 1 as the optical writing head positioning mechanism.