JP2020137163A - Driving device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce a trouble that a control board is largely bent during insertion of a connector without causing a short circuit.SOLUTION: A driving device is provided with a motor 31 that is provided with a control board 32 provided with a connector 33, a bracket 35 (holding member) that holds the motor 31, and a non-conductive housing 40 that is opposite to the bracket 35 on the opposite side of the motor 31. The housing 40 is provided with a projection part 41 that projects toward a portion of the control board 32 where the connector 33 is installed or the vicinity thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a drive device provided with a motor with a control substrate, and an image forming device such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction device thereof equipped with the drive device.

Conventionally, it is widely known that an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer is equipped with a motor in which a control board provided with a connector is integrated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, the control board (motor board) is cut and bent into a holding member (steel plate) for holding the motor for the purpose of preventing a problem that the control board (motor board) is greatly bent and damaged when the harness connector is inserted into the connector. A technique is disclosed in which a portion is formed and the cut and bent portion supports the vicinity of the portion where the connector is installed on the control board.

In the technique of Patent Document 1, since the cutting and bending portion formed in the holding member for holding the motor supports the vicinity of the portion where the connector is installed on the control board, the control board is greatly bent when the connector is inserted. It can be expected to have a great effect of preventing damage.
However, when the lead or cutting and bending part of the connector is deformed when the connector is inserted, the connector may come into contact with the cutting and bending part made of a metal material, resulting in a short circuit. .. Then, due to such a short circuit, there is a possibility that the motor may malfunction or the control board may be damaged.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to reduce a problem that the control board is greatly bent when the connector is inserted without causing a short circuit. The purpose is to provide a forming device.

The drive device in the present invention includes a motor provided with a control board provided with a connector, a holding member for holding the motor, and a non-conductive housing facing the holding member on the opposite side of the motor. The housing is provided with a protruding portion of the control board that projects toward or near the portion where the connector is installed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a drive device and an image forming device that can reduce the problem that the control board is greatly bent when the connector is inserted without causing a short circuit.

It is an overall block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus in embodiment of this invention. (A) A perspective view showing the image forming apparatus, and (B) a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus in a state where the exterior cover is removed and the harness connector is inserted into the connector. It is a perspective view which shows the drive device. It is a schematic side view which looked at a part of a drive device in cross section. It is a figure which shows the conventional drive device. It is a figure which shows the drive device different from that of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicate description thereof will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

First, FIG. 1 describes the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 100.
In FIG. 1, 100 is a printer as an image forming apparatus, 1 is a photoconductor drum on which a toner image is formed on the surface, and 7 is an exposure light L based on image information input from an input device such as a personal computer. An exposure unit (writing unit) that irradiates 1 is shown, and 9 is a transfer roller that transfers a toner image carried on the photoconductor drum 1 to a sheet P that is conveyed to a transfer nip unit (transfer position).
Further, 12 is a feeding unit (paper feed cassette) in which the sheet P such as paper is stored, and 16 is a resist roller (16) that conveys the sheet P toward the transfer nip portion where the photoconductor drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 abut. (Timing roller), 20 is a fixing device for fixing the unfixed image on the sheet P, 21 is a fixing roller installed in the fixing device 20, and 22 is a pressurizing roller installed in the fixing device 20.
A charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 2, and the like are arranged around the photoconductor drum 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 during normal image forming will be described.
First, when image information is transmitted from an input device such as a personal computer to the exposure unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100, the exposure light L (laser beam) based on the image information is emitted from the exposure unit 7 to the surface of the photoconductor drum 1. It is emitted toward.
On the other hand, the photoconductor drum 1 is driven by a driving device 30 (see FIGS. 2B, 3 and the like) and rotates in the arrow direction (clockwise). Then, first, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is uniformly charged at the portion facing the charging roller 4 (the charging step). In this way, a charging potential (about −900 V) is formed on the photoconductor drum 1. After that, the surface of the charged photoconductor drum 1 reaches the irradiation position of the exposure light L. Then, the potential of the portion irradiated with the exposure light L becomes a latent image potential (about 0 to -100 V), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 (exposure step). .).

After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed reaches a position facing the developing device 5. Then, toner is supplied from the developing apparatus 5 onto the photoconductor drum 1, and the latent image on the photoconductor drum 1 is developed to form a toner image (a developing step).
After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 after the developing step reaches the transfer nip portion (transfer position) with the transfer roller 9. Then, a transfer bias (a bias having a polarity different from the polarity of the toner) is applied from the power supply unit to the transfer roller 9 at the transfer nip portion with the transfer roller 9, so that the sheet conveyed by the resist roller 16 is applied. The toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 is transferred onto P (this is a transfer step).

Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 after the transfer step reaches a position facing the cleaning device 2. Then, at this position, the untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 1 is mechanically removed by the cleaning blade and collected in the cleaning device 2 (cleaning step).
In this way, a series of image forming processes on the photoconductor drum 1 is completed.

On the other hand, the sheet P conveyed to the transfer nip portion (transfer position) of the photoconductor drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 operates as follows.
First, the uppermost sheet P of the sheet P housed in the feeding unit 12 is fed by the feeding roller 15 toward the transport path.
After that, the sheet P reaches the position of the resist roller 16. Then, the sheet P that has reached the position of the resist roller 16 aligns with the image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 in order to align with the transfer nip portion (transfer roller 9 and the photoconductor drum 1). It is conveyed toward the contact position).

Then, the sheet P after the transfer step reaches the fixing device 20 via the transfer path after passing through the position of the transfer nip portion (transfer roller 9). The sheet P that has reached the fixing device 20 is fed between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22, and the image is fixed by the heat received from the fixing roller 21 and the pressure received from both members 21 and 22. .. The sheet P on which the image is fixed is sent out from between the fixing roller 21 and the pressurizing roller 22 (which is the fixing nip portion), and then discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100.
In this way, a series of image forming processes is completed.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the drive device 30, which is characteristic of the image forming device 100 in the present embodiment, will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment is covered with a plurality of exterior covers. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the exterior cover 60 on the right side is removed, the main body board unit 50 and the driving device 30 installed inside the device main body 100 are exposed.
The main board unit 50 is an engine board that controls drive of various drive members installed in the image forming apparatus 100, and a controller that performs overall control in the image forming apparatus 100, communication, input control from an operation display unit, and the like. It is composed of a board, etc.

The drive device 30 is for driving various drive members (photoreceptor drum 1, developing device 5, fixing device 20, feeding roller 15, resist roller 16, etc.) installed in the image forming device 100. The motor 31, the control board 32, and the like are provided.
Then, referring to FIG. 2B, the harness connector 51 is connected to the connector 33 of the control board 32 of the drive device 30. As a result, the main body board unit 50 and the control board 32 (motor board) of the drive device 30 are communicably connected via the harness 52, and signals are exchanged between the two. Then, the drive device 30 becomes operable in the image forming device 100.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the control board 32 of the drive device 30 has the exterior cover 60 removed from the image forming device 100 during manufacturing at the factory or maintenance in the market. The harness connector 51 installed at the end of the harness 52 extended from the main body board unit 50 is inserted into the connector 33 with the + Y direction (black arrow direction) as the insertion direction, or the −Y direction is the withdrawal direction. It will be pulled out as.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive device 30 in the present embodiment is provided with a motor 31 provided with a control board 32 provided with a connector 33. That is, the control board 32 having the connector 33 is integrally installed on the motor 31.
Further, the drive device 30 is provided with a bracket 35 (motor bracket) as a holding member for holding the motor 31 with the control board 32 described above. The bracket 35 (holding member) is made of a metal material such as a highly rigid thin steel plate because it is necessary to firmly hold the motor 31 which is heavy to some extent. The shape (holding method) of the bracket 35 for holding the motor 31 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
As shown in FIG. 4, the connector 33 is provided with a lead 33a that projects toward the bracket 35 (holding member) via the control board 32.

Further, the drive device 30 is provided with a non-conductive housing 40 facing the bracket 35 (holding member) on the opposite side of the motor 31.
Specifically, the housing 40 is a substantially box-shaped member made of a non-conductive material such as a resin material, and is for fixing and holding the drive device 30 to the image forming device main body 100. Specifically, the motor 31 with the control board 32 is held in the housing 40 via the bracket 35, and the housing 40 holding them is fixed to the apparatus main body 100 by screwing.

Further, in the present embodiment, the housing 40 also functions as a gearbox. Specifically, the drive device 30 is provided with a plurality of gears (motor gear 36 and driven gear 37) for transmitting the drive of the motor 31 to the main body side. The motor gear 36 is installed on the motor shaft of the motor 31. The shaft portion of the driven gear 37 is rotatably held by the housing 40 and the bracket 35 and meshes with the motor gear 36.
Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (partially cut and shown so that the driven gear 37 can be visually recognized) and FIG. 4, the housing 40 is formed so as to cover these gears 36 and 37. There is. By configuring the housing 40 in this way, the gears 36 and 37 are not exposed to the outside, so that even if a lubricant such as grease is applied to the tooth surfaces of the gears 36 and 37, lubrication is performed. It is possible to prevent the agent from flying to the outside. In addition, it is possible to prevent an operator from being injured by touching the gears 36 and 37.
In the present embodiment, two gears 36 and 37 are installed in the drive device 30, but one gear can be installed in the drive device, or three or more gears can be installed in the drive device 30.

Here, in the present embodiment, the housing 40 is provided with a protruding portion 41 that projects toward a portion (or its vicinity) where the connector 33 is installed on the control board 32.
In other words, the range (or its vicinity) projected on the facing surface of the housing 40 in the insertion direction (the direction in which the harness connector 51 is inserted, which is the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 3 and 4). Is provided with a protruding portion 41.
When viewed in the above-mentioned insertion direction, at least the tip of the protruding portion 41 is in a position hidden by the control board 32.

More specifically, the protruding portion 41 is integrally formed in a rib shape on the facing surface of the housing 40 (the surface facing the control substrate 32). Therefore, the protruding portion 41 is also made of a non-conductive material.
The outer peripheral portion of the housing 40 substantially coincides with the outer peripheral portion of the bracket 35, and the bracket 35 is almost interposed between the housing 40 and the control board 32, but the portion where the protruding portion 41 is formed is a portion. The bracket 35 is not interposed between the housing 40 and the control board 32.

By providing the protruding portion 41 in the housing 40 in this way, even if a large force is applied when the connector 33 is inserted (when the harness connector 51 is inserted), the protruding portion 41 is on the back side of the control board 32. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the problem that the control board 32 is greatly bent and damaged.
Further, since the protruding portion 41 (housing 40) is made of a non-conductive material, the protruding portion 41 comes into contact with the connector 33 when the lead 33a of the connector 33 is deformed when the connector 33 is inserted. Even if it does, a short circuit will not occur. Therefore, there is no problem that the motor 31 malfunctions or the control board 32 is damaged due to the short circuit.
In particular, since the protruding portion 41 supports the vicinity of the connector 33 on which a large force may act, these effects can be efficiently exerted.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the conventional drive device 130 supports the vicinity of the portion of the control board 32 where the connector 33 is installed by the cutting and bending portion 136 formed on the bracket 135 holding the motor 31. Therefore, when the lead 33a of the connector 33 or the cutting / bending portion 136 is deformed when the connector 33 is inserted, the connector 33 comes into contact with the cutting / bending portion 136 made of a metal material, resulting in a short circuit. It can happen.
Further, in the conventional drive device 130 shown in FIG. 5, since the housing 140 is not formed so as to cover the gears 137 to 139, the lubricant applied to the gears 137 to 139 may fly to the outside or work. There is a possibility that a person may touch the gears 137 to 139.
Further, as in the drive device 230 shown in FIG. 6A, the bracket 135 is composed of a substrate support 236 made of a resin material (as shown in FIG. 6B, a holding portion 236a, a fitting portion 236b, and the like. It is also conceivable to install a general-purpose component) to support the vicinity of the portion where the connector 33 is installed on the control board 32. However, in such a case, even if the board support 236 comes into contact with the connector 33, a short circuit is unlikely to occur, but problems such as an increase in the number of parts and a limitation of the installation space occur. Further, also in the drive device 230 shown in FIG. 6A, since the housing 140 is not formed so as to cover the gears 137 to 139, the lubricant applied to the gears 137 to 139 may fly to the outside. There is a possibility that the operator may touch the gears 137 to 139.
On the other hand, in the drive device 30 of the present embodiment, since the housing 40 is provided with the protruding portion 41 and the housing 40 functions as a gearbox, the occurrence of these problems can be reduced. ..

Here, in the drive device 30 of the present embodiment, when an external force in the direction in which the harness connector 51 is inserted (insertion direction) does not act on the connector 33, the protruding portion 41 is formed on the control board 32 as shown in FIG. It is configured so that it does not come into contact. That is, when the above-mentioned external force does not act, a gap is formed between the control board 32 and the protruding portion 41.
Then, when an external force equal to or greater than a predetermined value in the direction in which the harness connector 51 is inserted (insertion direction) acts on the connector 33, the protruding portion 41 contacts and supports the control board 32. That is, when an external force that greatly bends the control board 32 acts, the protruding portion 41 supports the control board 32 so as to limit the occurrence of such bending.
When the protrusion 41 is configured so as not to come into contact with the control board 32 so that the protrusion 41 is always in contact with the control board 32 except when a large external force acts on the control board 32 in this way. In comparison, the control board 32 is less likely to be damaged due to continuous useless load from the protrusion 41.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the protruding portion 41 is arranged at a position where it does not come into contact with the lead 33a of the connector 33.
As described above, since the projecting portion 41 is made of a non-conductive material, leakage does not occur even if the projecting portion 41 comes into contact with the lead 33a, but the control board 32 is not bent. By configuring the protruding portion 41 so as not to come into contact with the lead 33a, mechanical damage to the lead 33a can be prevented.

As described above, the drive device 30 in the present embodiment has the motor 31 provided with the control board 32 provided with the connector 33, the bracket 35 (holding member) for holding the motor 31, and the bracket 35. A non-conductive housing 40 facing the opposite side of the motor 31 is provided. The housing 40 is provided with a protruding portion 41 that projects toward or near the portion of the control board 32 where the connector 33 is installed.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the problem that the control board 32 is greatly bent when the connector 33 is inserted without causing a short circuit.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the drive device 30 installed in the monochrome image forming apparatus 100, but the present invention is naturally applied to the driving device installed in the color image forming apparatus 100. Can be applied.
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the drive device 30 installed in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and other methods are applicable. Naturally, this also applies to a drive device installed in an image forming device (for example, an inkjet image forming device, an offset printing machine, etc.) and a driving device installed in a device other than the image forming device. The invention can be applied.
And even in those cases, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

It is clear that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and the present embodiment can be appropriately modified in addition to the suggestions in the present embodiment within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. is there. Further, the number, position, shape, etc. of the constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be a suitable number, position, shape, etc. for carrying out the present invention.

In the specification of the present application and the like, the “connector” is not limited to the one in which a plurality of connection pins are installed, but includes various forms and is defined to include all of the connection terminals.

30 drive unit,
31 motor,
32 Control board (motor board),
33 connector (connection terminal),
33a lead,
35 bracket (holding member),
36, 37 gear,
40 housing,
41 Overhang,
50 Main board unit,
51 Harness connector,
52 harness,
100 Image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body).

JP-A-2017-5816

Claims (6)

A motor equipped with a control board provided with a connector,
A holding member that holds the motor and
A non-conductive housing facing the holding member on the opposite side of the motor,
With
The housing is a drive device including a protruding portion of the control board that protrudes toward or near a portion of the control board on which the connector is installed. When an external force in the direction in which the harness connector is inserted does not act on the connector, the protruding portion does not come into contact with the control board.
The driving device according to claim 1, wherein when an external force of a predetermined value or more in the direction in which the harness connector is inserted acts on the connector, the protruding portion contacts and supports the control board. Provided with one or more gears for transmitting the drive of the motor.
The driving device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing is formed so as to cover the gear. The connector comprises a lead that projects toward the holding member via the control board.
The driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protruding portion is arranged at a position where it does not come into contact with the lead. The driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding member is made of a metal material. An image forming apparatus including the drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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