JP2021096421A - Optical head holding device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to prevent deformation of an optical head.SOLUTION: An optical head holding device has: an opening/closing member; a head unit hdi that is disposed suspended at a plurality of portions of the opening/closing member, and includes an optical head, a holding member that holds the optical head, a pressing member 53 that is disposed movably along the holding member, and an urging member; and a link mechanism that moves the pressing member 53 in association with opening/closing of the opening/closing member. The pressing member 53 urges the optical head toward an image carrier in a state where the opening/closing member is closed, and does not urge the optical head toward the image carrier in a state where the opening/closing member is opened. An urging force is not applied to the optical head when the image carrier is not exposed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an optical head holding device and an image forming device.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, a multifunction device, for example, an electrophotographic printer is provided with an image forming unit, an LED head as an optical head, a transfer unit, a fixing device, and the like. A photoconductor drum as an image carrier, a charging roller, a developing roller, a supply roller, a toner cartridge, and the like are arranged in the image forming unit.

In this type of printer, the surface of the photoconductor drum uniformly charged by the charging roller is exposed by the LED head to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller. A toner image as a developer image is formed, the toner image is transferred to paper by a transfer unit, and the toner image is fixed on the paper by a fixing device to form an image, and printing is performed.

By the way, in order to position the LED head with respect to the photoconductor drum, there is provided a printer in which the LED head is urged toward the photoconductor drum by a spring (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-145648

However, when the conventional technique is applied to a printer, if the rigidity of the LED head is low, the LED head may be deformed by the urging force of the spring at the time of non-image formation in which an image is not formed on the paper.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional printer and provide an optical head holding device and an image forming device capable of suppressing deformation of the optical head.

Therefore, in the optical head holding device of the present invention, an opening / closing member that is openable / closable with respect to the housing body and an opening / closing member that is hung down from a plurality of places of the opening / closing member, and the optical head and the optical head. A head unit including a holding member for holding the holding member, a pressing member movably arranged along the holding member, and an urging member arranged between the pressing member and the optical head, and the opening / closing of the head unit. It has a link mechanism that moves the pressing member as the member opens and closes.

Then, in the pressing member, with the opening / closing member closed, the optical head is urged toward the image carrier via the urging member and placed at the exposure position, and the opening / closing member is opened. The optical head is placed in an unexposed position without urging towards the image carrier.

According to the present invention, in the optical head holding device, an opening / closing member that is openable / closable with respect to the housing body and an opening / closing member that is suspended from a plurality of positions of the opening / closing member, and the optical head and the optical head A head unit including a holding member for holding the holding member, a pressing member movably arranged along the holding member, and an urging member arranged between the pressing member and the optical head, and the opening / closing of the head unit. It has a link mechanism that moves the pressing member as the member opens and closes.

Then, in the pressing member, with the opening / closing member closed, the optical head is urged toward the image carrier via the urging member and placed at the exposure position, and the opening / closing member is opened. The optical head is placed in an unexposed position without urging towards the image carrier.

In this case, the pressing member urges the optical head toward the image carrier via the urging member to place the optical head at the exposure position with the opening / closing member closed, and the opening / closing member is opened. Since the optical head is placed in a non-exposed position without urging the image carrier, the optical head is exposed to the urging force of the urging member only when the image carrier is exposed. If not, that is, no urging force is applied during non-image formation.

Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the optical head during non-image formation.

Further, since the holding member of the optical head does not need to be made of metal, the cost of the optical head can be reduced, and the assemblability and maintainability of the optical head can be improved.

It is a vertical sectional view which shows the 1st state of the optical head holding apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the printer in embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the 1st state of the optical head holding apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the main part which shows the 1st state of the optical head holding apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view of the main part which shows the 2nd state of the optical head holding apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the 2nd state of the optical head holding apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the 2nd state of the optical head holding apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the 1st state of the optical head holding apparatus in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the 2nd state of the optical head holding apparatus in 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, a printer as an image forming apparatus will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a printer, Cs is a housing, and the housing Cs is swingably arranged with respect to the housing body Cs1 and the housing body Cs1, and is used as an optical head and exposed. An optical head holding device Ep for holding the LED head 12 as a device is provided. At the top of the optical head holding device Ep, a stacker St1 is formed as a discharge medium loading portion for loading paper (not shown) as a medium on which a color image is formed.

Further, 11Bk, 11Y, 11M, and 11C are detachably attached to and detachable from the main body of the printer 10, that is, the device main body Bd, from the front wall side (right side in the figure) to the rear wall side (left side in the figure) of the printer 10. An image forming unit (ID unit) for each of the arranged black, yellow, magenta, and cyan colors. Each of the image forming units 11Bk, 11Y, 11M, 11C is arranged around the photoconductor drum 13 as an image carrier and the photoconductor drum 13, and none of them is shown, a charging roller as a charging device, and a developer. It is equipped with a developing roller as a carrier, a cleaning device, and the like.

A plurality of, in the present embodiment, four head units hdi (i = 1, 2, 3, 4) are arranged adjacent to each image forming unit 11Bk, 11Y, 11M, 11C, and each of them. The LED head 12 is arranged at the tip of the head unit hdi so as to face the photoconductor drum 13.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a paper cassette as a medium accommodating portion for accommodating paper, and the stacker St2 as a paper feed medium loading portion for loading paper is arranged in the paper cassette 14. Further, at the tip of the paper cassette 14, a hopping roller 15 as a feeding member for feeding the paper in the paper cassette 14, a paper feeding roller 16 for feeding the fed paper to the paper transport path Rt1 as a first medium transport path, and a paper feed roller 16. Separation rollers 17 that are brought into contact with the paper feed rollers 16 and separate paper sheets one by one are rotatably arranged.

The m1 and m2 are a pair of transport rollers arranged in the paper transport path Rt1 and transport the paper supplied from the paper cassette 14.

Further, u1 is a transfer unit that is detachably arranged with respect to the apparatus main body Bd so as to face the image forming units 11Bk, 11Y, 11M, and 11C on the downstream side of the transfer roller pair m2 in the paper transfer path Rt1. is there.

The transfer unit u1 includes a drive roller R1 rotatably arranged below the image forming unit 11Bk, a driven roller R2 rotatably arranged below the image forming unit 11C, a driving roller R1 and a driven roller R2. A transfer belt 21 stretched rotatably between the two, and a transfer roller 22 as a transfer member rotatably arranged so as to face each photoconductor drum 13 via the transfer belt 21.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a fixing device as a fixing device detachably arranged with respect to the device main body Bd on the downstream side of the image forming units 11Bk, 11Y, 11M, 11C and the transfer unit u1 in the paper transport path Rt1. The fixing device 31 includes a heating roller 32 as a first fixing member and a pressure roller 33 as a second fixing member.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a separator as a medium transport guide that is swingably arranged on the downstream side of the fuser 31 in the paper transport path Rt1, and the separator 35 allows the paper to be moved along the paper transport path Rt1. The paper is discharged to the outside of the device main body Bd, or is fed to the paper transport path Rt2 as a second medium transport path formed by branching from the paper transport path Rt1.

A transport roller pair m3 is disposed adjacent to the separator 35 on the downstream side of the separator 35 in the paper transport path Rt1, and a discharge roller pair m4 is disposed on the downstream side of the transport roller pair m3. A paper outlet h1 as a medium outlet is formed adjacent to the m4.

Further, a transport roller pair m5 is arranged on the downstream side of the separator 35 in the paper transport path Rt2, and the paper is temporarily retracted on the downstream side of the transport roller pair m5 when double-sided printing is performed on the paper. A paper evacuation portion Rp for this purpose is formed, and a transport roller pair m6 is arranged in the paper evacuation portion Rp.

Further, in order to reverse the paper retracted in the paper retracting portion Rp, a paper transport path Rt3 is formed as a third medium transport path by branching from the paper transport path Rt2, and the paper is conveyed to the paper transport path Rt3. Roller pairs m7 to m9 are arranged.

Next, the operation of the printer 10 will be described.

In each image forming unit 11Bk, 11Y, 11M, 11C, the photoconductor drum 13 is rotated by a drive unit (not shown), and the charging roller uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 13. Next, the LED head 12 irradiates the photoconductor drum 13 with light corresponding to the image signal to form an electrostatic latent image as a latent image on the photoconductor drum 13.

Then, the developing roller develops the electrostatic latent image and adheres a toner (not shown) as a developer on the photoconductor drum 13 to form a toner image as a developer image.

The paper contained in the paper cassette 14 is fed out from the paper cassette 14 by the hopping roller 15, separated one by one by the paper feed roller 16 and the separation roller 17, and fed into the paper transport path Rt1. , M2 and are sent between the image forming units 11Bk, 11Y, 11M, 11C and the transfer unit u1. Then, the toner images on each photoconductor drum 13 are sequentially superimposed on the paper and transferred, and a color toner image is formed on the paper.

The paper on which the color toner image is formed is sent to the fuser 31, where the fuser 31 is heated and pressurized by the heating roller 32 and the pressurizing roller 33, whereby the color toner image is transferred to the paper. It is fixed and a color image is formed.

Next, in the case of single-sided printing, the paper on which the color image is formed is guided to the paper transport path Rt1 by the separator 35, transported by the transport rollers vs. m3, and then conveyed by the discharge rollers vs. m4 from the paper outlet h1 to the device main body Bd. It is discharged to the outside and loaded on the stacker St1.

On the other hand, in the case of double-sided printing, the paper on which the color image is formed is guided to the paper transport path Rt2 by the separator 35, is retracted to the paper retracting portion Rp, then inverted and sent to the paper transport path Rt3. In the paper transport path Rt3, it is conveyed by the transfer rollers pairs m7 to m9 and sent to the paper transfer path Rt1.

Next, the optical head holding device Ep will be described.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a first state of the optical head holding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a first state of the optical head holding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a first state of the optical head holding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an optical head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a second state of the holding device, FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a second state of the optical head holding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a first aspect of the present invention. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the 2nd state of the optical head holding apparatus in embodiment.

The optical head holding device Ep is swingably supported with respect to the housing body Cs1 by a rotation shaft sh1 arranged in the vicinity of the paper outlet h1 in the housing body Cs1 (FIG. 2), and is supported in FIGS. It is placed in the first state shown in 4 and the second state shown in FIGS. 5-7.

A lock lever (not shown) as a tightening member is arranged at a predetermined position between the optical head holding device Ep and the housing body Cs1. By operating the lock lever, the optical head holding device Ep can be locked and placed in the first state, or the lock can be released and placed in the second state.

Further, the optical head holding device Ep constitutes the top wall of the printer 10, is arranged so as to be openable and closable with respect to the housing body Cs1, and is a frame Fr1 as an opening / closing member that covers the device body Bd from above in a closed state. The head unit hdi and the frame Fr1 are arranged at a plurality of locations of the frame Fr1, in the present embodiment, at four locations so as to hang down in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the frame Fr1. It has a link mechanism M1 that moves a pressing member 53, which will be described later, with movement.

Each head unit hdi includes an LED head 12 extending in the main scanning direction (axial direction of the photoconductor drum 13), a head holder 51 as a holding member for holding the LED head 12, and the head holder 51. It is arranged so as to be movable in the vertical direction along the above, and is arranged between the pressing member 53 and the LED head 12 and the pressing member 53 that bring the LED head 12 into contact with the photoconductor drum 31 as it moves. The LED head 12 is provided with a spring sp1 or the like as an urging member made of a compression coil spring, which urges the LED head 12 toward the photoconductor drum 13 with a predetermined urging force.

The head holder 51 is a first side panel Ps1 formed so as to extend in the vertical direction at one end in the main scanning direction of the head unit hdi, and a vertical direction at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the head unit hdi. The second side panel Ps2 formed so as to extend to, the front panel Pf connecting the first and second side panels Ps1 and Ps2 on the front wall side of the printer 10, and the second side on the rear wall side of the printer 10. A rear panel Pr for connecting the first and second side panels Ps1 and Ps2 is provided.

In the present embodiment, the head unit hdi is imaged when the optical head holding device Ep is closed so that the work for maintaining the head unit hdi can be smoothly performed with the frame Fr1 open. The head unit hdi is swingably supported by the support shaft sh2 formed on the frame Fr1 at both ends in the longitudinal direction so as not to interfere with the forming units 11Bk, 11Y, 11M, 11C.

Therefore, support holes h2 are formed in the first and second side panels Ps1 and Ps2, and the support shaft sh2 is rotatably fitted into each of the support holes h2.

The LED head 12 includes a holder member 54 made of a box-shaped body made of resin, and in the holder member 54, an LED array (not shown) composed of LED elements as a large number of light emitting elements and an LED element are driven. A driver chip that is not used, a lens array 55 that converges the light generated by each LED element on the surface of the photoconductor drum 13, and the like are arranged. Further, the LED head 12 is brought into contact with the photoconductor drum 13 via spacers 58 at both ends in a state where the frame Fr1 is closed, and a predetermined LED head 12 is placed between the lens array 55 and the surface of the photoconductor drum 13. The focal length is maintained. At both ends of the LED head 12, protrusions 59 are formed so as to project toward the photoconductor drum 13 and come into contact with the spacer 58.

Then, ribs Rb that sandwich the pressing member 53 from the front panel Pf side and the rear panel Pr side and guide them in the vertical direction are formed in the upper half of the first and second side panels Ps1 and Ps2, and the pressing member 53 is formed. Grooves (not shown) are formed at both ends in the main scanning direction of the head holder 51, and the pressing member 53 is moved in the vertical direction of the head holder 51 in a state where each groove and the rib Rb are engaged with each other. A stopper 61 that defines the lower limit position of the pressing member 53 is formed so as to project from the lower end of the rib Rb.

Further, grooves 62 for guiding the LED head 12 in the vertical direction are formed in the vicinity of the lower ends of the first and second side panels Ps1 and Ps2, and protrusions 63 project at both ends of the LED head 12 in the main scanning direction. The LED head 12 is moved in the vertical direction of the head holder 51 in a state where the groove 62 and the protrusion 63 are engaged with each other. That is, the LED head 12 has a hanging structure with respect to the head holder 51.

A stopper 65 as a regulating member that defines the lower limit position of the LED head 12 is formed at the lower end of the groove 62, and is formed from the groove 62 to the rear wall side of the printer 10 at a predetermined distance above the stopper 65 on the groove 62. The slit 66 is formed.

Further, as the first projecting member, the LED head 12 is projected toward the pressing member 53 at a plurality of locations in the main scanning direction, and in the present embodiment, at two locations near both ends of the LED head 12. The first post 71 is formed, and the pressing member 53 is projected toward the LED head 12 at a plurality of locations in the main scanning direction, and in the present embodiment, at two locations near both ends of the pressing member 53. A second post 72 as a second projecting member is formed so as to face the first post 71, and the spring sp1 is held by the first and second posts 71 and 72 and expanded and contracted. The first and second posts 71 and 72 each have a "10" -shaped cross section. Further, the first post 71 and the protrusion 59 are formed on the same straight line.

Then, the link mechanism M1 swings around the rotation shaft sh3 at a predetermined location in the housing body Cs1 near the rotation shaft sh1, and in the present embodiment, diagonally upward on the front wall side of the printer 10. A swing member Ls as a first link that is movably arranged, and a swing member Ls that is connected to the swing member Ls and is movably arranged along the upper edge of the housing body Cs1 to open and close the frame Fr1. The connecting member Lr as a second link, which is reciprocated in accordance with the above, the connecting member Lr, and the pressing member 53 of each head unit hdi are connected and oscillatingly arranged, and the reciprocating movement of the connecting member Lr. A lever Lki (i = 1, 2, 3, 4) is provided as a third link that is swung in accordance with the above and moves the pressing member 53 in the vertical direction.

The swinging member Ls and the connecting member Lr are swingably connected to each other by the joint ga4, and the connecting member Lr and the lever Lki are swingably connected to each other by the joint gai (i = 1, 2, 3, 4). , The lever Lki and each pressing member 53 are swingably connected to each other by a joint gbi (i = 1, 2, 3, 4).

At both ends of the pressing member 53, a connecting piece 76 is formed by standing up upward, and the joint gbi is formed on the connecting piece 76.

Next, the operation of the optical head holding device Ep will be described.

As described above, with the frame Fr1 closed, each lever Lki extends parallel to the front panel Pf and the rear panel Pr in the head holder 51, and the pressing member 53 is a predetermined lower portion on the rib Rb. In the present embodiment, the LED head 12 is placed at a position for urging the photoconductor drum 13 toward the photoconductor drum 13, that is, at the urging position, and is brought into contact with the spring sp1.

As a result, the LED head 12 is urged toward the photoconductor drum 13 by the urging force of the spring sp1 and brought into contact with the photoconductor drum 13 via the spacer 58, and is brought into contact with the photoconductor drum 13 at a predetermined position on the groove 62. In the embodiment, a predetermined focal length is maintained between the lens array 55 and the surface of the photoconductor drum 13, and the photoconductor drum 13 is placed at an exposure position to be exposed.

At this time, since the first post 71 and the protrusion 59 are formed on the same straight line, the LED head 12 is urged toward the photoconductor drum 13 by the urging force of the spring sp1. No bending stress is applied to the LED head 12, and the LED head 12 is not deformed.

Next, when the operator releases the lock by operating the lock lever and opens the frame Fr1, the swing member Ls is rotated counterclockwise, and as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting member Lr Is attracted to the rotation shaft sh1 side.

As a result, the lever Lki is rotated around the joint gbi, the pressing member 53 is moved upward along the rib Rb and placed in the non-biased position, and the second post 72 is moved from the upper end of the spring sp1. Separated, the spring sp1 no longer urges the LED head 12 toward the photoconductor drum 13.

The second post 72 keeps being fitted into the spring sp1 even if it is separated from the upper end of the spring sp1, and does not come off from the spring sp1.

Then, the urging force of the spring sp1 is not applied to the LED head 12, and the LED head 12 cannot be brought into contact with the photoconductor drum 13, so that the LED head 12 moves downward by its own weight and is not urged toward the photoconductor drum 13. Therefore, a predetermined position on the groove 62, in the present embodiment, a protrusion 63 abuts on the stopper 65, and further downward movement is restricted, so that the photoconductor drum 13 is placed in a non-exposed position where it is not exposed. Be taken.

The operator moves the LED head 12 toward the pressing member 53 when the urging force of the spring sp1 is not applied to the LED head 12, and pushes the LED head 12 in the depth direction when the protrusion 63 reaches the position of the slit 66. , By sliding in the slit 66, it can be removed from the head holder 51. Further, the operator can attach the LED head 12 to the head holder 51 in the reverse procedure.

In this way, the LED head 12 can be attached to and detached from the head holder 51 when the urging force of the spring sp1 is not applied to the LED head 12, so that no bending stress is applied to the LED head 12 and the LED head. 12 does not deform.

Further, in the present embodiment, the pressing member 53 places the LED head 12 in the exposed position by urging the LED head 12 toward the photoconductor drum 13 via the spring sp1 in a state where the frame Fr1 is closed. Since the LED head 12 is placed in the non-exposed position without urging toward the photoconductor drum 13 with the frame Fr1 open, the LED head 12 is springed only when the photoconductor drum 13 is exposed. When the urging force by sp1 is applied and the photoconductor drum 13 is not exposed, the urging force by the spring sp1 is not applied. Therefore, the LED head 12 is not damaged.

Further, since the holder member 54 of the LED head 12 does not need to be formed of metal and can be formed of resin, the cost of the LED head 12 can be reduced, and the assemblability and maintainability of the LED head 12 can be improved. Can be improved.

By the way, when the head unit hdi is hung in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the frame Fr1 extends while the frame Fr1 is open, the operator accesses the inside of the housing body Cs1 and jams. It becomes difficult to take out the paper from the device main body Bd in which the above is generated, or to attach / detach the image forming units 11Bk, 11Y, 11M, 11C, the transfer unit u1, the fixing device 31, and the like.

Therefore, a second embodiment of the present invention in which the head unit hdi can be retracted while the frame Fr1 is open will be described. The same reference numerals are given to those having the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and the effects of the same embodiment are used for the effects of the invention due to having the same structure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a first state of the optical head holding device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows a second state of the optical head holding device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows.

In the present embodiment, the optical head holding device Ep constitutes the top wall of the printer 10 (FIG. 2) as an image forming device, is arranged so as to be openable and closable with respect to the housing main body Cs1, and the device main body Bd is moved upward. A head unit arranged so as to hang down in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the frame Fr2 at a plurality of locations of the frame Fr2 as an opening / closing member, and in the present embodiment, at four locations. As the hdi and the optical head holding device Ep rotate, the LED head 12 as an optical head and an exposure device is brought into contact with or separated from the photoconductor drum 13 as an image carrier. It has a link mechanism M1.

The link mechanism M1 is a first link oscillatingly arranged at a predetermined position in the vicinity of the rotation shaft sh1 in the housing body Cs1, and diagonally upward on the front side of the printer 10 in the present embodiment. The rocking member Ls, the rocking member Ls, and each head holder 51 as a holding member are connected to each other and reciprocally arranged along the upper edge of the housing body Cs1 as the frame Fr2 is opened and closed. The head holder 51 is swung back and forth along with the reciprocating movement, and the connecting member Lr as a second link placed in the retracted position and the non-retracted position, the frame Fr2, and the pressing member of each head unit hdi. The lever Lki (i = 1) as a third link that is connected to the 53, is oscillatingly arranged, is oscillated with the reciprocating movement of the connecting member Lr, and moves the pressing member 53 in the vertical direction. 2, 3, 4) are provided.

The swinging member Ls and the connecting member Lr are swingably connected to each other by the joint gc4, and the connecting member Lr and each head holder 51 are swingably connected to each other by the joint gci (i = 1, 2, 3, 4). The lever Lki and the pressing member 53 are connected to each other by a joint gbi (i = 1, 2, ..., 4) so as to be swingably connected to each other, and the lever Lki and the frame Fr2 rotate from the support shaft sh2 in the frame Fr2. In the region Ari (i = 1, 2, 3, 4) formed on the shaft sh1 side, the joint gdi (i = 1, 2, ... 4) is oscillatingly connected to each other.

Next, the operation of the optical head holding device Ep will be described.

With the frame Fr2 closed, each lever Lki extends parallel to the front panel Pf and the rear panel Pr in the head holder 51, and the pressing member 53 is placed at a predetermined position below the rib Rb in the present embodiment. In the embodiment, the LED head 12 is placed at a position where it is urged toward the photoconductor drum 13, that is, at the urging position.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, each head unit hdi is placed in a non-retracted position in which the frame Fr2 is hung in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction.

When the operator releases the lock by operating a lock lever (not shown) as a tightening member and opens the frame Fr2, the swing member Ls is rotated counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. The connecting member Lr is attracted to the rotation shaft sh1 side.

As a result, each head holder 51 is rotated counterclockwise around the joint gci, and the head unit hdi is placed in the retracted position as shown in FIG.

At this time, the lever Lki is rotated counterclockwise around the joint gdi, and the pressing member 53 is moved upward along the rib Rb and placed in the non-urging position to serve as the second projecting member. The second post 72 is separated from the upper end of the spring sp1 as an urging member, and the spring sp1 does not urge the LED head 12 toward the photoconductor drum 13.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the connecting member Lr is reciprocated with the opening and closing of the frame Fr2, the head unit hdi is swung to be placed in the retracted position and the non-retracted position, and the connecting member is placed. Since the lever Lki is swung with the movement of Lr and the pressing member 53 is moved in the vertical direction, the LED head 12 is subjected to the urging force by the spring sp1 only when the photoconductor drum 13 is exposed. When the photoconductor drum 13 is not exposed, that is, when non-image is formed, the urging force by the spring sp1 is not applied.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the LED head 12 from being deformed during non-image formation.

Although the printer 10 has been described in each of the above embodiments, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile, and a multifunction device.

The present invention is not limited to each of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

12 LED head 13 Photoreceptor drum 51 Head holder 53 Pressing member Cs1 Housing body Ep Optical head holding device Fr1, Fr2 Frame hdi Head unit M1 Link mechanism sp1 Spring

Claims (7)

(A) An opening / closing member arranged so as to be openable / closable with respect to the housing body.
(B) An optical head, a holding member that holds the optical head, a pressing member that is movably arranged along the holding member, and the pressing member that are hung and arranged at a plurality of locations of the opening / closing member. A head unit provided with an urging member disposed between the optical head and
(C) It has a link mechanism for moving the pressing member as the opening / closing member is opened / closed, and also has a link mechanism.
(D) In the pressing member, with the opening / closing member closed, the optical head is urged toward the image carrier via the urging member and placed at the exposure position, and the opening / closing member is opened. , An optical head holding device, characterized in that the optical head is placed in a non-exposed position without urging the image carrier. The optical head holding device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is brought into contact with the urging member in a state where the opening / closing member is closed, and is separated from the urging member in a state where the opening / closing member is opened. The link mechanism includes a connecting member that is reciprocated with the opening and closing of the opening / closing member, and a lever that is swung with the reciprocating movement of the connecting member to move the pressing member in the vertical direction. 2. The optical head holding device according to 2. The link mechanism is reciprocated as the opening / closing member is opened / closed, and the head unit is swung to be placed in the retracted position and the non-retracted position, and the link mechanism is swung as the connecting member moves. The optical head holding device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a lever for moving the pressing member in the vertical direction. Any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical head is movably arranged along the holding member, and the movement is restricted by the regulating member in a state where the optical head is movably arranged along the holding member and is placed in a non-exposed position without being urged toward the image carrier. The optical head holding device according to item 1. (A) The optical head is brought into contact with the image carrier via a spacer, and is brought into contact with the image carrier.
(B) A protrusion formed by projecting toward the pressing member in the optical head to hold the urging member, and a protrusion formed by projecting toward the image carrier in the optical head and brought into contact with the spacer. The optical head holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the optical head holding device is formed on the same straight line. An image forming apparatus including the optical head holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images