JP5387353B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to images forming device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an insulating box housing a laser light source and a scanning optical system for deflecting the laser light from the laser light source and exposing and scanning the surface to be scanned, and an upper surface of the box. In a laser scanning unit comprising a metal lid that closes the opening and attached to the base frame of the image forming apparatus, a lower end is disposed on the bottom wall of the attachment portion of the box to the base frame, and the upper end A metal plate pressed against the inner surface of the lid, and the lower end of the metal plate is fastened to the base frame together with the bottom wall of the mounting portion with a metal screw. A featured laser scanning unit is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, a semiconductor laser unit for emitting laser light, a polygon mirror that deflects and scans the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser unit, and an image of the laser light deflected by the polygon mirror are formed. In a deflection scanning apparatus having a scanning lens for scanning a photosensitive drum, housing these optical system members in an optical box, and sealing the inside of the optical box with a lid member, the optical box is formed of a resin material In addition, a deflection scanning apparatus is disclosed in which a conductive metal film is formed by metal plating on the entire surface of an optical box made of the resin material.

  In Patent Document 3, a light source unit, a deflector that rotates a deflection mirror at a high speed by a scanner motor or the like to deflect a light beam from the light source unit, and a lens that collects the light beam deflected by the deflector on a predetermined surface A scanning optical device in which a metal lid is fixed to an optical box containing these with a screw, at least one of the screws penetrating the optical box and having its tip grounded A shaft portion that contacts the optical table, and the metal lid is grounded by contacting the optical table at the tip of the shaft portion when the scanning optical device is attached to the optical table. A scanning optical device is disclosed.

JP 2005-91542 A JP 11-202240 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-231250

An object of the present invention, the only work for attaching the optical scanning device in an image forming apparatus main body, images formed which can be grounded ground electrode equipped with a substrate driving circuit to the frame of the image forming apparatus main body of the optical scanning device Is to get the equipment.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a laser light source, a scanning unit that scans a laser beam emitted from the laser light source onto an image holding member, and a drive circuit that drives the laser light source and the scanning unit. Mounted on a housing in which the laser light source and the scanning means are accommodated, a grounding electrode provided on the substrate, and a conductive supported member provided on the housing, An optical scanning device comprising: a conducting member that conducts light ; and a conductive support unit that is grounded as a frame ground to a housing of the image forming apparatus main body, wherein the supported member is inserted into the optical scanning device. by supporting the, and a supporting lifting unit for conducting a ground electrode provided on the laser light source and the scanning means and the substrate attached to the housing which is accommodated.

In the image forming apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention, the supported member includes a conductive columnar member provided with a screw hole, and a screw is fitted into the screw hole via one end of the conductive member. The other end of the conducting member is connected to the grounding electrode.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention includes an opening and closing means to open and close the upper portion of the apparatus main body for mounting the front Symbol optical scanning device from above the apparatus main body.

In the image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the optical scanning is performed so that the support portion is provided in a housing of the image forming apparatus main body and the optical scanning apparatus is mounted at a predetermined mounting position of the apparatus main body. A support member that supports the supported member of the apparatus, and a pressing member that is provided in a housing of the image forming apparatus main body and presses the supported member against the supporting member, and at least of the supporting member and the pressing member One has conductivity.

According to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, a ground electrode provided on a substrate which is mounted in a housing a laser light source and scanning means are housed, and continuity of the support unit of the image forming apparatus main body Compared to the case where the optical scanning device is directly connected and conducted, the grounding electrode of the substrate on which the optical scanning device drive circuit is mounted is grounded to the frame of the image forming device main body only by attaching the optical scanning device to the image forming device main body. It has the effect that it can be made.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the grounding electrode of the substrate can be reliably grounded to the frame of the image forming apparatus main body as compared with the case where the conducting member is merely brought into contact with the supported member. It has the effect of being able to.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the grounding electrode provided on the substrate attached to the housing in which the laser light source and the scanning means are accommodated, the conductive support member of the image forming apparatus main body, Compared to the case where the optical scanning device is directly connected and conducted, the grounding electrode of the substrate on which the optical scanning device drive circuit is mounted is grounded to the frame of the image forming device main body only by attaching the optical scanning device to the image forming device main body. It has the effect that it can be made.

According to the image forming apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention, the support portion, as compared with the case where no pressing member for pressing the supported member to a supporting member, a ground electrode of the substrate image forming apparatus main body frame It is possible to reliably ground the device.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an entire image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to an apparatus main body. 1 is a partially enlarged view of an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention fixed to an apparatus main body. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to an apparatus main body. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to an apparatus main body. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to an apparatus main body. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a method for mounting the exposure apparatus employed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention to the apparatus main body. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a method for mounting the exposure apparatus employed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention to the apparatus main body. 1 is a side view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on an apparatus main body. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an entire image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram that shows the periphery of an exposure apparatus of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to an apparatus main body. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to an apparatus main body. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to an apparatus main body. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a method for mounting the exposure apparatus employed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention to the apparatus main body. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a method for mounting the exposure apparatus employed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention to the apparatus main body. 1 is a side view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on an apparatus main body. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fixing method for fixing the exposure apparatus employed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention to the apparatus main body. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fixing method for fixing the exposure apparatus employed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention to the apparatus main body. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an exposure apparatus employed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to an apparatus main body.

  An example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, image forming units 208Y, M, C, and K for each color as an example of an image forming unit are inclined above the exposure device 40 fixed to the apparatus main body 200A of the image forming apparatus 200. They are arranged in this order. In the following description, characters (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to each color are added to the code when distinguishing each color, and characters corresponding to each color are omitted unless otherwise distinguished.

  Each color image forming unit 208 includes an image carrier 204 on which the surface is exposed with light emitted from the exposure device 40 to form a latent image, and an image carrier 204 before the latent image is formed. A charging member 202 that uniformly charges the surface and a developing unit 206 that visualizes a latent image formed on the surface of the image holding member 204 with a toner image are provided.

  Further, an intermediate transfer belt 210 as an example of a transfer belt in contact with the image holding member 204 of each color is wound around a plurality of support rolls 218 on the upper side of the image holding member 204 of the image forming unit 208. .

  A primary transfer member 205 for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier 204 to the intermediate transfer belt 210 is provided on the opposite side of the image carrier 204 with the intermediate transfer belt 210 interposed therebetween. .

  Further, below the exposure device 40, a paper feeding unit 212 that stores the recording sheet P is provided, and a plurality of recording sheets P that are stored in the paper feeding unit 212 are transported along the transport path 203. A conveyance roller 214 is provided.

  Then, on the conveyance path 203, the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 210 is recorded on the recording sheet so that the intermediate transfer belt 210 is sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 210 and a support roll 218 provided at one end portion (right end portion on the paper surface). A secondary transfer member 216 for transferring to P is provided.

  Further, on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet P with respect to the secondary transfer member 216, a fixing device 220 that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording sheet P to the recording sheet P, and a recording in which the toner image is fixed A discharge roll 222 for discharging the sheet P to the outside is provided.

  On the other hand, a power supply unit 228 that supplies power to the image forming unit 208 and the like is provided in parallel with the exposure apparatus 40.

  Next, the exposure apparatus 40 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an optical system 120 that exposes the surface of the image carrier 34 by irradiating the image carrier 34 of each color with light is provided inside the housing 122 of the exposure apparatus 40.

  The optical system 120 includes a laser light source (not shown) such as a semiconductor laser that emits laser light, a polygon mirror 124 that is a rotating polygon mirror that reflects and deflects the light emitted by the light source, and a polygon mirror 124. A lens 126 that transmits the reflected light and a mirror 128 that reflects the light transmitted through the lens 126 to expose the surface of each image carrier 34 are provided.

  Further, one end side (the right side shown in FIG. 1) of the housing 122 of the exposure apparatus 40 is tapered, and the exposure apparatus 40 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction when this one end side is at a low position. Has been. In this embodiment, as an example, the polygon mirror 124 accommodated inside the housing 122 is arranged on the other end side (left side shown in FIG. 1) so that one end side is tapered.

  In this way, by tapering one end side of the housing 122 on the lower position side, the useless triangular space 138 generated below the exposure apparatus 40 is reduced even when the exposure apparatus 40 is inclined. It has become.

  Furthermore, the lower surface of the housing 122 is between a first lower surface 144A provided on one end side, a second lower surface 144B provided on the other end side, and the first lower surface 144A and the second lower surface 144B. The third lower surface 144C is provided.

  Here, the exposure apparatus 40 of the present embodiment has the first inclination angle (see FIG. 1) when attached to the apparatus main body 200A described above and the second inclination angle (see FIG. 13) when attached to the apparatus main body 10A. And the apparatus main body 200A and the apparatus main body 10A, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the exposure apparatus 40 is attached to the apparatus main body 200A at the first inclination angle, the first lower surface 144A is parallel to the bottom plate 201 of the apparatus main body 200A and is shown in FIG. As described above, when the exposure apparatus 40 is attached to the apparatus main body 10A at the second inclination angle, the third lower surface 144C is parallel to the bottom plate 11 (see FIG. 12) of the apparatus main body 200A.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 13, the housing 122 has the lowermost end of the housing 122 even if the housing 122 is attached to the apparatus main bodies 200 </ b> A and 10 </ b> A at the first tilt angle and the second tilt angle. And has a lowermost end 132. In the present embodiment, the lowermost end portion 132 is located between the first lower surface 144A and the third lower surface 144C.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, a plate-like reinforcing member 130 projects from the recessed portions of the first lower surface 144A and the third lower surface 144C so as to reinforce one end side of the tapered casing 122. The protruding end 130A of the reinforcing member 130 forms a first lower surface 144A and a third lower surface 144C.

  As shown in FIG. 1, one end of the housing 122 attached at the first inclination angle is disposed above the lowermost end portion 132 and attached to the apparatus main body 200 </ b> A. A cylindrical shaft member 134 as an example of the portion is provided. The shaft member 134 extends in the depth direction of the apparatus main body 200A (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface shown in FIG. 1), and both ends of the shaft member 134 are provided so as to protrude outward from the housing 122 in the depth direction. .

  The shaft member 134 is disposed between the virtual extension surface 140 of the upper surface 127 of the housing 122 and the virtual extension surface 142 of the first lower surface 144A, and is provided on one end side of the housing 122. It is fixed to the housing 122 by a bracket member 136 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lowermost end portion 132 described above is formed on the other end side (left side shown in FIG. 1) of the housing 122 of the exposure apparatus 40 and in the concave portion 145 of the lower surface 144 </ b> B of the housing 122. Further, a cylindrical metal shaft member 146 is provided extending in the depth direction as an example of the other end side attachment portion for attaching the housing 122 to the apparatus main body 200A.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft member 146 is fixed to the housing 122 by two bracket members 148 provided in the recesses 145 of the housing 122, and both ends of the shaft member 146 are connected to the housing in the depth direction. It is provided so as to protrude outward from the body 122.

  The shaft member 134 and the shaft member 146 are examples of the one end side attaching portion and the other end side attaching portion, and in this embodiment, are cylindrical shafts attached to the apparatus main body. In other words, it is not limited to a cylindrical shaft as long as it is attached to the apparatus main body. For example, it may be a prismatic shaft, or may be a member such as a bracket attached to the apparatus main body. Good.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a substrate 300 on which a driving circuit for driving a light source (not shown), a polygon mirror 124 and the like of the exposure apparatus 40 is mounted in the lower right portion of the recessed portion on the rear surface of the housing 122. Is attached. As shown in FIG. 5, the substrate 300 is provided with a grounding electrode 302 for grounding the drive circuit, and a hole 306 for passing a screw 304 is provided at the center of the grounding electrode 302. It has been. The housing 122 at the end of the hole 306 is provided with a screw hole (not shown) for fitting the screw 304.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the shaft member 146 is provided with a screw hole 310 for fitting the screw 308.

  The ground electrode 302 and the shaft member 146 of the substrate 300 are connected by a harness 312. The harness 312 has a configuration in which metal washers 312A and 312B are attached to both ends of a wire covered with, for example, a copper wire.

  The screw 304 is fitted into a screw hole (not shown) provided on the housing 122 side through a washer 312A and a hole 306 on one end side of the harness 312. The screw 308 is a washer 312A on the other end side of the harness 312. And the hole 148 </ b> A provided in the bracket member 148 is fitted into the screw hole 310 of the shaft member 146. Thereby, the ground electrode 302 and the shaft member 146 are electrically connected.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the shaft member 146 is fixed to the housing 122 by the bracket member 148 has been described. However, through holes are provided on both ends of the shaft member 146, and the through holes of the housing 200A are provided in the through holes. Screw holes are respectively provided at corresponding positions, and the screws are screwed into the screw holes of the housing 200A through the through holes of the shaft member 146, so that the shaft member 146 is fixed to the housing 200A without the bracket member 148. May be.

  Next, how the exposure apparatus 40 is attached to the apparatus main body 200A will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the two end portions of the shaft member 134 fixed to one end side of the housing 122 are two fixtures 230 provided on the apparatus main body 200 </ b> A (see FIG. 1). Is attached to the apparatus main body 200A. Furthermore, both end sides of the shaft member 146 fixed to the other end side of the housing 122 are attached to the apparatus main body 200A by two attachment tools 240 provided on the apparatus main body 200A.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the shaft member 134 and the shaft member 146 of the exposure apparatus 40 attached to the image forming apparatus 200 at the first inclination angle by the attachments 230 and 240 are provided on the housing 122. It is disposed above the lowermost end portion 132.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, the fixture 230 includes a support member 232 that supports the shaft member 134, and is detachably fixed to the support member 232 by bolts 238 and attached to the support member 232. A pressing member 234 that presses the supported shaft member 134 toward the support member 232 from above is provided.

  Further, the pressing member 234 includes a pressing portion 234A formed of spring steel that presses the shaft member 134 directly toward the support member 232, and a holding portion 234B that holds the pressing portion 234A.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the fixture 240 is fixed to the support member 242 in which a U groove 242 </ b> A for supporting the shaft member 146 is formed, and is detachably fixed to the support member 242 by a bolt 246. And a pressing member 244 that presses the shaft member 146 supported by the support member 242 toward the support member 242 from above.

  The pressing member 244 includes a pressing portion 244A formed of spring steel that presses the shaft member 146 directly toward the support member 242, and a holding portion 244B that holds the pressing portion 244A.

  Next, a method for mounting the exposure apparatus 40 on the apparatus main body 200A will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the opening / closing part 320 provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 200A opens and closes with respect to the apparatus main body 200A so as to rotate about the central axis 322 in the direction of arrow B in the figure. Here, the intermediate transfer unit including the intermediate transfer belt 210 and the like moves integrally with the opening / closing part 320 as the opening / closing part 320 opens and closes.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 9, and 10, the exposure apparatus 40 is mounted on the apparatus main body 200 </ b> A from above by opening the opening / closing part 320, but as shown in FIG. 1, The space between the power supply 228 is very narrow. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a grip 324 is provided at the upper center of the rear surface of the housing 122 of the exposure apparatus 40 in order to make it easier to attach the exposure apparatus 40.

  In mounting the exposure apparatus 40 on the apparatus main body 200A, the exposure apparatus 40 is first inserted into the apparatus main body 200A from above, the shaft member 134 is placed on the support member 232, and the shaft member 146 is formed in the U groove 242A formed on the support member 242. Insert into.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the pressing member 234 is fixed to the support member 232 by the bolt 238, and the shaft member 134 is pressed against the support member 232. Further, the pressing member 244 is fixed to the support member 242 with the bolt 246, and the shaft member 146 is pressed against the support member 242. Thereby, the exposure apparatus 40 is attached to the apparatus main body 200A at the first tilt angle.

  Here, for example, when the casing of the apparatus main body 200A is formed of a metal member and the support member 242 is also formed of a metal member, the metal shaft member 146 is supported by the metal support member 242. Accordingly, the grounding electrode 302 of the substrate 300 is grounded as a frame ground to the housing of the apparatus main body 200 </ b> A via the harness 312 and the shaft member 146. In this case, the pressing member 244 may be made of a metal member or a resin member.

  Further, for example, when the housing of the apparatus main body 200A is formed of a resin member and the support member is also formed of a resin member, the pressing member 244 is formed of a metal member, so that the pressing member 244 is made of metal. Since the shaft member 146 is pressed, the grounding electrode 302 of the substrate 300 is grounded as a frame ground to the housing of the apparatus main body 200A via the harness 312 and the shaft member 146.

  In this manner, by attaching the exposure apparatus 40 to the apparatus main body 200A, the grounding electrode 302 of the substrate 300 is grounded as a frame ground to the casing of the apparatus main body 200A via the harness 312 and the shaft member 146.

  After the exposure apparatus 40 is attached, the image forming unit 208 is mounted on the apparatus main body 200A from above, and the opening / closing part 320 is closed.

  Note that when the exposure apparatus 40 is removed from the apparatus main body 200A, the work reverse to that in the case of attachment may be performed.

  Next, the image forming apparatus 10 to which the exposure device 40 is attached at a second inclination angle different from the first inclination angle will be described.

  FIG. 12 shows the image forming apparatus 10 including the exposure device 40 attached at a second tilt angle that is a small tilt angle with respect to the first tilt angle.

  As shown in FIG. 12, on the upper part of the apparatus main body 10A of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, an automatic document feeder 12 that automatically conveys a plurality of read documents G one by one, and one sheet A platen glass 16 on which the read original G is placed, and a read original G conveyed by the automatic original conveyance device 12 or an original reading apparatus 14 that reads the read original G placed on the platen glass 16 are provided.

  The document reading device 14 is provided with a light source 18 for irradiating light to the read document G conveyed by the automatic document conveying device 12 or the read document G placed on the platen glass 16.

  Further, the original reading device 14 includes a full-rate mirror 20 that reflects the reflected light irradiated from the light source 18 and reflected from the read original G in a direction parallel to the platen glass 16, and the reflected light reflected by the full-rate mirror 20 below. The half-rate mirror 22 that reflects to the platen, the half-rate mirror 24 that reflects and reflects the reflected light reflected by the half-rate mirror 22 in a direction parallel to the platen glass 16, and the reflected light that is folded by the half-rate mirror 24 are incident. An imaging lens 26 is provided.

  Further, the document reading device 14 is provided with a photoelectric conversion element 28 that converts the reflected light imaged by the imaging lens 26 into an electric signal, and further performs image processing on the electric signal converted by the photoelectric conversion element 28. An image processing device 29 is provided.

  The light source 18, the full rate mirror 20, the half rate mirror 22 and the half rate mirror 24 are movable along the platen glass 16. When reading the read original G placed on the platen glass 16, the read original G placed on the platen glass 16 is moved while moving the light source 18, the full rate mirror 20, the half rate mirror 22 and the half rate mirror 24. The reflected light reflected from the read original G is imaged on the photoelectric conversion element 28.

  When reading the read original G conveyed by the automatic original conveying device 12, the light source 18, the full rate mirror 20, the half rate mirror 22, and the half rate mirror 24 are stopped at predetermined positions, and the automatic original conveyance is performed. The light source 18 emits light to the read original G conveyed by the apparatus 12, and the reflected light reflected from the read original G is imaged on the photoelectric conversion element 28.

  On the other hand, a plurality of images as an example of an image forming unit that forms toner images of different colors and is arranged side by side with respect to the horizontal direction at the central portion in the vertical direction of the apparatus main body 10A. A forming unit 30 is provided. Further, on the upper side of the image forming unit 30, a drive roll 48 for rotational driving, a tension applying roll 54 for applying tension, a support roll 50 for rotating following, a first idler roll 56, and a second idler roll 58 are wound around. An endless intermediate transfer belt 32 as an example of the transfer belt is provided. A toner image formed by the image forming unit 30 for each color is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32 while the intermediate transfer belt 32 is circulated in the direction of arrow A in the figure.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, four image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are provided in this order. ing. The image forming unit 30Y on which the yellow (Y) toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32 is first formed is at the highest position, and the black (K) toner image is finally transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32. The image forming unit 30K is formed at the lowest position, and the image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K are arranged at regular intervals while being inclined at an angle determined with respect to the horizontal direction. It has been.

  These four image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K are basically configured similarly. In the following description, characters (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to each color are added to the code when distinguishing each color, and characters corresponding to each color are omitted unless otherwise distinguished.

  Each color image forming unit 30 is provided with an image carrier 34 that is rotated in the direction of arrow D by a driving means (not shown), and a charging member 36 for charging that uniformly charges the surface of the image carrier 34. Is provided.

  Further, below the image forming unit 30, an exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing light corresponding to the determined color to the surface of the image carrier 34 whose surface is uniformly charged by the charging member 36. 40 is arranged to be inclined along the plurality of image forming units 30. Further, on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier 34 with respect to the charging member 36, a developing member that develops and visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier 34 with toner of a predetermined color. As an example, a developing device 42 is provided.

  A power supply unit 41 that supplies power to the image forming unit 30 and the like is provided in a horizontal direction with respect to the exposure apparatus 40.

  A primary transfer member 46 for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier 34 to the intermediate transfer belt 32 is provided on the opposite side of the image carrier 34 with the intermediate transfer belt 32 interposed therebetween. . Further, a cleaning device 44 that cleans residual toner or the like remaining on the surface of the image carrier 34 without being transferred from the image carrier 34 to the intermediate transfer belt 32 is in contact with the surface of the image carrier 34, and is in contact with the primary transfer member 46. The image holding member 34 is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction.

  In other words, the image forming unit 30 includes the image holding member 34, the charging member 36, the developing device 42, and the cleaning device 44.

  On the other hand, above the intermediate transfer belt 32, a toner cartridge 38Y that supplies toner of a predetermined color to the developing device 42 of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). , 38M, 38C, 38K are provided. Since the toner cartridge 38K containing black (K) toner is used frequently, it is larger than other color toner cartridges.

  With this configuration, image data of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is sequentially output to the exposure device 40 from the image processing device 29 or the outside. Further, the light emitted from the exposure device 40 according to the image data exposes the surface of the corresponding image carrier 34, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 34. The electrostatic latent images formed on the surface of the image carrier 34 are respectively developed in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) by developing units 42Y, 42M, 42C, and 42K. Developed as a toner image.

  Further, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images sequentially formed on the surface of the image carrier 34 are image forming units 30Y, 30M, and 30C for the respective colors. , The intermediate transfer belt 32 disposed at an angle above 30K is transferred in multiple by the primary transfer member 46.

  On the other hand, a cleaning device 52 that cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 is provided on the opposite side of the drive roll 48 with the intermediate transfer belt 32 interposed therebetween. By opening a front cover (not shown) provided on the front side), the apparatus main body 10A can be attached and detached.

  Further, on the opposite side of the support roll 50 across the intermediate transfer belt 32, a secondary transfer member 60 for secondary transfer of the toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 32 onto a recording sheet P as a recording medium. Is arranged. That is, the secondary transfer position for transferring the toner image to the recording sheet P is between the secondary transfer member 60 and the support roll 50.

  Further, a fixing device 64 is provided above the secondary transfer member 60 to fix the toner image on the recording sheet P to which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer member 60 and conveyed along the conveyance path 62. .

  As shown in FIG. 12, on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet P with respect to the fixing device 64 (hereinafter simply referred to as “downstream in the conveyance direction”), a conveyance roll 66 that conveys the recording sheet P on which the toner image is fixed. A switching gate 68 for switching the conveyance direction of the recording sheet P is provided downstream of the conveyance roll 66 in the conveyance direction.

  A first discharge roll 70 is provided downstream of the switching gate 68 in the transport direction to discharge the recording sheet P guided by the switching gate 68 switched in one direction to the first discharge unit 69.

  Further, downstream of the switching gate 68 in the transport direction, a second discharge roll 74 that discharges the recording sheet P, which is guided by the switch gate 68 switched in the other direction and transported by the transport roll 73, to the second discharge section 72. And a third discharge roll 78 for discharging the recording sheet P to the third discharge portion 76 is provided.

  On the other hand, on the lower side of the apparatus main body 10A and upstream of the secondary transfer member 60 in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet P (hereinafter simply referred to as “upstream side in the conveyance direction”), the supply of the recording sheet P is accommodated. Paper sections 80, 82, 84, and 86 are provided, and recording sheets P having different sizes are accommodated in the respective paper feeding sections 80, 82, 84, and 86.

  Further, each of the paper feeding units 80, 82, 84, 86 is provided with a paper feeding roll 88 that takes the stored recording sheet P from the paper feeding units 80, 82, 84, 86 to the transport path 62. A transport roll 90 and a transport roll 92 that transport the recording sheets P one by one are provided downstream of the transport direction of the roll 88.

  Further, an alignment roll 94 that stops the recording sheet P at one end and sends it to the secondary transfer position at a predetermined timing is provided downstream of the conveyance roll 92 in the conveyance direction.

  On the other hand, in order to form images on both sides of the recording sheet P, a duplex conveying unit 98 that reverses and conveys the recording sheet P is provided on the side of the secondary transfer position. The double-sided conveyance unit 98 is provided with a reverse path 100 through which the recording sheet P conveyed by reversing the conveyance roll 73 is sent. Further, a plurality of transport rolls 102 are provided along the reverse path 100, and the recording sheet P transported by the transport rolls 102 is transported again to the alignment roll 94 with the front and back sides reversed. It has become.

  Further, a foldable manual sheet feeding unit 106 is provided next to the duplex conveying unit 98. A paper feed roll 108 and transport rolls 110 and 112 for transporting the recording sheet P fed from the opened foldable manual sheet feeding unit 106 are provided and transported by the transport rolls 110 and 112. The recording sheet P is conveyed to the alignment roll 94.

  Next, how the exposure apparatus 40 is attached to the apparatus main body 200A will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, both end sides of the shaft member 134 fixed to one end side of the housing 122 are attached to the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A ( (See FIG. 12).

  In FIG. 14, the illustration of the substrate 300, the grip portion 324, and the like shown in FIG. 4 is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the fixture 150 supports the shaft member 134 from the upper side, and the support member 152 that supports the shaft member 134 and the shaft member 134 that is fixed to the support member 152 and supported by the support member 152. And a pressing member 154 that presses against the member 152. The pressing member 154 is open on the housing 122 side, and further holds a pressing portion 154A formed of spring steel that presses the shaft member 134 directly toward the support member 152, and the pressing portion 154A. Holding part 154B.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, both end sides of the shaft member 146 fixed to the other end side of the housing 122 are provided in the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A (see FIG. 12). It is attached to the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A by the individual attachments 160.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 21, the fixture 160 includes a support member 162 in which a U groove 162 </ b> A that supports the shaft member 146 is formed, and is fixed to the support member 162 with bolts 166. A pressing member 164 that presses the shaft member 146 supported by the support member 162 toward the support member 162 from above is provided.

  The pressing member 164 includes a pressing portion 164A formed of spring steel that presses the shaft member 146 directly toward the support member 162, and a holding portion 164B that holds the pressing portion 164A.

  Thus, the exposure apparatus 40 is attached to the apparatus main body 10A by attaching the shaft member 134 and the shaft member 146 to the attachment 150 and the attachment 160, respectively.

  Next, a method for mounting the exposure apparatus 40 on the apparatus main body 10A will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 17, the exposure apparatus 40 is mounted on the apparatus main body 10A from the side by opening a cover (not shown) provided on the side wall of the apparatus main body 10A on the power supply unit 41 side. It has become.

  Specifically, the exposure apparatus 40 is inserted into the apparatus main body 10A from one end side. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the exposure apparatus 40 is inserted into the apparatus main body 10A from the side so that the shaft member 134 fixed to one end of the housing 122 is inserted between the support member 152 and the pressing member 154. Insert into.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 18, after inserting the shaft member 134 between the support member 152 and the pressing member 154, the shaft member 146 fixed to the other end side of the housing 122 is connected to the U groove 162 </ b> A of the support member 162. Insert into.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19, after inserting the shaft member 146 into the U groove 162 </ b> A, the pressing member 164 is fixed to the support member 162 with a bolt 166. Thereby, the exposure apparatus 40 is attached to the apparatus main body 10A at the second inclination angle.

  Here, for example, when the housing of the apparatus main body 10A is formed of a metal member and the support member 162 is also formed of a metal member, the shaft member 146 is supported by the metallic support member 162, whereby the substrate The grounding electrode 302 is grounded as a frame ground to the housing of the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A via the harness 312 and the shaft member 146. In this case, the pressing member 164 may be formed of a metal member or a resin member.

  Further, for example, when the housing of the apparatus main body 10A is formed of a resin member and the support member is also formed of a resin member, the pressing member 164 is formed of a metal member, whereby the grounding electrode of the substrate 300 is formed. 302 is grounded as a frame ground to the housing of the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A via the harness 312 and the shaft member 146.

  As described above, by attaching the exposure apparatus 40 to the apparatus main body 10A, the grounding electrode 302 of the substrate 300 is grounded as a frame ground to the housing of the apparatus main body 10A via the harness 312 and the shaft member 146.

  When removing the exposure apparatus 40 from the apparatus main body 10A, it is sufficient to perform the reverse operation to the case of mounting.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It is clear to the contractor. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the ground electrode 302 provided on the substrate 300 and the shaft member 146 are connected by the harness 312 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. The grounding electrode 302 provided on the substrate 300 and the shaft member 146 may be connected by a plate spring 330 made of metal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 10A Apparatus main body 30 Image forming unit 32 Intermediate transfer belt 34 Image holding body 40 Exposure apparatus (an example of optical scanning apparatus)
41 power supply unit 120 optical system (an example of scanning means)
124 Polygon mirror (an example of scanning means)
122 Case 132 Bottom end portion 134 Shaft member 140 Virtual extension surface 142 Virtual extension surface 146 Shaft member (an example of an attachment member)
150 Attaching tool 160 Attaching tool 200 Image forming apparatus 200A Apparatus main body 204 Image holding member 208 Image forming unit 210 Intermediate transfer belt 228 Power supply unit 230 Attaching tool 240 Attaching tool 300 Substrate 312 Harness (an example of a conductive member)
320 Opening / closing part (an example of opening / closing means)

Claims (4)

A laser light source;
Scanning means for scanning the image carrier with laser light emitted from the laser light source;
A drive circuit for driving the laser light source and the scanning unit is mounted, and a substrate attached to a housing in which the laser light source and the scanning unit are accommodated;
A conducting member for conducting the grounding electrode provided on the substrate and the conductive supported member provided on the housing;
An optical scanning device comprising:
A conductive support unit grounded as a frame ground to a housing of the image forming apparatus main body , wherein the laser light source and the scanning unit are accommodated by inserting the optical scanning device and supporting the supported member. and supporting lifting unit which conducts a grounding device electrode provided on the substrate that is attached to the housing,
An image forming apparatus. The supported member is composed of a conductive columnar member provided with a screw hole, a screw is fitted into the screw hole through one end of the conductive member, and the other end of the conductive member is connected to the grounding electrode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an opening / closing unit configured to open and close the upper portion of the apparatus main body in order to attach the optical scanning apparatus from above the apparatus main body. The support unit is provided in a housing of the image forming apparatus main body and supports the supported member of the optical scanning apparatus so that the optical scanning apparatus is attached to a predetermined attachment position of the apparatus main body; A pressing member that is provided in a housing of the image forming apparatus main body and presses the supported member against the supporting member, and at least one of the supporting member and the pressing member has electrical conductivity. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images