JPH11346080A - Picture image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the picture image signals for a manuscript to be read by the CIS of a facsimile equipment from being affected by electric noises emitted from a drive motor which transfers the manuscript. SOLUTION: The CIS of the manuscript reading unit of a facsimile equipment and a drive motor unit 39 composed of a drive motor 40 and a toothed wheel train which drive rollers to transfer a manuscript and are built in a metal frame 94 are arranged in a pivotable upper case 1b, a metal leaf spring contact 95 is made to protrude downward from the frame 94, and only when the upper case 1b is closed to cover a lower case 1a, the contact 95 comes into contact with a connection piece 96 exposed above the lower case 1a to press it down and is electrically connected to the metal plate base cover of the main lower case 1a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine or a copying machine, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus for reading an original by an electric noise generated from a driving motor for conveying the original in an original reading unit. The present invention relates to a structure for preventing the performance of an image sensor from being adversely affected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine or a copying machine has a document reading unit, a recording unit for recording image data on paper, and a paper feeding unit for supplying paper to the recording unit. Is usually provided. In recent small facsimile machines and copiers, a compact image sensor (CIS) in which a light source and an image detection unit are housed in an integrated case is used for the document reading unit for miniaturization. (See JP-A-7-291476).

The original reading section is provided with an original transport roller for transporting the original to be read so as to pass through the contact type image sensor. The original transport roller includes a drive motor and a gear for power transmission. With columns. On the other hand, the original reading unit and the operation panel are arranged on an upper case that covers the upper surface of the main lower case that houses the recording unit, and the upper case is configured to be rotatable with respect to the main lower case, and the recording unit is replaced. And maintenance was made easy.

[0004]

However, since the contact type image sensor uses an amorphous film (amorphous semiconductor) as the photoelectric conversion element, when an electric noise is generated by the operation of the drive motor, the vicinity of the vicinity of the electric noise is detected. However, electric noise is applied to the image signal detected by the close contact type image sensor arranged in the image sensor, and the read image data is inadvertently disturbed, thereby deteriorating the quality of the reproduced image.

In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to connect an earth cable electrically connected to the drive motor to an earth connection portion such as a metal base in the lower main case. Is rotated, and when the document reading unit is separated from the center of rotation, the earth cable is slackened so that no external force acts on the ground cable even when the upper case is greatly opened. Moreover,
It was necessary to arrange the ground cable so as not to hinder the replacement of the recording unit. Then, when the upper case is closed, there is a problem in that the middle part of the ground cable is interposed between the lower case and the main lower case, thereby causing a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and has an adverse effect on a contact image sensor due to electric noise generated from a drive motor for driving a roller for conveying a document in a document reading unit. Without
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which does not hinder the opening and closing operation of the upper case.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is capable of rotating an upper surface of a main lower case for storing a recording unit for recording an image on a sheet. In an image forming apparatus having an original reading unit covered by an upper case and an original reading unit disposed on an upper surface side of the upper case, a drive motor for driving an original conveying roller and a power transmission are provided in a unit case of the original reading unit. And a gear unit for and fixed to a frame having conductivity, and a contact piece having conductivity and elasticity electrically connected to the frame is made to face a lower surface of the upper case. When the is closed with respect to the main lower case, the contact piece is brought into pressure contact with the connection portion exposed on the upper surface side of the main lower case.

[0008] The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 is
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion is electrically connected to a metal bottom cover that covers a lower surface of the main lower case.

[0009]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of main components of a facsimile apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of the facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of the facsimile apparatus. 6
7 is a partially cutaway sectional view including a document reading unit, FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing an open / close state of an upper case, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of parts of the document reading unit, and FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the document reading unit.

The main body case of the facsimile apparatus 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a recording unit as a recording unit including the scanner unit 2, the process unit 3, and the fixing unit 4 and a paper supply unit 5 as a paper supply unit for supplying paper P for forming an image. A main lower case 1a made of synthetic resin to be mounted from the upper side;
a so that it can cover the upper side of a
An upper case 1b made of synthetic resin pivotally attached to a side rear portion of the main lower case 1a. On the upper surface of the upper case 1b, a document reading unit 6 and a document feeder 7 as a document reading unit are mounted. The operation panel 8 detachably covers the upper side of the document reading unit 6.

A drive system unit 9 including a drive motor and a gear train for transmitting power to the process unit 3, the fixing unit 4 and the paper feed unit 5 is housed in a storage recess (see FIG. 1) on the left side of the main lower case 1a. (Not shown). As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, one side of the rear surface of the main lower case 1a (in the embodiment, the rightward portion) is connected to the lower end of the lower wall of the main lower case 1a from the lower edge of the rear wall 1c. A window hole 59 is formed on the rear surface and the upper surface above the piece portion 1d. The window hole 59 is configured to be removably opened by an inverted L-shaped sub cover 62 in side view.

Further, a control board 1 is provided above a bottom cover 10 made of a metal plate which covers the lower surface of the main lower case 1a.
1. NCU for enabling conversation and transmission / reception of facsimile data with another telephone device or facsimile device via low voltage power supply substrate 12, high voltage power supply substrate 13, and telephone line
(Network control unit) High voltage power supply substrate 1 for substrate 14, charger 28 of process unit 3, etc.
3 are arranged. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the upper wall and the rear wall of the main lower case 1a on which the lower end of the paper feed unit 5 is mounted and the process unit 3
The space surrounded by the partition wall 1f facing the rear end and the bottom cover 10 is divided into the control board 11 and the low-voltage power supply board 1.
2. NCU board 14 and additional RAM (randomly readable and writable memory) board 60 or LA as an additional electronic component
A storage space 78 in which optional boards such as an N (local area network) board 61 can be stored. The control board 11 is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the bottom cover 10 with a screw or the like in a portion near the window hole 59 (a portion near the rear right end in the embodiment).

In a storage space 78 on the left side of the window hole 59 of the main lower case 1a, a left side of a portion near the rear end of the bottom cover 10 is electrically connected via screws to shield a magnetic field standing upright. Support plate 1 made of a metal plate also used as a partition plate
4a is fixed. Then, the component side of the NCU board 14 fixed to one side of the support plate 14a is arranged vertically so as to face the rear wall of the main lower case 1a. N
A low-voltage power supply board 12 is fixedly disposed on the upper surface side of the bottom cover 10 near the CU board 14 by screws or the like. Therefore, the heat generated from the low-voltage power supply board 12 is blocked by the support plate 14a, so that it does not directly hit the component surface of the NCU board 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, a large number of ventilation holes 5 are formed in the rear and upper walls of the main lower case 1a.
0a, 50b, the low-voltage power supply board 12
Heat can be efficiently discharged outside the machine, and NCU
The component surface of the substrate 14 can be efficiently cooled. Furthermore, since the ground portion of the NCU substrate 14 is electrically connected to the bottom cover 10 made of a metal plate via a support plate 14a made of a metal plate, grounding (grounding) is performed. Can be achieved at the same time. Since the partition plate 81 is set up inside the left end side of the window hole 59, when an operator puts his hand in the storage space 78 through the window hole 59, the NCU substrate 14 and the low-voltage power supply substrate 12 may be inadvertently contacted. Not configured.

Next, the configuration of each unit in the recording unit will be described. The leading end side of the sheets P set in a state of being stacked in the feeder unit case 5a of the sheet supply unit 5 is pressed toward the sheet supply roller 16 by the support plate 15 with the biasing spring 15a in the feeder unit case 5a. Then, the sheet is separated one by one by the paper feed roller 16 and the separation pad 17 which are rotated by the power transmitted from the drive system unit 9.
The separated sheet P is placed on a pair of upper and lower registration rollers 18,
The paper P fed to the upper side of the process unit 3 at 19 and the image formed on the surface of the process unit 3 by the toner is fixed by the heating roller 21 and the pressing roller 22 of the fixing unit 4. Then, the paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 20 and discharged onto a paper discharge tray (not shown).

A scanner unit 2 is provided at a position below the process unit 3 which is disposed substantially in the center of the main lower case 1a having a box shape with an open top in a plan view.
It is fixed to the stay part integrally formed on the upper surface side of the bottom plate part by a screw or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, a scanner unit 2 as an exposure unit has a laser emitting unit, a polygon mirror 23,
A lens 24, a reflecting mirror 25 and the like are arranged, and the upper support plate 2a
The laser beam is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 26 in the process unit 3 by passing through a glass plate that covers a horizontally long scanner hole formed so as to extend along the axis of the photosensitive drum 26. It is configured.

The process unit 3 includes the photosensitive drum 26 and the transfer roller 2 which rotates while being in contact with the upper surface thereof.
7, a scorotron type charger 28 disposed below the photosensitive drum 26, a developing roller 29 and a supply roller 3 disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum 26 in the sheet feeding direction.
0, a developer (toner) supply unit disposed upstream thereof, that is, a detachable toner cartridge 31, a cleaning device 32 disposed downstream of the photosensitive drum 26, and the like. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 26 by scanning a laser beam from the scanner unit 2 on the charged layer formed by the charger 28. The developer (toner) in the toner cartridge 31 is agitated by a stirrer (not shown) and released, and then carried on the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 29 via the supply roller 30. The thickness is regulated. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 26 is visualized by the developer adhering from the developing roller 29, and the transfer roller 27 and the photosensitive drum 2
6 is transferred to a sheet P passing between the sheets 6. Then, the developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 26 is collected by the cleaning device 32.

The process unit 3 is made into a cartridge by being incorporated in a case made of synthetic resin.
The cartridge-formed process unit 3 is detachably mounted on the main lower case 1a. As shown in FIGS. 2, 8, 9 and 10, the original reading unit 6 arranged on the upper case 1b is a horizontally long contact type image sensor ( (CIS) 34, a document separation feed roller 35 a and a separation pad 35 b disposed near the document feeder 7, a conveyance drive roller 36 a and a driven roller 36 b disposed on the conveyance upstream side of the close contact type image sensor 34, A drive motor unit 39 (including a transport drive roller 37a and a driven roller 37b disposed downstream of the transport, a drive motor 40 for driving the rollers 35, 36a, 37a, and a gear train 41 housed in a frame). 11 and 12
The document (not shown) fed one by one via the document separation feed roller 35a and the separation pad 35b includes a pressing plate 38 and a CIS 34, the lower surfaces of which are arranged in a downwardly convex curved shape. It is configured such that an image of a document is read when passing through the space between the document and the upper surface.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 13, the contact type image sensor (CI
S) 34 is a position above the process unit 3 which is on the upstream side of the cooling air flow from the position where the fixing unit 4 is disposed.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 13, a gap between the lower surface of the upper case 1b and the upper surface of the process unit 3 serves as the passage 85 for the cooling air flow. The contact type image sensor 34 is disposed above the vicinity of a portion of the passage 85 having the narrowest vertical gap.

A plurality of projections project downward from the lower surface of the upper case 1b so as to extend in parallel with the transport direction of the paper P, and are disposed at appropriate intervals in the width direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper P. The ribs 86 of the row face the passage 85, and the ribs 86 function as a rectifying plate for cooling air flow and a paper guide plate between the photosensitive drum 26 and the transfer roller 27 in the process unit 3. Is also used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, one side of the lower surface of the unit case 42 made of synthetic resin in the original reading unit 6 is provided on the lower surface of the place where the drive motor unit 39 is disposed. An air passage 87 to the fan 43 is provided, and air entering from the space between the upper surface of the document table 7 and the operation panel 8 is driven by the driven rollers 36b, 37b provided in the upper surface of the unit case 42. Passing through the inside of the unit case 42 from a hole for disposing
After cooling in S34, the drive motor 40 is cooled when passing through the air passage 87.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, between the location of the transfer roller 27 and the like in the process unit 3 to which the high voltage is applied, and the lower surface of the CIS 34, the lower surface of the CIS 34 is substantially provided. A magnetic shielding plate 90 formed so as to cover the whole is arranged. The magnetic shielding plate 90 is made of a metal plate such as a silicon steel plate or a permalloy having high magnetic permeability, and the magnetic shielding plate 90 has a bottom cover 1 made of a metal plate.
One end of a cord 91 as a connecting portion for grounding (ground) to 0 is screwed, and the other end of the cord 91 is electrically connected to an appropriate portion of the bottom cover 10.
A leaf spring 92 for pressing the driven roller 36b and the driven roller 37b against the transport driving roller 36a disposed upstream of the contact type image sensor 34 and the transport driving roller 37a disposed downstream thereof, respectively. 93 is also electrically connected to the magnetic shielding plate 90 to be grounded.

On the other hand, in order to prevent electric noise generated when the drive motor 40 such as a stepping motor in the drive motor unit 39 operates from affecting the image detection signal of the CIS 34, the drive motor unit 39 is used.
The base end of a conductive and resilient contact piece 95 made of a metal leaf spring or the like is electrically connected and fixed to a frame 94 made of a metal plate having conductivity for supporting the gear train 41 and the drive motor 40 in the first embodiment. On the other hand, the front end side (free end side) of the contact piece 95 faces the air passage 87 so as to protrude below the upper case 1b.

On the other hand, a connecting piece 96 as a connecting portion made of a metal plate having a lower end connected to the bottom cover 10 is connected to the cooling fan 4.
When the upper case 1b is closed with respect to the main lower case 1a (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 7), the upper case 1b is closed from the vertical wall to the upper surface of the case portion 44a of the third storage portion 44. The contact piece 95 is configured to be in contact with the tip end portion 95a.

According to this configuration, the contact piece 95 is a small part, and when the upper case 1a is closed with respect to the main lower case 1a, the contact piece 95 is formed by the elasticity of the contact piece 95 made of a spring plate. Since the upper surface is pressed, the electrical connection is ensured, and the electric noise of the drive motor 40 flows to the external ground (ground) via the bottom cover 10 without adversely affecting the CIS 34. When the document reading unit 6 is separated from the upper surface of the main lower case 1a together with the upper case 1b (see the solid line in FIG. 7), the contact piece 95 and the connection piece 96 are connected.
And the contact piece 95 projects a little from the lower surface of the upper case 1b, so that it does not obstruct the replacement of the process unit 3 or the maintenance work.

A cooling fan 4 for blowing air to the outside of the case is provided on the right front side of the main lower case 1a.
A storage section 44 for storing the sheet P 3 and a ventilation duct 45 extending in a direction orthogonal to the sheet P passage direction are formed so as to communicate with each other. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 6, and FIG. 13, the upper surface plate portion 45a of the ventilation duct 45 is formed in a substantially V shape with a downward cross section, and the upper surface plate portion 45a is formed on the upper surface side of the main lower case 1a. The heat of the heating roller 21 in the fixing unit 4 located between the process unit 3 and the fixing unit 4 to be disposed is not transmitted to the process unit 3 side. In addition, the upper surface plate portion 4 having a substantially V-shaped downward cross section.
The lower end of 5a is continuously connected by a partition plate 46 made of a synthetic resin plate or the like, and a portion surrounded by these members becomes a ventilation duct 43.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 13, a rear wall 1c (a portion facing the NCU board 14) and an upper wall 1e of the main lower case 1a, and the sub-cover 6
2 has a large number of ventilation holes 50a and 50b, respectively, and as shown in FIG. 6, a large number of air holes 52 are provided on the right side surface of the main lower case 1a in which the cooling fan 43 is disposed. The air suction holes 53a, 53b are provided at the rear leftward portion and the front leftward portion of the bottom cover 10.
Many 53b are drilled.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 14, inside the main lower case 1a, a ventilation hole 54 is provided below the mounting portion of the sheet feeding unit 5, and a rear surface of the process unit 3 is provided. Ventilation holes 55a and 55b at a position facing the upper surface plate portion 45a;
A ventilation hole 57 is formed in a wall or the like that partitions the third storage section 44.

Further, as shown in FIGS.
In the vicinity of the upper surface wall 1e of the main lower case 1a, a seal 88 is stretched at a position where it comes into contact with the back surface of the unit case 5a in the paper feeding unit 5 but approaches. Block the air from entering through the gap between the back surface and the plurality of ventilation holes 50a, 50b.
From the main lower case 1a. Further, a seal 89 stretched over the upper surface plate portion 45a is configured to close a gap with the front surface of the process unit 3 so that cooling air can easily flow along the ventilation duct 43.

A handset 64 for talking with another telephone device is provided in the main lower case 1.
The speaker 66 for placing a call is mounted on a receiving stand 65 projecting outward from the left side of the main body 1a, and is fixed to the rear side of the right side inside the main lower case 1a. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a control system of the facsimile machine 1 to which the present invention is applied. The facsimile apparatus 1 sets various processing operations, reads a document image by the document reading unit 6, converts the document image into transmission data, and transmits the transmission data in response to various commands input from the user through the operation panel 8. In addition to executing encoding, transmission and reception of facsimile data, decoding of received data, recording of the decoded facsimile data on the paper P in the recording unit, the C of the document reading unit 6
A copy (copying) processing function of reading an original by an IS (contact image sensor) 34 and forming an image on a sheet P by each unit of the recording unit, based on data transmission from an external device such as a personal computer (not shown), is transmitted. And a scanner processing function of transmitting image data read using the document reading unit 6 to the external device.

In order to perform these operations, the facsimile apparatus 1 includes an operation panel 8, a document reading unit 6, a laser beam scanner unit 2, a process unit 3, a fixing unit 4, a recording unit, a control board, and the like. 11
CPU 67 that is mounted on and executes various controls and calculations;
ROM 68 storing a control program, RAM 69 partially used as reception buffer memory 69a, N
A CU board 14, a modem 70 for transmitting and receiving facsimile data to and from another facsimile apparatus via the NCU board 14, a handset 64 for talking with another telephone apparatus, Speaker 66, a drive system unit 9 having a stepping motor for applying power to each drive unit of each unit of the recording unit, a low-voltage power supply board 12 for supplying low-voltage power to the control board 11, etc. A high-voltage power supply board 13 for supplying high-voltage power to the charger 28, the transfer roller 27, and the like of the process unit 3, and a cooling fan 4 for discharging cooling air out of the machine;
3 and a bus line 71 for connecting them.

The additional RAM board 60 for increasing the amount of memory which can be added at the request of the user, and a LAN board for constructing a network for transmitting data to and from external devices such as a plurality of computers. 61
Can also be connected. In the above configuration, when the power is turned on, power is supplied to each of the substrates 11, 12, 13, and 14, and various controls can be executed, while the cooling fan 43 is rotationally driven. Then, the cooling air sucked from the ventilation holes 50a and 50b in the rear end face and the like of the main lower case 1a is
The sheet passes through the surface portions of the NCU board 14, the control board 11, and the low-voltage power board 12, and then passes between the lower surface of the scanner unit 2 and the bottom cover 10 to the front of the main lower case 1a. 5 passes through a passage 85 between the upper surface of the process unit 3 and the lower surface of the upper case 1b through the ventilation hole 54 below the mounting portion of the mounting unit 5 and the ventilation holes 55a and 55b facing the rear surface of the process unit 3. The cooling air thus collected collects in the storage portion 44 through the ventilation holes 56 and the ventilation holes 57 at the location of the upper surface plate portion 45a, and the cooling fan 43
Is released outside the body case. Thus, the heat of the heating roller 21 of the fixing unit 4 does not adversely affect the process unit 3.

The CIS in the reading unit 6
34 is disposed on the upper surface of the upper case 1b above the process unit 3 on the upstream side of the cooling air flow from the location of the fixing unit 4 which generates a large amount of heat. It is hard to receive. Also, upper case 1
b in the passage 85 between the upper surface of the process unit 3 and the portion having the smallest vertical clearance.
When the nozzle 34 is disposed, the passage 85 is formed due to the nozzle effect.
, The flow velocity of the cooling air flow passing through the portion having a small gap size becomes faster, and the effect of cooling the upper case 1b becomes larger.
Further, the sheet P extends in the conveying direction of the paper P into the passage 85,
Due to the large number of ribs 86 arranged at appropriate intervals in the width direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper P, the cooling air flow is distributed over the entire length of the horizontally long CIS 34 extending substantially parallel to the width direction of the paper P. The paper P flows almost uniformly along the transport direction of the paper P in the passage 85, and the upper case 1b corresponding to the entire length of the CIS 34 can be efficiently cooled. Since it can be smoothly supplied to the process unit 3 without clogging, and the rib 86 simultaneously performs the two functions of the current plate (cooling fin) and the paper guide, the configuration is simplified.

Air entering from the space between the upper surface of the document table 7 and the operation panel 8 flows through holes for disposing the driven rollers 36b and 37b formed on the upper surface of the unit case 42 through the unit case. After passing through the inside of the air passage 87 and passing through the inside of the air passage 87, the CIS 34 arranged on the windward side of the drive motor 40 can be efficiently cooled by a cool airflow of outside air, and then the drive motor 40 can also be cooled.

In addition, since the air passage 87 is formed at a location near the ventilation hole 57 to the storage section 44 containing the cooling fan 43, the air suction action of the cooling fan 43 is improved. It also has an effect. On the other hand,
The magnetic field emitted from the process unit 3 to which a high voltage is applied when recording image data on the paper P is shielded by the magnetic shield plate 90 on the lower surface of the CIS 34, and the CIS 34 is not adversely affected by the magnetic field. This produces an effect that no disturbance occurs in the image signal of the placed document. If the magnetic shield plate 90 is electrically connected to a metal frame 94 in which the drive motor 40 and the gear train 41 are incorporated, the upper case 1b can be connected to the main lower case 1a.
The contact piece 95 fixed to be electrically connected to the frame 94 when closed with respect to the main lower case 1a.
The connection piece 96 is pressed against the metal plate connection piece 96 exposed on the upper surface and electrically connected to the connection piece 96. Since the connection piece 96 is electrically connected to the metal bottom cover 10, the connection piece 96 comes out of the drive motor 40. Both electric potential due to electric noise and electric potential generated by the magnetic shielding plate 90 are formed by collecting various substrates such as the control substrate 11 electrically connected to the bottom cover 10 as a reference voltage portion from the bottom cover 10 and external ground (earth). The effect that it can be connected to is produced.

As described above, the present invention can be applied not only to a facsimile apparatus but also to a copying machine using the CIS 34.

[0037]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the upper surface of the main lower case that houses the recording unit that records an image on a sheet is formed by the upper case that can rotate. In an image forming apparatus comprising a document reading unit disposed on an upper surface side of the upper case, a drive motor for driving a document conveying roller and a gear for power transmission are provided in a unit case of the document reading unit. The unit is fixedly arranged on a frame having conductivity, and a contact piece having conductivity and elasticity electrically connected to the frame is made to face the lower surface of the upper case, and the upper case is moved to the main lower case. When the contact piece is closed, the contact piece is brought into pressure contact with the connection portion exposed on the upper surface side of the main lower case.

With this configuration, only when the upper case is closed with respect to the main lower case, the contact piece is pressed against the connection portion exposed on the upper surface side of the main lower case to be electrically connected. When you open the upper case,
Since there is nothing in the space between the upper case and the main lower case, connect the upper case side and the main lower case side with a ground cable as in the past, and lengthen this ground cable for connection. When the upper case is closed, such as when the upper case is closed, the middle part of the ground cable is caught between the main lower case and the obstruction, or when the upper case is opened, the ground cable rises. This has the effect that it does not hang down from the case toward the main lower case into the work space and disturb the work.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion is electrically connected to a metal bottom cover that covers a lower surface of the main lower case. By connecting the potential portions, there is an effect that the ground can be collectively grounded from the location of the bottom cover to an external ground.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of main components of a facsimile machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of the facsimile machine.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an arrangement of a bottom cover, a control board, and the like covering a lower surface of a main lower case.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main lower case.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side sectional view showing a state in which an upper case 1b is opened and closed with respect to a main lower case 1a.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating components of a document reading unit.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the document reading unit.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the document reading unit.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a drive motor unit.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the drive motor unit.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view of a case portion of a storage section of the cooling fan.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a control unit.

[Description of Signs] P paper 1 facsimile machine 1a main lower case 1b upper case 3 process unit 4 fixing unit 5 paper feed unit 6 document reading unit 7 document feeder 8 operation panel 10 bottom cover 34 contact image sensor (CIS) 39 Drive motor unit 40 Drive motor 41 Gear train 42 Unit case 94 Frame 95 Contact piece 96 Connection piece

Claims (2)

[Claims] An upper case rotatably covering an upper surface of a main lower case accommodating a recording unit for recording an image on a sheet;
In an image forming apparatus having a document reading unit arranged on the upper surface side of the upper case, a drive motor for driving a document conveying roller and a gear unit for power transmission are provided in a unit case of the document reading unit. Is fixedly arranged on a frame having conductivity, and a contact piece having conductivity and elasticity electrically connected to the frame is made to face the lower surface of the upper case, and the upper case is moved relative to the main lower case. An image forming apparatus, wherein the contact piece is brought into pressure contact with a connection portion exposed on the upper surface side of the main lower case when closed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion is electrically connected to a metal bottom cover that covers a lower surface of the main lower case.