KR101154890B1 - Scanning unit having beam shutter - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a light source unit for receiving print data to generate scanning light, a reflecting mirror for reflecting the scanning light, a casing for receiving the light source unit and the reflecting mirror, and a slide supported by the casing to block the scanning light. A scanning unit comprising a shutter reciprocating between a blocking position and an open position through which the scanning light passes, wherein the casing includes a through hole through which the shutter is supported, and a periphery of the through hole, And a guide rib spaced apart from the outer periphery of the stud by a stud for supporting a slide movement, wherein the shutter includes a shutter rib slid by the stud and the guide rib during reciprocation between the blocking position and the open position. It is characterized by including. This can prevent the scanning light from being exposed to the outside.

Laser Scanning Unit, Laser Beam, Shutter

Description

Scanning unit with scanning light shutter {SCANNING UNIT HAVING BEAM SHUTTER}

1 and 2 are cross-sectional views for explaining the operating state of the scanning unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an enlarged partial exploded perspective view for explaining an assembly state of a shutter which is one component of the scanning unit of FIG. 1;

4 and 5 are enlarged partial perspective views for explaining the operating state of the shutter of FIG.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: Image forming apparatus 2: Housing

100: scanning unit 101: casing

110: light source unit 120, 130: reflection mirror

140: shutter 142: shield

143: shutter rib 144: stud

145: guide rib 146: shielding guide

200: developing cartridge 201: protrusion

The present invention relates to a scanning unit, and more particularly, to a scanning unit having a shutter that can block scanning light generated therein.

The scanning unit is a component included in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and generates scanning light in response to an image to be printed, and scans the same on a photosensitive member to form a latent image.

On the other hand, the scanning unit mainly uses a laser beam (scanner beam) as the scanning light, in this case, a means for preventing the laser beam is exposed to the user due to the operation of the scanning unit has been required.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a scanning unit that can prevent the exposure of the scanning light to the outside.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light source unit for receiving print data to generate scanning light, a reflecting mirror for reflecting the scanning light, a casing for receiving and supporting the light source unit and the reflecting mirror, and a slide in the casing. A scanning unit comprising a shutter supported and reciprocating between a blocking position for blocking the scanning light and an open position for passing the scanning light, wherein the casing includes a through hole through which the shutter is supported and a circumference of the through hole. And a guide rib formed to be spaced apart from the outer periphery of the stud by a stud for supporting the slide movement of the shutter, wherein the shutter is formed on the stud and the guide rib when reciprocating between the blocking position and the open position. Scanning unit characterized in that it comprises a shutter rib which is sliding guided by The ball.

Here, the guide rib and the shutter rib may have a non-circular cross section.

The casing may further include an elastic member that supports the slide movement of the shutter.

In addition, at least one of the contact surface between the stud and the shutter rib and the contact surface between the guide rib and the shutter rib may allow a lubricant to be applied.

The shutter may further include a shielding portion configured to shield or pass the scan light upon reciprocation between the blocking position and the open position, and the casing further includes a shielding guide for guiding the shielding portion during reciprocating sliding of the shutter. It may be included.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to the present invention.

1 and 2, the scanning unit 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is accommodated in the housing 2 of the image forming apparatus 1, the light source unit 110 for generating a scanning light And a plurality of reflecting mirrors 120 and 130 for reflecting the scanning light and a casing 101 for receiving and supporting them, respectively. The scanning light generated by the light source unit 110 is scanned by the developing cartridge 200 mounted under the scanning unit 100 via the plurality of reflective mirrors 120 and 130.

In addition, the scanning unit 100 includes a shutter 140 that blocks or opens the scanning light generated by the light source unit 110 to be reflected on the reflective mirror 120.

The shutter 140 penetrates the through hole H formed in the casing 101 so that the lower end 141 protrudes out of the casing 101, and the developing cartridge 200 is detached from the image forming apparatus 1. The lower end 141 is reciprocated between the blocking position and the original open position of the lower end portion 141 is inserted into the casing 101 by the protrusion 201 formed in the developing cartridge 200. In addition, the shutter 140 is further provided with a shielding portion 142, the shielding portion 142 is to block or pass the scanning light in accordance with the vertical reciprocation of the shutter 141.

That is, before the developing cartridge 200 is completely mounted to the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the shutter 140 is positioned below, i.e., the blocking position, and as shown in FIG. When fully mounted in the forming apparatus 1, the shutter 140 is raised to be in the open position.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shutter 140 has a shutter rib 143 formed at an intermediate portion thereof, and the shutter rib 143 has a casing 101 as described below when the shutter 140 is vertically reciprocated. Sliding movement between the stud 144 and the guide rib 145 formed in the.

A shielding portion 142 is formed at one side of the shutter 140 to block the scanning light of the light source 110. The shielding unit 142 blocks or opens the scanning light generated from the light source unit 110 according to the up and down reciprocation of the shutter 140.

Casing 101 has a through hole (H) is formed to pass through the lower end of the shutter 140, the stud 144 is formed around the through hole (H) protruding. In addition, the guide rib 145 protrudes from the outer periphery of the stud 144 at a predetermined interval.

Accordingly, the shutter rib 143 is slid by the stud 144 and the guide rib 145 by vertically reciprocating the shutter 140.

A shielding guide 146 having a groove formed therein is formed in the casing portion 101a positioned above the shutter 140 so as to guide the vertical movement of the shielding portion 142. An inner side of the shielding guide 146 may be provided with an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring for the downward return movement of the shutter 140.

Meanwhile, the shutter rib 143 may have a non-circular cross section such as an ellipse or a polygon so as to prevent the rotational movement from being parallel when the shutter 140 is reciprocated. In this case, the guide rib 145 to which the shutter rib 143 contacts and slides also needs to have the same cross-sectional shape as the shutter rib 143.

4 and 5 illustrate a state in which the shutter 140 is positioned at the cutoff position (in case of FIG. 4) and the open position (in case of FIG. 5) according to the configuration of the shutter 140 and the casing 101 as described above. Indicates. In FIG. 4, the lower end portion 141 of the shutter 140 protruding downward of the casing 101 is moved upward as shown in FIG. 5 by a developing cartridge (200 of FIG. 2) mounted to the image forming apparatus.

In this case, a lubricant such as grease may be applied to the contact surfaces of the shutter 140 to minimize friction between the shutter rib 143 of the shutter 140 and the stud 144 of the casing 101 and the guide rib 145.

As described above, according to the scanning unit according to the present invention, since the shutter reciprocates between the open position and the blocking position according to the state in which the developing cartridge is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus, the scanning light is exposed to the outside due to abnormal operation of the scanning unit. Can be prevented.

In addition, the sliding contact between the shutter ribs of the shutter and the studs and guide ribs of the casing not only makes accurate movement of the shutter, but also prevents the internal noise of the scanning unit from being transmitted to the outside. Entry into the casing can be minimized.

In addition, by applying a lubricant to the contact surface between the shutter ribs and the studs and guide ribs can be smooth sliding movement of the shutter, it is possible to more certainly block the inflow of foreign matter in the slide coupling relationship between the shutter ribs and the studs and guide ribs.

In addition, the guide ribs of the casing coupled with the shutter ribs of the shutters have a non-circular cross section, thereby preventing the shutter from being displaced due to rotation during vertical movement.

Claims (5)

A light source unit for receiving print data to generate scan light, a reflection mirror for reflecting the scan light, a casing for holding the light source unit and the reflecting mirror, and a cutoff position for sliding the block to block the scan light And a shutter reciprocating between an open position through which the scanning light passes, The casing includes a through hole through which the shutter is penetrated, a stud formed around the through hole to support a slide movement of the shutter, and guide ribs spaced a predetermined distance from an outer circumference of the stud. And the shutter includes a shutter rib slidably guided by the stud and the guide rib during reciprocation between the blocking position and the open position. The method of claim 1, And the guide rib and the shutter rib have a non-circular cross section. The method of claim 1, The casing further comprises an elastic member for supporting the slide movement of the shutter. The method of claim 1, At least one of the stud and the shutter rib contact surface and the guide rib and the shutter rib contact surface is coated with a lubricant. The method of claim 1, The shutter further includes a shielding portion configured to shield or pass the scan light upon round trip between the blocking position and the open position, The casing further comprises a shielding guide for guiding the shielding part in the reciprocating sliding of the shutter.

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