IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM

• US 20070110473A1
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kita, Nobuhiko, Kondo, Kazuyoshi, Okano, Tadashi, Hagiwara, Genta, Tada, Kaoru, Idehara, Ryoh
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/117
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1671 for the photosensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1853 the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1654 Locks and means for positioning or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1884 Projections on process cartridge for guiding mounting thereof in main machine

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a first member and second member that are formed of different materials. The first member includes a plurality of first abutting portions. The second member includes a plurality of second abutting portions. One latent image carrier or one holding member abuts with one first abutting portion so as to regulate movements of the latent image carrier in a first direction substantially parallel to a sub scanning direction. One latent image carrier or one holding member abuts with one second abutting portion so as to regulate movements of the latent image carrier in a second direction, which is substantially orthogonal to the first direction.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus including a plurality of latent image carriers that are disposed in a first direction substantially parallel to a sub scanning direction thereof, and a latent-image writing device that writes latent images on surfaces of the latent image carriers, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a plurality of first abutting portions, wherein

a latent image carrier among the latent image carriers or a holding member among a plurality of holding members, each of which holds a latent image carrier among the latent image carriers, abuts with a first abutting portion among the first abutting portions so as to regulate movements of corresponding latent image carrier in the first direction;

a plurality of second abutting portions, wherein

a latent image carrier among the latent image carriers or a holding member among the holding members abuts with a second abutting portion among the second abutting portions so as to regulate movements of corresponding latent image carrier in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction;

a first member that is provided with the first abutting portions; and

a second member that is provided with the second abutting portions, the second member being formed separately to the first member, and the second member being formed of different material from that of the first member.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second direction is substantially gravity direction.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

each of the latent image carriers rotates about a rotational axis as a third direction,

the first member or the second member includes a plurality of third abutting portions, wherein

a latent image carrier among the latent image carriers or a holding member among the holding members abuts with a third abutting portion among the third abutting portions so as to regulate movements of corresponding latent image carrier in the third direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting member that supports at least one of the latent image carriers and the holding members, the supporting member being provided with a guiding portion that guides at least one of the latent image carriers and the holding members toward an operation position of the latent image carriers from a position of the latent-image writing device, in which a direction being substantially the second direction.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the latent-image writing device writes the latent image due to an optical scanning,

the first member is configured to be a first first-member and a second first-member each having the first abutting portions, the first first-member being at one end in a main optical scanning direction on the latent image carriers, and the second first-member being at another end in the main optical scanning direction, and

the second member is configured to be a first second-member and a second second-member each having the second abutting portions, the first second-member being at one end in the main optical scanning direction, and the second second-member being at another end in the main optical scanning direction.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a biasing portion that biases the latent image carriers or the holding members in any one of the first direction, the second direction, the third direction, and a slide-moving direction thereof.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the biasing portion is movably provided between a position being able to bias the latent image carriers or the holding members and a position being unable to bias the latent image carriers or the holding members.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising

a driving unit that generates a driving force;

and

a gear engagement unit that transmits the driving force to the latent image carriers, the gear engagement unit including a plurality of engaged gears that biases the latent image carriers or the holding members in the first direction and in the third direction due to a reaction force of the engaged gears.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first member has a stiffness higher than that of the second member.

10. The image forming apparatus according claim 1, wherein the second member is a supporting member that supports the latent image carriers.

11. The image forming apparatus according claim 1, wherein the second member is a supporting member that supports the latent-image writing device.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second member has a specific gravity smaller than that of the first member.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first member is made of metal.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second member is made of resin.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is made of conductive material.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a charging unit that uniformly charges a surface of the latent image carrier;

a developing unit that develops the latent image present on the surface; and

a common holding member that holds the latent image carrier, the charging unit, and the developing unit as one process unit, the common holding member being detachably attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus so that the process unit be detachably attached to the main body.

17. An image forming method of an image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of latent image carriers and a latent-image writing device that writes latent images on surfaces of the latent image carriers, the image forming method comprising:

abutting the latent image carriers or a plurality of holding members that hold the latent image carriers to first abutting portions so as to regulate movements of the latent image carriers in a predetermined first direction substantially parallel to a sub scanning direction thereof in which the latent image carriers are disposed; and

abutting the latent image carriers or the holding members to second abutting portions so as to regulate movements of the latent image carriers in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction.

18. A supporting mechanism for use in an image forming apparatus that is including a plurality of latent image carriers that are disposed in a first direction substantially parallel to a sub scanning direction thereof, and a latent image writing device that writes latent images on surfaces of the latent image carriers, the supporting mechanism comprising:

a plurality of first abutting portions, wherein

a latent image carrier among the latent image carriers or a holding member among a plurality of holding members, each of which holds a latent image carrier among the latent image carriers, abuts with a first abutting portion among the first abutting portions so as to regulate movements of corresponding latent image carrier in the first direction;

a plurality of second abutting portions, wherein

a latent image carrier among the latent image carriers or a holding member among the holding members abuts with a second abutting portion among the second abutting portions so as to regulate movements of corresponding latent image carrier in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction;

a first member that is provided with the first abutting portions; and

a second member that is provided with the second abutting portions, the second member being formed separately to the first member, and the second member being formed of different material from that of the first member.