IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE

• US 20090202272A1
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: NAKASHIMA, Atsuhisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/117
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04054 by LED arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/326 by application of light, e.g. using a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1666 for the exposure unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1636 for the exposure unit

Abstract

An image-forming device includes a first frame, and a first supporting unit. The first frame includes a first plate-shaped part having a surface orthogonal to the first direction and supports a first image-bearing member. The first plate-shaped part is formed with at least two first positioning holes. Each of the at least two first positioning holes is defined by a first inner surface that extends in the first direction. The first supporting unit erects from the first plate-shaped part and includes at least two first fitting parts and a first contact part. The at least two first fitting parts fit into the at least two first positioning holes. The first contact part extends in the first direction from each of the at least two first fitting parts. The first contact part contacts and supports the exposure unit. The exposure unit is oriented in a direction in which the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements is directed toward a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

Claims

1. An image-forming device comprising:

a first image-bearing member on which a latent image is formable, the first image-bearing member extending in a first direction;

a first exposure unit that includes a plurality of light-emitting elements arrayed along the first direction, the latent image being formed on the first image-bearing member by light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting elements thereonto, an image being formed on a recording medium based on the latent image on the fist image-bearing member;

a first frame that includes a first plate-shaped part having a surface orthogonal to the first direction and supports the first image-bearing member, the first plate-shaped part being formed with at least two first positioning holes, each of the at least two first positioning holes being defined by a first inner surface that extends in the first direction; and

a first supporting unit that erects from the first plate-shaped part and includes;

at least two first fitting parts that fit into the at least two first positioning holes; and

a first contact part that extends in the first direction from each of the at least two first fitting parts, the first contact part contacting and supporting the exposure unit wherein the exposure unit is oriented in a direction in which the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements is directed toward a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

2. The image-forming device according to claim 1, further comprising an opposing contact part, the exposure unit being held by the first contact part and the opposing contacting part urged against the first contact part with the exposure unit interposed therebetween.

3. The image-forming device according to claim 1, further comprising a second image-bearing member and a second exposure unit, a latent image being formed on the second image-bearing member by light emitted from a plurality of light-emitting elements arrayed on the second exposure unit,

wherein an image is formed on a recording medium by superposing images corresponding to latent images formed on the first image-bearing member and the second image-bearing member.

4. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the first supporting unit is formed by molding synthetic resin using dies, the first contact part and the first fitting part being formed by a single die.

5. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the first contact part and the at least two first positioning holes are formed simultaneously by press molding the first plate-shaped part of the first frame a single time.

6. The image-forming device according to claim 2, wherein the opposing contact part is formed on the first frame.

7. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the exposure unit further comprises.

a gap-regulating unit that regulates a gap between the plurality of light emitting elements and the image-bearing member.

8. The image-forming device according to claim 7, wherein the image-bearing member includes a photosensitive drum that is rotatable about an axis parallel to the first direction, the photosensitive drum having a latent image region in which the latent image is formed,

wherein the gap regulating unit includes two guide rollers that contact with the photosensitive drum at positions outside the latent image region.

9. The image-forming device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover that covers the image-bearing member and the exposure unit and is configured of being rotated open and closed,

wherein the exposure unit is rotatably attached to the cover and is interlocked with a rotation of the cover;

wherein when the upper cover is open, the exposure unit separates the contact part whereas when the upper cover is closed, the exposure unit contacts to the first contact part.

10. The image-forming device according to claim 1, further comprising;

a second frame that includes a second plate-shaped part having a surface orthogonal to the first direction, the second plate-shaped part being formed with at least two second positioning holes, each of the at least two second positioning holes being defined by a second inner surface that extends in the first direction, the first image-bearing member having two ends with respect to the first direction, each of the first frame and the second frame being provided at one end of the first image-bearing member and supporting the image-bearing member; and

a second supporting unit that has a symmetrical structure to the first supporting unit and that erects from the second plate-shaped part and includes;

at least two second fitting parts that fit into the at least two second positioning holes; and

a second contact part that extends in the first direction from each of the at least two second fitting parts, the first and second contact parts contacting and supporting the exposure unit wherein the exposure unit is oriented in the direction in which the light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements is directed toward the second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

11. The image-forming device according to claim 10, wherein the exposure unit has two ends with respect to the first direction and includes two leaf springs each provided at one end of the exposure unit, the two leaf springs having different thickness and generating different forces, the two leaf springs urging the first and second frames.

12. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the first contact part contacts the exposure unit at two different positions.

13. An image-forming device comprising:

a first image-bearing member on which a latent image is formable, the first image-bearing member extending in a first direction;

a first exposure unit that includes a plurality of light-emitting elements arrayed along the first direction, the latent image being formed on the first image-bearing member by light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting elements thereonto, an image being formed on a recording medium based on the latent image on the first image-bearing member;

a first frame that includes a first plate-shaped part having a surface orthogonal to the first direction and supports the first image-bearing member; and

a first supporting unit that erects from the first plate-shaped part.