Image Forming Device

• US 20090274488A1
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: SUGIYAMA, Yosuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,698,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/217
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/447 using arrays of radiation sources B41J2/475 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04054 by LED arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1666 for the exposure unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1636 for the exposure unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1654 Locks and means for positioning or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1678 Frame structures

Abstract

An image forming device includes a photoconductive body, an exposure unit configured with a plurality of light emitting elements aligned in a predetermined direction, the exposure unit being adopted to expose the photoconductive body to light emitted by the light emitting elements, a frame configured to support both sides of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction, the frame having a reference portion configured to position the exposure unit in the predetermined direction in contact with an end of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction, and a pressing member provided to one of the frame and the exposure unit, the pressing member being configured to press the end of the exposure unit against the reference portion.

Claims

1. An image forming device, comprising:

a photoconductive body;

an exposure unit configured with a plurality of light emitting elements aligned in a predetermined direction, the exposure unit being adopted to expose the photoconductive body to light emitted by the light emitting elements;

a frame configured to support both sides of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction, the frame having a reference portion configured to position the exposure unit in the predetermined direction in contact with a first end of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction; and

a pressing member provided to one of the frame and the exposure unit, the pressing member being configured to press the first end of the exposure unit against the reference portion.

2. The image forming device according to claim 1,

wherein the pressing member is provided at a side of the first end of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction, and

wherein the pressing member is configured to sandwich the reference portion between the pressing member and the first end of the exposure unit.

3. The image forming device according to claim 1,

wherein the pressing member is provided to the frame, and

wherein the pressing member is configured to sandwich the first end of the exposure unit between the pressing member and the reference portion.

4. The image forming device according to claim 2,

wherein the pressing member includes an elastic portion.

5. The image forming device according to claim 3,

wherein the pressing member includes an elastic portion.

6. The image forming device according to claim 1,

wherein the exposure unit is configured to move between an exposure position where the exposure unit is close to the photoconductive body and an evacuation position where the exposure unit is away from the photoconductive body, and

wherein the pressing member is configured to move toward the reference portion along with movement of the exposure unit to the exposure position, and to press the first end of the exposure unit against the reference portion when the exposure unit is in the exposure position.

7. The image forming device according to claim 1,

wherein a gap is formed between the frame and a second end of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction when the first end of the exposure unit is in contact with the reference portion, the second end being a different end of the exposure unit from the first end in the predetermined direction.

8. The image forming device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force for biasing the exposure unit toward the photoconductive body,

wherein the exposure unit includes a contact member configured to contact the photoconductive body due to the biasing force applied by the biasing member, and

wherein the exposure unit is configured to slide relative to the reference portion.

9. The image forming device according to claim 1,

wherein the frame and the pressing member are configured to be electrically conductive, and

wherein the exposure unit includes:

an exposure body having the plurality of light emitting elements; and

an electrically conductive holder configured to support the exposure body, the holder being adopted to contact the pressing member.

10. The image forming device according to claim 9, further comprising an electrically conductive biasing element provided between the frame and a region of the holder at a side of the second end in the predetermined direction, the biasing element being configured to bias the exposure unit in such a direction as to take the exposure unit farther away from the photoconductive body.

11. The image forming device according to claim 1,

wherein the pressing member is a leaf spring.

12. An image forming device, comprising:

a photoconductive body;

an exposure unit configured with a plurality of light emitting elements aligned in a predetermined direction, the exposure unit being adopted to expose the photoconductive body to light emitted by the light emitting elements;

a frame configured to support both sides of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction, the frame having a reference portion configured to position the exposure unit in the predetermined direction in contact with an end of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction; and

an urging member provided to one of the frame and the exposure unit, the pressing member being configured to urge the end of the exposure unit against the reference portion.