Image Forming Device

• US 20130194369A1
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: SHIMAMOTO, Hideatsu
• Granted Patent: US 9,283,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/118
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/45 using light-emitting diode [LED] or laser arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/47 using the combination of scanning and modulation of light
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/308 with print gap adjustment mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04 for exposing, i.e. imagewise exposure by optically projecting the original image on a photoconductive recording material
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04045 for exposing image information provided otherwise than by directly projecting the original image onto the photoconductive recording material, e.g. digital copiers G03G15/041, G03G15/043 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1633 using doors or covers G03G21/1638 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1666 for the exposure unit

Abstract

An image forming device includes a fixed frame, a slide frame, a head supporting frame, a cam structure, and an operation body. The fixed frame is arranged adjacent to a photosensitive body. The slide frame is supported in a slidable manner along a first axis line by the fixed frame. The head supporting frame is supported in a slidable manner along a second axis line, which intersects the first axis line, by the fixed frame, and supports an exposure head. The cam structure converts an operation in which the slide frame slides to an operation in which the head supporting frame slides. The operation body moves the exposure head between a separated position and a proximate position by sliding the slide frame.

Claims

1. An image forming device comprising:

a fixed frame arranged adjacent to a photosensitive body;

a slide frame supported in a slidable manner along a first axis line by the fixed frame;

a head supporting frame for supporting an exposure head, the head supporting frame being supported in a slidable manner along a second axis line, which intersects the first axis line, by the fixed frame;

a cam structure for converting an operation in which the slide frame slides along the first axis line to an operation in which the head supporting frame slides along the second axis line; and

an operation body for moving the exposure head supported by the head supporting frame between a separated position and a proximate position with respect to the photosensitive body by sliding the slide frame.

2. The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein the operation body is a toner container attached in a freely attaching and detaching manner to a chassis, the toner container moving the exposure head between the separated position and the proximate position by sliding the slide frame by being attached or detached.

3. The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein the operation body is a door supported in a freely opening or closing manner by a chassis, the door moving the exposure head between the separated position and the proximate position by sliding the slide frame by being opened or closed.

4. The image forming device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first biasing member, arranged between the fixed frame and the head supporting frame, for biasing the head supporting frame towards the separated position; and

a second biasing member, arranged between the fixed frame and the slide frame, for biasing the slide frame towards the operation body such that one part of the slide frame advances into an attachment region of the toner container in a state where the toner container is detached from the chassis.

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

the exposure head includes a lens array and an LED light source, and a head base for supporting both the lens array and the LED light source,

the head base is supported on a side facing the photosensitive body in the head supporting frame, and

a positioning structure is arranged on opposing surfaces of a supporting frame for supporting the photosensitive body and the head base to position the exposure head with respect to the photosensitive body at the proximate position by being engaged.

6. The image forming device according to claim 2, further comprising a holding structure, arranged between the toner container and the chassis, for holding an attached state of the toner container, wherein

the holding structure includes

a first engagement body arranged on the toner container side, and

a second engagement body arranged on the chassis side;

and

any one of the first engagement body and the second engagement body is involved and dropped out while elastically deforming with respect to the other engagement body.

7. The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein the cam structure is arranged between the slide frame and the head supporting frame.

8. The image forming device according to claim 7, wherein

the cam structure includes an operation cam arranged in a projecting manner on the slide frame, and a passive cam arranged in a projecting manner on the head supporting frame;

and

when the exposure head is at the separated position, a projecting end of the operation cam is arranged proximate to the head supporting frame, and a projecting end of the passive cam is received by the slide frame continuing to a basal end of the operation cam.

9. The image forming device according to claim 8, wherein

the operation cam is provided with an inclined surface inclined with respect to the first axis line;

the passive cam is provided with an inclined surface inclined with respect to the second axis line; and

the exposure head moves between the separated position and the proximate position with the respective inclined surfaces of the operation cam and the passive cam brought into contact with each other.

10. The image forming device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a door supported in a freely opening/closing manner by the chassis; and

a drum unit attached to the chassis in a freely attaching and detaching manner so as to be arranged distant with respect to the door than the toner container, the drum unit including

a photosensitive drum serving as a photosensitive body,

a drum supporting frame for supporting the photosensitive drum, and

a positioning shaft for positioning the exposure head with respect to the photosensitive drum at the proximate position.

11. The image forming device according to claim 5, further comprising a third biasing member for biasing the exposure head towards the photosensitive body.

12. The image forming device according to claim 11, wherein the head supporting frame includes a housing for supporting the head base in a freely sliding manner.

13. An image forming device comprising:

a fixed frame arranged adjacent to a photosensitive body;

a slide frame supported in a slidable manner along a first axis line by the fixed frame;

a head supporting frame for supporting an exposure head, the head supporting frame being supported in a slidable manner along a second axis line, which intersects the first axis line, by the fixed frame;

a cam structure, arranged between the slide frame and the head supporting frame, for converting an operation in which the slide frame slides along the first axis line to an operation in which the head supporting frame slides along the second axis line; and

an operation body for moving the exposure head supported by the head supporting frame from one side to the other side of a separated position and a proximate position with respect to the photosensitive body by sliding the slide frame.

14. The image forming device according to claim 13, wherein the operation body is a toner container attached in a freely attaching and detaching manner to a chassis, the toner container moving the exposure head from one side to the other side of the separated position and the proximate position by sliding the slide frame by being attached or detached.

15. An image forming device comprising:

a fixed frame arranged adjacent to a photosensitive body;

a slide frame supported in a slidable manner along a first axis line by the fixed frame;

a head supporting frame for supporting an exposure head, the head supporting frame being supported in a slidable manner along a second axis line, which intersects the first axis line, by the fixed frame;

a passive cam arranged in a projecting manner on the head supporting frame;

an operation cam arranged in a projecting manner on the slide frame and brought into contact with the passive cam; and

an operation body for changing a contacting mode of the operation cam and the passive cam by sliding the slide frame, and moving the exposure head supported by the head supporting frame from one side to the other side of a separated position and a proximate position with respect to the photosensitive body by changing the contacting mode.

16. The image forming device according to claim 15, wherein the operation body is a toner container attached in a freely attaching and detaching manner to a chassis, the toner container moving the exposure head from one side to the other side of the separated position and the proximate position by sliding the slide frame by being attached or detached.

17. The image forming device according to claim 16, further comprising:

a first biasing member, arranged between the fixed frame and the head supporting frame, for biasing the head supporting frame in a direction away from the photosensitive body; and

a second biasing member, arranged between the fixed frame and the slide frame, for biasing the slide frame towards the operation body such that one part of the slide frame advances into an attachment region of the toner container in a state where the toner container is detached from the chassis.