Image Forming Apparatus

• US 20140376944A1
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Souda, Makoto, Nishimura, Yohei
• Granted Patent: US 9,188,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/90
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/80 Details relating to power supplies, circuits boards, electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1619 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1842 for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1853 the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1867 for electrically connecting the process cartridge to the apparatus, electrical connectors, power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1684 using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges

Abstract

An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit containing a photosensitive drum and a developer device; a resin-made first frame formed in a shape of a plate and arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit; an enhancing member formed in an elongated shape, arranged along a planar face of the first frame on one side of the first frame and fixed to the first frame; and a metal-made first beam formed in an elongated shape, arranged along the planar face of the first frame to intersect with the enhancing member and fixed to the first frame, is provided. The first beam is fixed to the enhancing member at one end thereof in a position between longitudinal ends of the enhancing member.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit comprising a photosensitive drum configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis and a developer device configured to supply a developer agent to the photosensitive drum;

a first frame made of a resin and formed in a shape of a plate, the first frame being arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit;

an enhancing member formed in an elongated shape, the enhancing member being arranged along a planar face of the first frame on one side of the first frame and fixed to the first frame; and

a first beam made of a metal and formed in an elongated shape, the first beam being arranged along the planar face of the first frame to intersect with the enhancing member and fixed to the first frame,

wherein the first beam is fixed to the enhancing member at one end thereof in a position between longitudinal ends of the enhancing member.

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

an optical scanner configured to emit exposure light to the photosensitive drum,

wherein the enhancing member supports the optical scanner.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first beam is arranged to overlap the image forming unit at a longitudinal central part thereof, when projected along the axial direction, while longitudinal ends of the first beam are arranged on outer sides of the image forming unit.

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

a second beam formed in an elongated shape, the second beam being arranged along and fixed to the planar face of the first frame,

wherein the second beam is arranged to intersect with the first beam.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the image forming unit comprises a plurality of image forming units, the plurality of image forming units being arranged to align along an aligning direction, which is orthogonal to the rotation axis;

wherein the first beam is arranged to longitudinally extend orthogonally to the aligning direction and to the axial direction; and

wherein the second beam is arranged to longitudinally extend along the aligning direction.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a drawer configured to support the plurality of image forming units, the drawer being supported by the first frame movably to move along the aligning direction,

wherein the second beam is arranged to overlap the drawer when projected along the axial direction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first beam is made of a metal.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the first beam is formed of a metal bar having a first section, which spreads orthogonally to the axial direction, and a second section, which spreads from the first section along the axial direction.

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

a second frame arranged on another end of the image forming unit to face the first frame across the image forming unit; and

a connecting frame configured to be connected to the first frame and the second frame,

wherein one of longitudinal ends of the first beam is arranged to overlap the connecting frame when projected along the axial direction.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a second beam formed in an elongated shape, the second beam being arranged along the planar face of the first frame to intersect with the first beam and fixed to the first frame,

wherein the other one of the longitudinal ends of the first beam is engaged with the first frame; and

wherein the second beam is arranged in a position between the first beam and the first frame.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a spring electrode to supply electricity to the image forming unit is arranged on the first frame;

and

wherein the spring electrode is arranged in a position between the first frame and the image forming unit in a compressed condition.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first frame comprises a plurality of substrate supports, which are configured to support a substrate, the substrate being configured to supply electricity to the image forming unit via a spring electrode;

and

wherein the spring electrode is arranged in a position between the substrate and the image forming unit in a compressed condition.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the plurality of substrate supports are arranged on an opposite side from the image forming unit across the first frame;

and

wherein the first frame comprises a through hole, in which the spring electrode is arranged to penetrate there-through.