Image Forming Apparatus

• US 20140376947A1
• Filed: 06/20/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nishimura, Yohei
• Granted Patent: US 9,304,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/90
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1619 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1652 Electrical connection means
• 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 includes an image forming unit including a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, a resin frame configured to support a first end of the image forming unit in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a sub frame supported by the resin frame, a board supported by the sub frame and configured to supply a high voltage to the image forming unit, springy electrode disposed on the board and apart from edges of the board such that the springy electrode is compressed between the image forming unit and the board. The sub frame includes a plurality of first support portions disposed to support the board at at least three support points and a plurality of second support portions disposed to be supported by the frame at at least three support points.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming unit including a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the photosensitive drum and a developing device configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum;

a resin frame configured to support a first end of the image forming unit in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum;

a sub frame supported by the resin frame;

a board supported by the sub frame, the board being configured to supply power to the image forming unit; and

a springy electrode configured to electrically connect the image forming unit and the board, the springy electrode being disposed on the board and apart from edges of the board such that the springy electrode is compressed between the image forming unit and the board,

wherein the sub frame includes a plurality of first support portions disposed to support the board at at least three support points and a plurality of second support portions disposed to be supported by the frame at at least three support points,

wherein the first support portions of the sub frame supporting the board are located apart from edges of the board, and

wherein the second support portions of the sub frame are disposed outside an area enclosed by the at least three support points of the first support portions.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the springy electrode is disposed within the area enclosed by the at least three support points of the first support portions.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a further springy electrode disposed on the board such that the further springy electrode is compressed between the image forming unit and the board,

wherein the further springy electrode is disposed outside the area enclosed by the at least three support points of the first support portions.

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

a second frame spaced apart from the resin frame in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum such that the image forming unit is between the second frame and the resin frame; and

a connecting frame connecting the resin frame and the second frame,

wherein the second support portions of the sub frame, when projected in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, overlap the connecting frame.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sub frame has a higher Young'"'"'s modulus than the resin frame.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the sub frame and the board are disposed on a side of the resin frame opposite from the image forming unit, and

wherein the frame and the sub frame have through holes to allow the springy electrode to pass through.

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

a further image forming unit including a further photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the further photosensitive drum and a further developer container configured to supply developer to the further photosensitive drum, the image forming unit and the further image forming unit being arranged in an arrangement direction perpendicular to the axial direction; and

a further springy electrode disposed on the board such that the further springy electrode is compressed between the image forming unit and the board, the further springy electrode and the springy electrode being arranged in the arrangement direction,

wherein at least two of the at least three support points of the first support portions are arranged in the arrangement direction.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a drawer configured to support the image forming unit and the further image forming unit and move relative to the resin frame in the arrangement direction,

wherein the second support portions of the sub frame are disposed apart from the drawer in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the arrangement direction.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the springy electrode includes a compressed coil spring.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the board is configured to supply a high voltage to the image forming unit.