Image Forming Apparatus

• US 20140376957A1
• 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 9,207,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/107
• 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 2215/0141 the linear arrangement being horizontal
• 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 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, while the first frame is arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit; and a first beam made of a metal and formed in an elongated shape, while the first beam is arranged along and fixed to a planar face of the first frame, is provided. 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.

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; and

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

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.

2. 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.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,

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.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, 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.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

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.

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

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9,

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.

11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit comprising a photosensitive drum configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis;

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

a substrate arranged on one side of the first frame opposite from the image forming unit;

a plurality of substrate supports arranged on the first frame and configured to support the substrate;

a plurality of spring electrodes, each of which is arranged in a position between the substrate and the image forming unit in a compressed condition; and

a first beam formed in an elongated shape having a shorter side and a longer side, the first beam being arranged along and fixed to a planar face on the one side of the first frame facing the substrate,

wherein the plurality of substrate supports comprise paired first supports, which are arranged to be spaced apart from each other;

wherein, while a first virtual line is drawn through the paired first supports, a first intermediate spring electrode being a part of the plurality of spring electrodes is arranged in an intermediate area between two second virtual lines, each of which is drawn through one of the paired first supports orthogonally to the first virtual line when viewed along a facing direction to face the planar face of the first frame orthogonally; and

wherein the first beam comprises a first attachment portion, at which the first beam is fixed to the first frame at least along the facing direction, and is arranged to intersect with the first virtual line when viewed along the facing direction.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the first attachment portion is arranged on an opposite side from a longitudinal central part of the first beam across the first virtual line.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the plurality of substrate supports comprise paired second supports, which are arranged to be spaced apart from each other at least along a longitudinal direction of the first beam;

wherein, while a third virtual line is drawn through the paired second supports, a second intervening spring electrode being a part of the plurality of spring electrodes is arranged in an intermediate area between two fourth virtual lines, each of which is drawn through one of the paired second supports orthogonally to the third virtual line when viewed along the facing direction; and

wherein the first beam is formed to extend outwardly along the longitudinal direction thereof beyond the paired second supports.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the first attachment portion of the first beam is formed on one of longitudinal ends of the first beam;

and

wherein the first beam comprises a second attachment portion, at which the first beam is fixed to the first frame at least along the facing direction, on the other one of longitudinal ends of the first beam.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, 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 when viewed along the facing direction.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein the plurality of substrate supports comprise paired third supports, which are arranged on one side with respect to the first beam along a direction of the shorter side of the first beam in positions spaced apart from each other at least along the longitudinal direction of the first beam;

wherein, while a fifth virtual line is drawn through the paired third supports, a third intermediate spring electrode being a part of the plurality of spring electrodes is arranged in an intermediate area between two sixth virtual lines, each of which is drawn through one of the paired third supports orthogonally to the fifth virtual line when viewed along the facing direction; and

wherein the second beam comprises a third attachment portion, at which the second beam is fixed to the first frame at least along the facing direction, and is arranged to intersect with the fifth virtual line when viewed along the facing direction.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein the third attachment portion is arranged on an opposite side from a longitudinal central part of the second beam across the fifth virtual line.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein longitudinal central parts of the first beam and the second beam are in contact with each other.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein at least some of the plurality of spring electrodes are arranged in positions aligning along a longitudinal direction of the second beam;

and

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

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15,

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;

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

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the first attachment portion is placed in proximity to an upper end of the substrate.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the first beam is made of a metal.

23. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit comprising a photosensitive drum configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis;

a first frame made of a resin and arranged on one end, long an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit;

a substrate arranged to face the image forming unit;

a plurality of substrate supports arranged on the first frame and configured to support the substrate;

a plurality of spring electrodes arranged in positions between the substrate and the image forming unit; and

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

wherein, when viewed along a direction orthogonal to the planar face of the first frame, the first beam, at least one of the spring electrodes, and at least one of the substrate supports are arranged to align along a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the first beam in an order;

the first beam, the at least one of the spring electrodes, the at least one of the substrate supports.

24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23,

wherein, when viewed along the direction orthogonal to the planar face of the first frame, the first beam, at least another one of the spring electrodes, and at least another one of the substrate supports are arranged to align along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the first beam in an order:

the at least another one of the spring electrodes, the first beam, the at least another one of the substrate supports.

25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23,

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.

26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, 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.

27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26,

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.

28. The image forming apparatus according to claim 27, 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.

29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23,

wherein the first beam is made of a metal.

30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 29,

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.

31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, 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 the longitudinal ends of the first beam is arranged to overlap the connecting frame when projected along the axial direction.

32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, 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.

33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23,

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 through holes, in each of which one of the spring electrodes is arranged to penetrate there-through.

34. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit comprising a photosensitive drum configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis;

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

a substrate arranged on one side of the first frame opposite from the image forming unit;

a plurality of substrate supports arranged on the first frame and configured to support the substrate;

a plurality of spring electrodes, each of which is arranged in a position between the substrate and the image forming unit in a compressed condition; and

a first beam formed in an elongated shape having a shorter side and a longer side, the first beam being arranged along and fixed to a planar face on the one side of the first frame facing the substrate,

wherein the plurality of substrate supports comprise paired substrate supports, which are arranged to be spaced apart from each other at least along a longitudinal direction of the first beam;

wherein, while a first virtual line is drawn through the paired substrate supports, an intervening spring electrode being a part of the plurality of spring electrodes is arranged in an intermediate area between two second virtual lines, each of which is drawn through one of the paired substrate supports orthogonally to the first virtual line when viewed along the facing direction; and

wherein the first beam is formed to extend outwardly along the longitudinal direction thereof beyond the paired substrate supports.

35. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit comprising a photosensitive drum configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis;

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

a substrate arranged to face the image forming unit;

a substrate support arranged on the first frame and configured to support the substrate;

a spring electrode arranged in a position between the substrate and the image forming unit; and

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

wherein, when viewed along a direction orthogonal to the planar face of the first frame, the first beam, the spring electrode, and the substrate support are arranged to align along a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the first beam in an order;

the spring electrode, the first beam, the substrate support.