Image forming apparatus and exposure device

• US 8,960,853 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Takahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Manish S
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMEH, YAOVI M
• Application Number:
  US13/959,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20140232803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20
• US Class Current: 347/20
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04036 Details of illuminating systems, e.g. lamps, reflectors lamp housings for copying cameras, reflex exposure lighting G03B27/542

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that rotates; and an exposure unit that includes multiple light emitters, a holding unit, and first contact portions, the multiple light emitters being arranged along a rotation axis direction of the image carrier, the holding unit holding the multiple light emitters, the first contact portions being positioned on the holding unit so as to sandwich the multiple light emitters therebetween, the exposure unit exposing the image carrier to light. While the image carrier is being mounted on an apparatus body, the exposure unit is moved away from the image carrier in an optical axis direction of the exposure unit as a result of the first contact portions coming into contact with the image carrier, and the exposure unit and the image carrier are positioned as a result of the first contact portions coming into contact with the image carrier.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image carrier configured to rotate; and

an exposure unit configured to expose the image carrier to light, the exposure unit including a plurality of light emitters, a holding unit, and first contact portions, the plurality of light emitters arranged along a rotation axis direction of the image carrier, the holding unit configured to hold the plurality of light emitters, the first contact portions positioned on the holding unit so as to sandwich the plurality of light emitters therebetween,

wherein the exposure unit is configured to move away from the image carrier in an optical axis direction of the exposure unit in response to the image carrier being pushed against the first contact portions, and the exposure unit and the image carrier are configured to be positioned with respect to each other in response to the first contact portions coming into contact with the image carrier,

wherein the first contact portions comprise at least two first contact portions protruding in the optical axis direction of the exposure unit and sandwiching the plurality of light emitters therebetween, and

wherein one of the at least two first contact portions that is located on a downstream side in a direction in which the image carrier is configured to be inserted protrudes to a larger degree than another one of the at least two first contact portions that is located on an upstream side in the direction in which the image carrier is configured to be inserted.

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

a pressing unit configured to press the exposure unit in the optical axis direction,

wherein the holding unit includes a second contact portion configured to come into contact with the apparatus body, and

wherein when the first contact portions are not in contact with the image carrier, movement of the exposure unit in the optical axis direction is restricted by the second contact portion coming into contact with the apparatus body, whereas when the first contact portions are in contact with the image carrier, the second contact portion and the apparatus body are no longer in contact with each other and the exposure unit is positioned with respect to the image carrier.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exposure unit includes a second contact portion in a center portion of the image carrier in the rotation axis direction of the image carrier, the second contact portion configured to come into contact with a body of the image forming apparatus and configured to be movable in the optical axis direction of the exposure unit and in a direction that crosses the rotation axis direction of the image carrier.

6. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two first contact portions include inclined surfaces which are inclined to become increasingly separated from a top surface of the holding unit as the inclined surfaces extend from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction in which the image carrier is configured to be inserted.

4. An exposure device comprising:

an exposing member that includes a plurality of light emitters arranged along a rotation axis direction of an image carrier configured to rotate, the exposing member configured to expose the image carrier with light;

a supporter configured to support the image carrier and the exposing member; and

a guide portion formed on the exposing member and protruding into a path along which the image carrier is configured to be inserted into the supporter in the rotation axis direction of the image carrier, the guide portion configured to guide the exposing member in an optical axis direction of the exposing member to a predetermined position in response to the guide portion being pressed by the image carrier,

wherein the guide portion comprises first and second guide portions protruding in the optical axis direction of the exposure member and sandwiching the plurality of light emitters therebetween, and

wherein the first guide portion is located on a downstream side in a direction in which the image carrier is configured to be inserted and protrudes to a larger degree than the second guide portion that is located on an upstream side in the direction in which the image carrier is configured to be inserted.

5. The exposure device of claim 4, wherein the first and second guide portions include inclined surfaces which are inclined to become increasingly separated from a top surface of the supporter as the inclined surfaces extend from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction in which the image carrier is configured to be inserted.