Image forming apparatus

• US 9,075,331 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Junichi, Shimizu, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Yi, Roy Y
• Application Number:
  US13/628,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20130084099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0194 primary transfer to the final recording medium G03G15/0184 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1853 the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/206 Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone
• 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 which may include an apparatus main body and a module unit. The module unit may include a communication member having an opening that allows communication between inside and outside of the module unit and a unit-side positioning portion located adjacent to the opening of the communication member. Further, the apparatus main body may include a ventilation member having an opening located so as to oppose the opening of the communication member. Further, the apparatus main body may include a main body-side positioning portion located adjacent to an opening of the ventilation member. Also, the apparatus main body may include an urging member that is configured to urge the module unit so as to bring the unit-side positioning portion into contact with the main body-side positioning portion.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an apparatus main body; and

a module unit including image formation components, the module unit being movable along a predetermined moving direction between an inner position inside the apparatus main body and an outer position wherein at least a portion of the module unit is outside of the apparatus main body,

wherein the module unit includes;

a communication member having an opening that allows communication between an inside and an outside of the module unit;

a unit-side positioning portion adjacent to the opening of the communication member, and

wherein the apparatus main body includes;

a ventilation member having an opening, the opening of the ventilation member opposing the opening of the communication member of the module unit located at the inner position, the ventilation member forming an air flow path together with the communication member;

a main body-side positioning portion adjacent to the opening of the ventilation member, and

a spring configured to urge the unit-side positioning portion of the module unit into contact with the main body-side positioning portion in an urging direction perpendicular to the predetermined moving direction, the spring being provided between the module unit and the apparatus main body in the urging direction when the module unit is located at the inner position.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the unit-side positioning portion protrudes from a peripheral part of the opening of the communication member toward the main body-side positioning portion.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the module unit further comprises a driving force input member,

wherein the spring is included in a driving force transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force to rotate the driving force input member, and to urge the driving force input member toward the main body side positioning portion in the urging direction, and

wherein the driving force input member is configured to rotate a photoconductive roller.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the module unit includes a first side and a second side spaced from the first side with respect to a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the module unit,

wherein the opening of the communication member and the unit-side positioning portion are provided on the first side of the module unit, and the opening of the ventilation member and the main body-side positioning portion are provided on the first side of the module unit when the module unit is at the inner position, and

wherein the driving force input member is provided on the second side of the module unit, and the driving force transmission unit is provided at the second side of the module unit when the module unit is at the inner position.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the driving force input member includes a unit-side coupling rotatably mounted on the module unit,

wherein the driving force transmission unit includes a main body side coupling, and wherein the spring is configured to urge the main body side coupling toward the unit side coupling,

wherein the main body side coupling is rotatably mounted on the apparatus main body, and configured to engage with, and rotate the unit side coupling, and also configured to move back and forth in an axial direction of the main body side coupling.

6. The image forming apparatus according to any of claim 1, wherein the module unit includes a charger for charging a photoreceptor that utilizes corona discharge, and

wherein the communication member is disposed to communicate with an inside of a frame of the charger.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the communication member is integral with the frame of the charger.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the module unit further includes:

a developing unit which includes;

a developing roller for supplying a developing agent to a photoreceptor; and

a slide-contact member disposed in sliding contact the developing roller, and

wherein the communication member includes another opening which faces the developing unit.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the unit-side positioning portion and the main body-side positioning portion is formed in a shape elongated in the moving direction of the module unit.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the module unit includes a unit-side electrode located at the first side of the module unit, and

wherein the apparatus main body includes a main body-side electrode located at the first side of the module unit and contacting the unit-side electrode when the module unit is at the inner position.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the module unit includes a drawer including:

a pair of sidewalls configured to support a plurality of photoreceptors, and

the drawer configured to receive a plurality of developing cartridges which supply a developing agent to the photoreceptors.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the photoreceptors are positioned between the pair of sidewalls and each include a first axial end configured to engage with one of the sidewalls of the pair of sidewalls.

24. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring remains stationary relative to the apparatus main body in the predetermined moving direction of the module unit when the module unit moves between the inner position and the outer position.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an apparatus main body; and

a module unit movable along a first direction between an inner position inside the apparatus main body and an outer position wherein at least a portion of the module unit is outside of the apparatus main body, the module unit including a first side and a second side that is an opposite side of the first side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the module unit includes;

a communication member having a communication portion located at the first side of the module unit and allows communication between an inside and an outside of the module unit; and

a unit-side positioning portion located at the first side of the module unit, and

wherein the apparatus main body includes;

a ventilation member having a ventilation portion, the ventilation portion opposing the communication portion and located to communicate with the communication portion when the module unit is located at the inner position, the ventilation member forming an air flow path together with the communication portion;

a main body-side positioning portion opposing the unit side positioning portion of the module unit located at the inner position; and

a spring configured to urge, in the second direction, the unit-side positioning portion of the module unit into contact with the main body-side positioning portion, the spring provided between the module unit and the apparatus main body in the second direction when the module unit is located at the inner position.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the communication portion includes an opening.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the module unit further comprises a driving force input member, and

wherein the spring is included in a driving force transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force to the driving force input member, and to urge the driving force input member and bring the unit-side positioning portion into contact with the main body-side positioning portion.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the driving force input member includes a coupling mounted on the module unit, and

wherein the driving force transmission unit includes a coupling mounted on the main body.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the driving force transmission unit further comprises an elastic member configured to urge the coupling mounted on the main body toward the coupling mounted on the module unit thereby bringing the unit-side positioning portion into contact with the main body-side positioning portion.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the module unit includes a charger that utilizes corona discharge for charging a photoreceptor, the charger including a housing, and

wherein the communication member is disposed to communicate with an inside of the housing of the charger.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the communication member is integral with the housing of the charger.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the module unit includes:

a developing unit which includes;

a developing roller for supplying a developing agent to the photoreceptor; and

a slide-contact member disposed in sliding contact with the developing roller, and

wherein the communication member includes an opening which faces the developing unit.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the unit-side positioning portion and the main body-side positioning portion is formed in a shape elongated in the first direction.

22. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an apparatus main body; and

a module unit including image formation components, the module unit being movable between an inner position inside the apparatus main body and an outer position that is more exterior to the apparatus main body than the inner position, along a predetermined moving direction,

wherein the module unit includes;

a module unit body configured to receive a cartridge, and which includes;

a communication member having an opening that allows communication between an inside and an outside of the module unit; and

a unit-side positioning portion located adjacent to the opening of the communication member; and

wherein the apparatus main body includes;

a ventilation member having an opening, the opening of the ventilation member opposing the opening of the communication member of the module unit located at the inner position, the ventilation member forming an air flow path together with the communication member;

a main body-side positioning portion adjacent to the opening of the ventilation member; and

a spring configured to urge the unit-side positioning portion of the module unit body into contact with the main body-side positioning portion in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined moving direction, the spring being provided between the module unit and the apparatus main body, in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined moving direction, when the module unit is located at the inner position.

23. The image forming apparatus of claim 22, wherein an urging member, including the spring, is configured to contact the module unit body to thereby urge the module unit body and bring the unit-side positioning portion into contact with the main body-side positioning portion.