JP-7855373-B2 - Image forming apparatus

JP7855373B2JP 7855373 B2JP7855373 B2JP 7855373B2JP-7855373-B2

Inventors

河角良一
石館毅洋
高野広樹

Assignees

キヤノン株式会社

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20220310

Claims (6)

A photoreceptor unit having a photoreceptor, An exposure means is positioned in close proximity to the photoreceptor and exposes the photoreceptor to form a latent image on the photoreceptor, A developing means for developing the latent image formed on the photoreceptor using toner, A photoreceptor support member guides the photoreceptor unit along the axial direction of the photoreceptor and detachably supports the photoreceptor unit, A developing support member guides the developing means along the axial direction of the photoreceptor and detachably supports the developing means, An exposure support member is provided between the photoreceptor support member and the developer support member, has an opening that communicates with the exposure means, integrally supports the exposure means, and moves integrally with the exposure means to an exposure position where the photoreceptor is exposed and to a retracted position where it is retracted from the exposure position. An exposure cooling unit that communicates with the opening of the exposure support member and cools the exposure means by airflow through the opening of the exposure support member, The device includes a sealing member that seals the gap between the exposure support member and the development support member and the gap between the exposure support member and the photoreceptor support member at the exposure position, The sealing member is positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of movement of the exposure support member . The exposure support member is Through the opening, on one side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the photoreceptor, at a position facing the developing support member, there is a first duct wall having a first inclined surface forming the predetermined angle, Through the opening, on the other side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the photoreceptor, at a position facing the photoreceptor support member, there is a second duct wall having a second inclined surface forming the predetermined angle, The sealing members are provided on the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, respectively, and are at the predetermined angle. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following features.
The sealing member is a sheet material or a foamed sealing material. The image forming apparatus according to feature 1.
The predetermined angle formed by the sealing member is an angle between 20° and 90° with respect to the direction of movement of the exposure support member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
The sealing member has a configuration in which the contact surface with the exposure support member or the developing support member that forms the gap, and the contact surface with the exposure support member or the photoreceptor support member that forms the gap, are inclined at the predetermined angle. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The first inclined surface is inclined in the direction of movement from the upstream side to the downstream side, away from the second duct wall. The second inclined surface is inclined in the direction of movement, moving away from the first duct wall from the upstream side to the downstream side. The image forming apparatus according to feature 1 .
The exposure means performs exposure using an organic EL. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 .

Description

This invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with an exposure head for exposing a photoreceptor. Conventionally, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is known as a technology related to exposure heads used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses. The exposure head described in Patent Document 1 comprises a substrate on which multiple light-emitting elements are arranged along the axial direction of a photoreceptor, a lens that focuses the light emitted from the multiple light-emitting elements, and a holder that holds the substrate and the lens. The exposure head exposes the photosensitive drum by focusing the light emitted from the multiple light-emitting elements through the lens. Therefore, the exposure head described in Patent Document 1 is positioned close to the photoreceptor, together with a developing device that develops the latent image formed on the photoreceptor using toner. Consequently, the exposure head is positioned close to the developing device. The exposure head is equipped with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) as light-emitting elements. Alternatively, some heads are equipped with organic EL (Organic Electroluminescence) as light-emitting elements. Organic EL is sometimes also called OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode). The exposure head is known to dissipate heat depending on the duration and intensity of light emission from such light-emitting elements. As mentioned earlier, the exposure head is positioned close to the developing unit that deposits toner onto the photoreceptor; therefore, a cooling mechanism is often necessary to suppress the effect of heat from the exposure head on the toner. Furthermore, since the photoreceptor is a consumable part, it is designed to be removable for replacement and maintenance. However, as mentioned above, the exposure head is positioned close to the photoreceptor, and if left in that position, the photoreceptor and the exposure head may come into contact, potentially damaging one or both. Therefore, it is desirable to have a mechanism for retracting the exposure head relative to the photoreceptor. Patent Document 1 discloses an exposure head attachment/detachment mechanism comprising a mechanism support portion positioned directly below the entire longitudinal range of the exposure head, and a link member held above it. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-3110 Perspective view of an image forming apparatusSchematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus in Figure 1.Schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus in Figure 1.Perspective view of an image forming apparatusPartially enlarged perspective view of an image forming apparatusPartially enlarged perspective view of an image forming apparatusPartially enlarged perspective view of an image forming apparatusPerspective view of the cartridge trayPerspective view of the cartridge trayCross-sectional view of the exposure headPerspective view of the exposure headPerspective view of the exposure head(a), (b), (c) Diagrams showing the substrate in the exposure head, (d), (e) Diagrams showing the lens arrayPerspective view of the circuit board as seen from the side with the LEDs mounted (surface of the board).Perspective view of the circuit board as seen from the side with the connector mounted (back side of the board).Perspective view of the exposure head, assembled on the circuit board and mounted in the housing, seen from below.Enlarged view of the connector side of the exposure head in Figure 16.Figure 16 is a perspective view showing the exposure head with the lens array assembled into the housing.A perspective view from below of the connector side of the exposure head, in which the housing and housing support member are integrally formed.Perspective view of the cartridge trayBottom view of the cartridge tray and lifting duct.This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in Figure 20.Cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in Figure 20.Cross-sectional view taken along the Y-Y arrow in Figure 20.Cross-sectional view taken along the Y-Y arrow in Figure 20.Cross-sectional view of the exposure cooling airflow perpendicular to the optical axis.Perspective view of the exposure head, lifting duct, and rotating arm.Perspective view of the exposure head, lifting duct, and rotating arm.Cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E in Figure 37.Cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E in Figure 37.Side view of the developing staySide view of the developing stayCross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in Figure 20.Cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 2.Perspective view of the duct unitPerspective view of the duct unit from below.Cross-sectional view of the intake side of the exposure cooling airflow.Enlarged cross-sectional view of the intake side of the exposure cooling airflow.Cross-sectional view of the exhaust side of the exposure cooling airflow.Cross-sectional view of the duct unit just before assembl