Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10942481-B2
Application number	US-201816136081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2018
Priority date	Sep 28, 2017
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a first unit, a second unit fixed to the first unit at a portion upstream of the first unit in a conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed, and an electric board. In the image forming apparatus, a disposition of the electric board is restricted by the first unit and the second unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a first unit;
a second unit fixed to the first unit at a portion upstream of the first unit in a conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed; and
an electric board that includes, on a same surface thereof, at least a first detecting portion that detects the sheet conveyed at the first unit and a second detecting portion that detects the sheet conveyed at the second unit,
wherein the first unit includes a first unit restricting portion that restricts a disposition of the electric board,
wherein the second unit includes a second unit restricting portion that restricts a disposition of the electric board,
wherein the electric board includes a first board restricting portion that engages with the first unit restricting portion, and a second board restricting portion that engages with the second unit restricting portion,
wherein in a state in which the first unit restricting portion and the first board restricting portion are engaged with each other, the disposition of the electric board is restricted in a parallel direction that is parallel to an optical axis connecting a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion included in the first detecting portion, and
wherein in a state in which the second unit restricting portion and the second board restricting portion are engaged with each other, the disposition of the electric board is restricted in the parallel direction, and the disposition of the electric board is restricted in an orthogonal direction that is parallel to a portion in the conveyance direction and that is orthogonal to the optical axis.

2. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a first unit;
a second unit fixed to the first unit at a portion upstream of the first unit in a conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed; and
an electric board that includes, on a same surface thereof, at least a first detecting portion that detects the sheet conveyed at the first unit and a second detecting portion that detects the sheet conveyed at the second unit,
wherein the first unit includes a first boss,
wherein the second unit includes a second boss,
wherein the electric board including a slit that engages with the first boss, and a hole that engages with the second boss,
wherein in a state in which the first boss and the slit are engaged with each other, the disposition of the electric board is restricted in a parallel direction that is parallel to an optical axis connecting a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion included in the first detecting portion, and
wherein in a state in which the second boss and the hole are engaged with each other, the disposition of the electric board is restricted in the parallel direction, and the disposition of the electric board is restricted in an orthogonal direction that is parallel to a portion in the conveyance direction and that is orthogonal to the optical axis.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first detecting portion is provided in a vicinity of the first board restricting portion, and the second detecting portion is provided in a vicinity of the second board restricting portion.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first unit includes a first pivotably moving member that is pivoted by the sheet that is conveyed,
wherein the second unit includes a second pivotably moving member that is pivoted by the sheet that is conveyed,
wherein, with the pivoting of the first pivotably moving member, the first detecting portion detects the sheet conveyed to the first unit, and
wherein, with the pivoting of the second pivotably moving member, the second detecting portion detects the sheet conveyed to the second unit.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the electric board further includes, on the same surface thereof, a third detecting portion that detects the sheet conveyed by the first unit, and
wherein the third detecting portion is provided at a position away from the first board restricting portion with respect to the first detecting portion.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the first unit further includes a third pivotably moving member that is pivoted at a position different from that of the first pivotably moving member by the sheet that is conveyed, and
wherein, with the pivoting of the third pivotably moving member, the third detecting portion detects the sheet conveyed at the first unit.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein there is no electric element other than the first detecting portion on a shortest straight line connecting the first detecting portion and the first restricting portion.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein there is no electric element other than the second detecting portion on a shortest straight line connecting the second detecting portion and the second restricting portion.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first unit includes a first fitting portion fitted to the first board restricting portion of the electric board, and the second unit includes a second fitting portion fitted to the second board restricting portion of the electric board.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein there is no electric element between the first board restricting portion of the electric board and an electric board edge surface in a vicinity of the first board restricting portion.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein there is no electric element between the second board restricting portion of the electric board and an electric board edge surface in a vicinity of the second board restricting portion.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the third detecting portion is provided in a vicinity of an edge portion on a side of the electric board in which the first board restricting portion is provided.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the second detecting portion is, in a vertical direction, positioned between the second pivotally moving member that comes in contact with the sheet and the second board restricting portion.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second unit includes a transfer portion that transfers an image formed on an image bearing member onto the sheet,
wherein the second detecting portion is positioned upstream of the transfer portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet, and
wherein a position of an image with respect to the sheet to which the image is transferred from the transfer portion is adjusted using a timing at which the sheet has been detected by the second detecting portion.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first unit includes a fixing portion that fixes the image transferred to the sheet, and
wherein the first detecting portion is positioned downstream of the fixing portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the optical axis connecting the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion is orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein a board surface of the electric board is parallel to the sheet conveyed at the first unit and the s

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Hamasaki Ryuji

Classifications

• G03G15/70 Primary

  Detecting malfunctions relating to paper handling, e.g. jams · CPC title

• B65H2553/61

  Mechanical means, e.g. contact arms · CPC title

• G03G21/1609

  for space saving, e.g. structural arrangements · CPC title

• B65H2553/412

  in barrier arrangements, i.e. emitter facing a receptor element · CPC title

• B65H7/14

  by photoelectric feelers or detectors · CPC title