Image forming apparatus that cools an exposure device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12055869-B2
Application number	US-202318175612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2023
Priority date	Mar 10, 2022
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; a charging portion that charges a surface of the photoconductor; an exposure portion including a substrate including a plurality of light emitting portions for exposing the photoconductor; a developing portion that develops a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor with toner; a fan that generates an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; and a duct that communicates with the fan and communicates with the support portion, the duct guiding the airflow generated by the fan to the substrate; in which a part of the duct is formed by a charging support portion that supports the charging portion, a developing support portion that supports the development, and a duct portion, and a space between the duct portion and the charging support portion and a space between the duct portion and the developing support portion are sealed by a sealing member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a rotatable photoconductor;
a charging portion configured to charge a surface of the photoconductor;
an exposure portion including a substrate on which a plurality of chips each including a plurality of light emitting portions configured to emit light for exposing the photoconductor is mounted, and a support portion configured to support the substrate, the exposure portion being movable between an exposure position, where a distance between a rotary axis of the photoconductor and a light emission surface of the exposure portion is a first distance, and a retracted position, where the distance between the rotary axis of the photoconductor and the light emission surface of the exposure portion is a second distance greater than the first distance;
a developing portion configured to develop a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor with toner;
a fan configured to generate an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; and
a duct portion engaged with the exposure portion;
a first support portion configured to support the developing portion; and
a second support portion configured to support the charging portion,
wherein the duct portion, the first support portion, and the second support portion form a part of a duct configured to communicate with the fan and to communicate with the exposure portion, the duct guiding the airflow generated by the fan to the substrate, and
wherein a space between the duct portion and the second support portion and a space between the duct portion and the first support portion are sealed by a sealing member.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the duct communicates with an intake port formed in a wall surface of a main body of the image forming apparatus and is capable of circulating the airflow, and
the duct communicates with an exhaust port formed in the wall surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus and is capable of circulating the airflow.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the duct is provided with an intake fan for taking in the airflow from the intake port, and
the duct is provided with an exhaust fan for exhausting the airflow from the exhaust port.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the fan is included in an exposure cooling unit that is configured to be inserted into a main body of the image forming apparatus, and
when the exposure cooling unit is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus, the exposure cooling unit is guided by an inclined portion inclined along an insertion direction of the exposure cooling unit, and a sealing member seals a gap between an opening portion of the exposure unit portion and an opening portion of the exposure cooling unit.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
a fastening portion that fixes the exposure cooling unit in a state of being mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus is provided.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the exposure portion performs exposure by organic electro-luminescence (EL).

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the second support portion further supports the photo conductor.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the duct portion is configured to move between the exposure position and the retracted position with the exposure portion.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein
in a case that the exposure portion is at the exposure position, the space between the duct portion and the second support portion and the space between the duct portion and the first support portion are sealed by the sealing member, and
in a case that the exposure portion is at the retracted position, the space between the duct portion and the second support portion and the space between the duct portion and the first support portion are not sealed by the sealing member.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Kawasumi Ryoichi
• Takano Hiroki
• Ishidate Takehiro
• Suzuki Koji

Classifications

• B41J2/4473

  using liquid crystal [LC] arrays · CPC title

• B41J29/377

  Cooling or ventilating arrangements · CPC title

• G03G2215/0407

  Light-emitting array or panel · CPC title

• G03G2221/1645

  for conducting air through the machine, e.g. cooling · CPC title

• G03G2215/0412

  Electroluminescent elements, i.e. EL-array · CPC title