Image forming apparatus including retractable exposure portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12164240-B2
Application number	US-202318175888-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2023
Priority date	Mar 10, 2022
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor that rotates about a first axis; an exposure portion that includes a substrate that includes a plurality of light emitting portions for exposing a surface of the photoconductor, and a support portion for supporting the substrate, and that moves between an exposure position where the photoconductor is exposed and a retracted position where the photoconductor is retracted from the exposure position; and a rotational member that has a second axis along the first axis, and that moves the exposure portion between the retracted position and the exposure position by rotation about the second axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a photoconductor configured to rotate about a first axis extending in a first direction;
an exposure portion including a substrate that includes a plurality of light emitting portions exposing a surface of the photoconductor, and a support portion supporting the substrate, the exposure portion being configured to move between an exposure position to expose the photoconductor and a retracted position where a distance between the photoconductor and the exposure portion at the retracted position is longer than a distance between the photoconductor and the exposure portion at the exposure position;
a rotational member having a second axis along the first direction, and configured to move the exposure portion between the retracted position and the exposure position by rotation about the second axis;
a door configured to rotate about a third axis extending in a second direction crossing the first direction; and
a slide member configured to slide in the first direction in conjunction with rotation of the door,
wherein the exposure portion is located at the retracted position when the door is in an open state where the door allows an operator to access inside of the image forming apparatus,
the exposure portion is located at the exposure position when the door is in a closed state, and
the rotational member rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the door via the slide member sliding in the first axial direction in conjunction with the rotation of the door.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the exposure portion includes a lens that condenses light emitted from the plurality of light emitting portions on the surface of the photoconductor, and
a distance between the second axis and an optical axis as a light emitting direction from the lens is longer than a distance between an end portion of the exposure portion and the optical axis in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the optical axis and a second axis.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the exposure portion moves between the retracted position and the exposure position by being pressed according to rotation of the rotational member.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a spring that applies a force to the rotational member in a direction from the retracted position toward the exposure position by the exposure portion.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the slide member includes an abutting portion that abuts on the rotational member, and when the slide member slides in a longitudinal direction, the abutting portion abuts on the rotational member, and
the rotational member rotates when the abutting portion abuts on the rotational member.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
further comprising:
a transmission member configured to rotate the rotational member in conjunction with opening and closing of the door,
wherein
the transmission member is a slide member that slides in a first axial direction in conjunction with opening and closing of the door, and
the rotational member rotates in conjunction with the slide member sliding in the first axial direction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the slide member includes an abutting portion that abuts on the rotational member, and when the slide member slides in a longitudinal direction, the abutting portion abuts on the rotational member, and
the rotational member rotates when the abutting portion abuts on the rotational member.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fan configured to generate an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; and
a duct configured to communicate with the fan, wherein
the duct and the support portion communicate with each other when the exposure portion is located at the exposure position, and the airflow generated by the fan is guided to the exposure portion.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein
the support portion includes a first opening that communicates with the duct and provided on one side in the first axial direction, and a second opening provided on the other side in the first axial direction,
the rotational member is a first rotational member,
the image forming apparatus includes a second rotational member that is a rotational member having a third axis along the first direction and moves the exposure portion between the retracted position and the exposure position by rotation about the third axis, and
the first opening and the second opening are located between the first rotational member and the second rotational member in the first axial direction.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of light emitting portions are organic EL.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
the exposure portion further comprising
a first abutting portion configured to abut to the rotational member, when the exposure portion moves from the retracted portion to the exposure portion; and
a second abutting portion configured to abut to the rotation member, when the exposure portion moves from the exposure portion to the retracted portion.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 ,
wherein the first abutting portion does not contact to the rotation member, when the exposure portion moves from the exposure position to the retracted portion, and
wherein the second abutting portion does not contact to the rotation member, when the exposure portion moves from the retracted portion to the exposure position.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Kawasumi Ryoichi
• Ishidate Takehiro
• Takano Hiroki

Classifications

• G06K15/1247

  using an array of light sources, e.g. a linear array · CPC title

• B41J2/45

  using light-emitting diode {[LED] or laser} arrays · CPC title

• G03G2215/0407

  Light-emitting array or panel · CPC title

• G03G21/1633

  using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1676

  for the developer unit · CPC title