Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12164258-B2
Application number	US-202318467612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2023
Priority date	Dec 25, 2019
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus includes a feeding module, an image forming module, and a fixing module. The feeding module feeds a recording material. The image forming module includes a photosensitive drum and forms a developer image on the recording material fed to the image forming module by the feeding module. The fixing module fixes the developer image formed by the image forming module to the recording material. The image forming module includes a scanner frame that supports an exposure unit configured to expose the photosensitive drum. The feeding module is installed on the scanner frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a feeding module configured to feed a recording material;
an image forming module having a photosensitive drum and configured to form a developer image on the recording material fed to the image forming module by the feeding module; and
a fixing module configured to fix the developer image formed by the image forming module to the recording material,
wherein the image forming module includes a scanner frame configured to support an exposure unit configured to expose the photosensitive drum and the feeding module is installed on the scanner frame,
wherein the scanner frame includes a first face and a second face where the second face has one end connected to one end of the first face and extends in a direction intersecting the first face, and
wherein the exposure unit is arranged such that a part of the exposure unit protrudes from a through hole formed in the second face.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the image forming module further includes:
a cartridge including the photosensitive drum,
a first side plate having a first insertion/removal guide configured to guide the cartridge, where the first side plate is fixed to one end of the scanner frame and is configured to support one end portion of the cartridge in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, and
a second side plate having a second insertion/removal guide configured to guide the cartridge, where the second side plate is fixed to another end of the scanner frame and is configured to support another end portion of the cartridge in the axial direction.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first side plate and the second side plate each include a boss, and are each positioned in such a manner that each boss is inserted into a hole formed in the first face of the scanner frame.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the image forming module further includes a transfer member which is opposed to the photosensitive drum to form a nip portion, and includes a transfer frame configured to support the transfer member,
wherein the transfer member is configured to transfer developer from the photosensitive drum to the recording material in a state in which the cartridge is mounted to the image forming module, and
wherein, to be positioned, the cartridge, which is inserted along and guided by the first insertion/removal guide of the first side plate and the second insertion/removal guide of the second side plate, is brought into abutment against the transfer frame.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the exposure unit, the first side plate, the second side plate, and the transfer frame are fixed to the first face of the scanner frame.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a scanner reinforcement plate connected to another end of the first face of the scanner frame and another end of the second face of the scanner frame.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 ,
wherein, in addition to the first face and the second face, the scanner frame further includes a support portion connected to the other end of the second face,
wherein the scanner reinforcement plate includes a first fixing portion, an inclined face portion, and a second fixing portion,
wherein the first fixing portion is to be fixed to the support portion, the inclined face portion includes one end connected to the first fixing portion, and the inclined face portion includes another end connected to the second fixing portion, and
wherein the scanner reinforcement plate is fixed to the scanner frame by the first fixing portion of the scanner reinforcement plate being fixed to the support portion of the scanner frame and the second fixing portion of the scanner reinforcement plate being fastened to the first face of the scanner frame.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein one end of the scanner reinforcement plate in the axial direction is fixed to the first side plate, and another end of the scanner reinforcement plate in the axial direction is fixed to the second side plate.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the scanner reinforcement plate has an opening through which light emitted from the exposure unit irradiates the photosensitive drum, and the exposure unit is supported in the opening of the scanner reinforcement plate.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the scanner frame further includes a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion,
wherein the first protruding portion protrudes from the one end of the scanner frame toward one side in the axial direction, and the second protruding portion protrudes from the other end of the scanner frame toward another side in the axial direction, and
wherein the first protruding portion is inserted into a hole provided in the first side plate so that the first side plate is positioned with respect to the scanner frame, and the second protruding portion is inserted into a hole formed in the second side plate so that the second side plate is positioned with respect to the scanner frame.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the exposure unit includes a boss configured to determine a position of a housing of the exposure unit, and the boss is inserted into a hole provided in the scanner frame so as to be positioned.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 ,
wherein the image forming module further includes a transfer member which is opposed to the photosensitive drum to form a nip portion, and includes a transfer frame configured to support the transfer member,
wherein the transfer member is configured to transfer developer from the photosensitive drum to the recording material in a state in which the cartridge is mounted to the image forming module, and
wherein the transfer frame is fixed to the scanner frame, the first side plate, and the second side plate.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 ,
wherein the boss is a first boss, and the feeding module includes a second boss on a surface opposed to the transfer frame, and
wherein the feeding module is positioned with respect to the transfer frame by the second boss being inserted into a hole provided in the transfer frame.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the transfer frame includes a third boss on a surface opposed to the fixing module, and the fixing module is positioned with respect to the transfer frame by the third boss being inserted into a hole provided in the fixing module.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Hashimoto Yoshinori
• Miyakawa Shogo
• Yoshimura Akira
• Fujinaka Hiromi
• Matsuoka Isao
• Hoashi Shigeru
• Kuruma Tomoya

Classifications

• G03G21/1619 Primary

  Frame structures · CPC title