Image forming apparatus that cools an exposure device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12393136-B2
Application number	US-202418757883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2024
Priority date	Mar 10, 2022
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

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;
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;
a duct configured to communicate with the fan and to communicate with the support portion, the duct guiding the airflow generated by the fan to the substrate;
a charging support portion that supports the charging portion; and
a developing support portion that supports the developing portion,
wherein the charging support portion and the developing support portion form a part of the duct,
wherein the support portion directs the airflow generated by the fan along a longitudinal direction of the substrate,
wherein at least a portion of the support portion is in contact with the charging support portion, and a space between the support portion and the charging support portion is sealed by a first sealing member, and
wherein at least a portion of the support portion is in contact with the developing support portion, and a space between the support portion and the developing support portion is sealed by a second sealing member.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the exposure portion is movable between the exposure position where the photoconductor is exposed and the retracted position where the exposure portion is retracted from the exposure position,
the support portion moves relative to the duct between the exposure position and the retracted position and integrally with the exposure portion,
the elevating support portion includes a first opening portion communicating with the duct and provided on one side in a rotation axis direction of the photoconductor and a second opening portion provided on the other side in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor,
the duct includes a third opening portion provided on the one side in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor and a fourth opening portion provided on the other side in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor,
a third sealing member is disposed so as to surround the third opening portion, and
a fourth sealing member is disposed so as to surround the fourth opening portion.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the third opening portion is provided in an intake duct that 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 fourth opening portion is provided in an exhaust duct that 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.

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

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the exposure portion is movable between an exposure position where the photoconductor is exposed and a retracted position where the photoconductor is retracted from the exposure position.

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