Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12399459-B2
Application number	US-202418732863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2024
Priority date	Mar 10, 2022
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an exposure unit that exposes a photoconductor; and an exposure support member that includes a support portion that detachably supports the exposure unit and is moved integrally with the exposure unit in a first direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the photoconductor, wherein the exposure unit includes a first engagement portion that is formed on an opposing portion facing the support portion of the exposure support member in the first direction so as to protrude toward the exposure support member and further formed to extend in the axial direction of the photoconductor orthogonal to a protruding direction, the exposure support member includes a second engagement portion that is formed on the support portion facing the exposure unit at a position corresponding to the first engagement portion and engages with the first engagement portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising,
a photoconductor configured to rotate;
an exposure head having a substrate with a plurality of light emitting portions provided along the rotational axis direction of the photoconductor, and a lens which directs light emitted by the plurality of light emitting portions to the photoconductor,
a fan to generate airflow to cool the substrate; and
a duct engaged with the exposure head and directing the airflow generated by the fan along the longitudinal direction of the substrate,
wherein the exposure head engaged with the duct is configured to be disengaged from the duct by moving in the longitudinal direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the exposure head is configured to engage with the duct by moving in the longitudinal direction.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the exposure head further comprises a first engaging portion and the duct has a second engaging portion which is configured to engage the first engaging portion.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein, in a state that the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are engaged, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion overlap when viewed along an optical axis direction of the lens.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the first engaging portion engages the second engaging portion by elastic deformation.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the exposure head is configured to move between an exposure position to expose the photoconductor and a retracted position away from the exposure position.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 ,
wherein the exposure head has a positioning pin which defines the distance between the exposure head and the photosensitive drum, and
when the exposure head is in the exposure position, the positioning pin is in contact with the photosensitive drum to define the distance between the exposure head and the photosensitive drum.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 ,
wherein the exposure head engaged with the duct is capable to move to the exposure position and the retracted position in unison.

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

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Takano Hiroki
• Ishidate Takehiro
• Kawasumi Ryoichi

Classifications

• G03G21/206

  Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone · CPC title

• G03G21/1647

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G15/04045 Primary

  for exposing image information provided otherwise than by directly projecting the original image onto the photoconductive recording material, e.g. digital copiers (G03G15/041, G03G15/043 take precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1666 Primary

  for the exposure unit · CPC title