Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12448240-B2
Application number	US-202418424529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2024
Priority date	Jan 31, 2023
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes first and second sheet metal and a moving member. The first sheet metal includes a first facing surface and a first rear surface. The second sheet metal is fixed to the first sheet metal at a fixing portion and includes a second facing surface facing the first facing surface and a second rear surface. The first sheet metal is deformed in a first direction from the first rear surface toward the first facing surface in such a manner that the fixing portion is formed. The fixing portion includes a projection projecting from the second rear surface in the first direction. The moving member overlaps the fixing portion and is disposed at a position that is on an opposite side of the first rear surface from the projection and faces the first rear surface in the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a first sheet metal including a first facing surface and a first rear surface opposite to the first facing surface;
a second sheet metal that is fixed to the first sheet metal at a fixing portion and including a second facing surface facing the first facing surface and a second rear surface opposite to the second facing surface; and
a moving member configured to be movable with respect to the first sheet metal, wherein the moving member is disposed so that the moving member at least partly overlaps the fixing portion when seen in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the first facing surface,
wherein the first sheet metal is deformed in a first direction from the first rear surface toward the first facing surface in such a manner that the fixing portion is formed, and the fixing portion includes a projection projecting from the second rear surface in the first direction, and
wherein the moving member is disposed at a position that is on an opposite side of the first rear surface from the projection and faces the first rear surface in the first direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the moving member is a rotation member.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the rotation member is a gear.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the gear is a stepped gear including a first gear portion and a second gear portion having a diameter smaller than that of the first gear portion, and
wherein, when seen in the orthogonal direction, the second gear portion is disposed so that the moving member at least partly overlaps the fixing portion.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a distance between the second gear portion and the first rear surface in the first direction is less than that between the first gear portion and the first rear surface.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the moving member and the first rear surface in the first direction in an area where the fixing portion and the moving member at least partly overlap when seen in the orthogonal direction is less than a projection height by which the projection projects from the second rear surface.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fixing portion is a mechanical fastening portion, and the projection is formed by deforming the second sheet metal, and
wherein the first sheet metal is deformed to form a recess in the first rear surface toward the first facing surface.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the projection is formed by deforming the first sheet metal.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when seen in the orthogonal direction, the projection has a circular shape.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first facing surface is a surface orthogonal to a thickness direction of the first sheet metal, and
wherein the second facing surface is a surface orthogonal to a thickness direction of the second sheet metal.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a third sheet metal facing the first sheet metal,
wherein the second sheet metal is connected to the first sheet metal and the third sheet metal, and a conveyance path through which the recording material is conveyed is disposed between the first sheet metal and the third sheet metal.

12. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a first sheet metal including a first facing surface and a first rear surface opposite to the first facing surface;
a second sheet metal that is fixed to the first sheet metal by a fixing portion and including a second facing surface facing the first facing surface and a second rear surface opposite to the second facing surface; and
an electronic substrate disposed so that the electronic substrate at least partly overlaps the fixing portion when seen in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the first facing surface,
wherein the first sheet metal is deformed in a first direction from the first rear surface toward the first facing surface in such a manner that the fixing portion is formed, and the fixing portion includes a projection projecting from the second rear surface in the first direction, and
wherein the electronic substrate is disposed at a position that is on an opposite side of the first rear surface from the projection and faces the first rear surface in the first direction.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 ,
wherein the electronic substrate includes an electric conductive portion configured to allow a current to flow in the electric conductive portion, and a printed wiring board having a first side where the electric conductive portion is disposed, and a second side opposite to the first side, and
wherein the first side faces the first rear surface.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein, when seen in the orthogonal direction, the electric conductive portion is disposed so that the electronic substrate at least partly overlaps the fixing portion.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the electric conductive portion includes a pattern on the first side.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the electric conductive portion includes an electronic part on the first side.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the electric conductive portion includes a terminal of an electronic part on the second side, and the terminal penetrates through the printed wiring board from the second side to the first side.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the first sheet metal includes a receiving portion configured to receive the electronic substrate.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 ,
wherein the fixing portion is a mechanical fastening portion, and the projection is formed by deforming the second sheet metal, and
wherein the first sheet metal is deformed to form a recess in the first rear surface toward the first facing surface.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the projection is formed by deforming the first sheet metal.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein, when seen in the orthogonal direction, the projection has a circular shape.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 ,
wherein the first facing surface is a surface orthogonal to a thickness direction of the first sheet metal, and
wherein the second facing surface is a surface orthogonal to a thickness direction of the second sheet metal.

23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a third sheet metal facing the first sheet metal,
wherein the second sheet metal is connected to the first sheet metal and the third sheet metal, and a conveyance path through which the recording material is conveyed is disposed between the first sheet metal and the third sheet metal.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Uesugi Takuji
• Yoshimura Akira

Classifications

• B65H2301/4382

  Binding or attaching processes · CPC title

• B65H2701/122

  Projecting portions · CPC title

• B65H2801/03

  Image reproduction devices · CPC title

• B65H2557/30

  Control systems architecture or components, e.g. electronic or pneumatic modules; Details thereof · CPC title

• B65H2301/5121

  Bending, buckling, curling, bringing a curvature · CPC title