Image forming apparatus including board to supply power to image forming unit and resin frame to support board

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9304480-B2
Application number	US-201414309914-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2014
Priority date	Jun 20, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, a resin frame configured to support a first end of the image forming unit in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a sub frame supported by the resin frame, a board supported by the sub frame and configured to supply a high voltage to the image forming unit, and a springy electrode disposed on the board and apart from edges of the board such that the springy electrode is compressed between the image forming unit and the board. The sub frame includes a plurality of first support portions disposed to support the board at at least three support points and a plurality of second support portions disposed to be supported by the frame at at least three support points.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit including a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the photosensitive drum and a developing device configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum;
a resin frame configured to support a first end of the image forming unit in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum;
a sub frame supported by the resin frame;
a board supported by the sub frame, the board configured to supply power to the image forming unit; and
a springy electrode configured to electrically connect the image forming unit and the board, the springy electrode being disposed on the board and apart from edges of the board such that the springy electrode is compressed between the image forming unit and the board,
wherein the sub frame includes a plurality of first support portions disposed to support the board at at least three support points and a plurality of second support portions disposed to be supported by the resin frame at at least three support points,
wherein the first support portions of the sub frame supporting the board are located apart from edges of the board,
wherein the second support portions of the sub frame are disposed outside an area, viewed in the axial direction, enclosed by the at least three support points of the first support portions, a first one of the second support portions is disposed on a first side of the area in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and a second one of the second support portions is disposed on a second side of the area opposite to the first side of the area, and
wherein the sub frame is sandwiched by the resin frame and the board.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the springy electrode is disposed within the area enclosed by the at least three support points of the first support portions.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a further springy electrode disposed on the board such that the further springy electrode is compressed between the image forming unit and the board,
wherein the further springy electrode is disposed outside the area enclosed by the at least three support points of the first support portions.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second frame spaced apart from the resin frame in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum such that the image forming unit is between the second frame and the resin frame; and
a connecting frame connecting the resin frame and the second frame,
wherein the second support portions of the sub frame, when projected in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, overlap the connecting frame.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sub frame has a higher Young's modulus than the resin frame.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the sub frame and the board are disposed on a side of the resin frame opposite from the image forming unit, and
wherein the resin frame and the sub frame have through holes to allow the springy electrode to pass through.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a further image forming unit including a further photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the further photosensitive drum and a further developer container configured to supply developer to the further photosensitive drum, the image forming unit and the further image forming unit being arranged in an arrangement direction perpendicular to the axial direction; and
a further springy electrode disposed on the board such that the further springy electrode is compressed between the image forming unit and the board, the further springy electrode and the springy electrode being arranged in the arrangement direction,
wherein at least two of the at least three support points of the first support portions are arranged in the arrangement direction.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a drawer configured to support the image forming unit and the further image forming unit and move relative to the resin frame in the arrangement direction,
wherein the second support portions of the sub frame are disposed apart from the drawer in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the arrangement direction, and
wherein the first one of the second support portions is disposed on a top side of the drawer and the second one of the second support portions is disposed on a bottom side of the drawer opposite to the top side of the drawer.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the springy electrode includes a compressed coil spring.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the board is configured to supply a high voltage to the image forming unit.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit including a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the photosensitive drum and a developing device configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum;
a resin frame configured to support a first end of the image forming unit in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum;
a sub frame supported by the resin frame;
a board supported by the sub frame, the board configured to supply power to the image forming unit; and
a springy electrode configured to electrically connect the image forming unit and the board, the springy electrode being disposed on the board and apart from edges of the board such that the springy electrode is compressed between the image forming unit and the board,
wherein the sub frame includes a plurality of first support portions disposed to support the board at at least three support points and a plurality of second support portions disposed to be supported by the resin frame at at least three support points,
wherein the first support portions of the sub frame supporting the board are located apart from edges of the board,
wherein the second support portions of the sub frame are disposed outside an area, viewed in the axial direction, enclosed by the at least three support points of the first support portions, a first one of the second support portions is disposed on a first side of the area in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and a second one of the second support portions is disposed on a second side of the area opposite to the first side of the area, and
wherein a central portion of the board is supported by the sub frame and upper and lower end portions of the board are supported by the resin frame.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Nishimura Yohei

Classifications

• G03G21/1652

  Electrical connection means · CPC title

• G03G21/1853

  the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member · CPC title

• G03G21/1842

  for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1619 Primary

  Frame structures · CPC title

• G03G21/1867

  for electrically connecting the process cartridge to the apparatus, electrical connectors, power supply · CPC title