Structure and casing

Abstract

To reduce inductance.SOLUTION: A structure includes a first plate-shaped part having conductivity, and a second plate-shaped part facing the first plate-shaped part and having conductivity. The structure is configured such that current from a current source flows, between the first plate-shaped part and the second plate-shaped part, through a first conductive part, a second conductive part, a third conductive part, and a fourth conductive part. The third conductive part extends from a first connection part of the third conductive part connected to the first plate-shaped part to a second connection part of the third conductive part connected to the second plate-shaped part. The fourth conductive part extends from a third connection part of the fourth conductive part connected to the first plate-shaped part to a fourth connection part of the fourth conductive part connected to the second plate-shaped part. A distance between the first connection part and the third connection part is less than a distance between the third connection part and the first conductive part, a distance between the first connection part and the first conductive part is less than a distance between the second connection part and the first conductive part, and a distance between the third connection part and the second conductive part is less than a distance between the fourth connection part and the second conductive part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure and a housing. [Background technology]

[0002] An electronic device is equipped with an electric circuit including a plurality of circuits capable of inputting or outputting a signal. When each circuit operates, a current corresponding to the operation propagates through the printed circuit board on which the electric circuit is mounted, generating high-frequency noise current and voltage, which flow into the conductive device through the contacts between the devices. A structure formed through such contacts forms a resonance system in a specific frequency band, which causes a problem of generating large unwanted radiation noise. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a form in which each component constituting an electronic device is electrically connected via a spring component. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-283191 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the embodiment of Patent Document 1, since spring parts are interposed between the respective parts, there is a risk that the inductance of the elastic member will increase. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the inductance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The means for solving the above problem is a structure comprising a first plate-shaped portion having conductivity and a second plate-shaped portion facing the first plate-shaped portion and having conductivity, the structure comprising a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, a third conductive portion and a fourth conductive portion electrically connecting the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion, and a current source, wherein a current from the current source flows between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion via the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, the third conductive portion and the fourth conductive portion, and the third conductive portion is connected to the first plate-shaped portion via a first connection portion of the third conductive portion connected to the first plate-shaped portion, the fourth conductive portion extends from the third connection portion of the fourth conductive portion connected to the first plate-shaped portion to the fourth connection portion of the fourth conductive portion connected to the second plate-shaped portion, the distance between the first connection portion and the third connection portion is smaller than the distance between the third connection portion and the first conductive portion, the distance between the first connection portion and the first conductive portion is smaller than the distance between the second connection portion and the first conductive portion, and the distance between the third connection portion and the second conductive portion is smaller than the distance between the fourth connection portion and the second conductive portion. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique that is advantageous in reducing inductance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a housing constituting the structure of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 shows a lid and components connected to the lid. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 shows a lid and components connected to the lid. [Figure 4] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a method for assembling the lid to the container. [Diagram 5] 1A is a plan view of the housing as viewed from above (upper in the Z direction), and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the housing as viewed from below (lower in the Z direction). [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the distance between each component of the lid. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a housing according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a housing according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a housing according to a comparative example. [Figure 9] 8 is a graph showing the results of an electromagnetic field simulation of the two housing structures shown in FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b). [Figure 10] 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus to which the structure of an embodiment can be applied; [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an image forming unit installed in the image forming apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is one embodiment of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. Then, common configurations will be described with mutual reference to multiple drawings, and the description of configurations with common symbols will be omitted as appropriate. Items with the same name but different can be distinguished by adding "No. 0", such as the first item and the second item.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the structure according to the present invention is applied to a housing 1 made of a metal plate. The housing 1, which is a structure, is composed of a container 2 formed from a metal plate and a lid 3 that covers a part of the opening of the container 2. The container 2 includes a plate-shaped portion 101 having electrical conductivity. The lid 3 is provided with a mounting surface 4 formed by bending the edge of the metal plate. In the housing 1, the lid 3 includes a plate-shaped portion 102 having electrical conductivity. The plate-shaped portion 102 has the mounting surface 4. The lid 3 is attached to the container 2 and fixed with screws 7a to 7d, so that the housing 1 becomes a box-like shape. At this time, the lid 3 is attached to a side wall 20 of the container 2. FIG. 1 describes a form in which the top surface of the housing 1 is not provided, but another lid may be provided on the top surface. The housing 1 can be used for housings of electronic devices such as home appliances and personal computers, and electrical equipment boxes in electronic devices such as copiers and processing machines. In the housing 1 used for an electrical equipment box, an electrical device connected to an external device of the electrical equipment box can be attached or stored in the container 2. The electrical devices in the electrical box include a control device that controls an external device outside the electrical box, and a power supply device that supplies power to the external device. In order to prevent static electricity and electromagnetic interference that may occur inside the housing 1, the container 2 and the lid 3 are each formed of a conductive material such as metal. In addition, a structure is formed that ensures electrical continuity between the container 2 and the lid 3 so that when either one of them is grounded, the other is also grounded.

[0010] At this time, problems may occur in that high frequency noise current leaks from the gap between the container 2 and the mounting surface 4, or a resonance system may be formed in a specific frequency band, resulting in the generation of large unwanted radiation noise. Therefore, in the present invention, elastic members 5a and 5b are provided to electrically connect the container 2 and the mounting surface 4 in order to suppress unwanted radiation noise.

[0011] In the housing 1 of this embodiment, the container 2 and the lid 3 are electrically connected by the elastic members 5a and 5b provided on the mounting surface 4 of the lid 3. That is, the elastic members 5a and 5b are conductive and are used as a conductive part that electrically connects the plate-shaped part 101 and the plate-shaped part 102 in the housing 1. The screws 7a to 7d are conductive and are used as a conductive part that electrically connects the plate-shaped part 101 and the plate-shaped part 102 in the housing 1. The conductive materials constituting the container 2 and the lid 3 may be the same material or different materials. The elastic members 5a and 5b may be directly attached to the lid 3 without the mounting surface 4. In that case, the lid 3 becomes the second plate-shaped part. The number of elastic members is not particularly limited as long as it is two or more.

[0012] The metal plate material used for the container 2 and the lid 3 of the housing 1 is preferably a conductive sheet metal material such as iron or copper material with low electrical resistance. The thickness of the plate material is preferably 0.4 to 1.2 mm. The present invention can be implemented with any material and thickness that is a conductive material that can be plastically deformed. In some cases, the surface of the conductive material may be coated with a coating such as zinc plating in order to maintain rust resistance.

[0013] The surfaces of the metal plates forming the container 2 and the lid 3 are preferably covered with a coating having a lower conductivity than the conductive material constituting the metal plates. As the coating, an insulating coating made of an insulating material with high lubricity is preferably used to prevent scratches and fingerprints from remaining and to maintain a good appearance. However, from the viewpoint of conductivity, it is preferable that no coating is provided at the contact points where the container 2 and the lid 3 are electrically connected.

[0014] First Embodiment The configuration of the housing 1 as a structure will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the lid 3 and the components connected to the lid 3 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the components provided on the lid 3.

[0015] In this embodiment, a form in which a printed circuit board is provided on the lid 3 as an example of the current source 8 will be described, but the current source 8 may be provided on the container 2. The current source is not limited to a printed circuit board, and may be any component configured so that a current or electromagnetic wave flows through the screws 7a and 7b. The case 1 is configured so that a current flows from the current source 8 through the screws 7a to 7d and the elastic members 5a and 5b between the plate-shaped portion 101 (container 2) and the plate-shaped portion 102 (lid 3). The current from the current source 8 can become noise. In other words, the current source 8 can be a noise source. The case 1 is configured so that a noise current flows from the current source 8 through the screws 7a to 7d and the elastic members 5a and 5b between the plate-shaped portion 101 (container 2) and the plate-shaped portion 102 (lid 3). If the current source 8 is a component that emits electromagnetic waves at a frequency of, for example, 30 MHz or more, a greater effect can be achieved in terms of noise countermeasures.

[0016] The elastic members 5a and 5b are a contact structure between the plate-shaped portion 101 and the plate-shaped portion 102, and the plate-shaped portion 101 and the plate-shaped portion 102 overlap each other by overlapping the container 2 with the mounting surface 4. By overlapping the lid 3 on the container 2 and bringing the elastic members 5a and 5b into contact with the container 2, electrical continuity is established, and it is possible to suppress leakage of high-frequency noise current or large unwanted radiation noise caused by forming a resonant system in a specific frequency band.

[0017] In this embodiment, the side wall 20 of the container 2 and the lid 3 are fixed with screws 7a and 7b (first conductive member, second conductive member). However, even when the side wall 20 and the lid 3 are fixed with the screws 7a and 7b, there is a possibility that a gap may be formed between the side wall 20 and the lid 3. If a gap is formed, a resonance phenomenon of an electric field occurs with the screws 7a and 7b at both ends as nodes. That is, a resonance phenomenon occurs at a frequency with a wavelength λ corresponding to twice the distance from the screws 7a to the screws 7b at both ends. As a means for suppressing such a resonance phenomenon, the members that provide electrical continuity between the container 2 and the lid 3 are grounded at multiple points until the antenna characteristics of the housing satisfy the desired performance. However, even when grounded at multiple points, the desired antenna characteristics may not be obtained.

[0018] If there is a gap between the side wall 20 and the lid 3, when a current flows through the housing 1, a current 9 flows in the direction from the current source 8 to the screws 7a, 7b. This causes a resonance phenomenon of the electric field with the screws 7a, 7b at both ends as nodes, as described above.

[0019] 2 and 3, the elastic member 5a of this embodiment extends from the connection portion 110 toward the contact portion 111, and the elastic member 5b extends from the connection portion 112 toward the contact portion 113. The connection portion 110 is a connection portion between the plate-shaped portion 102 and the elastic member 5a, and the contact portion 111 is a connection portion between the plate-shaped portion 101 and the elastic member 5a. The connection portion 112 is a connection portion between the plate-shaped portion 102 and the elastic member 5b, and the contact portion 113 is a connection portion between the plate-shaped portion 101 and the elastic member 5b. The elastic member 5a extends in a direction opposite to the direction from the current source 8 toward the screw 7a, and the elastic member 5b extends in a direction opposite to the direction from the current source 8 toward the screw 7b. The first direction and the second direction may not only be completely opposite directions, but may be directions shifted from the opposite directions. The elastic members 5a and 5b, which are elastic bodies, are provided so as to be able to be separated from the plate-shaped portion 101 (container 2) or the plate-shaped portion 102 (lid 3) by the deformation (elastic deformation) of the elastic members 5a and 5b. In this example, the elastic members 5a and 5b can be separated from the plate-shaped portion 101 (lid 3). That is, the contact at the contact portions 111 and 113 can be released by the deformation (elastic deformation) of the elastic members 5a and 5b. Typical elastic members 5a and 5b are leaf springs. The elastic members 5a and 5b are members that form a spring contact (leaf spring contact) between the plate-shaped portion 101 (container 2) and the plate-shaped portion 102 (lid 3). The elastic members 5a and 5b as leaf springs fixed to one of the plate-shaped portion 101 (container 2) or the plate-shaped portion 102 (lid 3) come into contact with the other of the plate-shaped portion 101 (container 2) or the plate-shaped portion 102 (lid 3), thereby forming an electrical contact. One of the elastic members 5a, 5b may be fixed to one of the plate-shaped portion 101 (container 2) and the plate-shaped portion 102 (lid 3), and the other of the elastic members 5a, 5b may be fixed to the other of the plate-shaped portion 101 (container 2) and the plate-shaped portion 102 (lid 3). The distance d11 between the connection portion 110 and the screw 7a is smaller than the distance d12 between the contact portion 111 and the screw 7a, and the distance d21 between the connection portion 112 and the screw 7b is smaller than the distance d22 between the contact portion 113 and the screw 7b. In this way, the elastic member 5b can be configured to extend in a direction opposite to the direction from the current source 8 to the screw 7a, and the elastic member 5b can be configured to extend in a direction opposite to the direction from the current source 8 to the screw 7b.

[0020] As a result, current 9 flowing from current source 8 to screw 7a and current 10 flowing through elastic member 5a flow in opposite directions, making it possible to reduce current 9 by current 10. Current 9 is a noise current generated from current source 8, and by reducing current 9, it is possible to suppress the resonance phenomenon of the electric field.

[0021] Further, the distance d13 between the connection portion 110 and the current source 8 is smaller than the distance d14 between the contact portion 111 and the current source 8, and the distance d23 between the connection portion 112 and the current source is smaller than the distance d24 between the contact portion 113 and the current source 8.

[0022] Although the resonance phenomenon can be suppressed using only the elastic member 5a, by further providing the elastic member 5b and reducing the current 9 flowing from the current source 8 to the screw 7b with the current 10 flowing through the elastic member 5b, it is possible to exert the effect of suppressing the electric field resonance phenomenon.

[0023] The elastic members 5a, 5b are preferably provided by cutting the lid 3 made of sheet metal, and are preferably formed integrally with the container 2 or the lid 3, but the elastic members 5a, 5b may be provided later on the lid 3. It is preferable that one end of the elastic members 5a, 5b is an open end.

[0024] Next, a method for assembling the lid 3 to the container 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4(a) is a diagram showing the state before the lid 3 is assembled to the container 2, and Fig. 4(b) is a diagram showing the state after the lid 3 is assembled to the container 2.

[0025] The container 2 and the lid 3 are independent, and the housing 1 is formed by assembling the lid 3 to the container 2. When assembling the lid 3 to the container 2, the side wall 20 of the container 2 and the lid 3 are fixed with a screw 7a (and a screw 7b shown in FIG. 1) provided on the lid 3. A printed wiring board that can serve as a current source 8 is provided on the lid 3, and is fixed to the lid 3 with a screw 7c (and a screw 7d shown in FIG. 1). An option board can be further provided on the printed wiring board, and when an option board is provided, the option board can be fixed to the printed wiring board with a screw. A controller board for operating the option board can be further provided inside the housing 1.

[0026] By assembling the lid 3 to the container 2, as shown in Fig. 4(b), the elastic member 5a (and the elastic member 5b shown in Fig. 1) comes into contact with the plate-shaped portion 101. This allows electrical continuity between the container 2 and the lid 3. Furthermore, as described in this embodiment, the elastic members 5a and 5b extend in opposite directions, which can suppress the resonance phenomenon of the electric field.

[0027] Fig. 5(a) is a plan view of the housing 1 as viewed from above (in the Z direction). As explained in Fig. 4, the lid 3 is fixed to the side wall 20 with screws 7a and 7b, and the current source 8 is fixed to the lid 3 with screws 7c and 7d.

[0028] 5(b) is a plan view of the housing 1 as viewed from the bottom (bottom in the Z direction). When viewed from the bottom, the current source 8 is preferably provided between the elastic members 5a and 5b. Here, between the elastic members 5a and 5b does not necessarily mean that the current source 8 is provided strictly between the elastic members 5a and 5b, but means that the current source 8 is provided between a straight line passing through the elastic member 5a and extending in the Y direction and a straight line passing through the elastic member 5b and extending in the Y direction. This allows the elastic member 5a to be provided between the current source 8 and the screw 7a, and the elastic member 5b to be provided between the current source 8 and the screw 7b.

[0029] Although the embodiment in which the elastic members 5a and 5b are provided on the lid 3 has been described so far, the elastic members 5a and 5b may be provided on the plate-shaped portion 101 of the container 2. In this case, too, the effect of suppressing the resonance phenomenon of the electric field can be achieved by providing each elastic member so as to extend in opposite directions. Alternatively, the elastic member 5a may be provided on the lid 3, and the elastic member 5b may be provided on the plate-shaped portion 101.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the distances of the respective members in the lid 3. The distance D3 between the elastic member 5a and the elastic member 5b is smaller than the distance between the elastic member 5a and the screw 7b, and similarly the distance D3 is smaller than the distance between the elastic member 5b and the screw 7a. The distance D2 between the screw 7a and the elastic member 5a is preferably equal to or smaller than the distance D3. Similarly, the distance D4 between the screw 7b and the elastic member 5b is preferably equal to or smaller than the distance D3 between the elastic member 5a and the elastic member 5b. Also, the distance D2 between the screw 7a and the elastic member 5a is preferably equal to or smaller than the distance D1 between the screw 7a and the screw 7b. Similarly, the distance D4 between the screw 7b and the elastic member 5b is preferably equal to or smaller than the distance D1 between the screw 7a and the screw 7b. It is preferable that the distance D2 and the distance D4 are equal to each other, and it is more preferable that the distances D2, D3, and D4 are all equal to each other. The screws 7a and 7b do not have to be limited to screws, and may be electrically connectable members such as gaskets. The distance to the elastic members 5a, 5b refers to the distance from the connection between the elastic members 5a, 5b and the lid 3, and in the case where the elastic members 5a, 5b are provided on the container 2 (plate-shaped portion 101), the distance refers to the distance from the connection between the elastic members 5a, 5b and the container 2.

[0031] <Second embodiment> Next, the configuration of the housing 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7(a) is a perspective view of the housing 1 according to this embodiment, and Fig. 7(b) is a perspective view of the housing 1 showing a modified example of the housing 1 according to this embodiment.

[0032] The housing 1 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it has a current source 80 that is different from the current source 8. Even when there are multiple current sources, the elastic members 5a and 5b can exert the effect of suppressing the resonance phenomenon of the electric field.

[0033] In this embodiment as well, a gap is formed between the lid 3 and the plate-shaped portion 101, and the lid 3 and the container 2 are electrically connected by forming elastic members 5a and 5b on the lid 3. In addition, the side wall 20 and the lid 3 are also electrically connected by screws 7a and 7b.

[0034] The current source 80 is electrically connected to the lid 3 in an area 81. A current also flows from the current source 80 toward the screws 7a and 7b, similar to the current source 8. Here, the current flowing from the current source 80 toward the screw 7b can be suppressed by the elastic member 5a. Also, the current flowing from the current source 8 toward the screw 7a can be suppressed by the elastic member 5b. Even when the current source 80 is provided in addition to the current source 8 in this way, the elastic members 5a and 5b can exert an effect of suppressing the resonance phenomenon of the electric field.

[0035] In Fig. 7(b), elastic members 5c and 5d are further provided to suppress the electric field resonance phenomenon more effectively than in Fig. 7(a). Here, the current from the current source 80 to the screw 7a is suppressed by the elastic member 5c. Also, the current from the current source 8 to the screw 7b is suppressed by the elastic member 5d. This makes it possible to suppress the electric field resonance phenomenon more effectively than in Fig. 7(a).

[0036] Next, the effect of suppressing the electric field resonance phenomenon of the housing 1 shown in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Fig. 8(a) shows the housing 1 according to the embodiment, and Fig. 8(b) shows a housing according to the comparative example. Fig. 9 is a graph showing the results of examining Fig. 8(a) and Fig. 8(b) by electromagnetic field simulation.

[0037] 8, the container 2 of the housing 1 is 400 mm in the X direction, 128 mm in the Y direction, and 122 mm in the Z direction as shown in the figure, and is a rectangular housing structure made of processed iron with a plate thickness of 1 mm, and it forms a box structure in combination with a side wall 20 made of iron. The area between the lid 3 and the container 2 faces each other with a gap of 1 mm between them, and when looking at the side wall 20 from the -Y direction, the lid 3 and the side wall 20 are connected at the lower left and lower right ends with two conductive members such as screws.

[0038] A printed circuit board serving as a current source 8 is grounded to the lid 3. The current source 8 is 50 mm square with a plate thickness of 1 mm, and is fixed at two points on both ends in the X direction of the lid 3 with conductive members such as screws measuring 10 mm in the X direction and 1 mm in the Z direction. The current source 8 is grounded with its center at a position 200 mm in the X direction, which is the longitudinal center of the side wall 20.

[0039] The elastic members 5a and 5b have the same shape and are formed at positions that divide the side wall 20 into thirds in the X direction. The position that divides into thirds means that the elastic member 5a is disposed at a position where the distance between the contact point of the elastic member 5a with the mounting surface 4 and the screw 7a is 1 / 3 of the distance from the screw 7a to the screw 7b. Similarly, the elastic member 5b is disposed at a position where the distance between the contact point of the elastic member 5b with the mounting surface 4 (plate-shaped portion 102) and the screw 7b is 1 / 3 of the distance from the screw 7b to the screw 7a. The elastic members 5a and 5b are rectangular parallelepipeds with a length of 40 mm, a width of 10 mm, and a plate thickness of 0.2 mm, and their tips are connected to the plate-shaped portion 101.

[0040] Figure 9 shows the results of an electromagnetic field simulation of the two housing structures shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), and shows the EMI characteristics seen in the far field at a distance of 10 m. In the electromagnetic field simulation, the current source 8 is grounded at the midpoint between the side wall 20 and the other side wall opposite to the side wall 20, and the noise has a Gaussian waveform with an amplitude of 1 V and a range from 0 Hz to 3 GHz.

[0041] Graph A shows the EMI characteristics when the elastic members 5a, 5b are not formed on the cover 3. Resonance characteristics formed between the plate-like portion 101 and the plate-like portion 102 were confirmed in the vicinity of the 400 MHz band.

[0042] Graph B confirms that by forming the elastic members 5a and 5b to extend in opposite directions as shown in FIG. 8(a), the resonance characteristics in the 400 MHz band observed in graph A are shifted to near the 990 MHz band.

[0043] In graph C, the elastic members 5a and 5b are formed as shown in Fig. 8(b), but both elastic members are configured to extend in the same direction. It was confirmed that the resonance characteristics in the 400 MHz band observed in graph A shifted to the vicinity of the 970 MHz band.

[0044] Graph B was able to shift the resonance characteristics to the higher frequency band compared to Graph A, and demonstrated better EMI characteristics across the entire frequency band compared to Graph C.

[0045] The noise current propagating from the current source 8 to the side wall 20 propagates to the plate-shaped part 101 and the container 2 through the elastic members 5a and 5b in addition to the screws 7a and 7b. It is considered that the impedance characteristics change depending on the orientation of the elastic members 5a and 5b. In other words, the inductance component of the elastic member 5a is different from the inductance component of the elastic member 5b, so that the inductance components of each are reduced. Therefore, the elastic members 5a and 5b extend in the opposite direction to the line segment from the current source 8 to the screws 7a and 7b projected onto the lid 3, thereby improving the EMI characteristics. From the perspective of resonance suppression, it is preferable to provide the elastic members 5a and 5b at the position on the lid 3 that divides the line segment connecting the screws 7a and 7b into equal parts.

[0046] <Third embodiment> FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus 600 as an example of an apparatus to which the housing 1 of the first and second embodiments can be applied.

[0047] The image forming apparatus 600 is, for example, an electrophotographic laser beam printer. The image forming apparatus 600 includes a housing 1, an exterior cover 601, an image forming section 610, and an image reading section 620.

[0048] The image reading unit 620 is a device that reads an image of a set document. The image forming unit 610 forms an image on a sheet based on image data. The sheet is a recording medium including ordinary paper, special paper such as coated paper, envelopes, paper such as index paper, plastic film for overhead projectors, and cloth.

[0049] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the image forming unit 610 shown in FIG. 10. The image forming unit 610 is controlled by a control device provided inside the housing 1. As shown in FIG. 11, the image forming unit 610 includes an electrophotographic image forming unit PU and a fixing device 107. When an instruction to start an image forming operation is given, a photosensitive drum 109, which is a photosensitive member, rotates, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 109 is uniformly charged by a charging device 110. Then, the exposure device 103 modulates and outputs a laser beam based on image data transmitted from an image reading unit 620 or an external computer, and scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 109 to form an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image is developed by toner supplied from a developing device 104 to become a toner image.

[0050] In parallel with such an image forming operation, a feeding operation is performed to feed a sheet loaded on a cassette or manual feed tray (not shown) toward the image forming unit 610. The fed sheet is transported in accordance with the progress of the image forming operation by the image forming unit PU. Then, the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 109 is transferred to the sheet by the transfer roller 5. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 109 after the toner image transfer is collected by the cleaning device 106. The sheet to which the toner image has been transferred is delivered to the fixing device 107, where it is sandwiched between a pair of rollers and heated and pressed. The sheet on which the toner has been melted and fixed to the sheet and the image has been fixed is discharged outside the machine by a pair of discharge rollers. In the case of double-sided printing, the sheet is transported in an inverted state by the inverting conveying unit 108, and is discharged outside the machine after an image has been formed on the back side by the image forming unit 610.

[0051] The image forming unit 610 is an example of an image forming means capable of forming an image on a sheet as a recording medium, and may use an intermediate transfer type configuration including an intermediate transfer body instead of the above-mentioned direct transfer type, or may use other mechanisms such as an inkjet type.

[0052] The above-described embodiments can be modified as appropriate without departing from the technical concept. For example, in the previous embodiment, the container constituting the housing has a first plate-shaped portion and the lid has a second plate-shaped portion, but each may have an opposite plate-shaped portion. Also, in the previous embodiment, an example of a housing that provides electrical conduction between the container and the lid was described. However, the present invention can be applied to any structure that provides electrical conduction between members that have overlapping plate-shaped portions.

[0053] In addition, the above-described multiple embodiments may be combined with each other. In addition, some of the features of at least one of the embodiments may be deleted or replaced. Furthermore, new features may be added to at least one of the embodiments.

[0054] The disclosure of this specification includes not only what is explicitly described in this specification, but also all matters that can be understood from this specification and the drawings attached to this specification.

[0055] Furthermore, the disclosure of this specification includes the complement of each concept described in this specification. In other words, if this specification contains a statement that "A is greater than B," for example, even if the statement that "A is not greater than B" is omitted, this specification can be said to disclose that "A is not greater than B." This is because when a statement that "A is greater than B" is made, it is assumed that the case in which "A is not greater than B" is taken into consideration.

[0056] The disclosure of the present invention is given below.

[0057] (Configuration 1) A structure comprising a first plate-shaped portion having electrical conductivity and a second plate-shaped portion facing the first plate-shaped portion and having electrical conductivity, the structure comprising a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, a third conductive portion, and a fourth conductive portion electrically connecting the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion, and a current source, the structure being configured such that a current flows from the current source between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion via the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, the third conductive portion, and the fourth conductive portion, the third conductive portion being connected to the second plate-shaped portion from a first connection portion of the third conductive portion connected to the first plate-shaped portion. the fourth conductive portion extends from the third connection portion of the fourth conductive portion connected to the first plate-shaped portion to a fourth connection portion of the fourth conductive portion connected to the second plate-shaped portion, a distance between the first connection portion and the third connection portion is smaller than a distance between the third connection portion and the first conductive portion, a distance between the first connection portion and the first conductive portion is smaller than a distance between the second connection portion and the first conductive portion, and a distance between the third connection portion and the second conductive portion is smaller than a distance between the fourth connection portion and the second conductive portion.

[0058] (Configuration 2) The structure described in configuration 1, characterized in that the distance between the first connection portion and the current source is smaller than the distance between the second connection portion and the current source, and the distance between the third connection portion and the current source is smaller than the distance between the third connection portion and the current source.

[0059] (Configuration 3) 3. The structure according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the first connection portion and the third connection portion is smaller than the distance between the first connection portion and the second conductive portion.

[0060] (Configuration 4) 4. The structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein an end of the third conductive portion and an end of the fourth conductive portion are open ends.

[0061] (Configuration 5) 5. The structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the current source emits electromagnetic waves having a frequency of 30 MHz or more.

[0062] (Configuration 6) 6. The structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the third conductive portion and the fourth conductive portion are made of elastic material.

[0063] (Configuration 7) The structure described in configuration 6, wherein the third conductive portion and the fourth conductive portion are arranged so as to be separable from the first plate-shaped portion or the second plate-shaped portion by deformation of the elastic body.

[0064] (Configuration 8) The structure described in any one of configurations 1 to 7, characterized in that the distance between the first connection portion and the third connection portion is greater than or equal to the distance between the first connection portion and the first conductive portion.

[0065] (Configuration 9) 9. The structure described in any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein the distance between the third conductive portion and the fourth conductive portion is greater than or equal to the distance between the fourth conductive portion and the second conductive portion.

[0066] (Configuration 10) 9. The structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein the material of the first plate-shaped portion is the same as the material of the third conductive portion.

[0067] (Configuration 11) 11. The structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, wherein the third conductive portion is formed integrally with the first plate-like portion.

[0068] (Configuration 12) 12. The structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 11, characterized in that the third conductive portion and the second plate-shaped portion are brought into contact with each other by attaching the second plate-shaped portion to the first plate-shaped portion.

[0069] (Configuration 13) 13. The structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 12, wherein the third conductive portion and the fourth conductive portion are leaf springs.

[0070] (Configuration 14) 14. The structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 13, wherein the current source is provided in plurality.

[0071] (Configuration 15) 15. The structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 14, wherein the third conductive portion is provided on a surface of the first plate-shaped portion that faces the second plate-shaped portion.

[0072] (Configuration 16) 16. The structure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the current source is a printed circuit board.

[0073] (Case 1) 17. A housing comprising a container including the structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 16, and a lid covering an opening of the container.

[0074] (Case 2) A housing comprising a container and a lid including the structure according to any one of structures 1 to 16, the lid covering an opening of the container.

[0075] (Case 3) The housing described in Housing 1 or 2 is characterized in that the housing is made of sheet metal.

[0076] (Equipment 1) A control box comprising a control unit disposed inside the housing according to any one of Housings 1 to 3, the control unit controlling electronic equipment outside the housing.

[0077] (device 1) An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, 4. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control device provided inside the housing according to any one of Housings 1 to 3, and controlling the image forming unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1 structure 5a Third conductive part 5b Fourth conductive part 7a First conductive part 7b Second conductive part 8, 80 current source 101 First plate-shaped part 102 Second plate-shaped portion 110 First connection part 111 Second connection part 112 Third Connection 113 4th Connection

Claims

1. A first plate-shaped portion having electrical conductivity; a second plate-shaped portion facing the first plate-shaped portion and having electrical conductivity; A structure comprising: a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, a third conductive portion and a fourth conductive portion electrically connecting the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion; a current source; a current from the current source flows between the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion via the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, the third conductive portion, and the fourth conductive portion; the third conductive portion extends from a first connection portion of the third conductive portion connected to the first plate-shaped portion to a second connection portion of the third conductive portion connected to the second plate-shaped portion, the fourth conductive portion extends from a third connection portion of the fourth conductive portion connected to the first plate-shaped portion to a fourth connection portion of the fourth conductive portion connected to the second plate-shaped portion, a distance between the first connection portion and the third connection portion is smaller than a distance between the third connection portion and the first conductive portion; a distance between the first connection portion and the first conductive portion is smaller than a distance between the second connection portion and the first conductive portion; A structure, characterized in that the distance between the third connection portion and the second conductive portion is smaller than the distance between the fourth connection portion and the second conductive portion.

2. 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein a distance between the first connection portion and the current source is smaller than a distance between the second connection portion and the current source, and a distance between the third connection portion and the current source is smaller than a distance between the third connection portion and the current source.

3. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first connection portion and the third connection portion is smaller than a distance between the first connection portion and the second conductive portion.

4. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the third conductive portion and an end of the fourth conductive portion are open ends.

5. 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the current source emits electromagnetic waves at a frequency of 30 MHz or greater.

6. 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the third conductive portion and the fourth conductive portion are made of an elastic material.

7. The structure according to claim 6 , wherein the third conductive portion and the fourth conductive portion are arranged so as to be separable from the first plate-like portion or the second plate-like portion by deformation of the elastic body.

8. 2 . The structure according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first connection portion and the third connection portion is equal to or greater than a distance between the first connection portion and the first conductive portion.

9. 2 . The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the distance between the third conductive portion and the fourth conductive portion is equal to or greater than the distance between the fourth conductive portion and the second conductive portion.

10. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the material of the first plate-shaped portion is the same as the material of the third conductive portion.

11. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the third conductive portion is formed integrally with the first plate-like portion.

12. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the third conductive portion and the second plate-shaped portion are brought into contact with each other by attaching the second plate-shaped portion to the first plate-shaped portion.

13. 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the third conductive portion and the fourth conductive portion are leaf springs.

14. 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the current sources are provided.

15. The structure according to claim 1 , wherein the third conductive portion is provided on a surface of the first plate-like portion that faces the second plate-like portion.

16. 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the current source is a printed circuit board.

17. A housing comprising: a container including the structure according to claim 1 ; and a lid for covering an opening of the container.

18. A housing comprising a container and a lid including the structure according to claim 1 that covers an opening of the container.

19. The housing of claim 17 , wherein the housing is made of sheet metal.

20. 20. A control box according to claim 17, wherein an electrical device is provided inside the housing for connecting to a device outside the housing.

21. An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, 18. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control device provided inside the housing according to claim 17, which controls the image forming unit.

Images