Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To reduce the possibility that a flat cable is affected by noise generated from a laser substrate and the laser substrate is affected by noise generated from the flat cable.SOLUTION: A color printer 1 comprises: a main body frame 2 that holds a photoreceptor 61 and a main body substrate 200; a scanning exposure device 5 having a semiconductor laser LD, a polygon mirror 54 that deflects and scans light from the semiconductor laser LD, a laser substrate 100 that controls the semiconductor laser LD, and a scanner frame 50 that holds the semiconductor laser LD, polygon mirror 54, and laser substrate 100; and a flat cable 300 that connects the main body substrate 200 and the laser substrate 100 to each other, the flat cable 300 having an extension part 300A that extends along the longitudinal direction of the laser substrate 100 so that a surface of the laser substrate 100 and a surface of the flat cable 300 intersect each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with a flat cable. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, in a scanning optical device, a configuration is known in which a flat cable that connects a circuit board that controls a semiconductor laser to a main body of an image forming device covers the circuit board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-139664 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the flat cable covers the circuit board, and multiple signal lines of the flat cable are close to the semiconductor laser, which creates the problem that the signals of the flat cable and the semiconductor laser may be affected by each other's noise.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the influence of noises on a flat cable and a laser board, which is a circuit board that controls the lighting of a semiconductor laser. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises a main body frame that holds a photosensitive member and a main body board, a scanning exposure device having a semiconductor laser, a deflector that deflects and scans light from the semiconductor laser, a laser board that controls the semiconductor laser, and a scanner frame that holds the semiconductor laser, the deflector, and the laser board, and a flat cable that connects the main body board and the laser board, the flat cable having an extension portion that extends along the longitudinal direction of the laser board so that the surface of the laser board and the surface of the flat cable intersect.

[0007] The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a main body frame, a scanning exposure device, and a flat cable. A main body board provided in the main body frame and a laser board provided in the scanning exposure device are connected by the flat cable. The flat cable has an extension portion that extends along the longitudinal direction of the laser board. In the extension portion, the surface of the flat cable extends so as to intersect with the surface of the laser board, thereby reducing the influence of noise.

[0008] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus may further include an insulating film between the laser substrate and the extending portion of the flat cable, the insulating film being provided at least along a surface of the laser substrate. In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an insulating film is provided between the extending portion of the flat cable and the laser substrate. By providing the insulating film at least along the surface of the laser substrate, the flat cable is prevented from contacting the laser substrate, and noise can be reduced.

[0009] Moreover, the main body frame may include a metal plate having a first portion facing the extension portion, and the insulating film may be further provided between the first portion and the extension portion. In the image forming device of the present invention, the metal plate provided on the main body frame has a first portion facing the extension of the flat cable, and an insulating film is further provided between the first portion and the extension, preventing contact between the flat cable and the metal plate and reducing noise.

[0010] The scanner frame may be fixed to the metal plate. In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the scanner frame is fixed to the metal plate. According to the present invention, the scanner frame can be fixed to the metal plate of the main body frame and positioned.

[0011] The metal plate may have a second portion facing the laser substrate with the extension portion interposed therebetween, and the insulating film may be further provided between the extension portion and the second portion. In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the metal plate has a second portion that faces the laser substrate across the extension of the flat cable, and an insulating film is further provided between the extension and the second portion, preventing contact between the flat cable and the facing portion of the metal plate and reducing noise.

[0012] The insulating film may be further disposed on the opposite side of the metal plate to the first portion, with the extension portion interposed therebetween. In the present invention, insulating films are disposed between the extension of the flat cable and the laser substrate, between the extension and the first portion of the metal plate, between the extension and the second portion of the metal plate, and on the side of the extension opposite the first portion of the metal plate. These arrangements allow the extension of the flat cable to be surrounded on all sides by the insulating films, and the position of the flat cable can be held so as not to shift.

[0013] The main body frame may include a resin frame to which a main body substrate is fixed, and the resin frame may have an engagement portion with which the insulating film is engaged. In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the resin frame to which the main body substrate is fixed is provided with an engagement portion, which engages with the insulating film to hold the insulating film.

[0014] The engaging portion may be a hole penetrating the resin frame, and the flat cable and the insulating film may be inserted into the hole.

[0015] In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a hole is provided as the engaging portion, penetrating the resin frame, and the flat cable and the insulating film are inserted into the hole. According to the present invention, the flat cable and the insulating film can be held by the hole, and further, the flat cable can be inserted into the hole while being protected by the insulating film.

[0016] The laser substrate may have a connector to which the flat cable is connected, the connector being elongated in a longitudinal direction of the laser substrate. In the present invention, the laser substrate has a connector for connecting a flat cable. The connector has a shape long in the longitudinal direction of the laser substrate, which is advantageous for bending the flat cable to extend in the longitudinal direction of the substrate.

[0017] The flat cable may have wiring corresponding to light emission data of the semiconductor laser and a drive signal for the deflector. In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the wiring provided in the flat cable corresponds to the light emission data of the semiconductor laser and the drive signal of the deflector. The wiring for the semiconductor and the wiring for the deflector are combined into one cable and connected to the main body board, thereby simplifying the configuration. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, the influence of noise between the flat cable and the laser board on each other can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a detailed configuration of the scanning exposure apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main structure of the color printer, seen from the left front. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a main structure of a scanning exposure device, viewed from the left front. [Diagram 5] 2 is a perspective view showing the main structure of the scanning exposure device, viewed from the left rear. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a detailed structure of the laser substrate. [Figure 7] 4 is a block diagram showing the flow of signals between a main body substrate, a laser substrate, and a polygon substrate. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a top view showing the overall structure of a color printer. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an extracted enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the overall structure of the color printer. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an extracted enlarged view of a main part of FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a perspective view of the color printer from the right rear, showing a state in which the scanning exposure device and the insulating film have been removed to expose the flat cable. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an extracted enlarged view of a main part of FIG. [Figure 14] 1 is a perspective view of the color printer from the right front, showing a state in which the scanning exposure device and the flat cable have been removed to expose the insulating film. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an extracted enlarged view of a main part of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

[0021] <Outline of color printer> 1, color printer 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is a printer capable of printing using developers of a total of four colors including black, cyan, magenta, and yellow in this example. Color printer 1 includes, within a main body frame 2, a paper feed section 3 that supplies paper (not shown), and an image forming section 4 that forms an image on the supplied paper. Image forming section 4 includes a scanning exposure device 5, four process units 6, a transfer device 7, and a fixing unit 8. The side with paper feed section 3 is the front side of main body frame 2, and the side with fixing unit 8 is the rear side of main body frame 2.

[0022] The four process units 6 include process units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K, which are arranged in this order from the front side to the rear side. The process units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K contain yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developers, respectively. In this specification, when identifying each component corresponding to the color of the developer, the symbols Y, M, C, and K are added to indicate the components corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, as described above. Note that when the components are referred to collectively without distinguishing the color of the developer, the symbols Y, M, C, and K are not added.

[0023] The process units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K are provided with cylindrical photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, respectively. The photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K are held by the main body frame 2 and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction. Each process unit 6 is provided with a charger 62, a developing roller 63, a supply roller 64, and a toner storage section 66 that stores a developer.

[0024] The paper feed unit 3 includes a paper feed tray 31 that stores paper, and a paper feed mechanism 32 that supplies paper from the paper feed tray 31 to the image forming unit 4. The side where the paper feed tray 31 is located is the lower side of the main body frame 2.

[0025] The scanning exposure device 5 irradiates the surfaces of the photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K with light beams BY, BM, BC, and BK based on the print data, respectively. The surfaces of the photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K are exposed by the irradiation, and electrostatic latent images are formed.

[0026] The transfer device 7 includes a drive roller 71, a driven roller 72, a transfer belt 73 looped between the drive roller 71 and the driven roller 72, and four transfer rollers 74. The outer surface of the transfer belt 73 is in contact with each of the photoconductors 61. The transfer rollers 74 are disposed on the inner side of the transfer belt 73. The four transfer rollers 74 include transfer rollers 74Y, 74M, 74C, and 74K that sandwich the transfer belt 73 between themselves and the photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, respectively.

[0027] The fixing unit 8 includes a heating roller 81 and a pressure roller 82 that presses the heating roller 81 .

[0028] <Image formation on paper> In the image forming unit 4, the surfaces of the photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K are uniformly charged by the charger 62. The photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K are irradiated with and exposed to the light beams BY, BM, BC, and BK from the scanning exposure device 5, thereby forming electrostatic latent images based on the print data on the photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K. The developers of the respective colors carried on the developing rollers 63 are supplied to the electrostatic latent images formed on the photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, respectively, to make the electrostatic latent images visible. Developer images are formed on the photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K.

[0029] Paper, as an example of a transfer medium, supplied from paper feed unit 3 moves from the front side to the rear side on transfer belt 73 while successively contacting photoreceptors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K. The developer images formed on each of photoreceptors 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K are transferred from photoreceptor 61 to a common paper in a superimposed order by transfer roller 74 to which a transfer bias is applied. The paper to which the developer image has been transferred passes between heating roller 81 and pressure roller 82, where the developer image is thermally fixed, and is discharged above main body frame 2 by conveying roller 23.

[0030] <Outline of scanning exposure device> As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 1, the scanning exposure device 5 has a scanner frame 50. The scanner frame 50 is a frame of the scanning exposure device 5. The scanner frame 50 includes four light source devices 51K, 51C, 51M, and 51Y that respectively emit light beam groups BK, BC, BM, and BY. The light source devices 51K, 51C, 51M, and 51Y each have semiconductor lasers LDK, LDC, LDM, and LDY, and coupling lenses CLK, CLC, CLM, and CLY. The semiconductor lasers LDK, LDC, LDM, and LDY each have a plurality of light emitting points. Each light beam group B is composed of a plurality of beams corresponding to the light emitting points, two beams in this example.

[0031] The scanning exposure device 5 also includes a deflector, in this example, one polygon mirror 54, and a scanning optical system. The scanning optical system includes two cylindrical lenses (not shown), two first scanning lenses 55, a plurality of reflecting mirrors 56, and four second scanning lenses 57. That is, the scanner frame 50 is an optical box that houses the polygon mirror 43 and the scanning optical system. In addition, a laser board 100 (see also FIG. 5), which is a circuit board that controls the lighting of the semiconductor lasers LDK, LDC, LDM, and LDY, is provided on the outer wall of the scanner frame 50.

[0032] <Light source details> The coupling lens CL constitutes an input optical system, and collects the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser LD and converts it into a light beam group B.

[0033] In order to correct the surface tilt of the polygon mirror 54, the cylindrical lens refracts the light beam group B from the coupling lens CL to focus it in the sub-scanning direction and form a long linear image in the main scanning direction on the reflecting surface 54A of the polygon mirror 54. The main scanning direction is the direction in which the light beam is deflected by the polygon mirror 54, and the sub-scanning direction is the direction perpendicular to both the traveling direction of the light beam group B and the main scanning direction.

[0034] The polygon mirror 54 has six reflecting surfaces 54A provided at an equal distance from the rotation axis k, and each reflecting surface 54A rotates at a constant speed around the rotation axis k. The polygon mirror 54 reflects the light beam group B that has passed through the coupling lens CL, and deflects it in the main scanning direction.

[0035] The first scanning lens 55 scans the light beam group B scanned at a constant angular velocity by the polygon mirror 54 on the surface of the photoconductor 61 at a constant velocity in the main scanning direction.

[0036] The reflecting mirror 56 reflects the light beam group B that has passed through the first scanning lens 55 toward the second scanning lens 57 .

[0037] The second scanning lens 57 refracts the light beam group B to converge it in the sub-scanning direction in order to correct the surface tilt of the polygon mirror 54, and forms an image on the surface of the photoconductor 61 to be scanned.

[0038] <Light path from the light source> In the scanning exposure device 5 having the above-mentioned configuration, the light beams BY, BM, BC, BK emitted from the light source devices 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51K, specifically the semiconductor lasers LDK, LDC, LDM, LDY, are deflected in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 54. The light beams BY, BM, BC, BK deflected by the polygon mirror 54 pass through a first scanning lens 55 and are reflected by a reflecting mirror 56. The reflected light beams BY, BM, BC, BK pass through a second scanning lens 57 and an exposure port formed in the bottom surface of the scanner frame 50, and then scan and expose the scanned surfaces of the photoconductors 61Y, 61M, 61C, 61K, respectively.

[0039] <Flat cable> As shown in Fig. 3, in the color printer 1 of this embodiment, a main body board 200 is held by a main body frame 2. The main body board 200 and the laser board 100 are connected by a flat cable 300. The main body board 200 has a connector 210 to which the flat cable 300 is connected. The main body board 200 has a wireless communication board 220 for wireless communication above the connector 210. As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the laser board 100 has a connector 110 to which the flat cable 300 is connected. The connector 110 is long in the longitudinal direction of the laser board 100. The flat cable 300 is arranged in a bent state to avoid the wireless communication board 220.

[0040] <Signal flow on each board> As shown in FIG. 7, in the scanning exposure apparatus 5 of the present embodiment, a motor 151 for rotating the polygon mirror 54 and a motor driver 152 for controlling the driving of the motor 151 are provided on a polygon substrate 150 having a polygon mirror 54.

[0041] In addition to the semiconductor laser LD described above, the laser substrate 100 is provided with an optical sensor 101 and an LD driver 102. The optical sensor 101 detects the light deflected by the polygon mirror 54. Specifically, the optical sensor 101 receives the beam groups BY, BM, BC, and BK when the angle of the reflecting surface 54A is at a specific angle. The optical sensor 101 is held by the scanner frame 50 together with the LD driver 102. The LD driver 102 is configured to be capable of outputting a signal for switching the semiconductor laser LD between an emitting state and an extinguished state. Specifically, the LD driver switches the semiconductor laser LD between an emitting state and an extinguished state by a supply voltage from a power line (not shown). The LD driver 102 can also adjust the amount of light emitted by the semiconductor laser LD so that a photocurrent corresponding to the amount of light received by the optical sensor 101 becomes a predetermined target value.

[0042] The main body board 200 is provided with an image control unit 201 and a motor controller 202. The image control unit 201 converts print data received from the outside into binary raster data, and transmits it to the LD driver 102 in synchronization with a sensor detection signal from the optical sensor 101.

[0043] <Transmission and reception of various signals via flat cables> A plurality of signal lines are included in the wiring provided in the flat cable 300. The plurality of signal lines include wiring corresponding to a light emission data signal of the semiconductor laser LD and a drive signal for the polygon mirror 54.

[0044] Specifically, for example, power supply to the LD driver 102, an APC signal, a light emission data signal, a sensor detection signal, power supply to the motor 151, a polygon motor control signal, and the like are transmitted and received via each signal line. The APC signal is a signal that executes adjustment of the optical output of the semiconductor laser LD via the LD driver 102. The light emission data signal is a signal that modulates the semiconductor laser LD to emit light in accordance with an image. The sensor detection signal is a detection signal of the optical sensor 101, and is input to the image control unit 201 of the main body board 200. The polygon motor control signal is a plurality of signals including a clock signal that is sent from the motor controller 202 of the main body board 200 to the motor driver 152 of the polygon board 150 and controls the rotation speed of the motor 151. GND wiring is appropriately arranged between the signal lines corresponding to different types of signals, and is configured to suppress interference.

[0045] The light emission data signal is transmitted by differential transmission using two wires to each light emitting point of the semiconductor laser LD. In this embodiment, there are 16 signal lines because there are eight light emitting points. GND wires are arranged between the signal lines corresponding to different light emitting points.

[0046] The polygon motor control signal is disposed at the widthwise extreme end of the flat cable 300. The laser substrate 100 and the motor driver 152 are connected by a cable harness 160 that transmits and receives the polygon motor control signal. The cable harness 160 is composed of multiple signal lines.

[0047] <Detailed configuration of flat cable> As shown in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, the flat cable 300 has an extension portion 300A extending along the longitudinal direction of the laser substrate 100. As shown in Figures 11 and 9, the extension portion 300A extends so that the surface of the laser substrate 100 and the surface of the flat cable 300 intersect.

[0048] The flat cable 300 includes a laser side connection portion 300B, a frame penetration portion 300C, and a body side connection portion 300D in addition to the extension portion 300A. The laser side connection portion 300B is located closer to the connector 110 of the laser substrate 100 than the extension portion 300A, and is a portion where the flat cable 300 is connected to the connector 110. The body side connection portion 300D is located closer to the connector 210 of the body substrate 200 than the frame penetration portion 300C, and is a portion where the flat cable 300 is connected to the connector 210. In this embodiment, for convenience of the arrangement of the laser substrate 100 and the body substrate 200, the flat cable 300 has a shape including the extension portion 300A, the laser side connection portion 300B, the frame penetration portion 300C, and the body side connection portion 300D.

[0049] <Insulating film> As a feature of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 14, 15, 11, 8, and 9, an insulating film 400 is provided between the laser substrate 100 and the extension portion 300A of the flat cable 300. The insulating film 400 is provided at least along the surface of the laser substrate 100. The material of the insulating film 400 is, for example, PET resin.

[0050] The main body frame 2 has a metal plate 2A, and the scanner frame 50 is fixed to the metal plate 2A. The metal plate 2A has a first portion 2a facing the extension portion 300A and a second portion 2b facing the laser substrate 100 with the extension portion 300A in between.

[0051] In response to the above, the insulating film 400 includes a first region 400a provided between the first portion 2a and the extending portion 300A, a second region 400b provided between the extending portion 300A and the second portion 2b, and a third region 400c disposed on the opposite side of the first portion 2a of the metal plate 2A across the extending portion 300A. The angle between the second region 400b and the first region 400a is an obtuse angle slightly larger than a right angle, and the second region 400b is inclined toward the resin frame 2B described later. For example, the first region 400a of the insulating film 400 is fixed to the first portion 2a of the metal plate 2A by an appropriate fixing tool, specifically, for example, a double-sided adhesive tape. As a result, the insulating film 400 is positioned relative to the flat cable 300 and held.

[0052] Furthermore, the insulating film 400 includes a third region 400c, a fourth region 400d, and a fifth region 400e. The third region 400c is provided in an upright position at the end of the first region 400a opposite to the second region 400b. The fourth region 400d extends in a substantially horizontal direction from the upper end of the third region 400c. The fifth region 400e is provided in an upright position at the end of the second region 400b opposite to the first region 400a. The insulating film 400, with the first region 400a, the second region 400b, the third region 400c, the fourth region 400d, and the fifth region 400e, surrounds and protects the extension portion 300A of the flat cable 300. As a result, the flat cable 300 is prevented from coming into contact with surrounding metal structures, screws, bolts, other convex structures, etc., and is also insulated from them.

[0053] The main body frame 2 also has a resin frame 2B to which the main body substrate 200 is fixed. The resin frame 2B has an engagement portion 2p (see FIG. 11) with which the insulating film 400 engages. The engagement portion 2p is a hole that penetrates the resin frame 2B. The flat cable 300 and the insulating film 400 are inserted into the hole.

[0054] In detail, the insulating film 400 further includes an upper protruding piece 400f protruding in a substantially horizontal direction from an end of the fourth region 400d opposite to the third region 400c, and a lower protruding piece 400g protruding in a substantially horizontal direction from an upper end of the fifth region 400e opposite to the second region 400b (see FIG. 11, etc.). The frame-penetrating portion 300C of the flat cable 300 and the upper protruding piece 400f and the lower protruding piece 400g of the insulating film 400 are inserted into the engagement portion 2p. At that time, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the frame-penetrating portion 300C is sandwiched from above and below by the upper protruding piece 400f and the lower protruding piece 400g, and is inserted into the hole of the engagement portion 2p in the sandwiched three-layer laminated state. This structure prevents the fourth region 400d of the insulating film 400 from floating up, and reliably protects the frame-penetrating portion 300C of the flat cable 300.

[0055] <Effects of the embodiment> As described above, the color printer 1 of this embodiment includes the main body frame 2, the scanning exposure device 5, and the flat cable 300. The main body board 200 provided in the main body frame 2 and the laser board 100 provided in the scanning exposure device 5 are connected by the flat cable 300. The flat cable 300 has an extension portion 300A that extends along the longitudinal direction of the laser board 100. In the extension portion 300A, the surface of the flat cable 300 extends so as to intersect at a right angle with the surface of the laser board 100, thereby reducing the influence of noise.

[0056] In particular, in this embodiment, an insulating film 400 is provided between the extending portion 300A of the flat cable 300 and the laser substrate 100. By providing the insulating film 400 at least along the surface of the laser substrate 100, the flat cable 300 is prevented from contacting the laser substrate 100, and noise can be reduced.

[0057] Particularly in this embodiment, the metal plate 2A provided on the main body frame 2 has a first portion 2a that faces the extension portion 300A of the flat cable 300. The first region 400a of the insulating film 400 is provided between the first portion 2a and the extension portion 300A, thereby preventing the flat cable 300 from contacting the metal plate 2A and reducing noise.

[0058] In particular, in this embodiment, the scanner frame 50 is fixed to the metal plate 2A. According to this embodiment, the scanner frame 50 can be fixed to the metal plate 2A of the main body frame 2 and positioned.

[0059] Particularly in this embodiment, the metal plate 2A has a second portion 2b that faces the laser substrate 100 across the extension 300A of the flat cable 300. The second region 400b of the insulating film 400 is provided between the extension 300A and the second portion 2b, thereby preventing contact between the flat cable 300 and the opposing portion of the metal plate 2A, thereby reducing noise.

[0060] In particular, in this embodiment, the third region 400c and the first region 400a of the insulating film 400 are disposed between the extension 300A of the flat cable 300 and the laser substrate 100, and between the extension 300A and the first portion 2a of the metal plate 2A, respectively. The second region 400b and the fourth region 400d of the insulating film 400 are disposed between the extension 300A of the flat cable 300 and the second portion 2b of the metal plate 2A, and on the opposite side of the extension 300A to the first portion 2a of the metal plate 2A, respectively. With these arrangements, the extension 300A of the flat cable 300 can be surrounded on all four sides by the insulating film 400, and the position of the flat cable 300 can be held so as not to be displaced.

[0061] Particularly in this embodiment, the resin frame 2B to which the main substrate 200 is fixed is provided with an engagement portion 2p. The engagement portion 2p engages with the insulating film 400, thereby making it possible to hold the insulating film 400.

[0062] Particularly in this embodiment, holes penetrating the resin frame 2B are provided as the engagement portions 2p, and the flat cable 300 and the insulating film 400 are inserted into the holes. According to this embodiment, the hole can hold the flat cable 300 and the insulating film 400. Furthermore, there is an advantage that the flat cable 300 can be inserted into the hole while being protected by the insulating film 400 during assembly.

[0063] In particular, in this embodiment, the laser substrate 100 has a connector 110 for connecting the flat cable 300. The connector 110 has a shape long in the longitudinal direction of the laser substrate 100, which is advantageous for bending the flat cable 300 and extending it in the longitudinal direction of the substrate.

[0064] In particular, in this embodiment, the wiring provided in the flat cable 300 corresponds to the light emission data of the semiconductor laser LD and the drive signal of the polygon mirror 54. The wiring for the semiconductor laser LD and the wiring for the polygon mirror 54 are combined into one cable and connected to the main body board 200, thereby simplifying the configuration.

[0065] <Modification> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and technical concept of the present invention. Such modifications will be described below in order.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the extending portion 300A is configured so that the surface of the flat cable 300 intersects with the surface of the laser substrate 100 at a right angle, but this is not limited to the above. The extending portion 300A may extend so that the surface of the flat cable 300 intersects with the laser substrate 100 at an angle greater than 45°, that is, an angle greater than 45° and less than 90°.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above description, the present invention has been described as being applied to a color printer, but the present invention can also be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as multifunction machines and copiers.

[0068] Moreover, in the above, the polygon mirror 54 has been shown as an example of a deflector, but a vibrating mirror, a so-called galvanometer mirror, can also be used as the optical deflector. In the above, the direct transfer method in which the developer image is transferred to the paper while the paper is being transported during the image forming process has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, a so-called intermediate transfer method in which the developer image from the photoconductor 61 is transferred to the transfer belt during the image forming process, and the developer image on the transfer belt is transferred to the paper that is transported separately, may also be used.

[0069] In addition to the above, the methods according to the above embodiments and their modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

[0070] Although not specifically illustrated, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1. Color printer (an example of an image forming device) 2 Main frame 2A metal plate 2a Part 1 2B resin frame 2b 2nd part 2p engaging part 5. Scanning exposure device 50 Scanner Frame 54 Polygon mirror (an example of a deflector) 61C photoreceptor 61K photoreceptor 61M Photoconductor 61Y photoreceptor 100 Laser Substrate 110 Connector 200 Main Board 300 Flat Cable 300A extension part 400 Insulating Film 400a 1st area 400b 2nd area 400c 3rd area LDC Semiconductor Laser LDK Semiconductor Laser LDM Semiconductor Laser LDY Semiconductor Laser

Claims

1. a main body frame for holding the photoconductor and the main body substrate; a scanning exposure device including a semiconductor laser, a deflector that deflects and scans light from the semiconductor laser, a laser substrate that controls the semiconductor laser, and a scanner frame that holds the semiconductor laser, the deflector, and the laser substrate; a flat cable connecting the main body substrate and the laser substrate, the flat cable having an extension portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the laser substrate such that a surface of the laser substrate intersects a surface of the flat cable; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. an insulating film between the laser substrate and the extending portion of the flat cable; The insulating film is At least along the surface of the laser substrate 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

3. The main body frame includes: a metal plate having a first portion facing the extension portion; The insulating film further comprises: Also provided between the first portion and the extension portion 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The scanner frame is fixed to the metal plate.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The metal plate is a second portion facing the laser substrate across the extension portion; The insulating film further comprises: Also provided between the extension portion and the second portion 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

6. The insulating film further comprises: The extension portion is disposed on the opposite side of the metal plate from the first portion.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.

7. The main body frame includes: A resin frame to which a main body substrate is fixed is provided, The resin frame is The insulating film has an engagement portion.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.

8. the engaging portion is a hole penetrating the resin frame, The flat cable and the insulating film are inserted into the hole.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.

9. The laser substrate is a connector to which the flat cable is connected, The connector includes: The laser substrate is elongated in the longitudinal direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

10. The flat cable is The wiring corresponds to the light emission data of the semiconductor laser and the drive signal of the deflector.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

Images