Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To prevent a user from contacting a conduction member to receive an electric shock when an opening and closing member is at an open position.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus allows a cartridge having a first electric contact to be removably attached to an apparatus body. The image forming apparatus has: an opening and closing part that is movable to an opening position where it opens an opening provided in the image forming apparatus and allows the cartridge to be removably attached to the apparatus body through the opening, and a closing position where it closes the opening and prevents the cartridge from being removably attached to the apparatus body; a power supply unit that is electrically connected to the first electric contact to supply voltage to the cartridge; a conduction unit that is electrically connected to the power supply unit, and that, when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus body, is brought into contact with the first electric contact to electrically connect the first electric contact and the power supply unit to each other; and a ground connection part that is connected to the ground. When the opening and closing part is at the opening position and the cartridge is not attached to the apparatus body, the conduction unit is in contact with the ground connection part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material. [Background technology]

[0002] The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has an opening / closing member, a power supply board, a conductive member (middle contact spring) that is conductive with the power supply board, and a cartridge that can be conductive with the conductive member. When the opening / closing member is in the open position, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 loses electrical connection between the conductive member and the cartridge, and when the opening / closing member is in the closed position, electrical connection between the conductive member and the cartridge is established. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-33195 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when installing or removing a cartridge, the user needs to move the opening / closing member to the open position to access the inside of the image forming apparatus. In that case, the user may come into contact with the conductive member or its vicinity, and may receive an electric shock. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent electric shock caused by contact with the conductive member when the opening / closing member is in the open position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is as follows.

[0006] An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge having a first electrical contact is detachably mountable to a main body of the apparatus, an opening / closing unit that is movable between an open position that opens an opening provided in the image forming apparatus and allows the cartridge to be installed in and removed from the apparatus main body through the opening and a closed position that closes the opening and prevents the cartridge from being installed in and removed from the apparatus main body; a power supply unit that supplies a voltage to the cartridge by being electrically connected to the first electrical contact; a conductive portion that is conductive with the power supply portion, the conductive portion coming into contact with the first electrical contact when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus body, thereby conductively connecting the first electrical contact and the power supply portion; a ground connection portion connected to ground; having an opening / closing portion that is in the open position and the cartridge is not mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the conductive portion is in contact with the ground connection portion. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent electric shock caused by contact with the conductive member when the opening / closing member is in the open position. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 4(a) to (b) are plan views of the conductive part. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are a perspective view and a plan view of a guide portion. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 13A and 13B are plan views of a conductive part according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Example 1 An image forming apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 1. In the following description and in each drawing, the vertical direction when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal surface is defined as the Z direction. The direction intersecting the Z direction and the direction of the rotation axis of a photoconductor drum (photoconductor) 105 described later is defined as the Y direction. The direction intersecting both the Z direction and the Y direction is defined as the X direction. The X direction and the Y direction are preferably horizontal directions. In addition, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are preferably perpendicular to each other. In addition, the directions of the arrows X, Y, and Z shown in each drawing are respectively represented as the +X side, the +Y side, and the +Z side, and the opposite sides are respectively represented as the -X side, the -Y side, and the -Z side. In the following description, the -Y direction may be referred to as the first direction, and the +Y direction opposite to the -Y direction may be referred to as the second direction.

[0010] (Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus) 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus 1. In this embodiment, a monochrome laser beam printer is shown as an example of the image forming apparatus 1. As recording materials for the image forming apparatus 1, a variety of papers of different sizes and materials can be used, including paper such as plain paper and thick paper, paper materials with surface treatments such as plastic film, cloth, and coated paper, and paper materials with special shapes such as envelopes and index paper.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 1 has an apparatus main body 1a and a cartridge 100. The apparatus main body 1a has a scanner unit 102, a transfer roller 106, a cassette 101, a fixing unit 110, a paper feed roller 112, and an opening / closing member 111. The cartridge 100 has an accommodation chamber 103, a developing roller (developing unit) 104, a photoconductor drum (photoconductor) 105, and a charging roller 107.

[0012] The charging roller 107 is a charging unit that charges the photosensitive drum 105. The scanner unit 102 forms an electrostatic latent image based on image data on the photosensitive drum 105 that has been charged by the charging roller 107. The photosensitive drum 105 is an image carrier that carries the electrostatic latent image. The storage chamber 103 is a storage unit that stores toner. The developing roller 104 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 105 with the toner stored in the storage chamber 103. The transfer roller 106 is a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 105 to a recording material. The cassette 101 is a storage unit that can store the recording material. The paper feed roller 112 is a transport unit that transports the recording material stored in the cassette 101 to the transfer roller 106. The fixing unit 110 fixes the toner image on the recording material to which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer roller 106. The opening / closing member (stack section) 111 is a stack section on which the recording material fixed by the fixing section 110 is stacked.

[0013] Next, the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing member 111 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. The opening and closing member 111 is an exterior of the image forming apparatus 1, and more specifically, constitutes the end portion on the +Z direction side of the apparatus main body 1a. The opening and closing member 111 can rotate with the Y direction as the axial direction.

[0014] 2, the opening / closing member 111 can be positioned at an open position to open the opening 2 provided in the image forming apparatus 1. When the opening / closing part 111 is in the open position, the cartridge 100 can be mounted to or removed from the apparatus main body 1a through the opening. In other words, the opening / closing part 111 allows the cartridge 100 to be mounted or removed.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the opening / closing part 111 can be located at a blocking position where it blocks the opening 2 provided in the image forming apparatus 1. When the opening / closing part 111 is located at the blocking position, it prevents the cartridge 100 from being mounted to or removed from the apparatus main body 1a. That is, the opening / closing part 111 prevents the cartridge 100 from being mounted or removed. The opening / closing part 111 can move from the open position to the blocking position and from the blocking position to the open position. In summary, the opening / closing part 111 can move between an open position where it opens the opening 2 provided in the image forming apparatus 1 and allows the cartridge 100 to be mounted or removed from the apparatus main body 1a through the opening 2, and a blocking position where it blocks the opening 2 and prevents the cartridge 100 from being mounted or removed from the apparatus main body 1a.

[0016] (Electrical connection configuration) Next, the configuration regarding the electrical connection between the cartridge 100 and the apparatus main body 1a will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3(a) is a plan view showing a part of the apparatus main body 1a before the cartridge 100 is mounted to the apparatus main body 1a. Figure 3(b) is a plan view showing a part of the apparatus main body 1a after the cartridge 100 is mounted to the apparatus main body 1a. Figure 4(a) is a perspective view showing the guide portion 502. Figure 4(b) is a plan view showing the guide portion 502.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus main body 1a has a power supply unit 3, a frame 4, a first conductive portion 405, a ground connection portion 501, and a guide portion 502. The power supply unit 3 is a power source that generates a voltage to be supplied to the cartridge 100. More specifically, it generates a voltage to be supplied to the developing roller 104 and the charging roller 107. The frame 4 is a support portion that supports the power supply unit 3. The frame 4 extends in the X direction. The first conductive portion 405 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 3. The first conductive portion 405 is electrically connected to a first electrical contact 500, which will be described later, thereby enabling a voltage to be supplied from the power supply unit 3 to the charging roller 107.

[0018] First conductive portion 405 is a torsion coil spring that is electrically connected to cartridge 100, thereby electrically connecting power supply unit 3 and cartridge 100. First conductive portion 405 may be any member that is electrically conductive and may be a member other than a torsion coil spring. An elastic force acts on first conductive portion 405 so as to bias it in the +Y direction.

[0019] The ground connection part 501 includes a metal member. The ground connection part 501 is connected to the frame 4 (ground) and is electrically connected thereto.

[0020] 3(b) is an electrical contact provided on the cartridge 100. A voltage can be supplied to the charging roller 107 of the cartridge 100 via the first electrical contact 500. The first electrical contact 500 is provided at the end of the cartridge 100 on the -Y direction side.

[0021] 4 is a guide portion that guides the movement direction of the cartridge 100 when the cartridge 100 is mounted in the apparatus main body 1a. A groove 401 is formed in the guide portion 502. The guide portion 502 supports the end portion of the cartridge 100 on the -Y direction (first direction) side, and guides the movement direction of the cartridge 100.

[0022] Further, the guide portion 502 has a through hole 403 formed therein, which passes through the guide portion 502 in the −Y direction (first direction). The first conductive portion 405 passes through the through hole 403.

[0023] (Operation of the conductive part when inserting and removing the cartridge) Next, in this embodiment, the operation of the first conductive part 405 when the cartridge 100 is mounted to the mounting main body 1a will be described with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the first conductive part 405 has a first contact 405a and a second contact 405b. The first contact 405a is a part that is electrically connected to the first electrical contact 500, as described later. As shown in FIG. 3(a), when the opening / closing part 111 is in the open position and the cartridge 100 is not mounted to the device main body 1a, the second contact 405b abuts against the ground connection part 501. Therefore, when the cartridge 100 is not mounted to the device main body 1a, it is possible to prevent a user from receiving an electric shock when touching the first conductive part 405. When the cartridge 100 is not mounted to the device main body 1a, the first contact 405a is upstream of the guide part 502, and the second contact 405b is downstream of the guide part 502 in the -Y direction (first direction). Moreover, in the -Y direction (first direction), frame 4 is located downstream of guide portion 502, and power supply unit 3 is located downstream of frame 4. That is, in the -Y direction (first direction), power supply unit 3 is located downstream of guide portion 502. In addition, second contact 405b and ground connection portion 501 are located upstream of frame 4 in the -Y direction (first direction).

[0024] FIG. 3(b) shows a state in which the cartridge 100 is mounted in the apparatus main body 1a. When the cartridge 100 is mounted in the apparatus main body 1a, the first contact 405a and the first electrical contact 500 come into contact with each other. When the first contact 405a and the first electrical contact 500 come into contact with each other, the first electrical contact 500 presses the first contact 405a in the -Y direction, and the second contact 405b moves in the -Y direction (first direction). This causes the second contact 405b to be released from contact with the ground connection portion 501. As described above, an elastic force acts on the first conductive portion 405 so as to bias it in the +Y direction, so that the first contact 405a presses the first electrical contact 500. This causes the first contact 405a and the first electrical contact 500 to be electrically connected, and the cartridge 100 and the power supply unit 3 to be electrically connected via the first conductive portion 405.

[0025] Next, the operation of the first conductive part 405 when the cartridge 100 is removed from the apparatus main body 1a will be described. When the cartridge 100 is removed while it is attached to the apparatus main body 1a, the first conductive part 405 returns to the state shown in FIG. 3(a). That is, when the cartridge 100 is removed from the apparatus main body 1a, the contact between the first contact 405a and the first electrical contact 500 is released. When the contact between the first contact 405a and the first electrical contact 500 is released, an elastic force acts on the first conductive part 405 so as to bias it in the +Y direction, and the second contact 405b moves in the +Y direction (second direction) and again comes into contact with the ground connection part 501.

[0026] Next, a configuration for suppressing electric shock when a user touches the vicinity of the first conductive portion 405 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4B, an inner region of a virtual circle centered on the first contact 405a is defined as the region 406. Even if the user does not touch the first contact 405a, if the user touches a part of the guide portion 502 included in the region 406, there is a possibility of receiving an electric shock. The radius of the circle constituting the region 406 is determined based on the output of the voltage supplied to the cartridge 100. In this embodiment, a virtual circular region having a radius of 20 mm is set per 1 kV of voltage supplied to the cartridge 100. In this embodiment, since the voltage supplied to the charging roller 107 is −1200 V, the radius of the region 406 is 24 mm.

[0027] 4(b) is a region where the guide portion 502 and the cartridge 100 overlap when viewed in the Y direction. That is, when viewed in the Y direction, the cartridge 100 overlaps with the region 406. More specifically, when viewed in the Y direction, the cartridge 100 overlaps with a virtual circle centered on the first contact point 405a. This prevents the cartridge 100 from touching the guide portion 502 included in the region 406 by the user.

[0028] The configuration related to the voltage supply to the charging roller 107 has been described above, but the apparatus main body 1a of this embodiment also has a configuration related to the voltage supply to the developing roller 104. That is, the apparatus main body 1a has a second conductive portion 805 and a ground connection portion 801. The cartridge 100 has a second electrical contact 800. The second conductive portion 805 has a third contact 805a and a fourth contact 805b. The guide portion 502 has a through hole 803. Also, the inner region of a virtual circle centered on the third contact 805a can be defined as a region 806.

[0029] The above description of the configuration related to the voltage supply to the charging roller 107 also applies to the configuration related to the voltage supply to the developing roller 104. That is, the descriptions of the first conductive portion 405, the first contact 405a, the second contact 405b, the first ground connection portion 501, the first electrical contact 500, the through hole 403, and the region 406 similarly apply to the second conductive portion 805, the third contact 805a, the fourth contact 805b, the second ground connection portion 801, the second electrical contact 800, the through hole 803, and the region 806, respectively. In this embodiment, the voltage supplied to the developing roller 104 is −400 V, and the radius of the region 806 can be set to 8 mm.

[0030] Example 2 Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 5(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the opening / closing part 111 is in a closed position. Fig. 5(b) is a diagram showing a state in which the opening / closing part 111 is in an open position. A ground unit 601 in the second embodiment is different in configuration from the first ground connection part 501 in the second embodiment. Also, the image forming apparatus 1 in the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it has a link part 700. Other configurations in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

[0031] Next, the link section 700 and the ground unit 601 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The apparatus main body 1a has the ground unit 601. The ground unit 601 has a first ground connection section 601a, a second ground connection section 601b, and a support member 601c. The first ground connection section 601a and the second ground connection section 601b are supported by the support member 601c. The first ground connection section 601a and the second ground connection section 601b each include a metal member. The first ground connection section 601a and the second ground connection section 601b are each electrically connected to the frame 4, and function as a ground in the image forming apparatus 1. That is, the first ground connection section 601a and the second ground connection section 601b have a ground potential.

[0032] The link unit 700 is a link mechanism in which a plurality of links are connected. One end of the link unit 700 is fixed to the opening / closing unit 111, and the other end opposite to the one end is fixed to a support member 601c of the ground unit 601. The link unit 700 and the ground unit 601 are configured to be movable with the movement of the opening / closing unit 111. When the opening / closing unit 111 is in the closed position, the ground unit 601 is in the second position. When the opening / closing unit 111 is in the open position, the ground unit 601 is in the first position. That is, when the opening / closing unit 111 moves from the closed position to the open position, the ground unit 601 moves from the second position to the first position. Also, when the opening / closing unit 111 moves from the open position to the closing position, the ground unit 601 moves from the first position to the second position. As described later, the first position is a position where the ground unit 601 and the second contact 405b come into contact with each other and are electrically connected. The second position is a position where the ground unit 601 and the second contact 405b are not in contact with each other and are not electrically connected.

[0033] (Operation of conductive part by movement of opening and closing part) Next, the operation of the conductive part due to the movement of the opening / closing part in the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In this embodiment, the first conductive part 405, which is a component related to the voltage supply to the charging roller 107, will be described as an example. Fig. 6(a) is a diagram showing the state of the first conductive part 405 when the opening / closing part 111 is in the closed position. Fig. 6(b) is a diagram showing the state of the first conductive part 405 when the opening / closing part 111 is in the open position.

[0034] 6(a), when the opening / closing unit 111 is in the closed position, the ground unit 601 is in the second position. When the ground unit 601 is in the second position, it is upstream of the second contact 405b in the -X direction. Therefore, there is no electrical continuity between the ground unit 601 and the second contact 405b.

[0035] When the opening / closing unit 111 moves from the closed position to the open position, the ground unit 601 moves in the -X direction together with the link unit 700, thereby moving from the second position to the first position. The ground unit 601 (first ground connection portion 601a) that has moved to the first position comes into contact with the second contact 405b. This makes it possible to prevent an electric shock when a user touches the first conductive portion 405.

[0036] When the opening / closing portion 111 moves from the open position to the closed position, the ground unit 601 moves in the +X direction via the movement of the link portion 700, thereby moving from the first position to the second position. When the ground unit 601 (first ground connection portion 601a) moves to the second position, the contact with the second contact point 405b is released.

[0037] The configuration related to the voltage supply to the charging roller 107 has been described above, but the apparatus main body 1a of this embodiment also has a configuration related to the voltage supply to the developing roller 104. That is, the apparatus main body 1a has a second conductive portion 805. The second conductive portion 805 has a third contact 805a and a fourth contact 805b. The cartridge 100 has a second electrical contact 800. The above description of the configuration related to the voltage supply to the charging roller 107 also applies to the configuration related to the voltage supply to the developing roller 104. That is, the description of the first conductive portion 405, the first contact 405a, the second contact 405b, the first electrical contact 500, and the first ground connection portion 601a also applies to the second conductive portion 805, the third contact 805a, the fourth contact 805b, the second electrical contact 800, and the second ground connection portion 601b, respectively.

[0038] In the first embodiment, when the cartridge 100 is mounted and the opening / closing unit 111 is in the open position, it is necessary to take measures to prevent the user from touching the area near the first contact 405a. However, in the second embodiment, when the opening / closing unit 111 is in the open position, the ground unit 601 abuts against the second contact 405b. Therefore, it is not necessary to adopt the configuration as in the first embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1a Device body 2 aperture 111 Opening and closing section 3 Power supply section 405 Conductive part 501 Ground connection

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge having a first electrical contact is detachably mountable to a main body of the apparatus, an opening / closing unit that is movable between an open position that opens an opening provided in the image forming apparatus and allows the cartridge to be installed in and removed from the apparatus main body through the opening and a closed position that closes the opening and prevents the cartridge from being installed in and removed from the apparatus main body; a power supply unit that supplies a voltage to the cartridge by being electrically connected to the first electrical contact; a conductive portion that is conductive with the power supply portion, the conductive portion coming into contact with the first electrical contact when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus body, thereby conductively connecting the first electrical contact and the power supply portion; a ground connection portion connected to ground; having an opening / closing portion that is in the open position and the cartridge is not mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the conductive portion is in contact with the ground connection portion.

2. the conductive portion has a first contact and a second contact, When the cartridge is not attached to the apparatus body, the second contact is in contact with a ground connection portion, When the cartridge is attached to the apparatus body, the first contact and the first electrical contact come into contact with each other, and the first electrical contact presses the first contact, thereby releasing the contact between the second contact and the ground connection portion, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the cartridge is removed from the main body of the apparatus, the first contact and the first electrical contact are released from contact with each other, and the second contact and the ground connection portion are brought into contact with each other.

3. The cartridge has a photoconductor capable of carrying an electrostatic latent image, When the cartridge is attached to the main body of the apparatus, the first contact comes into contact with the first electrical contact, and the first electrical contact presses the first contact, causing the second contact to move in a first direction, which is a direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive body, relative to the ground connection portion, and the contact between the second contact and the ground connection portion is released.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when the cartridge is removed from the main body of the apparatus, the first contact is released from contact with the first electrical contact, and the second contact moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction and contacts the ground connection portion.

4. a guide portion that supports one end of the cartridge in the first direction and guides a moving direction of the cartridge when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, The guide portion has a through hole penetrating the guide portion in the first direction, The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first contact passes through the through hole.

5. In the first direction, the first contact point is located upstream of the guide portion, 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second contact point is located downstream of the guide portion in the first direction.

6. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the power supply unit is located downstream of the guide unit in the first direction.

7. The conductive portion has a torsion coil spring, 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the cartridge is mounted in the main body of the apparatus, the torsion coil spring exerts an elastic force such that the first contact presses the first electrical contact in a second direction.

8. When the opening / closing portion is in the open position, the conductive portion is in contact with the ground connection portion, When the opening / closing portion moves from the open position to the closed position, the contact between the conductive portion and the ground connection portion is released, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the opening / closing portion moves from the closed position to the open position, the conductive portion and the ground connection portion come into contact with each other.

9. a link portion connected to each of the opening / closing portion and the ground connection portion, 9. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 8, characterized in that when the opening / closing portion moves from the open position to the closed position, the movement of the link portion causes the ground connection portion to move from a first position in which it abuts the conductive portion to a second position in which it does not abut the conductive portion.

10. a frame for supporting the power supply unit; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ground connection portion is electrically connected to the frame.

Images