Image forming device

Abstract

To respond to a further demand from a user.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus of the present invention has: an optical box; a housing that is formed with an ejection port; a cover that is on the downstream side of the optical box in an ejection direction in which a recording material is ejected from the ejection port, and forms part of the housing; and a circuit board. The circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components and a wiring board for electrically connecting the plurality of electronic components with each other. The circuit board is arranged in a direction in which a surface of the wiring board on which the plurality of electronic components are mounted intersects with the ejection direction. In the ejection direction, the wiring board is provided between the cover and the optical box. When seen from the vertical direction, the optical box and part of the plurality of electronic components overlap each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Image forming devices such as printers and copiers are equipped with many components such as circuit boards and motors. Patent Document 1 describes a configuration for miniaturizing an image forming device by optimizing the layout positions of components such as a low-voltage power supply unit, a high-voltage power supply unit, and a motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-20932 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The configuration described in Patent Document 1 fully satisfied the size of the image forming apparatus desired at the time, but in recent years, there has been a demand for further miniaturization.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to further meet user demands. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an optical box having a light source for irradiating light onto an image carrier, a housing having the optical box therein and formed with an outlet through which a recording material is discharged, the housing including a cover forming an end face of the housing on a downstream side in a discharge direction in which the recording material is discharged from the outlet, the cover being located downstream of the optical box in the discharge direction and extending in a vertical direction, and a circuit board for converting AC supplied from an external power source into DC and supplying power to the light source, the circuit board including a plurality of electronic components and a wiring board for electrically connecting the plurality of electronic components, the surface of the wiring board on which the plurality of electronic components are mounted intersects the discharge direction and the surface is aligned in the vertical direction. and the rotation axis direction of the image carrier. the circuit board is arranged in an orientation extending along the axis of the optical box, the wiring board is provided between the cover and the optical box in the ejection direction, and when viewed in the vertical direction, the optical box and a portion of the plurality of electronic components overlap.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an optical box having a light source for irradiating light onto an image carrier, a housing having the optical box therein and an opening through which a recording material is inserted, the housing including a cover forming an end face of the housing on the same side as the side on which the opening is formed, the cover being located upstream of the optical box in the predetermined direction and extending in a vertical direction, a feeding member feeding the recording material inserted through the opening in a feeding direction, and a circuit board for converting AC supplied from an external power source into DC and supplying power to the light source, the circuit board including a plurality of electronic components and a wiring board for electrically connecting the plurality of electronic components, the surface of the wiring board on which the plurality of electronic components are mounted intersects the feeding direction and the surface extends in the vertical direction. and the rotation axis direction of the image carrier. The circuit board is disposed in an orientation extending along the optical axis, and the wiring board is provided between the cover and the optical box in the feed direction.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an optical box having a light source for irradiating light onto an image carrier, a housing having the optical box therein and formed with an outlet through which a recording material is discharged, a circuit board for converting AC supplied from an external power source into DC and supplying power to the light source, the circuit board including a plurality of electronic components and a wiring board for electrically connecting the plurality of electronic components, the surface of the wiring board on which the plurality of electronic components are mounted intersects with a discharge direction in which the recording material is discharged from the outlet, and the surface intersects with a vertical direction. and the rotation axis direction of the image carrier. The circuit board is disposed in an orientation extending in the direction of the Vertical When viewed from the outside, the optical box and the electronic components partially overlap each other. Effect of the Invention

[0009] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to further meet user demands. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus; [Diagram 2] Cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the position of a circuit board; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating the position of a circuit board. [Diagram 5] A perspective view of a circuit board and its peripheral components. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of a circuit board and its peripheral components [Figure 7] Top view of the circuit board and its surrounding components [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a perspective view for explaining a holding configuration of an optical box and a drive motor; [Figure 9] Diagram for explaining electronic components on a circuit board [Figure 10] Block diagram to explain the function of the circuit board DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the embodiment may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration and various conditions of the device to which the invention is applied. In other words, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0012] Example 1 [Overall configuration of image forming device] The overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 in this embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 in this embodiment is a monochrome laser beam printer using an electrophotographic process, and forms an image with a developer (toner) on a recording material P in accordance with image information transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer. Examples of the recording material P include recording paper, label paper, OHP sheets, cloth, etc.

[0013] In the following description, the height direction (opposite to the vertical direction) of the image forming apparatus 1 when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal surface is referred to as the Z direction. The direction that intersects with the Z direction and is parallel to the axial direction (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive drum 11 described later is referred to as the X direction. The direction that intersects with the X direction and the Z direction is referred to as the Y direction. The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction preferably intersect perpendicularly with each other. For convenience, the positive side in the X direction is referred to as the right side and the negative side is referred to as the left side, the positive side in the Y direction is referred to as the front side or front side and the negative side is referred to as the rear side or back side, and the positive side in the Z direction is referred to as the upper side and the negative side is referred to as the lower side.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1, and FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 cut along a plane perpendicular to the X direction (the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 11). In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 has a feed cassette 4 in which recording materials P are accommodated, and a discharge tray 14 on which the discharged recording materials P are stacked. By inserting the feed cassette 4 into a feed opening 81, the recording materials P accommodated in the feed cassette 4 are made ready to be fed into the image forming apparatus 1. The feed cassette 4 can be pulled out from the feed opening 81 in the Y direction, allowing the user to replenish the recording materials P. The recording materials P fed from the feed cassette 4 and having an image formed thereon are discharged from a discharge opening 15 in the discharge direction (positive direction of the Y axis) shown in FIG. 1, and are stacked on the discharge tray 14.

[0015] A front cover 70 is provided on a part of the end face (part of the front face) of the image forming apparatus 1 on the downstream side in the discharge direction, and covers a circuit board 100 described later. An exterior cover 71 is provided on a part of the front face other than the part where the front cover 70 is provided, as well as on the side and top face of the image forming apparatus 1. The front cover 70, the exterior cover 71, and the discharge tray 14 described above together form a housing 75 of the image forming apparatus 1. Here, the housing 75 is a member that covers the entire image forming apparatus 1, and includes process members such as an optical box 50 described later inside. The above-mentioned feed opening 81 and discharge opening 15 are openings formed in parts of the housing 75, and the recording material P is inserted into the image forming apparatus 1 through the feed opening 81, and the recording material P is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 through the discharge opening 15.

[0016] The flow of the image forming operation on the recording material P will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. When image information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1, the photosensitive drum 11, which is a rotating body, is rotated at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) in the direction of the arrow R based on a print start signal. The optical box 50 irradiates the photosensitive drum 11 with a laser beam based on the input image information. The optical box 50 is a box-shaped unit that includes components such as a laser oscillator that outputs the laser beam, a polygon mirror and a lens for irradiating the photosensitive drum 11 with the laser beam, and a scanner motor for rotating the polygon mirror. The photosensitive drum 11 is charged in advance by the charging roller 17, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 by irradiating it with the laser beam. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing roller 12, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11.

[0017] In parallel with the image forming process described above, a recording material P is fed from the feed cassette 4. A pickup roller 3, a feed roller 5a, and a pair of conveying rollers 5c are provided on the conveying path of the image forming apparatus 1. The pickup roller 3 (feeding member) comes into contact with the uppermost recording material P contained in the feed cassette 4, and the roller itself rotates to feed the recording material P in the feeding direction (Y-axis minus direction). The feed roller 5a and the separation pad 5b that is in pressure contact with it form a separation nip. If multiple sheets of recording material P are fed to the separation nip due to the influence of friction between the recording materials P, the feed roller 5a and the separation pad 5b separate the multiple sheets of recording material P and feed only the uppermost one downstream.

[0018] The recording material P fed from the feeding cassette 4 is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 5c toward the transfer roller 7. A transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 7, whereby the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred onto the recording material P. The recording material P onto which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer roller 7 is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 9, so that the toner image is fixed onto the recording material P. The fixing device 9 is composed of a heating roller 9a incorporating a heater (not shown), and a pressure roller 9b which is biased toward the heating roller 9a. Then, the recording material P onto which the toner image has been fixed is discharged onto a discharge tray 14 by a pair of discharge rollers 10.

[0019] When forming images on both sides of the recording material P, the pair of discharge rollers 10 switches back the recording material P with the image formed on the first side, thereby guiding the recording material P to a double-sided conveying path 16. The recording material P guided to the double-sided conveying path 16 is conveyed again toward the transfer roller 7 by the pair of double-sided conveying rollers 5d. After an image is formed on the second side of the recording material P by the transfer roller 7, the recording material P is discharged outside the apparatus by the pair of discharge rollers 10. In addition, after the toner image is transferred to the recording material P, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 is cleaned by a cleaning unit 13.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 has a circuit board 100. The circuit board 100 is composed of a wiring board 101 made of an insulator, and electronic components 111 and 121 soldered to the wiring board 101. Conductive wiring is provided on and inside the wiring board 101, so that the electronic components 111 and 121 are electrically connected. The circuit board 100 has a function of converting AC current supplied from outside the image forming apparatus 1 into DC current, and converting an input voltage to obtain a predetermined voltage value required for the image formation process.

[0021] 2, circuit board 100 is oriented such that the surface of wiring board 101 on which electronic components 111 and 121 are mounted intersects with the ejection direction. Furthermore, wiring board 101 is provided between front cover 70 and optical box 50 in the ejection direction. Electronic components 111 and 121 are provided on the surface of wiring board 101 facing optical box 50.

[0022] [Circuit board placement] The arrangement of the circuit board 100 in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figures 3 to 8. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 for explaining the arrangement of the circuit board 100, and unlike Figure 1, the front cover 70 and the exterior cover 71 are omitted. As shown in Figure 3, the circuit board 100 is installed on the front side, and an optical box 50 and a drive motor 60 are provided further back of the circuit board 100 (on the negative side in the Y direction). Note that since the optical box 50 and the drive motor 60 are in positions that cannot actually be seen in Figure 3, they are shown by dotted lines.

[0023] 3, the image forming apparatus 1 has a right side frame 72 (first side frame), a left side frame 73 (second side frame), and a base frame 74. The right side frame 72 supports the right end (first end) of the photosensitive drum 11 in the X direction, and the left side frame 73 supports the left end (second end) of the photosensitive drum 11 in the X direction. The base frame 74 is provided on the bottom surface and supports the right side frame 72 and the left side frame 73 from below.

[0024] The circuit board 100 is supported by these frame members and is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 with its plate surface approximately parallel to the XZ plane. The right side plate frame 72 and the left side plate frame 73 each have bent portions 72a and 73a formed at their ends in the Y direction for reinforcement. The bent portion 72a is bent toward the positive side of the X direction so as to be approximately parallel to the XZ plane, and the bent portion 73a is bent toward the negative side of the X direction so as to be approximately parallel to the XZ plane. In other words, the bent portions 72a and 73a are bent so as to follow the surface of the wiring board 101. In this way, by bending the both side plate frames toward the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 (the direction away from the photosensitive drum 11 in the X direction), electronic components can be mounted on a larger area of ​​the wiring board 101.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 for explaining the arrangement of the circuit board 100. As shown in FIG. 4, the distance L1 between the inner surfaces of the right side plate frame 72 and the left side plate frame 73 in the X direction is shorter than the length L2 of the circuit board 100 in the X direction. The wiring board 101 is disposed on the positive side (front side) of the bent portions 72a and 73a in the Y direction, and the wiring board 101 is in contact with each of the bent portions 72a and 73a. When viewed from the front side, the circuit board 100 and the bent portions 72a and 73a overlap. In FIG. 4, the bent portions 72a and 73a, the optical box 50, and a part of the drive motor 60 are in positions that cannot actually be seen, and therefore are illustrated by dotted lines.

[0026] <Positional relationship between electronic components and optical box> Next, the positional relationship between electronic component 111 and optical box 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0027] 5 is a perspective view of circuit board 100 as viewed from the rear of the main body. Electronic components 111, which are larger in size in the Y direction than other components, are concentrated below wiring board 101 in order to make effective use of space, and are mounted to fit within the lower part of optical box 50. More specifically, electronic components 111 are provided below the center of wiring board 101 in the vertical direction. A power input unit 115 is provided at an end of wiring board 101. Power input unit 115 is connected to an inlet (not shown) and receives power from a commercial power source.

[0028] 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the circuit board 100 as viewed from the left side of the main body. The optical box 50 is disposed in an optimal position for irradiating the photosensitive drum 11 with the laser light indicated by the dashed line. Furthermore, at the location where the optical box 50 and the wiring board 101 are closest to each other in the Y direction, no members such as the electronic component 111 that protrude significantly from the board surface are disposed. In other words, the optical box 50 and the electronic component 101 are disposed with a shift in the Z direction so as not to interfere with each other.

[0029] Fig. 7 is an enlarged top view of the circuit board 100 as viewed from the top of the main body. As can be seen from this figure, the optical box 50 and the electronic components 111 are disposed in positions where they partially overlap each other. As described above, since the optical box 50 is located above the electronic components 111, the electronic components 111 cannot be seen from this direction. In Fig. 7, in order to clearly show the positional relationship between the two components, the optical box 50 is shown by a dotted line, and the electronic components 111 are shown in a see-through form.

[0030] In this way, by arranging the electronic components 111 in the above-mentioned positions, the distance between the circuit board 100 and the optical box 50 in the Y direction (front-rear direction) can be shortened, and the image forming apparatus 1 can be made more compact.

[0031] <Positional relationship between electronic components and drive motor> 5 to 7, the positional relationship between the electronic components 111 and the drive motor 60 will be described in detail. The drive motor 60 plays a role in rotating the members for feeding and transporting the recording material P (the pickup roller 3, the feed roller 5a, the transport roller pair 5c, etc.) and the photosensitive drum 11.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 5, the drive motor 60 protrudes on the negative side in the X direction, and the wiring board 101 is disposed on the front side of the main body relative to the drive motor 60. It can be seen that the electronic component 111 is mounted avoiding the drive motor 60 so as not to interfere with it. As shown in Fig. 6, when viewed from the left side of the main body, the drive motor 60 and the electronic component 111 are disposed in positions where they partially overlap each other. Then, as shown in Fig. 7, when viewed from the top of the main body, the drive motor 60 and the electronic component 111 are disposed offset in the X direction so as not to interfere with each other.

[0033] In this way, by arranging the electronic components 111 in the above-mentioned positions, the distance between the circuit board 100 and the drive motor 60 in the Y direction (front-rear direction) can be shortened, and the image forming apparatus 1 can be made more compact.

[0034] <Mounting configuration to the main unit> Next, the mounting structure of the optical box 50 and the drive motor 60 to the main body will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 adds a right side plate frame 72 and a scanner holding member 40 to the perspective view of Fig. 5. Note that the left side plate frame 73 and base frame 74 are omitted.

[0035] The optical box 50 is held by a scanner holding member 40. The scanner holding member 40 is fixed to a right side plate frame 72 and a left side plate frame 73 (not shown in FIG. 8), respectively, and is configured to bridge the two frames. On the other hand, the drive motor 60 is attached to the right side plate frame 72, and a gear connected to the drive motor 60 is provided on the positive side (right side) of the right side plate frame 72 in the X direction. The drive force of the drive motor 60 is transmitted to the feed roller 5a and the photosensitive drum 11 via this gear.

[0036] [Circuit board configuration] Next, the configuration of the circuit board 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a rear view of the circuit board 100 as seen from the rear side of the main body. Fig. 9 also illustrates not only the circuit board 100, but also the optical box 50 and the drive motor 60.

[0037] The circuit board 100 is composed of a low-voltage power supply unit 110 that takes in AC power from an external commercial power source and converts it to DC power, and a high-voltage power supply unit 120 that supplies high voltages required for image formation to each process component. In the circuit board 100 of this embodiment, the low-voltage power supply unit 110 and the high-voltage power supply unit 120 are mounted on the same board.

[0038] The low-voltage power supply unit 110 includes a low-voltage power supply transformer 112, a heat sink 113, and an electrolytic capacitor 114 as electronic components 111 that are large in size in the Y direction. The low-voltage power supply unit 110 also includes a power input unit 115. The high-voltage power supply unit 120 includes a charging transformer 122, a developing transformer 123, and a transfer transformer 124 as electronic components 121 that are large in size in the Y direction. As is clear from Fig. 9, the electronic components 111 and 121 that are large in size in the Y direction are all positioned so as to avoid the positions of the optical box 50 and the drive motor 60.

[0039] Next, the functions of the low voltage power supply unit 110 and the high voltage power supply unit 120 will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Figure 10 is a block diagram for explaining the function of the circuit board 100.

[0040] First, the low-voltage power supply unit 110 takes in power from an external power supply via a power supply input unit 115 mounted on an end of the circuit board 100, and converts the AC voltage into a stable DC voltage by a rectifying and smoothing circuit including an electrolytic capacitor 114. After that, the low-voltage power supply unit 110 converts the DC voltage into a high-frequency AC voltage by a switching element such as a transistor, and then inputs the high-frequency AC voltage into the low-voltage power supply transformer 112. The low-voltage power supply transformer 112 converts the high-frequency AC voltage, which is the input voltage, into an AC voltage (output voltage) having a desired voltage value. The low-voltage power supply unit 110 converts the AC voltage into a DC voltage again, and outputs the obtained DC voltage to the high-voltage power supply unit 121, the optical box 50, and the like. In addition, since the loss of each circuit component appears as heat in the low-voltage power supply unit 110, a heat sink 113 made of aluminum or iron is provided to dissipate the heat.

[0041] The high-voltage power supply unit 120 converts the voltage (e.g., 24 V) supplied from the low-voltage power supply unit 110 into a high voltage required for the image formation process, such as charging, developing, and transferring. The charging transformer 122 converts the voltage supplied from the low-voltage power supply unit 110 into a voltage for charging, and the converted voltage is then supplied to the charging roller 17. The developing transformer 123 converts the voltage supplied from the low-voltage power supply unit 110 into a voltage for developing, and the converted voltage is then supplied to the developing roller 12. The transfer transformer 124 converts the voltage supplied from the low-voltage power supply unit 110 into a voltage for transferring, and the converted voltage is then supplied to the transfer roller 7.

[0042] The low-voltage power supply unit 110 supplies voltage (e.g., 3.3V or 5V) not only to the high-voltage power supply unit 120 but also to the optical box 50, the drive motor 60, the engine control unit 130, and the video controller 140. Here, the engine control unit 130 plays a role of controlling various process members in an integrated manner. The engine control unit 130 has a CPU (not shown), a RAM (not shown) used for calculations and temporary storage of data required for controlling the image forming apparatus 1, and a ROM (not shown) for storing programs and various data for controlling the image forming apparatus 1. The engine control unit 130 may be provided on a board separate from the circuit board 100, or may be provided on the same board. The video controller 140 plays a role of communicating with an external device such as a personal computer to receive print data, and notifying the engine control unit 130 of the results of analyzing the print data.

[0043] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to further respond to user demands.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the low-voltage power supply unit 110 and the high-voltage power supply unit 120 are provided on the same board (circuit board 100), but the present invention is not limited to this. The two power supply units may be provided on different boards. The board of the low-voltage power supply unit 110 and the board of the high-voltage power supply unit 120 may both be provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, only the board of the low-voltage power supply unit 110 may be provided on the front side, and the board of the high-voltage power supply unit 120 may be provided in a different position.

[0045] Furthermore, only the board of the high-voltage power supply unit 120 may be provided on the front side, and the board of the low-voltage power supply unit 110 may be provided in a different position. In this case, however, it is preferable that the electronic component 121, which is large in size in the Y direction and mounted on the high-voltage power supply unit 120, is arranged so as to avoid the positions of the optical box 50 and the drive motor 60.

[0046] In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the distance L1 between the inner faces of the right side plate frame 72 and the left side plate frame 73 in the X direction is shorter than the length L2 of the circuit board 100 in the X direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the above-mentioned distance L1 may be greater than or equal to the length L2. The wiring board 101 may be provided on the negative side (rear side) of the bent portions 72a, 73a in the Y direction. In other words, the wiring board 101 may be provided in the region between the inner faces of the right side plate frame 72 and the left side plate frame 73.

[0047] In the above embodiment, a part of the low-voltage power supply unit 110 is mounted at a position overlapping with the optical box 50 when viewed from the rear of the main body (a position facing the optical box 50 in the Y direction) as shown in Fig. 9, but this is not limiting. Other circuits such as the high-voltage power supply unit 120 may be mounted, or the circuit board 100 may not be mounted at this position at all.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the feeding cassette 4 is described as being removable from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The feeding cassette 4 may be a tray that is not removable from the image forming apparatus 1, and into which the user can directly insert the recording material P through a feeding opening 81 formed on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0049] 1 and 2, the front cover 70 is provided on the same side (front side) as the side where the feed port 81 is provided. In addition, in the configuration of this embodiment, the feed direction and the discharge direction are opposite to each other but are parallel to each other. Therefore, it can also be said that the front cover 70 is located upstream of the optical box 50 in the feed direction.

[0050] In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the optical box 50 and the electronic components 111 are in a relationship where at least a part of them overlap when viewed in the vertical direction, but this is not limited thereto. The optical box 50 and the electronic components 111 may be arranged with some deviation in the X direction. In other words, the optical box 50 and the electronic components 111 may not overlap when viewed in the vertical direction, but may be in a relationship where at least a part of them overlap when viewed in a direction parallel to the XZ plane and intersecting the vertical direction. In other words, the optical box 50 and the electronic components 111 may be in a relationship where at least a part of them overlap when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction or the feed direction. Even with the above configuration, the distance between the circuit board 100 and the optical box 50 in the Y direction (front-back direction) can be shortened, and the image forming apparatus 1 can be made smaller. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 15 Outlet 50 optical box 70 Front cover 75 Case 100 Circuit Board 101 Wiring board 111, 121 Electronic components

Claims

1. an optical box including a light source for irradiating light onto the image carrier; a housing in which the optical box is provided and which has a discharge port through which a recording material is discharged, the housing including a cover forming an end face of the housing on a downstream side in a discharge direction in which the recording material is discharged from the discharge port, the cover being located downstream of the optical box in the discharge direction, and the cover extending in a vertical direction; a circuit board for converting AC power supplied from an external power source into DC power and supplying power to the light source, the circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components and a wiring board for electrically connecting the plurality of electronic components, the circuit board is disposed in an orientation such that a surface of the wiring board on which the plurality of electronic components are mounted intersects with the ejection direction and the surface extends along the vertical direction and the rotation axis direction of the image carrier, and the wiring board is provided between the cover and the optical box in the ejection direction, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical box and the electronic components are partially overlapped when viewed in the vertical direction.

2. a motor for rotating the image carrier; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor and the plurality of electronic components are partially overlapped when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the image carrier.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the motor and the plurality of electronic components do not overlap when viewed in the vertical direction.

4. a first side plate frame supporting a first end of the image carrier in a direction of a rotation axis of the image carrier; a second side plate frame supporting a second end of the image carrier in a direction of the rotation axis, 4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the width of the circuit board in the direction of the rotation axis is longer than the distance between the first side panel frame and the second side panel frame in the direction of the rotation axis.

5. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first side panel frame has a first bent portion bent along a surface of the wiring board, the second side panel frame has a second bent portion bent along a surface of the wiring board, and the first bent portion and the second bent portion contact the wiring board.

6. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first bent portion and the second bent portion are bent in a direction away from the image carrier in the direction of the rotation axis.

7. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic components are provided below a center of the wiring board in the vertical direction.

8. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electronic components include at least one of a capacitor for smoothing the AC voltage supplied from the external power source, a transformer for converting the input voltage smoothed by the capacitor and converted back into an AC voltage by a switching element into an output voltage to be supplied to the optical box, and a heat sink provided for dissipating heat from the circuit board.

9. an optical box including a light source for irradiating light onto the image carrier; a housing in which the optical box is provided and an opening into which a recording material is inserted is formed, the housing including a cover forming an end face of the housing on the same side as the side on which the opening is formed, the cover being located upstream of the optical box in the predetermined direction, and the cover extending in a vertical direction; a feeding member that feeds the recording material inserted through the opening in a feeding direction; a circuit board for converting AC power supplied from an external power source into DC power and supplying power to the light source, an image forming apparatus characterized in that the circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components and a wiring board for electrically connecting the plurality of electronic components, the circuit board is oriented so that a surface of the wiring board on which the plurality of electronic components are mounted intersects the feed direction and the surface extends along the vertical direction and the rotation axis direction of the image carrier, and the wiring board is provided between the cover and the optical box in the feed direction.

10. a motor for rotating the image carrier; 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the motor and the plurality of electronic components overlap each other when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the image carrier.

11. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the motor and the plurality of electronic components do not overlap when viewed in the vertical direction.

12. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the electronic components are provided below a center of the wiring board in the vertical direction.

13. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of electronic components include at least one of a capacitor for smoothing the AC voltage supplied from the external power source, a transformer for converting the input voltage smoothed by the capacitor and converted back into an AC voltage by a switching element into an output voltage to be supplied to the optical box, and a heat sink provided for dissipating heat from the circuit board.

14. An image forming device as described in any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that when viewed in the vertical direction, the optical box and a portion of the plurality of electronic components overlap.

15. an optical box including a light source for irradiating light onto the image carrier; a housing having the optical box therein and having an outlet through which the recording material is discharged; a circuit board for converting AC supplied from an external power source into DC and supplying power to the light source; the circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components and a wiring board for electrically connecting the plurality of electronic components, the circuit board is disposed in such an orientation that a surface of the wiring board on which the plurality of electronic components are mounted intersects with a discharge direction in which the recording material is discharged from the discharge port, and the surface extends vertically and in a direction of a rotation axis of the image carrier, 2. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an optical box and a part of the electronic components overlap each other when viewed vertically.

Images