Image forming device

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 that forms 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 (intermediate contact spring) that is conductive with the power supply board, and a cartridge that can be conductive with the conductive member. In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the opening / closing member is in the open position, the conductive member and the cartridge are disconnected, and when the opening / closing member is in the closed position, the conductive member and the cartridge are conductive. [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] In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when installing or removing a cartridge, the user must move the opening / closing member to the open position to access the inside of the image forming apparatus. In this case, the user may come into contact with a conductive member or its vicinity, potentially resulting in 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 an apparatus main body, 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 attached to or detached from the apparatus main body through the opening, and a closed position that closes the opening and prevents the cartridge from being attached to or detached 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 part that is electrically connected to the power supply part, the conductive part coming into contact with the first electrical contact when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, thereby electrically connecting the first electrical contact and the power supply part; a ground connection connected to ground; and the conductive portion includes a torsion coil spring, the torsion coil spring includes a coil portion, a first arm extending from the coil portion, and a second arm extending from the coil portion; the first arm has a first contact that comes into contact with the first electrical contact when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body; When the opening / closing portion is in the open position and the cartridge is not attached to the main body of the apparatus, ,before Abutting against the ground connection part and a second contact for An image forming apparatus comprising: [Effects 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 explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] (a) to (b) Plan views of the conductive part. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are perspective and plan views of a guide portion. [Figure 5] 10(a) and 10(b) are schematic diagrams of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 10(a) and 10(b) are plan views of a conductive part according to Example 2. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[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 referred to as the Z direction. The direction intersecting the Z direction and the direction of the rotation axis of a photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) 105 (described later) is referred to as the Y direction. The direction intersecting both the Z direction and the Y direction is referred to as the X direction. The X direction and the Y direction are preferably horizontal. The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are preferably perpendicular to each other. As necessary, the directions of the arrows X, Y, and Z shown in each drawing will be referred to as the +X side, the +Y side, and the +Z side, respectively, and the opposite sides will be referred to as the -X side, the -Y side, and the -Z side, respectively. In the following description, the -Y direction may be referred to as the first direction, and the +Y direction opposite the -Y direction may be referred to as the second direction.

[0010] (Configuration of image forming device) 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. A variety of papers of different sizes and materials can be used as recording materials for the image forming apparatus 1, including paper such as plain paper and cardboard, paper with a surface treatment such as plastic film, cloth, or coated paper, and paper in 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 photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) 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 recording materials. 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 openable / closable member (stacking section) 111 is a stacking 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 Figures 1 and 2. Figure 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 of the apparatus main body 1a on the +Z direction side. The opening and closing member 111 can rotate around the Y direction as its 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 member 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 member 111 allows the cartridge 100 to be mounted or removed.

[0015] 1, the opening / closing unit 111 can be positioned at a closed position where it closes the opening 2 provided in the image forming apparatus 1. When the opening / closing unit 111 is in the closed position, it prevents the cartridge 100 from being installed in or removed from the apparatus main body 1a. In other words, the opening / closing unit 111 prevents the cartridge 100 from being installed or removed. The opening / closing unit 111 can move from the open position to the closed position and from the closed position to the open position. In summary, the opening / closing unit 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 installed or removed from the apparatus main body 1a through the opening 2, and a closed position where it closes the opening 2 and prevents the cartridge 100 from being installed or removed from the apparatus main body 1a.

[0016] (Electrical connection configuration) Next, the configuration relating to 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 attached 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 has been attached 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 (described later), thereby enabling 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 providing electrical continuity between 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 and is connected to the frame 4 (ground) for electrical continuity.

[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 attached to 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] Furthermore, the guide portion 502 is formed with a through hole 403 that penetrates 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 or removing the cartridge) Next, in this embodiment, the operation of the first conductive portion 405 when the cartridge 100 is attached to the device main body 1a will be described with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the first conductive portion 405 has a first contact 405a and a second contact 405b. As will be described later, the first contact 405a is electrically connected to the first electrical contact 500. As shown in FIG. 3(a), when the opening / closing portion 111 is in the open position and the cartridge 100 is not attached to the device main body 1a, the second contact 405b abuts the ground connection portion 501. This prevents a user from receiving an electric shock if they touch the first conductive portion 405 when the cartridge 100 is not attached to the device main body 1a. When the cartridge 100 is not attached to the device main body 1a, the first contact 405a is upstream of the guide portion 502 and the second contact 405b is downstream of the guide portion 502 in the -Y direction (first direction). In addition, 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 attached to the apparatus main body 1a. When the cartridge 100 is attached to 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 releases the contact between the second contact 405b and 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, and therefore the first contact 405a presses the first electrical contact 500. This establishes electrical conduction between the first contact 405a and the first electrical contact 500, thereby establishing electrical conduction between the cartridge 100 and the power supply unit 3 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 preventing an electric shock when a user touches the vicinity of the first conductive portion 405 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the area inside a virtual circle centered on the first contact point 405a is defined as region 406. Even if the user does not touch the first contact point 405a, if the user touches a part of the guide portion 502 included in region 406, there is a possibility of receiving an electric shock. The radius of the circle that constitutes 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 for every 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 region 406 is 24 mm.

[0027] Area 600 shown in FIG. 4(b) is an area 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 area 406. More specifically, when viewed in the Y direction, the cartridge 100 overlaps with an imaginary circle centered on the first contact point 405a. This prevents the cartridge 100 from touching the guide portion 502 included in area 406.

[0028] The above has described the configuration related to the voltage supply to the charging roller 107, 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. Furthermore, the inner region of an imaginary circle centered on the third contact 805a can be defined as 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 point 405a, the second contact point 405b, the first ground connection portion 501, the first electrical contact point 500, the through hole 403, and the region 406 similarly apply to the second conductive portion 805, the third contact point 805a, the fourth contact point 805b, the second ground connection portion 801, the second electrical contact point 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 section 111 is in a closed position. FIG. 5(b) is a diagram showing a state in which the opening / closing section 111 is in an open position. A ground unit 601 in the second embodiment is different in configuration from the first ground connection section 501 in the second embodiment. Also, the image forming apparatus 1 in the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it has a link section 700. Other configurations in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, so descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0031] Next, the link portion 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 portion 601a, a second ground connection portion 601b, and a support member 601c. The first ground connection portion 601a and the second ground connection portion 601b are supported by the support member 601c. The first ground connection portion 601a and the second ground connection portion 601b each include a metal member. The first ground connection portion 601a and the second ground connection portion 601b are each electrically connected to the frame 4 and function as grounds in the image forming apparatus 1. In other words, the first ground connection portion 601a and the second ground connection portion 601b have a ground potential.

[0032] The link unit 700 is a link mechanism in which multiple links are connected. One end of the link unit 700 is fixed to the opening / closing unit 111, and the other end opposite the one end is fixed to a support member 601c of the grounding unit 601. The link unit 700 and the grounding unit 601 are configured to be movable as the opening / closing unit 111 moves. When the opening / closing unit 111 is in the closed position, the grounding unit 601 is in the second position. When the opening / closing unit 111 is in the open position, the grounding 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 grounding 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 grounding unit 601 moves from the first position to the second position. As will be described later, the first position is a position where the grounding 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 the conductive part due to the movement of the 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 located 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 a user from getting an electric shock when touching the first conductive portion 405.

[0036] When the opening / closing unit 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 unit 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 above has described the configuration related to the voltage supply to the charging roller 107, 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 descriptions 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 apply 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 installed 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 an apparatus main body, 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 attached to or detached from the apparatus main body through the opening, and a closed position that closes the opening and prevents the cartridge from being attached to or detached 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 part that is electrically connected to the power supply part, the conductive part coming into contact with the first electrical contact when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, thereby electrically connecting the first electrical contact to the power supply part; a ground connection connected to ground; and the conductive portion includes a torsion coil spring, the torsion coil spring includes a coil portion, a first arm extending from the coil portion, and a second arm extending from the coil portion; an image forming apparatus characterized in that the first arm has a first contact that abuts against the first electrical contact when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, and a second contact that abuts against the ground connection portion when the opening / closing portion is in the open position and the cartridge is not attached to the apparatus main body.

2. When the cartridge is not attached to the device body, the second contact abuts against a ground connection portion, When the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main 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 disengaged, and the second contact and the ground connection portion are brought into contact.

3. the cartridge has a photoreceptor capable of carrying an electrostatic latent image; When the cartridge is attached to the main body of the apparatus, the first contact and the first electrical contact come into contact with each other, and the first electrical contact presses the first contact, causing the second contact to move in a first direction, which is the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive member, 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 and the first electrical contact are disengaged, and the second contact moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction and comes into contact with the ground connection portion.

4. a guide portion that supports one end of the cartridge in the first direction and guides the cartridge in a moving direction when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body; the guide portion has a through-hole that penetrates the guide portion in the first direction, The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first contact point 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. An image forming apparatus as described in Claim 6, characterized in that when the cartridge is attached to the device main body, the torsion coil spring exerts an elastic force so that the first contact presses the first electrical contact in a second direction.

8. When the switching part is in the open position, the second contact is in contact with the ground connection part, When the opening / closing portion moves from the open position to the closed position, the abutment between the second contact 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 second contact 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. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein 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 second contact to a second position in which it does not abut the second contact.

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.

11. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that the second contact point is located closer to the tip of the first arm than the first contact point.

Images