Exposure Device Conductive Member for Compact Grounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exposure heads in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges in downsizing laterally while maintaining electrical connectivity between the substrate and holder, which can lead to increased size and potential noise interference.
Innovation Solution
The exposure device incorporates a substrate with light emitting elements mounted in a longitudinal direction, a lens array, and a metal housing with support portions that allow for electrical connection through conductive members, ensuring stable conduction and reducing the lateral size by integrating the substrate and lens array within a U-shaped metal housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the outside of the holder is clamped to electrically connect the substrate and holder, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but the lateral size of the exposure head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive member transitions the electrical connection from a lateral clamping configuration to a longitudinal configuration along the substrate length. The conductive member extends in the longitudinal direction, allowing electrical connection without increasing lateral dimensions, thus resolving the contradiction between electrical connectivity and compact lateral size.
Solution Approach 2:
A conductive member is introduced as an intermediary element between the substrate and holder to establish electrical connection. This intermediary component enables reliable electrical connectivity while being configured to fit within the existing lateral space, preventing size increase.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a metal holder is used to reduce heat deformation, then thermal stability improves, but the complexity of electrical connection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder and substrate support functions are merged into a single metal holder structure with integrated substrate support portions. The electrical connection is simplified by using the metal holder's inherent conductivity, eliminating the need for separate grounding clamps or additional electrical connection components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration maintains compact size and minimizes noise interference by securing stable electrical connections, preventing dust and cut powder contamination, and reducing image defects such as white streaks.
Implementation Method 1
a lens array that condenses light emitted from the light emitting elements on the photoconductor
Implementation Method 2
a conductive member that has a first conductive portion in contact with the contact and a second conductive portion in contact with a surface of the first substrate support portion that supports the substrate, and allows conduction between the substrate and the metal housing
Data Source
AI summary
An exposure device that exposes a photoconductor, includes a substrate having one surface on which a plurality of light emitting elements is mounted and the other surface on which a contact is provided, a lens array that condenses light emitted from the light emitting elements on the photoconductor, a metal housing that has a lens support portion that supports the lens array, a first substrate support portion supports one end side of the substrate in a lateral direction, and a second substrate support portion supports the other end side of the substrate in the lateral direction, and a conductive member that has a first conductive portion in contact with the contact and a second conductive portion in contact with a surface of the first substrate support portion that supports the substrate, and allows conduction between the substrate and the metal housing.