IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,811,866

Granted Patent B2

US 8,811,866 · App. 13/403,695 · Granted Aug 19, 2014

Image forming apparatus

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 8,811,866
App. No.: 13/403,695
Granted: Aug 19, 2014
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a detector that detects a density of developer on the image bearing member, a support member supported in the image forming apparatus and removably supporting the detector, a separator disposed with a space from the detector, a first connected unit disposed on the support member between the separator and detector, a second connected unit disposed on the support member on an opposite side of the detector from the first connected unit, a fixing member including a first connecting unit that passes through the space and is supported by the first connected unit and a second connecting unit supported by the second connected unit, where the fixing member fixes the detector to the support member, and a disengagement restricting unit disposed on an opposite side of the detector from the separator so as to be adjacent to the second connecting unit.

Claims (67)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image bearing member that bears a visible image on a surface of the image bearing member;

a detecting unit that is disposed so as to face the image bearing member and that detects a density of a developer on the surface of the image bearing member;

a support member that removably supports the detecting unit and that is supported by a body of the image forming apparatus;

a separating member that is disposed with a space from the detecting unit;

a first connected unit that is disposed on the support member between the separating member and the detecting unit;

a second connected unit that is disposed on the support member on an opposite side of the detecting unit from the first connected unit;

a fixing member that includes a first connecting unit that passes through the space formed between the separating member and the detecting unit and is supported by the first connected unit and a second connecting unit that is supported by the second connected unit, the fixing member fixing the detecting unit to the support member; and

a disengagement restricting unit that is disposed on an opposite side of the detecting unit from the separating member so as to be adjacent to the second connecting unit supported by the second connected unit;

wherein if an external force is exerted on the fixing member, the disengagement restricting unit interferes with movement of the second connecting unit and restricts deformation of the fixing member,

wherein the disengagement restricting unit has a fixing surface which faces the space formed between the separating member and the detecting unit and the second connecting unit has a contacting surface which faces the fixing surface, and

wherein the fixing surface and the contacting surface contact each other.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the disengagement restricting unit includes a terminal unit connected to a connecting wire that extends from the body of the image forming apparatus and that is electrically connected to the detecting unit, and wherein the disengagement restricting unit is removable from the support member together with the detecting unit in an integrated manner.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the support member is removably supported by the body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the body of the image forming apparatus has a mounting port through which the support member is mounted or dismounted, and the mounting port is formed so as to be close to the first connected unit of the support member.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a first positioned unit provided on the detecting unit;

a first positioning unit provided in the support member, the first positioning unit engaging with the first positioned unit so as to secure the detecting unit in place;

a second positioned unit provided in one of the detecting unit and the support member so as to be located closer to the first connected unit than each of the first positioned unit and the first positioning unit; and

a second positioning unit provided in the other of the detecting unit and the support member, the second positioning unit having a slot shape extending in a direction from the second connected unit to the first connected unit, the second positioning unit engaging with the second positioned unit and ensuring positioning of the detecting unit in a direction that intersects with a direction from the second connected unit to the first connected unit.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support member is removably supported by the body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the body of the image forming apparatus has a mounting port through which the support member is mounted or dismounted, and the mounting port is formed so as to be close to the first connected unit of the support member.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first positioned unit provided on the detecting unit;

a first positioning unit provided in the support member, the first positioning unit engaging with the first positioned unit so as to secure the detecting unit in place;

7. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image bearing member that bears a visible image on a surface of the image bearing member;

a detecting unit that is disposed so as to face the image bearing member and that detects a density of a developer on the surface of the image bearing member;

a support member that removably supports the detecting unit and that is supported by a body of the image forming apparatus;

a separating member that is disposed with a space from the detecting unit;

a first connected unit that is disposed on the support member between the separating member and the detecting unit;

a second connected unit that is disposed on the support member on an opposite side of the detecting unit from the first connected unit;

a disengagement restricting unit that is disposed on an opposite side of the detecting from the separating member so as to be adjacent to the second connecting unit supported by the second connected unit;

a unit to be contacted that is disposed on the detecting unit;

wherein if an external force is exerted on the fixing member, the disengagement restricting unit interferes with movement of the second connecting unit and restricts deformation of the fixing member,

wherein the fixing member includes a pressing unit that fixes the detecting unit to the support member by contacting the unit to be contacted and urging the detecting unit against the support member.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a first pressing connection unit; and

a second pressing connection unit;

wherein the unit to be contacted is disposed on an opposite side of the detecting unit from the support member, and wherein a first end representing one end of the first connecting unit is supported by the first connected unit, and a second end representing the other end is located at a position further away from the unit to be contacted, and wherein a third end representing one end of the second connecting unit is supported by the second connected unit, and a fourth end representing the other end is located at a position further away from the unit to be contacted, and wherein the first pressing connection unit diagonally extends from the second end to the pressing unit, and the second pressing connection unit diagonally extends from the fourth end to the pressing unit.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the disengagement restricting unit includes a terminal unit connected to a connecting wire that extends from the body of the image forming apparatus and that is electrically connected to the detecting unit, and wherein the disengagement restricting unit is removable from the support member together with the detecting unit in an integrated manner.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the support member is removably supported by the body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the body of the image forming apparatus has a mounting port through which the support member is mounted or dismounted, and the mounting port is formed so as to be close to the first connected unit of the support member.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a first positioned unit provided on the detecting unit;

a first positioning unit provided in the support member, the first positioning unit engaging with the first positioned unit so as to secure the detecting unit in place;

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the support member is removably supported by the body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the body of the image forming apparatus has a mounting port through which the support member is mounted or dismounted, and the mounting port is formed so as to be close to the first connected unit of the support member.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a first positioned unit provided on the detecting unit;

a first positioning unit provided in the support member, the first positioning unit engaging with the first positioned unit so as to secure the detecting unit in place;

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the disengagement restricting unit includes a terminal unit connected to a connecting wire that extends from the body of the image forming apparatus and that is electrically connected to the detecting unit, and wherein the disengagement restricting unit is removable from the support member together with the detecting unit in an integrated manner.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the support member is removably supported by the body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the body of the image forming apparatus has a mounting port through which the support member is mounted or dismounted, and the mounting port is formed so as to be close to the first connected unit of the support member.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a first positioned unit provided on the detecting unit;

a first positioning unit provided in the support member, the first positioning unit engaging with the first positioned unit so as to secure the detecting unit in place;

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the support member is removably supported by the body of the image forming apparatus, and wherein the body of the image forming apparatus has a mounting port through which the support member is mounted or dismounted, and the mounting port is formed so as to be close to the first connected unit of the support member.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a first positioned unit provided on the detecting unit;

a first positioning unit provided in the support member, the first positioning unit engaging with the first positioned unit so as to secure the detecting unit in place;

Assignments (1)

CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 12, 2021

From: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.

To: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.

Reel/Frame 058287/0056 →