CN104570638B - Power supplier and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a power supply device and an image forming device. The power supply device includes: a fixed terminal part; The terminal parts are electrically connected; the sliding part supports the moving terminal part, and the sliding part performs sliding movement; the guide bolt is equipped with a positioning part fitted with a guide hole of the sliding part, and the cross-sectional area is smaller than that of the positioning part A shaft portion of a cross-sectional area, and a connection portion between the positioning portion and the shaft portion, the guide bolt guides the sliding portion; and an elastic portion presses the sliding portion in the direction of the fixed terminal portion .

Description

Power supply device and image forming device

technical field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a power supply device and an image forming apparatus in which a device main body and a unit detachable from the device main body are electrically connected.

Background technique

As a power supply device for electrically connecting the main body of the image forming apparatus and various detachable units, there is a drawer connector provided with a guide function for correcting deviation between terminals on the unit side and terminals on the main body.

If the deviation between the terminal on the unit side and the terminal on the main body of the device is greater than the degree of freedom of the guide function of the drawer connector, a load is applied to the drawer connector and there is a possibility of damage.

Contents of the invention

According to an embodiment, a power supply device according to one aspect includes: a fixed terminal part; The moving terminal part is electrically connected to the fixed terminal part; the sliding part supports the moving terminal part, and the sliding part performs sliding movement; the guide bolt has a positioning part fitted with a guide hole of the sliding part, a shaft portion having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the positioning portion, and a connecting portion between the positioning portion and the shaft portion, the guide bolt guiding the sliding portion; and an elastic portion along the fixed terminal portion Direction pressurizes the slide.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an MFP according to an embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural view of the drawer-type connector in a state where the insertion terminal is close to the power supply terminal as viewed from above according to the embodiment;

3 is a schematic perspective view showing a power supply terminal and a supporting metal plate according to the embodiment;

4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a pin guide and a pin receiving portion of the drawer connector according to the embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of a support metal plate supported by studs;

Fig. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a stud and a coil spring according to the embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural view of the drawer-type connector in which the insertion terminal is in contact with the power supply terminal, viewed from above according to the embodiment;

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural view of the drawer-type connector in which the insertion terminal is embedded in the power supply terminal viewed from above according to the embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a schematic explanatory view of a state where the support metal plate of the embodiment slides perpendicularly to the stud; and

Fig. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a state in which the support metal plate of the embodiment slides obliquely.

detailed description

Embodiments will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main body of the embodiment, for example, a color MFP (Multi Functional Peripheral, multifunctional printer) 1 as an image forming apparatus. The MFP 1 includes a printer unit 10 as an image forming unit, a supply unit 11 , a discharge unit 12 , and a scanner 13 .

The supply unit 11 includes a first supply cassette 37a, a second supply cassette 37b, and a large-capacity supply cassette 38 as a unit. Each of the supply cassettes 37a, 37b, and 38 includes pickup rollers 34a, 34b, and 34c for taking out a sheet P as a recording medium.

The printer unit 10 includes four sets of image forming stations 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) arranged in parallel along the intermediate transfer belt 15 . The image forming stations 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K include photosensitive drums 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K, respectively.

Each image forming station 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K includes chargers 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, and developing devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K around photosensitive drums 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K that rotate in the direction of arrow a. and photoreceptor cleaners 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K. The printer unit 10 includes a laser exposure device 22 constituting an image forming unit. Laser exposure device 22 irradiates laser beams 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K corresponding to the respective colors to photosensitive drums 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K. The laser exposure device 22 irradiates laser light to form electrostatic latent images on the respective photosensitive drums 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K.

The printer unit 10 includes a support roller 27 and a driven roller 28 that support the intermediate transfer belt 15 , and drives the intermediate transfer belt 15 in the direction of arrow b. The printer unit 10 includes primary transfer rollers 23Y, 23M, 23C, and 23K at positions facing the photosensitive drums 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K, respectively, with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween. The respective primary transfer rollers 23Y, 23M, 23C, and 23K primary transfer the toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 , overlapping the toner images sequentially. The respective photoreceptor cleaners 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K remove toner remaining on the respective photoreceptor drums 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K after primary transfer.

The printer unit 10 includes a secondary transfer roller 31 at a position facing a back-up roller 27 via the intermediate transfer belt 15 . The secondary transfer roller 31 is driven by the intermediate transfer belt 15 to rotate in the direction of the arrow c. In accordance with the timing when the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 reaches the position of the secondary transfer roller 31 , the printer section 10 conveys the sheet P taken out from the supply section 11 to the secondary transfer roller along the conveyance path 36 . Printing roller 31 position. During the secondary transfer, the printer unit 10 forms a transfer bias in the nip between the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer roller 31 , and transfers the entire toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 15 to the secondary transfer. Transferred onto sheet P. The printer unit 10 includes a fixing unit 32 downstream of the secondary transfer roller 31 along the transport path 36 .

When printing starts, the MFP 1 transfers an image formed in the printer unit 10 onto a sheet P supplied from the supply unit 11 , and after fixing, it is discharged to the discharge unit 12 by the discharge roller pair 33 . The image forming apparatus is not limited to the serial system. The image forming devices may be of a parallel system or the like, and the number of developing devices is not limited. The image forming device may also be a device that directly transfers a toner image from a photoreceptor onto a recording medium.

The bulk supply cassette 38 will be described in detail. The bulk supply cassette 38 includes a first storage portion 38a and a second storage portion 38b for storing sheets P. As shown in FIG. The large-capacity supply cassette 38 is pulled out on the front side of the MFP 1 , and supplies sheets P to, for example, the first storage portion 38 a and the second storage portion 38 b. The large-volume supply cassette 38 includes a supply mechanism 40 that supplies the sheet P in the second storage section 38b to the first storage section 38a when the first storage section 38a is empty.

The supply mechanism 40 is reciprocated in the arrow q direction by, for example, a drive unit 41 including a motor. The supply mechanism 40 returns to the second storage part 38b after feeding the sheet P from the second storage part 38b to the first storage part 38a. Power is supplied to the drive unit 41 using a drawer connector 50 as a power supply device disposed on the rear side of the MFP 1 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , the drawer connector 50 includes an insertion terminal 51 as a fixed terminal portion and a unit-side terminal portion, and a power supply terminal 52 as a movable terminal portion. The power supply terminal 52 is connected to a power source, and supplies power to the insertion terminal 51 . The power supply terminal 52 is attached to and detached from the insertion terminal 51 in accordance with the attachment and detachment of the large-capacity supply cartridge 38 which can be attached to and detached from the main body. Electrical connection is possible between the power supply terminal 52 and the insertion terminal 51 . The rear frame 38c of the bulk supply cassette 38 fixedly supports the insertion terminal 51 . The housing frame 1 a of the MFP 1 supports the power supply terminal 52 so as to be slidable.

In the drawer connector 50 , the insertion terminal 51 and the power supply terminal 52 are attached and detached in accordance with the operation of attaching and detaching the large-capacity supply cassette 38 to the MFP 1 . When the large-capacity supply cassette 38 is pulled out toward the front of the MFP 1 , the insertion terminal 51 of the drawer connector 50 is separated from the power supply terminal 52 . When the drawn large-capacity supply cassette 38 is attached to the MFP 1 , the drawer connector 50 fits the insertion terminal 51 into the power supply terminal 52 .

The insertion terminal 51 has a pin 51a. The pin 51 a is fitted into a pin receiving portion 52 b serving as a guide plug of the power supply terminal 52 shown in FIG. 3 . The power supply terminal 52 has a pin 52a. The pin 52 a is fitted into a pin receiving portion 51 b serving as a guide plug of the insertion terminal 51 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , the tip of each of the pins 51a and 52a is an inclined guide, and includes a pin guide 53 with a tapered tip. The receiving guide portion 54 of the entrance of the pin receiving portion 51b, 52b is formed wide and inclined for easy insertion into the pin guide 53 . The pins 51a, 52a and the pin receiving portions 51b, 52b can correct the deviation even when the insertion terminal 51 is slightly deviated from the power supply terminal 52 . The pins 51 a , 52 a and the pin receiving portions 51 b , 52 b guide the insertion terminal 51 to fit into the power supply terminal 52 . The level difference of the pin guide 53 is formed as F, for example. A dotted line α indicates the center line of the pin guide 53 .

The main body frame 1 a of the MFP 1 supports the support metal plate 56 , which is a sliding portion included in the drawer connector 50 , so that the support metal plate 56 can slide. The support metal plate 56 included in the drawer connector 50 supports the power supply terminal 52 . The support metal plate 56 has a circular first sheet metal hole 57 which is a guide hole, and an oval second sheet metal hole 58 . As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the supporting metal plate 56 slides along the studs 60 serving as guide studs inserted through the first metal hole 57 and the second metal hole 58 respectively. The first sheet metal hole 57 is formed with a diameter of φE, for example. The second sheet metal hole 58 is elliptical with a minor diameter E. The oval-shaped second sheet metal hole 58 adjusts the deviation during assembly when the supporting metal plate 56 is installed on the main body frame 1 a through the stud 60 .

The stud 60 included in the drawer connector 50 has a base 62 that is a positioning portion on the front end portion 61 side fixed to the main body frame 1a by the screw 1b. The stud 60 includes a shaft 63 as a shaft portion, and a taper 64 as a connecting portion between the base portion 62 and the shaft 63 . The stud 60 has a spring support plate 66 which is a spring fixing portion on the rear end side, and a second connection portion 67 in which a tapered portion 67 a is formed between the spring support plate 66 and the shaft 63 .

The diameter of the section of the base 62 of the stud 60 is φE. The base 62 fits into the first sheet metal hole 57 and the second sheet metal hole 58 and positions the support metal plate 56 . The cross-sectional diameter of the shaft 63 of the stud 60 is φB which is smaller than the diameter φE of the base 62 . The diameter φB of the shaft 63 is smaller than the diameter of the first sheet metal hole 57 and the short diameter of the second sheet metal hole 58 . The diameter φB of the shaft is sized so long as the first sheet metal hole 57 and the second sheet metal hole 58 do not mesh with the shaft 63 when the supporting metal plate 56 tilts and slides. The dimension of the diameter φB of the shaft is preferably φE-φB>F.

The elastic part, for example, the coil spring 70 is interposed between the main body frame 1 a and the spring support plate 66 . The coil spring 70 is a coil spring embedded in the stud 60 . The coil spring 70 included in the drawer connector 50 pressurizes and supports the metal plate 56 in the insertion direction of the terminal 51 . The coil spring 70 is pressed by a force equal to or greater than that required for fitting the insertion terminal 51 and the power supply terminal 52 . However, the elastic force of the coil spring 70 is sufficiently small for the locking force to maintain the state in which the large-volume supply cartridge 38 is attached.

Disengagement or engagement of the drawer connector 50 when the large-capacity supply cassette 38 is pulled out from the MFP 1 or attached to the MFP 1 will be described. For example, when the drawn large-capacity supply cassette 38 is inserted into the MFP 1 , the insertion terminal 51 of the drawer connector 50 approaches the power supply terminal 52 as shown in FIG. 2 .

Then, when the large-capacity supply cassette 38 is inserted to the mounting position and mounted at the mounting position of the MFP 1 , the insertion terminal 51 of the drawer connector 50 abuts against the power supply terminal 52 as shown in FIG. 7 . Then, the insertion terminal 51 of the drawer connector 50 is fitted into the power supply terminal 52 as shown in FIG. 8 . The insertion terminal 51 slides the support metal plate 56 in the arrow t direction against the biasing force of the coil spring 70 after abutting against the power supply terminal 52 . The insertion terminal 51 fits into the power supply terminal 52 while pressing the power supply terminal 52 in the arrow t direction.

As shown in FIG. 9 , when the supporting metal plate 56 slides in the arrow t direction while keeping the stud 60 perpendicular, the pressing force of the insertion terminal 51 is evenly applied to the power supply terminal 52 . The insertion terminal 51 is smoothly fitted into the power supply terminal 52 . After the insertion terminal 51 is inserted into the power supply terminal 52 , the power supply terminal 52 moves in the direction of the arrow u due to the pressing force of the coil spring 70 . The power supply terminal 52 moves in the direction of the arrow u to a preferred position corresponding to the fixing position of the insertion terminal 51 fixed to the large-volume supply cassette 38, and then stops. That is, the coil spring 70 is pressed in a direction away from the spring support plate 66 and the support metal plate 56 at the rear end of the stud 60 .

When the power supply terminal 52 is in a preferred position, the first sheet metal hole 57 and the second sheet metal hole 58 are embedded in the base 62 of the stud 60 to stably position the power supply terminal 52 . When the power supply terminal 52 moves along the arrow u direction, even if the first sheet metal hole 57 and the second sheet metal hole 58 are located at the axis 63 , they move smoothly along the tapered portion 64 to the base portion 62 . The tapered portions 64 and 67 a disposed on both sides of the shaft 63 of the stud 60 return the coil spring 70 to a normal position when, for example, the coil spring 70 deforms and deviates.

When the insertion terminal 51 presses the power supply terminal 52 in the direction of arrow t, as shown in FIG. 10 , the support metal plate 56 may slide obliquely with respect to the stud 60 . Even in the case where the support metal plate 56 slides obliquely, the first sheet metal hole 57 or the second sheet metal hole 58 slides in the arrow t direction along the shaft 63 having a thin diameter. Even if the support metal plate 56 slides obliquely, there is no fear that the first sheet metal hole 57 or the second sheet metal hole 58 engages with the stud 60 and the sliding action stops.

Even if the support metal plate 56 slides obliquely with respect to the stud 60 , the support metal plate 56 continues to slide in the direction of the arrow t along the shaft 63 . While the support metal plate 56 slides in the direction of the arrow t, the insertion terminal 51 is guided by the pin guide 53 and the receiving guide 54 , fits into the power supply terminal 52 exactly, and stops at a predetermined position.

When the insertion terminal 51 stops at a predetermined position together with the bulk supply cartridge 38 , the power supply terminal 52 moved in the direction of arrow t is pushed back by the coil spring 70 . While the sheet metal holes 57 , 58 of the support metal plate 56 move along the tapered portion 64 in the arrow u direction, the pushed back power supply terminal 52 is smoothly fitted into the insertion terminal 51 and stops at a preferred position.

The insertion terminal 51 is separated from the power supply terminal 52 following the operation of taking out the large-capacity supply cartridge 38 from the MFP 1 . When the insertion terminal 51 is pulled in the arrow u direction in the state where the drawer connector 50 shown in FIG. 8 is inserted, the support metal plate 56 comes to rest after abutting against the rear frame 1a. Then, by pulling the insertion terminal 51 in the arrow u direction, the insertion terminal 51 is separated from the power supply terminal 52 .

With respect to the stud 60 of the embodiment, as a comparative example, a cylindrical stud having the same diameter as the sheet metal hole of the supporting metal plate is used as a guide when the metal plate is slidably supported. In the comparative example, when the support metal plate slid obliquely, there were cases where the sheet metal holes were engaged with the studs. Once the sheet metal hole is engaged with the stud, the supporting metal plate is locked to slide in the engaged position without moving. The power supply terminal supported by the metal plate is locked and slid while being kept tilted.

Even if the insertion terminal is forcibly pressed into the power supply terminal which is locked and slid in an inclined state, the insertion terminal does not fit into the power supply terminal exactly. In the comparative example, since the insertion terminal was not fitted into the power supply terminal exactly, the power supply to the large-capacity supply cartridge was unstable. Also, in the comparative example, since the insertion terminal was barely pressed into the power supply terminal locked and slid in the inclined state, breakage of the drawer connector occurred.

According to the present embodiment, the shaft 63 having a smaller diameter than the base portion 62 is provided on the stud 60 that guides the sliding of the support metal plate 56 . The base 62 and the shaft 63 are connected by a tapered portion 64 . Even when the support metal plate 56 slides obliquely when the bulk supply cassette 38 is attached to the MFP 1 , the support metal plate 56 is prevented from engaging with the stud 60 and stopping the slide. Even in the case where the support metal plate 56 slides obliquely, the insertion terminal 51 can be just fitted into the power supply terminal 52 while the support metal plate 56 continues to slide. Even when the support metal plate 56 slides obliquely, it is possible to prevent the power supply to the bulk supply cassette 38 from being unstable or the drawer connector 50 from being damaged.

In this embodiment, the unit is not limited to a large-capacity supply cassette, and may be, for example, a fixing unit or a unitized image forming station. In this embodiment, the arrangement positions of the fixed terminal part and the movable terminal part are not limited, and for example, the fixed terminal part may be fixed on the main body side, and the movable terminal part may be arranged on the unit side. When the fixed terminal part and the movable terminal part are fitted, if they can be electrically connected, the fixed terminal part can be connected to a power source, and power can be supplied from the fixed terminal part to the movable terminal part. In addition, if the guide hole of the sliding part can be smoothly moved between the positioning part and the shaft, the connecting part of the guide bolt may also be curved. In addition, in this embodiment, the main body is not limited to an image forming apparatus, and may be, for example, an image erasing apparatus as long as it includes detachable units necessary for electrical connection.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described above, these embodiments are illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the various novel methods and systems described in this specification may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Also, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described in this specification may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Rather, the appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A power supply device, characterized in that, comprising: Fixed terminal part; a movable terminal part, which is attached to and detached from the fixed terminal part according to the attachment and detachment of the unit attached to and detached from the main body, and is electrically connected between the movable terminal part and the fixed terminal part; a sliding part supporting the moving terminal part, and the sliding part performs sliding movement; The guide bolt has a positioning portion fitted into the guide hole of the sliding portion, a shaft portion having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the positioning portion, and a connecting portion between the positioning portion and the shaft portion, the a guide bolt guides the slider; and an elastic portion that presses the sliding portion in the direction of the fixed terminal portion, The power supply device further includes a guide plug that guides the fixed terminal portion and the movable terminal portion to the embedded position, at a position where the front hole of the guide plug is widest relative to the inclined guide. When F is the step of the distance difference between the thinnest edges at the tip, φE is the diameter of the guide hole, and φB is the diameter of the shaft, φE-φB>F. 2. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein: The fixed terminal portion is a unit-side terminal portion fixed to the unit, the sliding portion slides with respect to the main body, and the guide bolt is fixed to the main body. 3. The power supply device according to claim 2, wherein: The guide bolt fixes the front end portion on the side of the positioning portion to the main body, The elastic portion is a coil spring embedded in the guide bolt, and the elastic portion is pressed in a direction away from the spring fixing portion at the rear end portion of the guide bolt and the sliding portion. 4. An image forming device, comprising: a main body including an image forming portion that forms an image on a recording medium; Fixed terminal part; a movable terminal portion, which is attached to and detached from the fixed terminal portion according to the attachment and detachment of the unit attached to and detached from the main body, and is electrically connected between the movable terminal portion and the fixed terminal portion; a sliding part supporting the moving terminal part, and the sliding part performs sliding movement; The guide bolt has a positioning portion fitted into the guide hole of the sliding portion, a shaft portion having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the positioning portion, and a connecting portion between the positioning portion and the shaft portion, the a guide bolt guides the slider; and an elastic portion that presses the sliding portion in the direction of the fixed terminal portion, The image forming apparatus further includes a guide plug that guides the fixed terminal portion and the movable terminal portion to the fitting position at a position where the front hole of the guide plug is widest relative to the inclined guide. When F is the step of the distance difference between the thinnest edges at the tip, φE is the diameter of the guide hole, and φB is the diameter of the shaft, φE-φB>F. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: The fixed terminal portion is a unit-side terminal portion fixed to the unit, the sliding portion slides with respect to the main body, and the guide bolt is fixed to the main body. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The guide bolt fixes the front end portion on the side of the positioning portion to the main body, The elastic portion is a coil spring embedded in the guide bolt, and the elastic portion is pressed in a direction away from the spring fixing portion of the rear end portion of the guide bolt and the sliding portion. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: The unit is a supply cassette for storing recording media supplied to the image forming unit.