Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning unit having a light transmitting portion, the cleaning mechanism that includes a cleaning rod with a pad at a front end portion thereof to be capable of cleaning a surface of the light transmitting portion by sliding on the light transmitting portion, and a retaining mechanism that retains the cleaning rod slidably in a longitudinal direction of the light transmitting portion, and that retains the pad positioned above the optical scanning unit and spaced apart from the optical scanning unit in a state where the cleaning rod is at an insertion completed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of an optical scanning unit according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a cleaning mechanism according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cleaning mechanism according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of guide rails according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the guide rails as viewed from the bottom surface thereof;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a guide rail;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the guide rails;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a spring member according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 10B is a plan view of the spring member according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 11A is an external perspective view of a guiding member according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the guiding member according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are external perspective views as viewed from different directions according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are enlarged perspective views of a front end portion of the cleaning rod as viewed from different directions according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are enlarged perspective views of the rear end portion of the cleaning rod as viewed from different directions according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an external perspective view of a pad according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are cross-sectional views showing an operation of the cleaning mechanism at the time of inserting the cleaning rod;

FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the cleaning mechanism subsequent to FIG. 16B;

FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the cleaning mechanism subsequent to FIG. 17B;

FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the cleaning mechanism at the time of pulling the cleaning rod; and

FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the cleaning mechanism subsequent to FIG. 19B.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an optical scanning unit having a light transmitting portion; anda cleaning mechanism that includes:a cleaning rod with a pad at a front end portion thereof to be capable of cleaning a surface of the light transmitting portion by sliding on the light transmitting portion; anda retaining mechanism that retains the cleaning rod slidably in a longitudinal direction of the light transmitting portion, and that retains the pad positioned above the optical scanning unit and substantially spaced apart from the optical scanning unit in a state where the cleaning rod is at an insertion completed position.

2. An image forming apparatus comprising: an optical scanning unit having a light transmitting portion; anda cleaning mechanism that includes:a cleaning rod with a pad at a front end portion thereof to be capable of cleaning a surface of the light transmitting portion by sliding on the light transmitting portion; anda retaining mechanism that retains the cleaning rod slidably in a longitudinal direction of the light transmitting portion, and that retains the pad positioned above the optical scanning unit and substantially spaced apart from the optical scanning unit in a state where the cleaning rod is at an insertion completed position,the retaining mechanism that includes:a guide rail that retains the front end portion of the cleaning rod so that the pad is substantially spaced apart from the surface of the optical scanning unit, when the cleaning rod is inserted, and that is engaged with the front end portion of the cleaning rod to bring the pad substantially into contact with the surface of the light transmitting portion of the optical scanning unit, when the cleaning rod is pulled; anda receiving portion that receives the front end portion of the cleaning rod separated from an end portion of the guide rail before the insertion completed portion at a position substantially spaced apart from the surface of the optical scanning unit, when the cleaning rod is inserted.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiving portion is substantially tilted to a direction of inserting the cleaning rod.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the retaining mechanism includes a biasing member that biases the front end portion of the cleaning rod to be engaged with the receiving portion, toward the optical scanning unit.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the retaining mechanism includes a guiding member having an inserting opening, the front end portion of the cleaning rod being inserted into the inserting opening;the front end portion of the cleaning rod has a reverse insertion preventing projection to be fitted into a reverse insertion preventing groove defined at the inserting opening; andthe biasing member is engaged with the reverse insertion preventing projection.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the retaining mechanism includes a guide portion that guides the front end portion of the cleaning rod moving between the optical scanning unit and the guide rail onto the guide rail so that the pad is substantially spaced apart from the optical scanning unit, when the cleaning rod is pulled and after the pad passes sliding on the surface of the light transmitting portion.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising: an optical scanning means having a light transmitting portion; anda cleaning mechanism that includes:a cleaning rod means with a pad at a front end portion thereof for being capable of cleaning a surface of the light transmitting portion by sliding on the light transmitting portion; anda retaining means for retaining the cleaning rod slidably in a longitudinal direction of the light transmitting portion, and for retaining the pad positioned above the optical scanning unit and substantially spaced apart from the optical scanning unit in a state where the cleaning rod is at an insertion completed position.