The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses for forming images on sheets.
Hitherto, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus equipped with an optical print head that emits light for forming a latent image on a photosensitive member, a tray for drawing the optical print head out of the image forming apparatus, and a relay board fixed to a support member (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2020-183047). The relay board is equipped with a first connector that can be connected to a control board through a flexible flat cable (FFC), and a second connector that can be connected to the optical print head through an FFC.
However, according to the disclosure of the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2020-183047, the second connector of the relay board is not exposed even if the cover constituting an exterior of the image forming apparatus is opened, such that there was a problem in the maintenance property thereof. Image forming apparatuses configured to be divided into a plurality of units having different functions are known, each of the plurality of units being detachably attached to a main body frame. There is a desire to improve the maintenance performance of such units.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and an opening/closing cover supported in an openable and closable manner on the apparatus body and configured to expose an opening portion of the apparatus body by being opened with respect to the apparatus body. The apparatus body includes a main body frame, a plurality of conveyance units configured to convey the sheet and being detachably attached to the main body frame through the opening portion, a control board configured to control the plurality of conveyance units, and a relay board configured to be electrically connected to the control board. The plurality of conveyance units respectively include a plurality of first connectors. The relay board includes a plurality of second connectors that are arranged to face the opening portion and that are configured to be connected to the plurality of first connectors, the relay board being arranged at a position not interfering with attachment/detachment loci in which the plurality of conveyance units are attached to and detached from the main body frame.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Now, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Unless stated otherwise, sizes, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of components described in the following description of embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of application of the present technique.
General Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus
At first, a general configuration of an image forming apparatus 1000 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
The printer 400 includes, as illustrated in
The printer body 1 includes an image forming unit 33 that forms an image on a sheet serving as a recording medium, a fixing unit 23, a sheet discharge roller pair 24, and a sheet feeding apparatus 34 that feeds sheets S to the image forming unit 33. The sheet feeding apparatus 34 includes a cassette 2 capable of storing sheets S, and a feeding portion 3. The feeding portion 3 includes a pickup roller 3a for feeding sheets S stored in the cassette 2, and a separation roller pair 3b for separating the sheets S fed by the pickup roller 3a sheet by sheet.
The feeder 100 similarly includes the cassette 2 capable of storing sheets S, and the feeding portion 3 for feeding the sheets stored in the cassette 2. The feeder 100 also includes an intermediate conveyance roller pair 11 that conveys the sheet S fed from the feeding portion toward the printer body 1. The large capacity sheet feed deck 200 includes a feeding deck 201, the feeding portion 3, and the intermediate conveyance roller pair 11. The feeding deck 201 can store more sheets S than the cassette 2, and for example, it can store approximately 2000 sheets S.
The image forming unit 33 is equipped with four process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K for forming toner images of four colors, which are yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), a scanner unit 12, and an intermediate transfer unit 15. The process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K are detachably attached to a casing of the printer body 1. The four process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K adopt the same configuration except for the different colors of images being formed. Therefore, the configuration and image forming processes of the process cartridge 6Y will be described, and the descriptions on the process cartridges 6M, 6C, and 6K are omitted.
The process cartridge 6Y includes a photosensitive drum 7 serving as an image bearing member, a charging roller 8, a developing roller 9, and a cleaner 10. The photosensitive drum 7 is configured by applying an organic photoconductive layer on an outer circumference of an aluminum cylinder, and it is rotated by a drive motor not shown. The scanner unit 12 is arranged below the process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K.
The intermediate transfer unit 15 is arranged above the process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K, and includes an intermediate transfer belt 17 wound around a driving roller 16 and a tension roller 14. Primary transfer rollers 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K are disposed on an inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 17.
A secondary transfer roller 20 that forms a secondary transfer nip T2 with an intermediate transfer belt 17 is arranged on an opposite side of the driving roller 16 interposing the intermediate transfer belt 17. Further, a cleaning unit 21 is arranged on an opposite side of the tension roller 14 interposing the intermediate transfer belt 17. A high-voltage power supply board 13 serving as a power supply board for generating voltage applied to the charging roller 8, the developing roller 9, the primary transfer rollers 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, and the secondary transfer roller 20 are arranged above the intermediate transfer unit 15. Further, a toner collecting container 22 that stores toner removed from the intermediate transfer belt 17 by the cleaning unit 21 is arranged between the high-voltage power supply board 13 and a sheet tray 25 in the vertical direction. The fixing unit 23 includes a heating unit 23a including a heat source such as a heater, and a pressure roller 23b forming a fixing nip together with the heating unit 23a.
Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1000 configured as above will be described. In a state where an image signal from a personal computer not shown or the image reading portion 300 is entered to the scanner unit 12, a laser light corresponding to the image signal is irradiated from the scanner unit 12 onto the photosensitive drum 7 of the process cartridge 6Y.
In this state, the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly charged in advance to predetermined polarity and potential by the charging roller 8, and in a state where laser light is irradiated from the scanner unit 12, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is developed by the developing roller 9, and a yellow (Y) toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7.
Similarly, laser light is irradiated from the scanner unit 12 to the respective photosensitive drums of the process cartridges 6M, 6C, and 6K, and toner images of magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are formed on the respective photosensitive drums. The toner images of respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 17 from the primary transfer rollers 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, and conveyed to the secondary transfer roller 20 by the intermediate transfer belt 17 rotated by the driving roller 16. Toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by the cleaner 10. Further, image forming processes of respective colors are performed at such a timing that the toner image is superposed on a toner image that has been primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 17 upstream thereof.
In parallel with the image forming process, a sheet S is fed from the sheet feeding apparatus 34 of the printer body 1, the feeder 100, or the large capacity sheet feed deck 200. Then, the sheet S is conveyed to a registration roller pair 5 and abuts against a nip of the registration roller pair 5 in a stopped state, by which skewing of the sheet S is corrected.
The registration roller pair 5 conveys the sheet S in correspondence with the image transfer timing, and a full color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is transferred to the sheet S at the secondary transfer nip T2 by a secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 20. Toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is conveyed by the cleaning unit 21 to the toner collecting container 22. Heat and pressure are applied at the fixing unit 23 to the sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred, and toner is melted and fixed thereby. The sheet having passed the fixing unit 23 is discharged to the sheet tray 25 by the sheet discharge roller pair 24.
Configuration of Rear Side Portion of Printer Body
Next, a configuration of a rear side portion of the printer body 1 will be described with reference to
Description of Respective Units
Next, the configuration of respective units of the printer body 1 will be described.
The jam removal cover 70 supported in an openable and closable manner about a pivot shaft 70a with respect to an apparatus body 1A of the printer body 1 is disposed on a right side face of the printer body 1. The pivot shaft 70a extends in a front-back direction. The jam removal cover 70 serving as an opening and closing cover is opened with respect to the apparatus body 1A to thereby expose an opening portion 35 of the apparatus body 1A. Further, the jam removal cover 70 includes a manual feed tray 4 on which sheets are stacked, and a duplex conveyance path not shown through which sheets are passed during duplex printing in which images are formed on both sides of a sheet.
The sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 described above are detachably attached to the apparatus body 1A through the opening portion 35. In the present embodiment, the apparatus body 1A refers to a portion of the printer body 1 excluding an openable/closable cover such as the jam removal cover 70.
The sheet feed unit 30 includes the feeding portion 3 and the intermediate conveyance roller pair 11, as illustrated in
In a state where the sheet S fed by the feeding portion 3 presses the flag unit 36a, the flag member 36 rotates about the rotation shaft 36c, and the light shielding portion 36b shields an optical path of the leading edge detection sensor 31. Thereby, the leading edge detection sensor 31 can detect a leading edge of the sheet S being fed.
The registration unit 40 is a unit including the registration roller pair 5, as illustrated in
The secondary transfer unit 50 includes, as illustrated in
The sheet discharge unit 60 is a unit including the sheet discharge roller pair 24, and a reverse flapper not shown for switching between discharging the sheet S onto the sheet tray 25 and conveying the sheet S to a duplex reverse conveyance path not shown, as illustrated in
Relay Board
Next, a relay board 80 disposed on the apparatus body 1A of the printer body 1 and being electrically connected with the controller board 27 will be described with reference to
Further, the image processing controller 26, the controller board 27, and the power supply device 28 described above are arranged rearward of the second side panel 92. As illustrated in
Further, the relay board 80 includes a first surface 81 and a second surface 84 that extend in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, as illustrated in
A plurality of connectors 85 serving as second connectors are provided on the first surface 81 of the relay board 80. The plurality of connectors 85 are connected to sensors, electromagnetic clutches, and electromagnetic solenoids of the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 described above through metal bundle wires. The second surface 84 of the relay board 80 has various connectors soldered thereto, and is provided with a flexible flat cable (hereinafter referred to as FFC) connector 87 to be connected to the controller board 27 through an FFC 86 (refer to
Further, the relay board 80 is configured to be covered by a cover member 83 supported on the main body frame 90, as illustrated in
Replacement Procedure of Respective Units
Next, a replacement procedure carried out by a maintenance crew to replace the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 serving as a plurality of conveyance units will be described with reference to
Next, the maintenance crew removes the cover member 83 covering the relay board 80 from the main body frame 90, as illustrated in
Replacement Procedure of Secondary Transfer Unit
As illustrated in
The engagement hole to which the support shaft 5a is engaged is formed in a tubular shape, and the engagement hole to which the support shaft 51b is engaged is formed in an approximately U shape in which one side, such as an upper side, is opened. Further, the secondary transfer unit 50 is urged frontward by a spring not shown in a state supported by the registration unit 40. Thereby, the secondary transfer unit 50 is attached to the registration unit 40 in a state positioned in the front-rear direction. In a state where the jam removal cover 70 is closed, the secondary transfer unit 50 is fixed by locking members 50L and 50L attached to the main body frame 90 such that the secondary transfer roller 20 is in contact with the intermediate transfer unit 15.
In a state where the jam removal cover 70 is opened, the secondary transfer unit 50 pivots about the support shafts 51a and 51b in a direction separating from the intermediate transfer unit 15 in linkage with an opening movement of the jam removal cover 70. Then, the maintenance crew removes a connector 50a serving as a first connector of the secondary transfer unit 50 from the connector 85 of the relay board 80, as illustrated in
The maintenance crew presses the secondary transfer unit 50 rearward against a spring not shown that urges the secondary transfer unit 50 frontward. Thereby, the support shaft 51a can be removed from the tubular engagement hole. In this state, by lifting the secondary transfer unit 50 upward, the support shaft 51b is removed from the approximately U-shaped engagement hole, and as illustrated in
Replacement Procedure of Registration Unit
As illustrated in
When removing the registration unit 40 from the main body frame 90, the maintenance crew removes connectors 40a and 40b of the registration unit 40 from the connectors 85 of the relay board 80, as illustrated in
Further, the maintenance crew can remove the registration unit 40 through the opening portion 35 from the main body frame 90 by drawing out the registration unit 40 from the main body frame 90 in the detachment direction DD, as illustrated in
Replacement Procedure of Sheet Feed Unit
The positioning bosses 31a and 31b of the sheet feed unit 30 engages with the second side panel 92 of the main body frame 90, as illustrated in
When removing the sheet feed unit 30 from the main body frame 90, the maintenance crew removes a connector 30a of the sheet feed unit 30 from the connectors 85 of the relay board 80, as illustrated in
Next, the maintenance crew draws out the positioning boss 31c from the positioning hole while rotating the positioning boss 31c about a rear side of the sheet feed unit 30 to draw out the positioning boss 31c from the positioning hole on the first side panel 91. Next, the maintenance crew removes the positioning bosses 31a and 31b from the second side panel 92 by moving the sheet feed unit 30 frontward.
Then, the maintenance crew can remove the sheet feed unit 30 from the main body frame 90 through the opening portion 35 by drawing out the sheet feed unit 30 in the detachment direction DD from the main body frame 90, as illustrated in
Replacement Procedure of Sheet Discharge Unit
As illustrated in
When removing the sheet discharge unit 60 from the main body frame 90, the maintenance crew removes the bundle wire of the sheet discharge unit 60 from the connectors 85 of the relay board 80, as illustrated in
Next, the maintenance crew can remove the sheet discharge unit 60 from the main body frame 90 through the opening portion 35 by drawing out the sheet discharge unit 60 in the detachment direction DD from the main body frame 90, as illustrated in
As described above, the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 serving as the plurality of conveyance units can be accessed by opening the jam removal cover 70. Further, the relay board 80 can be accessed by opening the jam removal cover 70 and the cover member 83.
A plurality of connectors 85 are disposed on the first surface 81 of the relay board 80, and the first surface 81 and the plurality of connectors 85 are arranged to face the opening portion 35. In other words, the maintenance crew can easily access the plurality of connectors 85. Therefore, the plurality of connectors 85 can be attached and detached easily with the respective connectors disposed on the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60, such that the maintenance property can be improved.
Further, the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 can be arranged in the space SP between the first side panel 91 and the second side panel 92 of the main body frame 90. Meanwhile, the relay board 80 is arranged on a rear side of the second side panel 92, that is, on an opposite side from the first side panel 91 across the second side panel 92. The sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 are attached and detached in parallel to the detachment direction DD, which is the right direction in the present embodiment. Therefore, the relay board 80 is arranged at a position not interfering with attachment/detachment loci of attaching and detaching the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 to and from the main body frame 90. Therefore, the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 can be attached to and detached from the main body frame 90 easily, such that the maintenance property can be improved.
Further, a configuration is realized such that the operation of fastening screws to the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 with respect to the main body frame 90 or the operation of attaching or detaching units can be completed through operations performed only from the opening portion 35 side. Therefore, there is no need to remove exterior covers other than the jam removal cover 70, such that the maintenance property can be improved.
Further, the relay board 80 has a plurality of connectors 85 provided on the first surface 81, and the FFC connector 87 is disposed on the second surface 84 opposite to the first surface 81. The FFC connector 87 is connected to the controller board 27 by the FFC 86. As described, by disposing connectors on either side of the relay board 80, wiring with the respective conveyance units and the controller board 27 can be simplified, and space can be saved. Further, the first surface 81 and the second surface 84 are extended in the vertical direction, and a wide area of the first surface 81 can be provided when accessing the first surface 81 from the opening portion 35. Therefore, a large number of connectors can be disposed on the first surface 81, such that one relay board 80 can be used to connect to a plurality of conveyance units.
Further, the above configuration assumes that a double-side board capable of having elements mounted on both sides of the board is adopted as the relay board 80, but a more cost-saving single-side board can be adopted instead. If a single-side board is adopted, the plurality of connectors 85 and the FFC connector 87 can be disposed on the first surface 81. According to this configuration, the wiring arrangement becomes complex but the costs related to the board can be reduced compared to the configuration in which the double-side board is adopted.
Arrangement of High-Voltage Power Supply Board, Toner Collecting Container, and Intermediate Transfer Unit
Next, the arrangement of the high-voltage power supply board 13, the toner collecting container 22, and the intermediate transfer unit 15 will be described in detail with reference to
As illustrated in
The cover member 13C is disposed above the high-voltage power supply board 13 so as to cover the high-voltage power supply board 13, wherein the cover member 13C serving as a power supply cover is fixed to the main body frame 90 and the high-voltage power supply board 13 via hooks, for example. Further, the toner collecting container 22 is arranged above the cover member 13C. The toner collecting container 22 is mounted on an upper surface of the cover member 13C and capable of moving in the front-rear direction along a rail disposed on the cover member 13C.
The front door FD is supported in an openable and closable manner on a front portion of the apparatus body 1A of the printer body 1. By opening the front door FD, an opening portion 22a on a front side of the apparatus body 1A is opened, allowing access to the process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K. The process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K can be attached to and detached from the main body frame 90 in the front-rear direction. Further, the user and the maintenance crew can remove the toner collecting container 22 from the main body frame 90 through the opening portion 22a. The cover member 13C covers an upper part of the high-voltage power supply board 13, and is configured to prevent the user from touching the high-voltage power supply board 13 even in a state where the toner collecting container 22 is removed from the main body frame 90.
The sheet tray 25 is disposed on an upper portion of the printer body 1, and the sheet tray 25 includes an inclined surface 25a that is inclined to be higher as it goes downstream in the discharge direction of the sheet discharge roller pair 24, and an abutment surface 25b. Therefore, the sheet being discharged onto the sheet tray 25 by the sheet discharge roller pair 24 slides down along the inclined surface 25a and is aligned in the discharge direction by having the trailing edge thereof abut against the abutment surface 25b. Thereby, the stacking ability of sheets on the sheet tray 25 can be improved, and it becomes easy for users to remove the bundle of sheets being discharged.
Since the sheet tray 25 has the inclined surface 25a, a space is formed between the sheet tray 25 and the high-voltage power supply board 13. At least a portion of the toner collecting container 22 is arranged to be accommodated in this space.
The cleaning unit 21 provided in the intermediate transfer unit 15 is arranged in a vicinity of the tension roller 14. Toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 17 and collected by the cleaning unit 21 is conveyed upward toward the toner collecting container 22 by a toner conveyance unit 29. The toner conveyance unit 29 includes a screw for conveying the toner upward, and a gear for driving the screw to rotate. The toner conveyance unit 29 is arranged so as to straddle over the high-voltage power supply board 13 in the vertical direction so as to convey toner from the intermediate transfer unit 15 to the toner collecting container 22.
In
Further, as illustrated in
Replacement Procedure of High-Voltage Power Supply Board
Next, a replacement procedure of the high-voltage power supply board 13 will be described with reference to
Next, the maintenance crew removes the sheet tray 25. The sheet tray 25 is fixed to the main body frame 90 by screws. The maintenance crew removes all the screws and draws out the sheet tray 25 in a left direction.
Next, the maintenance crew removes the cover member 13C that covers an upper part of the high-voltage power supply board 13. After removing the cover member 13C, the maintenance crew removes all the connectors connected to the respective connector portions of the high-voltage power supply board 13, and removes the screws fastened to the screw fastening portion 13b illustrated in
In this state, as illustrated in the present embodiment, in a state where the image reading portion 300 is attached to the upper part of the printer body 1, the maintenance crew may perform a replacement operation of the high-voltage power supply board 13. As described above, the screw fastening portion 13b of the high-voltage power supply board 13 is arranged on a front left portion of the printer body 1. It is preferable to have a space formed on the front left portion of the sheet tray 25 when removing the sheets discharged onto the sheet tray 25. Therefore, also according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
Further, the screw fastening portion 13b for fastening the high-voltage power supply board 13 to the metal stay 95 is arranged so as not to overlap with the image reading portion 300 in top view. In other words, a work space for removing screws fastened to the screw fastening portion 13b is provided directly above the screw fastening portion 13b. As described, by arranging the screw fastening portion 13b and the image reading portion 300, the maintenance crew can access the screw fastening portion 13b without removing the image reading portion 300 from the printer body 1. Further, since there is a work space above the screw fastening portion 13b, the screws fastened to the screw fastening portion 13b can be removed easily, such that the maintenance property can be improved.
A plurality of contact points are provided on a rear end portion of the high-voltage power supply board 13 to apply voltage to the process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K. The contact points are in contact with a contact spring disposed on the printer body 1, and the high-voltage power supply board 13 applies voltage to the process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K via the contact spring.
Since the high-voltage power supply board 13 is fixed by a hook provided on a front side of the printer body 1, the maintenance crew disengages the hook and lifts up a front portion of the high-voltage power supply board 13. Next, the maintenance crew lifts up and moves the high-voltage power supply board 13 frontward, and separates the plurality of contact points disposed on a rear portion the high-voltage power supply board 13 from the contact spring disposed on the printer body 1. Then, after all the contact points of the high-voltage power supply board 13 have been separated from the contact springs disposed on the printer body 1, the maintenance crew moves the high-voltage power supply board 13 leftward to thereby remove the high-voltage power supply board 13 from the main body frame 90. By carrying out the above-described procedure in the opposite order, the high-voltage power supply board 13 can be attached to the main body frame 90.
As described above, the toner collecting container 22 that can be replaced by the user can be removed in the front-rear direction in a state where the front door FD is opened. Meanwhile, the high-voltage power supply board 13, the replacement operation of which is performed by the maintenance crew, is arranged below the toner collecting container 22, and arranged such that it can be accessed from the left side instead of the front side of the printer body 1. Further, the high-voltage power supply board 13 can be attached to and detached from the printer body 1 by moving the same in the right-left direction, such that it can be distinguished from parts that can be replaced by the user. That is, the attachment/detachment direction of the high-voltage power supply board 13 differs from the attachment/detachment direction of the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 serving as a plurality of conveyance units. In other words, the high-voltage power supply board 13 is removed from a side of the apparatus body 1A opposite to the jam removal cover 70 side. Therefore, the possibility of a user erroneously accessing and touching the high-voltage power supply board 13 can be reduced.
The present embodiment adopts a configuration in which the relay board 80 can be accessed by opening the jam removal cover 70 disposed on a right side face of the apparatus body 1A, but the present technique is not limited thereto. In other words, the present technique is not limited to adopting the jam removal cover 70, and it can adopt any cover that can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body 1A and that allows access to the relay board 80 when opened. Further, instead of being arranged on the right side face, the relay board 80 can be arranged on any of the front face, the rear face, and the left side face of the apparatus body 1A. That is, in a configuration in which the plurality of conveyance units are attached to and detached from the apparatus from the left side face, the effects of the present technique can be obtained by also arranging the relay board on the left side face.
According to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1000 includes the printer 400 and the image reading portion 300, but the present technique is not limited thereto. For example, the image reading portion 300 can be omitted, and only the printer 400 can serve as the image forming apparatus. Moreover, the feeder 100 and the large capacity sheet feed deck 200 can be omitted, and only the printer body 1 can server as the image forming apparatus.
According further to the present embodiment, the sheet feed unit 30, the registration unit 40, the secondary transfer unit 50, and the sheet discharge unit 60 are listed as an example of the plurality of conveyance units, but the present technique is not limited thereto. The conveyance unit can be any unit as long as it can convey sheets.
Further, the printer 400 adopting an electrophotographic system has been described in all the embodiments described above, but the present technique is not limited thereto. For example, the present technique is also applicable to ink-jet printers in which images are formed on sheets by discharging liquid ink through nozzles.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-091901, filed Jun. 6, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2022-091901 | Jun 2022 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20160109845 | Ohata | Apr 2016 | A1 |
20160282803 | Osaki | Sep 2016 | A1 |
20200310327 | Kanno | Oct 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2020-183047 | Nov 2020 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230393519 A1 | Dec 2023 | US |