JP6528443B2 - Electrical connection structure and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connection structure and an image forming apparatus.

  A unit-side contact provided in a unit detachably mounted to the apparatus body, an electrical component board provided in the apparatus body, a through hole provided in the electrical component board, and a through hole in one surface of the electrical component board A main body contact provided across the opening, a first contact contacting the main body contact, and a second contact electrically connected to the first contact and contacting the unit side contact The first contact is biased to the main body side contact in a state where it is inserted into the through hole from the other surface side of the substrate, the main body side contact and the first contact are in contact, and the unit side contact and the second contact are in contact And an elastic conductive member urging the second contact toward the unit side contact, guiding the first contact of the elastic conductive member to the main body side contact and supporting the elastic conductive member end of the first contact side, the first contact Support restriction that restricts the position to face the main body side contact When electrical connection structure with is known (Patent Document 1).

JP, 2011-203315, A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connection structure and an image forming apparatus capable of performing an assembling operation of electrically connecting a substrate to an object to be connected smoothly and electrically connecting the substrate and the member to be connected reliably. With the goal.

In order to solve the problem, the electrical connection structure according to claim 1 is:
A power supply substrate having a first surface on which an element is disposed and a second surface opposite to the first surface, in which a through hole penetrating the first surface and the second surface is formed;
A contact portion is inserted through the through hole from the second surface to contact the output terminal of the power supply substrate while urging the output terminal of the power supply substrate in the direction of the first surface. Connection terminals that supply power,
The contact portion is inserted to have a first holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the inside of the contact portion, and a second holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the outside of the contact portion. And a frame for holding the power supply substrate from the second surface side, wherein a holding portion is formed to hold the power supply substrate so as to restrict movement in the direction intersecting the hole.
The first holding portion is inclined toward one end where the contact portion is inserted, and has a lead-in shape in which the contact portion is easily inserted. A plate-like shape having inclined surfaces formed at the corner portions of the one end. It is a rib,
It is characterized by

In order to solve the problem, the electrical connection structure according to claim 2 is :
A power supply substrate having a first surface on which an element is disposed and a second surface opposite to the first surface, in which a through hole penetrating the first surface and the second surface is formed;
A contact portion is inserted through the through hole from the second surface to contact the output terminal of the power supply substrate while urging the output terminal of the power supply substrate in the direction of the first surface. Connection terminals that supply power,
The contact portion is inserted to have a first holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the inside of the contact portion, and a second holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the outside of the contact portion. And a frame for holding the power supply substrate from the second surface side, wherein a holding portion is formed to hold the power supply substrate so as to restrict movement in the direction intersecting the hole.
The second holding portion is a plate-like rib in which an inclined surface is formed at each corner on one end side where the through hole is inserted.
It is characterized by

In order to solve the problem, the electrical connection structure according to claim 3 is :
A power supply substrate having a first surface on which an element is disposed and a second surface opposite to the first surface, in which a through hole penetrating the first surface and the second surface is formed;
A contact portion is inserted through the through hole from the second surface to contact the output terminal of the power supply substrate while urging the output terminal of the power supply substrate in the direction of the first surface. Connection terminals that supply power,
The contact portion is inserted to have a first holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the inside of the contact portion, and a second holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the outside of the contact portion. A frame for holding the power supply substrate from the second surface side, wherein a holding portion for holding the substrate so as to restrict movement in a direction intersecting the hole is formed;
The inserted between the output terminal and the holding portion, provided with a contacting plug member to the contact portion is the surface that faces the other surface contacting the output terminal,
It is characterized by

The invention according to claim 4 relates to the electrical connection structure according to claim 3 .
An inclined surface is formed at each corner of the inserting side of the insertion member straddling the holding portion.
It is characterized by

In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, the image forming apparatus according to claim 5 is
An image forming unit that forms a toner image including an image carrier and a developing device that forms a toner image;
An exposure device that exposes the charged image carrier to form a latent image;
An electrical connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ;
A transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image obtained by the development of the developing device to a recording medium;
Fixing means for fixing the image transferred to the recording medium by the transfer means;
It is characterized by

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the assembly work for electrically connecting the substrate to the connection target is smoothly performed, and the substrate and the connection member are reliably connected, and the terminals are connected to the power supply substrate. contacting can Rukoto stabilize.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the assembling operation of electrically connecting the substrate to the connection target can be smoothly performed.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the deformation of the output terminal can be suppressed.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the insertion member can be easily assembled.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the assembly operation of electrically connecting the substrate to the connection target can be smoothly performed, and the substrate and the connection member can be electrically connected reliably.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the electrical connection structure 100, as viewed from the side of arrangement of elements. (A) is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the arrangement | positioning side of the element of the electrical connection structure 100, (b) is a disassembled perspective view which shows the state to which the power supply board 110 and the frame 130 were fixed. FIG. 7A is a schematic plan view and a cross-sectional view of the arrangement side of the power supply substrate 110 of the element. (A) is an enlarged perspective view of the holding portion of the frame 130 on the side of the power supply substrate 110, and (b) is a cross-sectional view. (A) is a plane schematic diagram which shows the state in which the connection terminal 120 was penetrated by the holding | maintenance part of the frame 130, (b) is a cross-sectional schematic diagram. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the 2nd holding | maintenance part 132 of the frame 130 was inserted in the power supply board | substrate 110. FIG. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the insertion member 140. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the insertion member 140 is inserted between the receiving surface 132 b of the second holding portion 132 and the output terminal 112 so as to straddle the first holding portion 131. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the electrical connection structure 100 of the assembled state.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of embodiments and specific examples with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and specific examples.
Moreover, in the description using the following drawings, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and that the ratio of each dimension is different from the actual one, and is necessary for the explanation to facilitate understanding. The illustration other than the members is appropriately omitted.
In order to facilitate the understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is taken as the X-axis direction, the left-right direction as the Y-axis direction, and the vertical direction as the Z-axis direction.
(1) Overall Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Apparatus 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
The overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is configured to include a control device 10, a sheet feeding device 20, a photosensitive unit 30, a developing unit 40, a transfer device 50, a fixing device 60, and an electrical connection structure 100. On the upper surface (Z direction) of the image forming apparatus 1, a discharge tray 1a is formed in which the sheet P on which an image is recorded is discharged and stored.

  The control device 10 includes an image forming apparatus control unit 11 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, a controller unit 12 that prepares image data according to a print processing request, and an exposure control unit 13 that controls lighting of the exposure device LH. Have.

  The controller unit 12 converts print information input from an external information transmission apparatus (such as a personal computer) into image information for forming a latent image, and outputs a drive signal to the exposure apparatus LH at a preset timing. . The exposure apparatus LH of the present embodiment is configured of an LED head in which a plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs: Light Emitting Diodes) are linearly arranged along the main scanning direction.

At the bottom of the image forming apparatus 1, a sheet feeding device 20 is provided. The sheet feeding device 20 includes a sheet stacking plate 21, and a plurality of sheets P as recording media are stacked on the upper surface of the sheet stacking plate 21. The sheet P stacked on the sheet stacking plate 21 and whose position in the width direction is determined by the restriction plate (not shown) is drawn forward one by one from the upper side by the sheet extracting portion 22 (X direction). The sheet is conveyed to the nip portion 23.
Above the sheet feeding device 20, a second sheet feeding device 20A is provided. The second sheet feeding device 20 </ b> A conveys the sheet P drawn by the sheet drawing unit 25 to the nip portion of the registration roller pair 23 through the sheet conveyance path 27.

  The photosensitive unit 30 is provided in parallel with each other above the sheet feeding device 20 (in the Z direction), and includes a photosensitive drum 31 as an image holding member that is rotationally driven. The charging roller 32, the exposure device LH, the developing unit 40, the primary transfer roller 52, and the cleaning blade 34 are disposed along the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 31. A cleaning roller 33 for cleaning the surface of the charging roller 32 is disposed opposite to and in contact with the charging roller 32.

The developing unit 40 has a developing housing 41 in which a developer is accommodated. In the developing housing 41, a developing roller 42 disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 31, and a pair of augers 44 for stirring and transporting the developer to the developing roller 42 side at the lower back side of the developing roller 42, 45 are arranged. A layer regulating member 46 for regulating the layer thickness of the developer is disposed close to the developing roller 42.
Each of the developing units 40 is configured in the same manner except for the developer contained in the developing housing 41, and forms toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) respectively. .

  The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 31 is charged by the charging roller 32, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by the latent image forming light emitted from the exposure device LH. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 is developed as a toner image by the developing roller 42.

  The transfer device 50 includes an intermediate transfer belt 51 on which the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 31 of the respective photosensitive unit 30 are multiply transferred, and an intermediate transfer belt of the respective color toner images formed on the respective photosensitive units 30. A primary transfer roller 52 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) to 51, and a secondary transfer roller 53 that collectively transfers (secondary transfer) toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 51 onto the sheet P. There is.

  The electrical connection structure 100 is disposed above the second sheet feeding device 20A (Z direction) and below the photosensitive unit 30 and the developing unit 40 (−Z direction), and the charging roller 32, the developing roller 42, and the primary transfer roller 52. Voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 53 and the like.

  Each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 of each photosensitive unit 30 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt by the primary transfer roller 52 to which a predetermined transfer voltage is applied from the electrical connection structure 100 controlled by the image forming apparatus control unit 11 Electrostatic transfer (primary transfer) is sequentially performed on the surface 51 to form a superimposed toner image in which toners of respective colors are superimposed.

  The superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 51 is conveyed to a region (secondary transfer portion T) in which the secondary transfer roller 53 is disposed as the intermediate transfer belt 51 moves. When the superimposed toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion T, the sheet P is supplied from the sheet feeding device 20 to the secondary transfer portion T in accordance with the timing. Then, a predetermined transfer voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 53 from the electrical connection structure 100 controlled by the image forming apparatus control unit 11, and the sheet P is sent out from the registration roller pair 23 and guided by the conveyance guide. The multiple toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 51 are collectively transferred.

  The residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is removed by the cleaning blade 34 and collected in a waste developer storage portion. The surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is recharged by the charging roller 32. Incidentally, the residue which can not be completely removed by the cleaning blade 34 and is attached to the charging roller 32 is captured and accumulated on the surface of the cleaning roller 33 which rotates in contact with the charging roller 32.

  The fixing device 60 includes a heating module 61 and a pressure module 62, and a pressure contact area of the heating module 61 and the pressure module 62 forms a fixing nip portion N (fixing area).

The sheet P on which the toner image has been transferred in the transfer device 50 is conveyed to the fixing device 60 via the conveyance guide in a state where the toner image is not fixed. The sheet P conveyed to the fixing device 60 is fixed in a toner image by the action of pressure bonding and heating by the pair of heating modules 61 and the pressure module 62.
The sheet P on which the fixed toner image is formed is discharged from the discharge roller pair 69 to the discharge tray 1 a on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 1 through the conveyance roller pair 68.

(2) Electrical connection structure (2.1) Overall configuration FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the electrical connection structure 100 from the viewpoint of arrangement of the elements, and FIG. (B) is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the power supply substrate 110 and the frame 130 are fixed, and FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view and a cross section of the arrangement side of the power supply substrate 110. FIG. Hereinafter, the entire configuration of the electrical connection structure 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrical connection structure 100 includes the power supply substrate 110, the connection terminal 120, the frame 130, and the insertion member 140.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the first surface 110 a of the power supply substrate 110, a transformer (a transformer), a resistor, a capacitor (a capacitor) or the like that generates a voltage supplied to the photosensitive unit 30 and the developing unit 40 through the connection terminal 120. The element of is arranged.
As shown in FIG. 4, in a region electrically connected to the connection terminal 120, a through hole 111 penetrating the second surface 110 b and the lower first surface 110 a is formed, and two output terminals straddling the through hole 111. 112 are arranged.

  The connection terminal 120 is electrically connected to the power supply substrate 110 to supply power to the photosensitive unit 30 and the developing unit 40 as power-supplied members. The connection terminal 120 is made of a wire, and has a compression coil spring portion 121 as a contact portion which is urged to contact the output terminal 112 of the power supply substrate 110 at one end side. The other end side has a torsion coil spring portion 122 in contact with the photosensitive unit 30 and the feeding portion of the developing unit 40.

The frame 130 supports the power supply substrate 110 on the first surface side to prevent creeping discharge, and the insulator is rectangular so that the shape is larger in plan view than the second surface 110 b of the power supply substrate. It is formed in shape.
The compression coil spring portion 121 is inserted into one end of the frame 130 to hold the connection terminal 120 from the inside of the compression coil spring portion 121, and the connection terminal 120 from the outside of the compression coil spring portion 121. The second holding portion 132 is integrally formed.

(2.2) Connection structure Fig. 5 (a) is an enlarged perspective view of the holding portion of the frame 130 on the power supply substrate 110 side, Fig. 5 (b) is a cross-sectional view, and Fig. 6 (a) is the frame 130. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the connection terminal 120 is inserted into the holding portion, FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the second holding portion 132 of the frame 130 is inserted in the power supply substrate 110. 8 is a perspective view of the insertion member 140, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the insertion member 140 is inserted between the receiving surface 132b of the second holding portion 132 and the output terminal 112 across the first holding portion 131. FIG.
Hereinafter, the connection structure of the electrical connection structure 100 according to the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the first holding portion 131 formed on the frame 130 is in the form of a plate-like rib as a whole, and has a tip on the side where the compression coil spring portion 121 is inserted. A guiding portion 131a having an inclined surface 131c and protruding in a direction intersecting with the insertion direction is formed. In addition, inclined surfaces 131 c are formed at the corners on the tip end side of the first holding portion 131.
The width W1 (see FIG. 5A) of the first holding portion 131 and the thickness W2 including the guiding portion 131a are formed smaller than the inner diameter of the compression coil spring portion 121 to be inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, with the compression coil spring portion 121 of the connection terminal 120 inserted in the first holding portion 131, the inner side 121a of the compression coil spring portion 121 and the lead-in portion 131a of the first holding portion 131 are The gap G1 is secured, and the gaps G2 and G3 are secured in the width direction of the first holding portion 131, respectively.

  As a result, the first holding portion 131 is entirely formed in a induction shape, and squeezes the movement in the direction intersecting the insertion direction after insertion while suppressing the buckling when the compression coil spring portion 121 of the connection terminal 120 is inserted. It regulates from the coil spring part 121 inner side.

The second holding portion 132 has a plate-like rib shape as a whole, and taper portions 132a are formed at respective corner portions on the tip end side which is inserted into the through hole 111 of the power supply substrate 110.
As shown in FIG. 6B, the second holding portion 132 is formed with a receiving surface 132b for receiving the end of the compression coil spring portion 121 of the connection terminal 120, and before being connected to the output terminal 112 of the power supply substrate 110. In this state, the biasing force of the compression coil spring portion 121 is maintained.
Further, a wall portion 132 c is formed in the insertion direction of the compression coil spring portion 121, and the movement in the direction intersecting with the insertion direction of the compression coil spring portion 121 is restricted from the outside of the compression coil spring portion 121.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the second holding portion 132 is inserted from the through hole 111 of the power supply substrate 110 while restricting the compression coil spring portion 121 inserted in the first holding portion 131 from the outside of the compression coil spring portion 121. Then, the end of the compression coil spring portion 121 is guided to be in contact with the two output terminals 112 arranged on the first surface 110 a of the power supply substrate 110.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the insertion member 140, two parallel projecting parts 141 have a U-shape in a plan view, and the distance W3 (see FIG. 6) of the projecting parts 141 is the width of the first holding part 131 It is formed wider than W1 (see FIG. 5A). Inclined surfaces 141 a and 141 b are formed on the tip end side of each of the protrusions 141.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the insertion member 140, the compression coil spring portion 121 of the connection terminal 120 inserted into the first holding portion 131 is guided by the second holding portion 132 and inserted into the through hole 111 of the power supply substrate 110. In a state where it is connected to the output terminal 112, it is inserted between the receiving surface 132 b of the second holding unit 132 and the output terminal 112 across the first holding unit 131.
As a result, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the output terminal 112 which is under the contact pressure by the biasing force of the compression coil spring portion 121.

(3) Operation of Electrical Connection Structure FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrical connection structure 100 in an assembled state.
In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a sheet feeding device 20 is provided at the bottom, and a second sheet feeding device 20A is provided above the sheet feeding device 20.
Then, above the second sheet feeding device 20A (Z direction), an electrical connection structure 100 having a power supply substrate 110 having elements disposed on the first surface with respect to the image forming apparatus 1 is disposed. The photosensitive unit 30 and the developing unit 40, which receive power supply from the electrical connection structure 100, are disposed above (in the Z direction).

In the power supply substrate 110, elements are disposed on the first surface 110a with respect to the image forming apparatus 1 so as to fill the space of the sheet conveyance path 27, and the overall height of the image forming apparatus 1 is suppressed to miniaturize the structure. It is done.
Then, the connection terminal 120 electrically connected to the output terminal 112 disposed on the first surface 110 a of the power supply substrate 110 through the through hole 111 from the second surface 110 b is a power supply to prevent creeping discharge. As compared with the second surface 110 b of the substrate 110, it is provided in the frame 130 formed in a rectangular shape by an insulator so as to have a larger shape in plan view.

  The first holding portion 131 holding the compression coil spring portion 121 of the connection terminal 120 from the inside and the second holding portion 132 holding the compression coil spring portion 121 from the outside are integrally formed on one end side of the frame 130. The 1 holding part 131 is provided with a guiding part 131 a on the side where the compression coil spring part 121 is inserted. In addition, inclined surfaces 131 c are formed at the corners on the tip end side of the first holding portion 131. Therefore, the buckling at the time of the compression coil spring part 121 of the connection terminal 120 being penetrated is suppressed.

The second holding portion 132 is inserted from the through hole 111 of the power supply substrate 110 while restricting the compression coil spring portion 121 inserted in the first holding portion 131 from the outside, and outputs two ends of the compression coil spring portion 121. The connection terminal 120 and the output terminal 112 are electrically connected so as to be in contact with the terminal 112.
In this state, as shown in FIG. 10, the insertion member 140 is inserted between the receiving surface 132 b of the second holding portion 132 and the output terminal 112 across the first holding portion 131, and the compression coil spring portion 121 is attached. The deformation of the output terminal 112 receiving the contact pressure by the force is suppressed.

  Therefore, according to the electrical connection structure 100 according to the present embodiment, the output of the power supply substrate 110 is prevented without buckling of the connection terminal 120 in assembling the electrical connection structure 100 while suppressing the height of the entire image forming apparatus 1. Electrical connection between the terminal 112 and the connection terminal 120 can be reliably made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 10 ... Control apparatus 20 ... Paper feeding apparatus 30 ... Photosensitive body unit 40 ... Development unit 50 ... Transfer apparatus 60 ... Fixing apparatus 100 ... Electric Connection structure 110: power supply substrate 111: through hole 112: output terminal 120: connection terminal 121: compression coil portion 130: frame body 131: first holding portion 131a,.・ Invitation section
132 ··· Second holding portion 140 ··· Insertion member

Claims (5)

A power supply substrate having a first surface on which an element is disposed and a second surface opposite to the first surface, in which a through hole penetrating the first surface and the second surface is formed;
A contact portion is inserted through the through hole from the second surface to contact the output terminal of the power supply substrate while urging the output terminal of the power supply substrate in the direction of the first surface. Connection terminals that supply power,
The contact portion is inserted to have a first holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the inside of the contact portion, and a second holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the outside of the contact portion. And a frame for holding the power supply substrate from the second surface side, wherein a holding portion is formed to hold the power supply substrate so as to restrict movement in the direction intersecting the hole.
The first holding portion is inclined toward one end where the contact portion is inserted, and has a lead-in shape in which the contact portion is easily inserted. A plate-like shape having inclined surfaces formed at the corner portions of the one end. It is a rib,
Electrical connection structure characterized by A power supply substrate having a first surface on which an element is disposed and a second surface opposite to the first surface, in which a through hole penetrating the first surface and the second surface is formed;
A contact portion is inserted through the through hole from the second surface to contact the output terminal of the power supply substrate while urging the output terminal of the power supply substrate in the direction of the first surface. Connection terminals that supply power,
The contact portion is inserted to have a first holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the inside of the contact portion, and a second holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the outside of the contact portion. And a frame for holding the power supply substrate from the second surface side, wherein a holding portion is formed to hold the power supply substrate so as to restrict movement in the direction intersecting the hole.
The second holding portion is a plate-like rib in which an inclined surface is formed at each corner on one end side where the through hole is inserted.
Electrical connection structure characterized by A power supply substrate having a first surface on which an element is disposed and a second surface opposite to the first surface, in which a through hole penetrating the first surface and the second surface is formed;
A contact portion is inserted through the through hole from the second surface to contact the output terminal of the power supply substrate while urging the output terminal of the power supply substrate in the direction of the first surface. Connection terminals that supply power,
The contact portion is inserted to have a first holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the inside of the contact portion, and a second holding portion that holds the connection terminal from the outside of the contact portion. A frame for holding the power supply substrate from the second surface side, wherein a holding portion for holding the substrate so as to restrict movement in a direction intersecting the hole is formed;
The inserted between the output terminal and the holding portion, provided with a contacting plug member to the contact portion is the surface that faces the other surface contacting the output terminal,
Electrical connection structure characterized by An inclined surface is formed at each corner on the side where the insertion member is inserted across the first holding portion.
The electrical connection structure according to claim 3 , characterized in that: An image forming unit that forms a toner image including an image carrier and a developing device that forms a toner image;
An exposure device that exposes the charged image carrier to form a latent image;
An electrical connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ;
A transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image obtained by the development of the developing device to a recording medium;
Fixing means for fixing the image transferred to the recording medium by the transfer means;
An image forming apparatus characterized by

Images