US 12,271,149 B2
Image forming apparatus
Ryoichi Kawasumi, Ibaraki (JP); Takehiro Ishidate, Tokyo (JP); Hiroki Takano, Saitama (JP); and Koji Suzuki, Chiba (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/192,255.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-064083 (JP), filed on Apr. 7, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0324848 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 21/20 (2006.01); G03G 15/04 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/206 (2013.01) [G03G 15/04054 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of photoconductors;
a plurality of exposure units each corresponding to a different one of the plurality of photoconductors, each of the plurality of exposure units including:
a substrate on which a plurality of chips, each provided with a plurality of light emitting portions configured to emit light mounted on one surface along a longitudinal direction of the substrate; and
a duct configured to guide an airflow that cools the substrate from one side to another side in the longitudinal direction along another surface of the substrate, another surface being a surface opposite to the one surface; and
a duct unit including:
an intake duct provided with a fan configured to take in air and generate the airflow that cools the substrate, and a plurality of openings, including a first opening and a second opening, the intake duct being configured to guide the airflow generated by the fan and communicate with the duct of each of the plurality of exposure units via different ones of the plurality of openings; and
an exhaust duct provided with an exhaust fan and a plurality of exhaust openings, the exhaust duct being configured to guide the airflow generated by the fan to outside of the image forming apparatus,
wherein the duct unit communicates with the duct of each of the plurality of exposure units on:
one side in a longitudinal direction via different ones of the plurality of openings; and
another side in the longitudinal direction via different ones of the plurality of exhaust openings,
wherein a first area of the first opening is larger than a second area of the second opening,
wherein the first opening has a longest flow path from the fan among the plurality of openings, and
wherein the second opening has a shortest flow path from the fan among the plurality of openings, and disposed on a first flow path through which the airflow is guided from the fan to the first opening.