US 11,994,826 B2
Image forming apparatus
Ryoichi Kawasumi, Ibaraki (JP); Takehiro Ishidate, Tokyo (JP); and Hiroki Takano, Saitama (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Feb. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/175,678.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-037628 (JP), filed on Mar. 10, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0288869 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 21/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/20 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/206 (2013.01) 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a rotatable photoconductor;
an exposure portion that includes a substrate on which a plurality of chips each including a plurality of light emitting portions configured to emit light for exposing the photoconductor is mounted, and a support portion configured to support the substrate, the exposure portion being movable between an exposure position where the photoconductor is exposed and a retracted position where the photoconductor is retracted from the exposure position;
a fan configured to generate an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; and
a duct configured to communicate with the fan and to communicate with the support portion, and the duct including a duct portion that communicates with the fan, and an elevating duct that integrally supports the exposure portion and relatively moves with respect to the duct portion between the exposure position and the retracted position integrally with the exposure portion, and guiding the airflow generated by the fan to the substrate, wherein
the elevating duct includes a first opening portion communicating with the duct portion and provided on one side in a rotation axis direction of the photoconductor, a second opening portion provided on the other side in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor, and a rib protruding in a direction away from the exposure portion in a vertical direction,
the duct portion includes a third opening portion provided on one side in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor, a fourth opening portion provided on the other side in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor, and a sealing member surrounding the third opening portion and the fourth opening portion,
the first opening portion and the third opening portion communicate with each other, and the second opening portion and the fourth opening portion communicate with each other, so that the elevating duct and the duct portion communicate with each other,
a surface of the rib that intersects a rotation axis of the photoconductor is in contact with the sealing member when the elevating duct is located at the exposure position, and
a surface of the rib that intersects the rotation axis of the photoconductor is in contact with the sealing member when the elevating duct is located at the retracted position.