JP2008276018A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus capable of reducing noise generated by operation of a drive box with a simple configuration.
An image forming apparatus includes a housing main body, an image forming means provided in the housing main body for forming an image on a recording medium, a housing provided in the housing main body, and a motor. Located between the housing 40 and the housing body 3, the housing 40 and the driving box 4 having a driving force transmission mechanism including a plurality of gears (for example, Ga, Gb, etc.) for transmitting the driving force to the image forming means. And a damping member 51 that contacts each of the housing body 3, and the damping member 51 is magnetically attracted to and slides on at least one of the housing 40 and the housing body 3. To get.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

As an image forming apparatus such as a printer employing an electrophotographic system, for example, a plurality of photosensitive members, a plurality of developing rollers provided to correspond to the respective photosensitive members, and a developing roller provided to correspond to each developing roller are provided. There is known a so-called tandem type image forming apparatus including a plurality of transfer rollers (hereinafter simply referred to as “image forming unit”).
In such a tandem type image forming apparatus, since each photoconductor, each developing roller, and each transfer roller are rotationally driven, a motor as a driving source and the driving force of the motor are transmitted to the image forming means. A plurality of gears are used.
Such motors and gears are supported by a casing installed in the image forming apparatus, and the motor, gears, and casing constitute a drive box that drives the image forming means.

In the tandem type image forming apparatus as described above, when the image forming apparatus is operated, the meshing sound of the gears is generated, and the vibration due to the rotation of the motor and the gears and the vibration due to the meshing of the gears are generated. End up. Furthermore, the chassis is excited by such noise and vibration, increasing the noise generated by the image forming apparatus.
Conventionally, as countermeasures against noise, it has been common to increase the rigidity of the chassis of the drive box to reduce noise and vibration. However, with this conventional method, a certain degree of effect can be obtained by suppressing the vibration by increasing the rigidity of the chassis. However, in order to obtain a higher effect because the vibration is easily transmitted, the thickness of the chassis is further increased. It was necessary to increase the rigidity. Therefore, there is a drawback that the weight of the drive box increases, and therefore, there is a limit to application to an image forming apparatus that is required to be lightweight and compact.

Therefore, in Patent Document 1, as an anti-noise measure in an image forming apparatus, an intermediate bracket is fixed to the frame of the apparatus main body, and a drive bracket provided with a motor and a tooth wheel train is elastically suspended by the intermediate bracket. An anti-vibration mechanism for the drive unit is disclosed.
However, in Patent Document 1, since the drive bracket is elastically supported by the intermediate bracket, the drive bracket is liable to shake or vibrate, and the effect of reducing noise is insufficient. There is a disadvantage that the number of parts is large and the structure becomes complicated.

JP 2003-57901 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce noise generated by operation of a drive box with a simple configuration.

Such an object is achieved by the present invention described below.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an exterior member,
Image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium provided in the exterior member;
A drive box having a housing provided in the exterior member and a drive force transmission mechanism including a plurality of gears for transmitting a drive force of a motor to the image forming unit;
A damping member located between the housing and the exterior member and contacting each of the housing and the exterior member;
The damping member is characterized in that it can be magnetically attracted to and slidable on at least one of the casing and the exterior member.
Thereby, the vibration of a housing | casing can be suppressed with a simple structure, and the noise generated by the action | operation of a drive box can be reduced.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the damping member is configured to be elastically deformable.
Thereby, the vibration of the housing is further suppressed.
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the vibration damping member includes a base portion and a magnetic layer formed so as to cover the surface of the base portion.
Thereby, it becomes easy to form the damping member in a desired shape, and the degree of freedom in design is improved.
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the base is made of a foam.
Thereby, the vibration of the housing is suppressed and a sound insulation effect can be exhibited.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the damping member includes a plate-like permanent magnet and an elastic layer formed so as to cover at least one surface of the permanent magnet.
Thereby, the vibration of the housing is suppressed.
In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the damping member is in surface contact with each of the casing and the exterior member, and each contact surface is substantially flat.
Thereby, the vibration damping member and the housing and / or the exterior member can be smoothly slid.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that a low friction portion for reducing sliding resistance is formed on the contact surface.
Thereby, it is possible to smoothly slide the vibration damping member and the housing and / or the exterior member while preventing the vibration damping member from separating from the housing and / or the exterior member.
In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the vibration damping member is fixed to the exterior member and is slidable with the housing.
Thereby, the vibration of a housing | casing can be suppressed more effectively.

In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the exterior member has a plurality of projecting portions projecting toward the housing, and a top surface of each projecting portion is in contact with the vibration damping member.
Thereby, the rigidity of the exterior member can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the exterior member.
In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the vibration damping member is provided between the protrusions and the housing.
Thereby, vibration is absorbed by the damping member between each protrusion and the housing, and noise can be reduced.

In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the image forming unit includes a plurality of photosensitive members provided rotatably, and a plurality of developers provided corresponding to the plurality of photosensitive members and rotatably provided. It is preferable to have a plurality of transfer members that correspond to the plurality of developing members and are rotatably provided.
By using the damping member in such a so-called tandem type image forming apparatus, vibration of the housing can be more effectively suppressed.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
In the following embodiments, a case where the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to a laser beam printer (printer) will be described as a representative example. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, first, the overall configuration and operation (action) of the entire image forming apparatus will be briefly described, and then the main parts (features) of the present invention will be described.

<First Embodiment>
1 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a drive configuration for driving each unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a drive unit that drives each part of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a drive box of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity.
In FIG. 5, some gears and the like are not shown. The same applies to FIGS. 6 and 7.

  The image forming apparatus 1 shown in these drawings is an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by superposing four color toners of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). In this image forming apparatus 1, when an image formation command (image information) is given to a main controller described later from an external device such as a host computer, the engine controller described later controls each part of the engine unit EG in response to the command from the main controller. A predetermined image forming operation is executed under control to form an image corresponding to the image forming command on the recording medium. Examples of the recording medium include copying paper, transfer paper, paper, etc., films such as OHP transparent sheets, cloth, and the like.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a housing main body 3 that covers substantially the whole thereof. The housing main body 3 includes a power circuit board, a main controller, and an engine controller, and controls each part of the image forming apparatus 1. A unit (control means) 5, an image forming unit 7, a transfer belt unit (transfer means) 8, a paper feed unit 11, a secondary transfer unit 12, a fixing unit (fixing means) 13, and a guide member 15. Are provided respectively. In this case, the control unit 5 is arranged (arranged) in an electric equipment arrangement space SP described later. Further, the secondary transfer unit 12, the fixing unit (fixing means) 13, and the guide member 15 are disposed on the right side in FIG. The housing body 3 includes a plurality of exterior members such as exterior members 31, 32, and 33 joined to each other (see FIG. 5). The image forming unit 7, the transfer belt unit 8, the secondary transfer unit 12, and the fixing unit 13 constitute a main part of image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium.

  The image forming unit 7 includes four image forming stations for forming a plurality of different color images (in the drawing, for yellow indicated by “Y”, for magenta indicated by “M”, and cyan indicated by “C”). For black indicated by "K"). Each image forming station is rotatably provided with a photosensitive drum (latent image carrier) 21 on which a toner image of each color is formed. Each photosensitive drum 21 is connected to a dedicated drive motor via a gear (gear) or the like, and is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed in the direction of an arrow D21 in FIG. A configuration of a drive unit (drive means) that includes each drive motor and transmits the rotational drive force (drive force) generated by each drive motor to each photoconductor drum 21 to drive each photoconductor drum 21 and the like. Will be described in detail later.

  A charging unit 23, an image writing unit 29, a developing unit 25, and a photoconductor cleaner 27 are disposed around each photoconductor drum 21 along the rotation direction. Then, a charging operation, a latent image forming operation, and a toner developing operation are executed by these functional units. In FIG. 1, the configuration of the image forming stations in the image forming unit 7 is the same as each other. As a representative, a predetermined image forming station will be described.

  The charging unit 23 includes a charging roller whose surface is made of elastic rubber. The charging roller is configured to rotate in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 at the charging position, and is rotated in the same direction in the driven direction with respect to the photosensitive drum 21 as the photosensitive drum 21 rotates. Driven at high speed. Further, the charging roller is connected to a charging bias generator (not shown), and receives the supply of the charging bias from the charging bias generator so that the charging drum 23 and the photosensitive drum 21 come into contact with each other at the charging position. The surface of 21 is charged.

The image writing unit 29 uses a line head in which light emitting elements are arranged in a line in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 21 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1), and is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 21. ing. Then, light is emitted from the light emitting element to the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 charged by the charging unit 23 to form a latent image on the approximate surface.
In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 21, the charging unit 23, the developing unit 25, and the photosensitive cleaner 27 of each image forming station are unitized as a photosensitive cartridge (not shown).

The developing unit 25 has a cylindrical shape extending in the main scanning direction, and has a developing roller (toner carrier) 251 that carries toner on the surface thereof. The developing roller 251 is rotatably provided in the photosensitive cartridge, and rotates upon receiving a rotational driving force from a driving motor corresponding to the cartridge.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the rotational driving force generated by one driving motor is transmitted (applied) to the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing roller 251 through the driving mechanism.
The toner image made visible at the development position is transported in the rotational direction D21 of the photosensitive drum 21, and then primary to the transfer belt 81 at the primary transfer position TR1 where the photosensitive belt 21 abuts the transfer belt 81. Transcribed.

  The transfer belt unit 8 includes a pair of transfer unit frames 84, 84, and the pair of frames 84, 84 allows the driving roller 82 and a driven roller disposed on the left side of the driving roller 82 in FIG. The blade facing roller 83 is rotatably supported. Of these rollers, the driving roller 82 rotates in response to the rotational driving force from the first driving motor 911 provided for the black image forming station K. The transfer belt 81 is stretched around these rollers, and when the drive roller 82 is rotated by receiving the rotational drive force from the first drive motor 911, the transfer belt 81 is moved in accordance with the arrow D81 in FIG. Is circulated and driven in the direction (conveyance direction).

  The drive roller 82 circulates and drives the transfer belt 81 in the direction of the arrow D81 in the figure, and also serves as a backup roller for the secondary transfer roller 121. A rubber layer having a predetermined thickness (for example, about 3 mm) and a predetermined volume resistivity (for example, 1000 kΩ · cm or less) is formed on the peripheral surface of the driving roller 82 via a metal shaft. By grounding, a conductive path of a secondary transfer bias supplied from a secondary transfer bias generator (not shown) via the secondary transfer roller 121 is formed. By providing the drive roller 82 with a rubber layer having high friction and shock absorption, the recording medium enters the contact portion (secondary transfer position TR2) between the drive roller 82 and the secondary transfer roller 121. This makes it difficult for the impact to reach the transfer belt 81, and deterioration of image quality can be prevented.

  The paper feeding unit 11 includes a paper feeding unit having a paper feeding cassette 77 capable of stacking and holding recording media and a pickup roller 79 for feeding recording media from the paper feeding cassette 77 one by one. The recording medium fed from the paper feed unit by the pickup roller 79 is fed to the secondary transfer position TR2 along the guide member 15 after the paper feed timing is adjusted by the registration roller pair 80.

  The secondary transfer roller 121 is provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the transfer belt 81 and is driven to come into contact with and separate from a secondary transfer roller drive mechanism (not shown). The fixing unit 13 includes a heating roller 131 that includes a heating element such as a halogen heater and is rotatable, and a pressure unit 132 that presses and biases the heating roller 131. Then, the recording medium on which the image is secondarily transferred on the surface is guided by the guide member 15 to a nip portion formed by the heating roller 131 and the pressure belt 1323 of the pressure portion 132, and in the nip portion, a predetermined value is obtained. The image is thermally fixed at a temperature of. The pressure unit 132 includes two fixing rollers 1321 and 1322 and a pressure belt 1323 stretched between them. Then, the surface of the pressure belt 1323 is formed by the heating roller 131 and the pressure belt 1323 by pressing the belt tension surface stretched by the two fixing rollers 1321 and 1322 against the peripheral surface of the heating roller 131. The nip portion is configured to be wide. Further, in this embodiment, the fixing roller 1322 is rotatably supported with respect to a pair of frames (support members) 61 and 62 of the apparatus main body, and a rotational driving force from the fifth driving motor 951 dedicated to the fixing unit is obtained. The pressure belt 1323 is driven to circulate by receiving and rotating via a fifth drive transmission unit 952 (see FIG. 4) such as a coupling. The recording medium thus subjected to the fixing process is conveyed to a paper discharge tray 10 provided on the upper surface of the housing body 3.

  A cleaner portion 71 is disposed to face the blade facing roller 83. The cleaner unit 71 includes a cleaner blade 711 for removing foreign matters such as toner and paper dust remaining on the transfer belt 81 after the secondary transfer, and a waste toner box 713 for collecting the removed foreign matters. An exhaust fan FN is attached to the left side in FIG. A toner supply container 26 is detachably provided on the left side in FIG.

Next, the configuration and operation of the drive unit 9 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The drive unit 9 includes four common drive mechanisms 91 to 94 for driving each photosensitive drum 21, each development roller 251, and the drive roller 82, and one fixing drive mechanism 95 for driving the fixing roller 1322. And have.
That is, the first common drive mechanism 91 includes a first drive motor 911 and a first drive transmission unit 912, and the rotational driving force generated from the first drive motor 911 is blackened via the first drive transmission unit 912. Is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 21 for black, the developing roller 251 for black, and the driving roller 82 to be driven. As shown in FIG. 2, the first drive transmission unit 912 includes a total of 15 gears (gears) Ga to Go including a gear (small gear) Ga fixed to the rotation shaft of the first drive motor 911. It consists of The gear Gb and the gear Gf, the gear Gc and the gear Gd, and the gear Gi and the gear Gh are joined to each other and rotate integrally.
Among these gears Ga to Go, a photoconductor driving wheel train (driving force transmission mechanism) is formed by the gears Ga to Ge. Then, the photosensitive drum driving wheel train transmits the rotational driving force generated by the first driving motor 911 to the gear Ge fixed to the rotating shaft of the black photosensitive drum 21 to drive the photosensitive drum 21. .

Further, a development driving wheel train (driving force transmission mechanism) is formed by the gears Ga, Gb, and Gf to Gj. The developing driving wheel train transmits the rotational driving force generated by the first driving motor 911 to the gear Gj fixed to the rotating shaft of the black developing roller 251 to drive the developing roller 251.
Furthermore, a transfer driving wheel train (driving force transmission mechanism) is formed by the gears Ga and Gk to Go. By this transfer drive wheel train, the rotational drive force generated by the first drive motor 911 is transmitted to the gear Go fixed to the rotation shaft of the drive roller 82, the drive roller 82 is driven, and the transfer belt 81 is transported. Circulately moves to D81.

The second common drive mechanism 92 includes a second drive motor 921 and a second drive transmission unit 922, and the rotational drive force generated from the second drive motor 921 is cyan via the second drive transmission unit 922. Is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 21 for cyan and the developing roller 251 for cyan.
The third common drive mechanism 93 includes a third drive motor 931 and a third drive transmission unit 932, and the rotational driving force generated from the third drive motor 931 is transmitted via the third drive transmission unit 932. It is transmitted to the magenta photosensitive drum 21 and the magenta developing roller 251 and driven.

The fourth common drive mechanism 94 includes a fourth drive motor 941 and a fourth drive transmission unit 942, and the rotational driving force generated from the fourth drive motor 941 is transmitted via the fourth drive transmission unit 942. It is transmitted to the yellow photosensitive drum 21 and the yellow developing roller 251 and driven. Note that each of the second to fourth drive transmission units 922 to 942 has the same configuration as the photosensitive member drive wheel train and the development drive wheel train of the first drive transmission unit 912.
Further, the fixing drive mechanism 95 includes a fifth drive motor 951 and a fifth drive transmission unit 952 such as a coupling, and the rotational drive force generated from the fifth drive motor 951 is transmitted via the fifth drive transmission unit 952. Then, it is transmitted to the fixing roller 1322 and driven.

The first common drive mechanism 91 to the fourth common drive mechanism 94 of the drive unit 9 are provided in a housing (casing) 40, and the housing 40 and the first common drive mechanism 91 to the first common drive mechanism 94. The drive box 4 is configured by the four common drive mechanisms 94.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the drive box 4 includes a housing 40 attached (fixed) to the frame 62 of the apparatus main body.

On the other hand, the exterior member 31 constituting the housing body 3 is disposed on the lower side of the housing 40 in FIG. 5, the exterior member 32 is disposed on the upper side of the housing 40 in FIG. 5, and the exterior member 33 is formed of the exterior member. It arrange | positions so that 31 and the exterior member 32 may be connected. The frame 62 is fixed to the exterior members 31 and 32.
The constituent materials of the exterior members 31 to 33 are not particularly limited. For example, various resin materials (for example, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS resin)) can be used. For example, it is preferable to use a highly attenuating material such as a polyamide-based elastomer (for example, nylon) or a polyester-based elastomer (for example, Hytrel).
Moreover, the thickness of the exterior members 31-33 is not specifically limited, respectively, It sets suitably according to various conditions (for example, 2 mm).

The housing 40 includes a side plate 42 located on the proximal side from the frame 62 and a lid member 41 that covers the side plate 42 from the outside (right side in FIG. 5). Further, the housing 40 includes a plate-shaped (sheet-shaped) magnet portion 43 provided so as to cover the outer surface of the wall portion 411 facing the side plate 42 of the lid member 41 (that is, the surface on the exterior member 33 side). ing. By providing such a magnet part 43, the housing 40 and the vibration damping member 51 can be magnetically attracted as will be described later.
In the illustrated example, the side plate 42 and the lid member 41 are fixed with bolts and nuts, but are not limited thereto, and may be fixed with, for example, rivets, welding, adhesion, or the like.

The constituent materials of the lid member 41 and the side plate 42 are not particularly limited, but various resin materials (for example, ABS resin) and various metal materials (for example, electrogalvanized steel (SECC steel)) Can be used.
Further, the thicknesses of the lid member 41 and the side plate 42 are not particularly limited, and are appropriately set according to various conditions (for example, 1.2 mm).

In addition, the constituent material of the magnet part 43 is not particularly limited. For example, various soft magnetic materials (for example, Fe) and various hard magnetic materials (for example, a B—Nd—Fe alloy that is a raw material of a neodymium magnet). Can be suitably used.
However, such a magnet part 43 is, for example, when the lid member 41 has magnetism and can receive the action of the magnetic field of the damping member 51 (for example, when it is made of SECC steel). ), May be omitted.

  The housing 40 is provided with drive motors (motors) 911 to 941 and drive transmission units 912 to 942. The drive transmission units 912 to 942 are substantially the same except that only the first drive transmission unit 912 transmits the rotational driving force (driving force) to the driving roller 82. In the following description, the first drive motor 911 and the first drive transmission unit 912 will be described as an example.

  In the first drive motor 911, only the rotor shaft (rotation shaft) 9112 is inserted into the housing 40, and the main body portion 9111 is disposed outside the housing 40. The main body 9111 is installed (fixed) on the side plate 42 of the housing 40. As a result, the drive box 4 can be reduced in size and weight, whereby the entire image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced in size and weight.

The gear (small gear) Ga fixed to the rotor shaft 9112 of the first drive motor 911 of the first drive transmission unit 912 and the other gears (gears) Gb to Go are respectively inside the housing 40. Is arranged.
Further, the first drive motor 911 that is a vibration generation source (vibration generation unit) and the shafts of the gears Gb to Go are respectively installed on the side plate 42.

That is, the gears Gb and Gf are rotatably mounted on a shaft (fixed shaft) 64 via a bearing 66, and one end side of the shaft 64 is fixed to the side plate 42 via a mounting member 68. The other end is fitted to the lid member 41. The same applies to the gears Gc, Gd, Gg, Gh, Gi, Gk, Gl, Gm and Gn.
The gear Ge is fixed to one end side of a shaft (rotating shaft) 65, and the shaft 65 is rotatably installed on the side plate 42 via a bearing 67. Further, one end side of the photosensitive drum 21 is fixed to the other end side of the shaft 65, and the other end side of the photosensitive drum 21 is rotatably supported by the frame 61. The same applies to the gears Gj and Go.
The drive box 4 has been described above.

As shown in FIG. 5, a sheet-shaped control is provided between the magnet portion 43 and the exterior member 33 of the housing 40 included in the drive box 4 so as to come into contact with each of the magnet portion 43 and the exterior member 33. A vibration member 51 is provided.
That is, one surface (the left surface in FIG. 5) of the damping member 51 is in contact with the outer surface of the magnet portion 43, and the other surface (the right surface in FIG. 5) of the damping member 51 is the exterior member. 33 is in contact with the inner wall surface. The damping member 51 is provided so as to be in contact with substantially the entire outer surface (substantially the entire surface) of the magnet portion 43.
Such a vibration damping member 51 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the exterior member 33, and can be magnetically attracted to and slidable with respect to the magnet portion 43. That is, the damping member 51 is a member that functions as a magnet.

The magnetic attraction force generated between the damping member 51 and the magnet unit 43 prevents, for example, the damping member 51 and the casing 40 (the lid member 41) from being separated by the vibration of the drive box 4. The vibration damping member 51 and the magnet portion 43 are designed to be strong enough to slide.
A method of fixing the vibration damping member 51 to the inner wall surface of the exterior member 33 is not particularly limited, and may be fixed through an adhesive, for example, or may be fixed using a bolt and a nut.
By providing such a damping member 51, noise generated by the operation of the drive box 4 can be reduced with a simple configuration.

  Specifically, the motor 911 and the gears Ga to Go supported by the housing 40 rotate with the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. Then, vibration accompanying rotation of the motor 911 and the gears Ga to Go, vibration due to meshing between the gears, and meshing sound between the gears are generated. Furthermore, the exterior member 33 is excited by such noise and vibration, and noise generated by the image forming apparatus 1 is increased.

However, since the vibration damping member 51 is provided in the present invention, the vibration generated by the operation of the drive box 4 is caused by the sliding of the magnet portion 43 and the vibration damping member 51 due to the vibration. It is absorbed by the contact interface between the magnet part 43 and the damping member 51. As a result, vibration of the drive box 4 is suppressed, and noise generated from the image forming apparatus 1 is reduced.
In particular, the damping member 51 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the exterior member 33 as described above, and can slide with respect to the magnet portion 43. Therefore, the vibration of the drive box 4 can be efficiently absorbed by the contact interface between the magnet portion 43 and the damping member 51.

In the present embodiment, the damping member 51 is configured to be elastically deformable. Thereby, since the damping member 51 slides with the magnet part 43 and elastically deforms, the vibration of the drive box 4 can be effectively absorbed.
Further, the damping member 51 is in surface contact with each of the magnet portion 43 and the exterior member 33 provided in the housing 40, and each contact surface is a substantially flat surface. Thereby, the damping member 51 and the magnet part 43 can be slid smoothly, and the vibration of the drive box 4 can be absorbed effectively.

Such a damping member 51 includes a base 511, a magnetic layer 512 formed so as to cover the surface of the base 511, and a low surface formed so as to cover a surface of the magnetic layer 512 facing the magnet portion 43. And a friction part 513.
In this way, by forming the magnetic layer 512 so as to cover the surface of the base portion 511, it becomes easy to form the vibration damping member 51 in a desired shape, and the design flexibility of the image forming apparatus 1 is improved.

The constituent material of the base 511 is not particularly limited. For example, natural rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, hydrin rubber, urethane rubber, Various rubber materials such as silicon rubber and fluoro rubber, styrene, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polybutadiene, trans polyisoprene, fluoro rubber, chlorinated polyethylene, etc. These various thermoplastic elastomers and various foams such as polypropylene foam, polyethylene foam and polyurethane foam can be used, and one or more of these can be used in combination (mixed).
Among these, it is preferable to use various foams such as a polypropylene foam, a polyethylene foam, and a polyurethane foam as a constituent material of the base 511. Thereby, the vibration damping member 51 can absorb the vibration of the drive box 4 and can absorb the sound (that is, noise) generated from the drive box 4 by the sound absorbing action of the foam.

The constituent material of the magnetic layer 512 is not particularly limited. For example, a hard magnetic material (eg, a B—Nd—Fe alloy) used as a raw material for a ferrite magnet, a neodymium magnet, an alnico magnet, a Samakova magnet, or the like. Can be suitably used.
Such a magnetic body layer 512 may be formed, for example, by sticking a member formed of a hard magnetic material as described above in a sheet shape to the base portion 511, or in the form of a particulate hard magnetic material on the base portion 511. You may form by apply | coating material.

  The low friction part 513 has a function of reducing the frictional resistance between the vibration damping member 51 and the magnet part 43. Accordingly, for example, compared with the case where the low friction portion 513 is not formed, the damping member 51 and the magnet portion 43 can be smoothly moved even if the magnetic adsorption force between the magnet portion 43 and the damping member 51 is increased. Can be slid. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the vibration damping member 51 and the magnet portion 43 from separating due to the vibration of the drive box 4, and to absorb the vibration of the drive box 4 more effectively. .

The constituent material of the low friction portion 513 is not particularly limited, but for example, PTFE, PFA, or the like can be suitably used.
However, such a low friction part 513 may be formed on the contact surface between the vibration damping member 51 and the magnet part 43, for example, on the surface of the magnet part 43 facing the vibration damping member 51. Alternatively, it may be formed on the surface of the damping member 51 facing the magnet part 43 and the surface of the magnet part 43 facing the damping member 51.

The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has been described above.
In the present embodiment, the damping member 51 is provided so as to be in contact with the entire surface of the magnet unit 43 on the damping member 51 side, but not the entire surface of the magnet unit 43 on the damping member 51 side. It may be provided so that it may contact a part of. Moreover, the damping member 51 may be provided in one place, and may be provided in multiple places. Further, the position (part) where the damping member 51 is installed is preferably the part of the vibration mode having the deepest relationship with noise, for example, the part closest to the vibration generation source (vibration generation unit). The position where the damping member 51 is installed can be specified by, for example, vibration measurement (vibration measurement) or the like.

  Moreover, although this embodiment demonstrated what the damping member 51 was fixed to the exterior member 33, it is not limited to this. For example, the vibration damping member 51 may be provided so as to be fixed to the housing 40, magnetically attracted to the exterior member 33, and slidable. Further, the vibration damping member 51 may be provided so as to be magnetically attracted to the casing 40 and the exterior member 33 and to be slidable.

Moreover, in this embodiment, although the damping member 51 is comprised so that elastic deformation is possible, it is not limited to this, It does not need to be able to elastically deform.
In the present embodiment, the vibration damping member 51 includes the base 511, but the base 511 may be omitted. In this case, for example, a member having a low friction portion formed on the surface of the permanent magnet can be used as the vibration damping member 51.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a drive box and its vicinity in the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 1 </ b> A according to the second embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the first embodiment described above, and description of similar matters will be omitted. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above-described embodiment.
The image forming apparatus 1A is the same as the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment except that the configuration of the housing body is different.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the image forming apparatus 1 </ b> A, the exterior member 33 </ b> A has a plurality of protrusions (projections) (projections) 331 </ b> A that protrude toward the housing 40, and two adjacent protrusions A groove 333A is formed between 331A. Further, the top surface 332 </ b> A of each protrusion 331 </ b> A is a substantially flat surface, and the top surface 332 </ b> A is in contact with the vibration damping member 51. Further, each of the protruding portion 331A and the groove 333A extends along a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. Thereby, the rigidity of the exterior member 33A can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the exterior member 33A.

Further, a flow path is defined (formed) by the inner surface of the groove 333A of the exterior member 33A and the outer surface of the vibration damping member 51, and this flow path can be used, for example, for exhaust or exhaust heat.
The vibration damping member 51 is provided only between each projecting portion 331A of the exterior member 33A and the magnet portion 43 provided in the housing 40.
Also by the image forming apparatus 1A as described above, the same effects as those of the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above can be exhibited.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a drive box and its vicinity in the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the upper side in FIG. 7 is referred to as “upper” and the lower side is referred to as “lower”. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above-described embodiment.
Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 1 </ b> B according to the third embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment described above, and description of similar matters will be omitted.
The image forming apparatus 1B is the same as the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment except that the configurations of the damping member and the housing body are different.

As shown in FIG. 7, the housing body 3B is provided so as to cover the opening 35B and the exterior members 31B and 32B provided so as to form the opening 35B for performing maintenance, replacement, etc. of the drive box 4. And an opening / closing member 34B.
The opening / closing member 34B is detachably provided on the exterior members 31B and 32B. By providing such an opening / closing member 34B, maintenance of the image forming apparatus 1B becomes easy. The open / close member 34B has an upper end 341B engaged with the exterior member 31B and a lower end 342B engaged with the exterior member 32B to cover the opening 35B (this state is also referred to as a “closed state”).
A damping member 51B is fixed to the inner wall surface of the opening / closing member 34B (that is, the surface facing the housing 40). The vibration damping member 51B is provided so as to be magnetically attracted (that is, contacted) with the housing 40 when the opening / closing member 34B covers the opening 35B (that is, in the closed state).

The damping member 51B includes a plate-like permanent magnet portion 512B and an elastic portion 511B formed so as to cover one surface of the permanent magnet portion 512B. Such a damping member 51B is arranged so that the elastic portion 511B is in contact with the opening / closing member 34B and the permanent magnet portion 512B is in contact with the magnet portion 43 of the housing 40.
By providing the damping member 51B in this way, vibration due to the operation of the drive box 4 can be effectively absorbed. In particular, in the image forming apparatus 1B of the present embodiment, the opening / closing member 34B is detachably attached to the exterior members 31B, 32B, and therefore the opening / closing member 34B and the exterior members 31B, 32B are caused by the vibration of the drive box 4. Noise is likely to be generated from the contact portion (that is, the engaging portion). Therefore, the generation of such noise is effectively prevented by providing the vibration damping member 51B between the casing 40 and the opening / closing member 34B.

Permanent magnet portion 512B is composed of, for example, a ferrite magnet, a neodymium magnet, an alnico magnet, a sumakoba magnet, or the like.
Further, the constituent material of the elastic portion 511B is not particularly limited. For example, natural rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, hydrin rubber, Various rubber materials such as urethane rubber, silicone rubber, fluoro rubber, styrene, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polybutadiene, trans polyisoprene, fluoro rubber, chlorinated Examples include various thermoplastic elastomers such as polyethylene, and various foams such as polypropylene foam, polyethylene foam, and polyurethane foam. One or more of these may be used in combination (mixed). it can.
Also by the image forming apparatus 1B as described above, the same effects as those of the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above can be exhibited.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of each unit is replaced with an arbitrary configuration having the same function. can do. Moreover, other arbitrary structures and processes may be added to the present invention.
Further, the present invention may be a combination of any two or more configurations (features) of the above embodiments.

In the embodiment, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus provided with the common drive mechanisms 91 to 94 for each color. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by driving a plurality of rollers with one common motor (motor).
Further, the printer system in the present invention is not limited to the tandem system, and examples thereof include a four-cycle system.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a printer, and can be applied to various image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine (copy) and a facsimile.

1 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a driving configuration for driving each unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a drive unit that drives each unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a drive box and its vicinity of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the drive box and its vicinity in 2nd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the drive box and its vicinity in 3rd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B ... Image forming apparatus 10 ... Paper discharge tray 11 ... Paper feed unit 12 ... Secondary transfer unit 121 ... Secondary transfer roller 13 ... Fixing unit 131 ... Heating roller 15 ... Guidance Member 21... Photoconductor drum 23... Charging unit 26... Toner supply container 27... Photoconductor cleaner 29... Image writing unit 3, 3B ... Housing body 31, 31B, 32, 32B, 33, 33A. ... Exterior member 331A ... Projection part 332A ... Top surface 333A ... Groove 34B ... Opening / closing member 341B ... Upper end part 342B ... Lower end part 35B ... Opening 4 ... Drive box 40 ... Housing 41 ... Lid Member 411 ...... Wall part 42 ...... Side plate 43 ...... Magnet part 5 ...... Control unit 51, 51 </ b> B ...... Damping member 511 ...... Base part 511 </ b> B ...... Elastic part 512 ... Magnetic material layer 512B ... Permanent magnet part 513 ... Low friction part 61, 62 ... Frame 63 ... Connection part 64, 65 ... Shaft 66, 67 bearing 68 ... Mounting member 69 ... Frame 7 ... Image forming unit 77 …… Paper cassette 79 …… Pickup roller 711 …… Cleaner blade 713 …… Waste toner box 8 …… Transfer belt unit 80 …… Registration roller pair 81 …… Transfer belt 82 …… Drive roller 83 …… Blade opposing roller 84 …… Transfer unit frame 9 …… Drive unit 91-94 …… Common drive mechanism 95 …… Fixing drive mechanism 1321, 1322 …… Fixing roller 1323 …… Pressure belt 251 …… Developing roller 911, 921 , 931, 941, 951... Drive motor 9111. 2 ... Shaft 912, 922, 932, 942, 952 ... Drive transmission part FN ... Exhaust fan Ga to Go ... Gear (gear) SP ... Electrical installation space Y, M, C, K ... Image formation station

Claims (11)

An exterior member;
Image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium provided in the exterior member;
A drive box having a housing provided in the exterior member and a drive force transmission mechanism including a plurality of gears for transmitting a drive force of a motor to the image forming unit;
A damping member located between the housing and the exterior member and contacting each of the housing and the exterior member;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the damping member is magnetically attracted to and slidable to at least one of the casing and the exterior member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the damping member is configured to be elastically deformable.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration damping member includes a base and a magnetic layer formed to cover a surface of the base.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the base is made of a foam.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the damping member includes a plate-like permanent magnet and an elastic layer formed so as to cover at least one surface of the permanent magnet.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the damping member is in surface contact with each of the casing and the exterior member, and each contact surface is a substantially flat surface.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a low-friction portion for reducing sliding resistance is formed on the contact surface.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the damping member is fixed to the exterior member and is slidable with the housing.   The image according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the exterior member has a plurality of projecting portions projecting toward the housing, and a top surface of each projecting portion is in contact with the vibration damping member. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the vibration damping member is provided between the protrusions and the housing.   The image forming unit corresponds to the plurality of photosensitive members provided rotatably, the plurality of developing members provided corresponding to the plurality of photosensitive members, and the plurality of developing members. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of transfer members that are rotatably provided.

Images