US 11,442,400 B2 · Image forming apparatus with LED unit movable from an exposure position to a cleaning position

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an LED unit, and a housing. The LED unit is configured to expose the photosensitive drum. The LED unit has a light emitting surface. The housing includes a discharge portion and a discharge tray. The discharge portion has a discharge opening configured to discharge a sheet. The sheet discharged from the discharge opening is placed on the discharge tray. The discharge tray has a cleaning opening for cleaning the light emitting surface of the LED unit. The LED unit is configured to move between: a first position at which the LED unit exposes the photosensitive drum; and a second position at which the light emitting surface is closer to the cleaning opening than a state where the LED unit is located at the first position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An image forming apparatus comprising:

a photosensitive drum;
an LED unit configured to expose the photosensitive drum, the LED unit having a light emitting surface;
and
a housing including:
a discharge portion having a discharge opening configured to discharge a sheet;
and
a discharge tray having a sheet placement surface on which the sheet discharged from the discharge opening is placed, the discharge tray having a cleaning opening for cleaning the light emitting surface of the LED unit, the cleaning opening being formed in the sheet placement surface;
the LED unit being configured to move between:
a first position at which the LED unit exposes the photosensitive drum;
and
a second position at which the light emitting surface is closer to the cleaning opening than a state where the LED unit is located at the first position.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/186,547Filed 26 Feb 2021

Priority

JP JP2020-0353742 Mar 2020

Published

US 2021/0271201 A12 Sep 2021

Granted

13 Sep 2022

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G03G 21/1666
Means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus: for the exposure unit
G03G 15/04054
For exposing image information provided otherwise than by directly projecting the original image onto the photoconductive recording material,…
G03G 21/1604
Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements: arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus
G03G 21/1619
Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus: frame structures

Image forming apparatus with LED unit movable from an exposure position to a cleaning position

Life of this patent

Image forming apparatus with LED unit movable from an exposure position to a cleaning position

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20