US 8,620,182 B2Granted

Dustproof structure used in image forming device

AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorNoboru Suzuki

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An image forming device has a housing, a cover, a frame, a heating member, a transfer roller, a first shaft, and a shielding assembly. The housing has an opening. The cover opens and closes the opening. The frame is provided in the housing. The heating member is supported to the frame and heating a recording sheet. The transfer roller is rotatably positioned between the heating member and the opening in the frame. The transfer roller conveys the recording sheet in a sheet conveying direction and is positioned downstream of the heating member in the sheet conveying direction. The first shaft is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The first shaft supports the transfer roller and facing the frame through a gap through which the sheet passes. The heating member is exposed to the opening through the gap. The shielding assembly extends in the first direction and is movable between a first position where at least a part of the shielding assembly is aligned with the gap in the sheet conveying direction and a second position where the shielding assembly is offset from the gap in the sheet conveying direction.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An image forming device comprising:

a housing having an opening;
a cover configured to open and close the opening;
a heating member configured to heat a recording sheet;
a plurality of transfer rollers positioned between the heating member and the opening of the housing and configured to rotate and convey the recording sheet in a sheet conveying direction, the plurality of transfer rollers being positioned downstream of the heating member in the sheet conveying direction, the plurality of transfer rollers being positioned at a distance in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, the distance defining a gap between neighboring transfer rollers, the heating member positioned so that the opening is on the other side of the gap than the heating member in the sheet conveying direction;
a first shaft configured to rotate about a first axis extending in the predetermined direction, the first shaft supporting the plurality of transfer rollers;
and
an elongated shielding member elongated in the predetermined direction and configured to pivot between a first position where the elongated shielding member covers at least a part of the gap and a second position where the elongated shielding member covers less of the gap than when in the first position,
wherein the elongated shielding member comprises a first plate portion configured to pivot about a second axis between the first position and the second position, the first plate portion having a cutout portion at a position confronting the plurality of transfer rollers in the sheet conveying direction.

5 more elements

A fixing device for fixing an image on a recording sheet, comprising:

a frame having a first opening and a second opening;
a heating member configured to heat the recording sheet;
a plurality of transfer rollers positioned between the heating member and the second opening and configured to rotate and convey the recording sheet in a sheet conveying direction, the plurality of transfer rollers being positioned downstream of the heating member in the sheet conveying direction and at a distance in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, the distance defining a gap between neighboring transfer rollers, the heating member positioned so that the second opening is on the other side of the gap than the heating member in the sheet conveying direction;
a first shaft configured to rotate about an axis extending in the predetermined direction, the first shaft supporting the plurality of transfer rollers;
and
an elongated shielding member elongated in the predetermined direction and movable between a first position where the elongated shielding member covers at least a part of the gap and a second position where the elongated shielding member covers less of the gap than when in the first position,
wherein the elongated shielding member comprises a first plate portion configured to pivot about a second axis between the first position and the second position, the first plate portion having a cutout portion at a position confronting the plurality of transfer rollers in the sheet conveying direction.

4 more elements

A fixing device for fixing an image on a recording sheet,

a frame having a first opening and a second opening;
a heating member configured to heat the recording sheet;
a plurality of transfer rollers positioned between the heating member and the second opening and configured to rotate and convey the recording sheet in a sheet conveying direction, the plurality of transfer rollers being positioned downstream of the heating member in the sheet conveying direction and at a distance in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, the distance defining a gap between neighboring transfer rollers, the heating member positioned so that the second opening is on the other side of the gap than the heating member in the sheet conveying direction;
a first shaft configured to rotate about an axis extending in the predetermined direction, the first shaft supporting the plurality of transfer rollers;
and
an elongated shielding member elongated in the predetermined direction and movable between a first position where the elongated shielding member covers at least a part of the gap and a second position where the elongated shielding member covers less of the gap than when in the first position,
wherein the elongated shielding member comprises:
a second shaft configured to pivot about a second axis extending in the predetermined direction and supported by the frame;
a first plate portion responsive to movement of the second shaft and configured to pivot about the second axis between the first position and the second position, the first plate portion being configured to move from the first position to the second position when the recording sheet conveyed from the heating member to the plurality of transfer rollers contacts the first plate portion;
a first elastic member configured to urge the first plate portion to the first position;
a second plate portion configured to pivot about the second axis between the first position and the second position, the second plate portion being configured to pivot when the recording sheet conveyed from the heating member to the plurality of transfer rollers contacts the second plate portion;
and
a second elastic member configured to urge the second plate portion to the first position.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/687,461Filed 14 Jan 2010
Priority: JP 2009-03555518 Feb 2009
Published: US 2010/0209142 A119 Aug 2010
Granted: 31 Dec 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G03G 15/2064
Using contact heat: combined with pressure
G03G 21/1633
Means to access the interior of the apparatus: using doors or covers
G03G 21/1647
For connecting the different parts of the apparatus: mechanical connection means
G03G 21/168
Means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus: for the transfer unit