IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• Main Authors: SAKAI MASAYUKI, HOTTA YASUYUKI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: 07.06.2023
• Subjects: CINEMATOGRAPHY; ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY; PHOTOGRAPHY; PHYSICS

To provide an image forming apparatus that has a movable developing unit, and to prevent a variation of positions of a light emitting element and a light receiving element with respect to the developing unit.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus has: (i) an apparatus body that includes a first connection part; (ii) a drum unit; (iii) a developing unit that has a storage part storing toner and is movable to a contact position and a separation position; (iv) a detection part that has a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and a second connection part at which the light emitting element and the light receiving element are electrically connected with each other, and is attached to the developing unit; and (v) a connection member that is connected with the first connection part and the second connection part so that the first connection part and the second connection part are electrically connected with each other. A length of the connection member is longer than a first distance from the first connection part to the second connection part when the developing unit is at the contact position and a second distance from the first connection part to the second connection part when the developing unit is at the separation position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2 【課題】 移動可能に構成された現像ユニットを有する画像形成装置において、現像ユニットに対する発光素子および受光素子の位置がばらつくことを抑制する。【解決手段】 画像形成装置が（ｉ）第１接続部を備えた装置本体と、（ｉｉ）ドラムユニットと、（ｉｉｉ）トナーを収容する収容部を有し、当接位置と離間位置とに移動可能に構成された現像ユニットと、（ｉｖ）発光素子と、受光素子と、発光素子および受光素子が電気的に接続される第２接続部と、を有し、現像ユニットに取り付けられた検知部と、（ｖ）第１接続部と第２接続部が電気的に接続されるように、第１接続部と第２接続部に接続される接続部材と、を有する。接続部材の長さは、現像ユニットが当接位置にあるときの第１接続部から第２接続部の第１距離、および現像ユニットが離間位置にあるときの第１接続部から第２接続部の第２距離よりも長い。【選択図】 図２