Abstract:
The object of this invention is, in an electronic device provided with a supporting member that supports a drive member driven with vibration by engaging therewith, to provide the fixing structure of wiring that realizes the following: alleviation of the wobble generated by the vibration at the operating time of the drive member, reduction of unwanted sound and vibration caused by the above wobble, and inexpensive fixing of a wire without additional and specific members for wiring. This invention is constituted as a fixing structure of wiring for fixing a wire wired in an electronic device, wherein a drive member driven with vibration and a supporting member for supporting the drive member by engaging therewith are provided in the electronic device, and wherein the wire is fixed by being interposed in a gap formed between the drive member and the supporting member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a fixing structure of wiring for fixing a wire wired in an electronic device and an image forming apparatus comprised thereof, and particularly, relates to a fixing structure of wiring, which can fix a wire without additional and specific components, and an image forming apparatus comprised thereof.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Conventionally, as a structure for fixing a wire wired in an electronic device in a proper position, it has been general to provide specific and additional materials for fixing a wire.  
         [0005]     The image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-162189 is provided with a specific duct of semicircular and tubular shape in a duct mounted with an exhaust fan. This specific duct has a structure, which, by setting a wire thereon, does not allow the wire set on the specific duct to slide off.  
         [0006]     However, the image forming apparatus disclosed in the prior art 1 had a problem of additional cost, since additional and specific materials were required.  
         [0007]     On the other hand, in an electronic device such as an image forming apparatus, a drive member that is driven with vibration of such as a fan is generally provided. As a fixing structure of such drive member, the drive member may be engaged to a supporting member that supports the drive member, and not fixed by screws. However, when fixing only by engagement as noted above, the wobble may be generated by the vibration at the operating time of the drive member because of the size tolerance at the engaging part between the drive member and the supporting member, and additionally, unwanted sound as well as vibration occurred by such wobble has been a problem.  
         [0008]     Consequently, this invention has been invented considering the foregoing conditions, and the purpose of this invention is, with respect to an electronic device provided with a supporting member that supports a drive member driven with vibration by engaging therewith, to provide the fixing structure of wiring that realizes the following: alleviation of the wobble generated by the vibration at the operating time of the drive member, reduction of unwanted sound and vibration caused by the above wobble, and inexpensive fixing of a wire without additional and specific components for wiring.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In order to achieve the foregoing purpose, this invention is comprised as an fixing structure of wiring for fixing a wire wired in an electronic device, wherein a drive member driven with vibration as well as a supporting member that supports the drive member by engaging therewith are provided in the electronic device, and wherein the wire is fixed by being interposed in a gap formed between the drive member and the supporting member.  
         [0010]     As an example of general wires, the present invention comprises a core material such as tin and soft copper, as well as a coating member as the member provided with elasticity of such as vinyl chloride and polyethylene that coats above core material.  
         [0011]     Therefore, in the fixing structure of wiring as structured above, the drive member and the wire come into contact each other by interposing the wire in a gap formed between the drive member and the supporting member, and therefore, the drive member is elastically supported by elastic function of the coating member of the wire. This elastic function suppresses the vibration transmission of the drive member. Additionally, the wobble between the drive member and the supporting member mounted in the electronic device is also dissolved with an infill of the wire as the elastic body.  
         [0012]     Also, both of the above drive member and the supporting member are provided with an even surface facing each other when in mounted condition, and the wire is preferably fixed by being interposed in between the even surfaces.  
         [0013]     Interposing the wire in between the even surfaces indicates the pressure provided to the wire being dispersed, and the possibility of deformation or damage of the wire becomes low, compared to the case when the wire is interposed between lines, points or edges.  
         [0014]     On the other hand, the drive member may be a fan rotatably driven by a prescribed motor.  
         [0015]     The above fixing structure of wiring can be applied to electronic devices, such as personal computers provided with fans and image forming apparatuses.  
         [0016]     When a drive member driven with vibration is provided in an electronic device, the drive member may be supported by a supporting member that supports the drive member by engaging therewith. In such case, the present invention can realize alleviation of the wobble generated by the vibration at the operating time of the drive member, as well as reduction of unwanted sound and vibration caused by the above wobble, and provide a fixing structure of wiring capable of fixing the wire inexpensively without additional and specific materials for wiring. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRITPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus X employing a fixing structure of wiring according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view showing Image forming apparatus X employing a fixing structure of wiring according to the present invention;  
         [0019]     FIGS.  3 ( a ) and  3 ( b ) are a cross-sectional views before and after wiring respectively showing a side surface of the main body of Image forming apparatus X employing a fixing structure of wiring according to the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a duct  20  and a fan case  10  in engagement after wiring;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing Duct  20  in Image forming apparatus X employing a fixing structure of wiring according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     With embodiments of the present invention described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 , the schematic structure of an image forming apparatus X employing a fixing structure of wiring according to the present invention is briefly described in the following. In  FIG. 1  and  3  ( b ), a fan blade  14 B is abbreviated for purpose of explanation.  
         [0024]     As indicated in  FIG. 2 , Image forming apparatus X is roughly comprised of a paper feeder K, an image forming unit G, and a fixing member T.  
         [0025]     Furthermore, as indicated in  FIG. 3 , provided in the side surface of the main body of Image forming apparatus X, near after-mentioned developing member Z provided in Image forming unit G, are a fan case  10  for housing a fan  14  for cooling the temperature near Developing member Z; a duct  20  for supporting Fan case  10  by engaging therewith; a control board  1  as a controller for executing the overall control of Paper feeder K and Image forming unit G; wires S (S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , and S 4 ) for electrically connecting such as an after-mentioned solenoid  3 , clutches C 1 , C 3 , and C 4 , and a motor; and a chassis  2  as a box-shaped structure in which above constituent elements are mounted. Fan case  10  and Duct  20  are described later in detail.  
         [0026]     Wires S are comprised of a core material such as tin and soft copper, as well as a coating member as the member provided with elasticity of such as vinyl chloride and polyethylene that coats above core material. Wires S can be bended at will.  
         [0027]     Additionally, on the top surface of the main body of Image forming apparatus X, an operation input unit not shown is provided. The operation input unit is an information input means operated by a user, and comprised of such as operation buttons and a liquid crystal touch panel.  
         [0028]     As indicated in  FIG. 2 , Paper feeder K in the lower side of the main body of Image forming apparatus X is comprised of: a paper feeding cassette  30  for storing a plurality of recording paper of a predetermined size, a paper feeding roller  32  for paper-feeing the recording paper set in Paper feeding cassette  30 , separation rollers  33  (separation rollers  33 - 1  and  33 - 2 ) for separating the recording paper fed by Paper feeding roller  32 , a clutch C 1  (not shown) of a motor for rotating Paper feeding roller  32  and Separation roller  33 , a manual tray  31  on upper side of Paper feeding cassette  30  for paper-feeding the recording paper of indeterminate sizes, a manual paper feeding roller  34  for conducting paper-feeding of the recording paper set in Manual tray  31 , a solenoid  3  (see  FIG. 3 ) as a clutch of a motor (described later as a paper feeding motor  46 ) that rotates Manual paper feeding roller  34 , an intermediate delivery roller  35  for delivering the recording paper delivered by Separation roller  33  and Manual paper feeding roller  34 , a clutch C 3  (not shown) of a motor (later-described as a paper feeding motor  46 ) for rotating Intermediate delivery roller  35 , resist rollers  36  (resist rollers  36 - 1  and  36 - 2 ), a clutch C 4  (not shown) of a motor (described later as a paper feeding motor  46 ) for rotating resist rollers  36 , and a paper feeding motor  46  (see  FIG. 1 ) for rotatably driving each of above rollers.  
         [0029]     Resist roller  36  is a roller for delivering the recording paper so that the apical end of the toner image (the image formation starting part) formed on the surface of a later-described photoreceptor drum  37  and the apical end of the recording paper should be synchronized.  
         [0030]     Image forming unit G is comprised of the followings: a photoreceptor drum  37  for supporting an electrostatic latent image; an electrifying member for uniformly electrifying the surface of Photoreceptor drum  37 ; a laser scanner unit  38  for forming an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the laser beam on Photoreceptor drum  37 ; a developing member Z for forming a toner image on the surface of Photoreceptor drum  37  by attaching the toner included in the developer to said electrostatic latent image; a cleaning member for cleaning Photoreceptor drum  37  after transfer; a destaticizing member for destaticizing the electric potential remained on Photoreceptor drum  37  after transfer; and a drum motor  45  (see  FIG. 1 ) for rotatably driving a developing roller  39 , a supplying roller  40 , and a stirring roller  41  later described as being provided to Photoreceptor drum  37  and Developing member Z.  
         [0031]     Developing member Z is comprised of the followings: a developing roller  39  for supporting the developer on the surface, a supplying roller  40  for stirring the developer then supplying it onto Developing roller  39 , a stirring roller  41  for stirring the developer then supplying it onto Supplying roller  40 , a developer refilling inlet  42  as an inlet for refilling the developer, a developer storing member  43  for storing the developer, and a delivery roller  44  for delivering the toner stored in Developer storing member  43  to Developer refilling inlet  42 .  
         [0032]     In the next, the image formation processing executed by Image forming apparatus X is briefly explained.  
         [0033]     When the output operation of an image is conducted by a user from a data processing apparatus such as personal computers communicatably connected to Image forming apparatus X, the recording paper set in Paper feeding cassette  30  is fed by Paper feeding roller  32 , then separated one-by-one by Separation roller  33 . The recording paper separated by Separation roller  33  is delivered by Intermediate delivery roller  35  to Resist roller  36 . The recording paper delivered by Intermediate delivery roller  35  is delivered further to the starting position of image formation by Resist roller  36 .  
         [0034]     On the other hand, when forming an image on an indeterminate recording paper, Manual tray  31  performs the paper-feeding. When a prescribed input operation is conducted by a user from the above-mentioned operation input unit, the recording paper set on Manual tray  31  is fed by Manual paper feeding roller  34 , then delivered to Resist roller  36  by Intermediate delivery roller  35 . The recording paper delivered by Intermediate delivery roller  35  is delivered further to the starting position of image formation by Resist roller  36 .  
         [0035]     When the output operation of an image is conducted by a user to the data processing apparatus, an image information signal (digital image data) is transferred to Image forming apparatus X from the data processing apparatus. The transferred image information signal is provided with a prescribed image processing in Image forming apparatus X, then inputted into Laser scanner unit  38 . After that, the laser beam according to the image data after image processing is emitted from Laser scanner unit  38  to the surface of Photoreceptor drum  37 .  
         [0036]     The toner delivered by Delivery roller  44  from Developer storing member  43  through Developer refilling inlet  42  in Developing member Z is supplied to Supplying roller  40  by rotatably driving Stirring roller  41  by Drum motor  45 . Supplying roller  40  supplies the toner to Developing roller  39  by rotatably driven by Drum motor  45 .  
         [0037]     Delivery roller  39  is then rotated by Drum motor  45 , and thus, the thin layer of the toner formed on the surface of Developing roller  39  contacts the surface of Photoreceptor drum  37 . Photoreceptor drum  37  then synchronizes with the rotation of Delivery roller  39  as being rotated by Drum motor  45 . Thus, the electrified toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of Photoreceptor drum  37 , thereby forming a toner image. Photoreceptor drum  37  is continuously rotated by Drum motor  45 , while the toner image is transferred by the transfer roller, that is pressingly contacted with Photoreceptor drum  37 , to the recording paper delivered by Resist roller  36 . The cleaning member is arranged in the lower downstream side of the rotating direction of Photoreceptor drum  37  than the above-mentioned transfer roller for the purpose of removing the remained toner and other excrescence on the surface of Photoreceptor drum  37 . The destaticizing member is arranged in the lower downstream side of the rotating direction of Photoreceptor drum  37  than the above-mentioned cleaning member for the purpose of removing the electric potential remained on the Photoreceptor drum  37 . The toner image transferred onto the recording paper is applied with heat by a fixing roller in Fixing member T, thus fixed onto the recording paper.  
         [0038]     In the next, Fan case  10  and Duct  30  are explained in detail.  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , Fan case  10  is comprised of: a square-shaped fan case base  11 ; a flange  12  having a round-shaped opening and being the same size of the square of Fan case base  11 ; a fan case side surfaces  13  (fan case side surfaces  13 A,  13 B,  13 C, and  13 D) that connect Fan case base  11  and Flange  12 ; and a fan  14  (a fan axis  14 A and a fan blades  14 B). Fan  14  is a blower for lowering the temperature near Developing member Z rose from the heat generated by such as stirring of the toner. Fan  14  is comprised of a combination of Fan axis  14 A and Fan blades  14 B, and Fan blades  14 B of a nearly fan-shaped feather figure are provided around Fan axis  14 A. Fan axis  14 A is rotatably driven by a motor not shown. When Fan axis  14 A is rotatably driven by a motor not shown, Fan blades  14 B combined with Fan axis  14 A are also rotatably driven, thereby blowing Developing member Z. Such Fan  14  is one example of a drive member driven with vibration.  
         [0040]     In Fan case base  11 , a locking holes  15  (a locking hole  15 A 1  and a locking hole  15 A 2 ) for engaging with Duct  20  is formed.  
         [0041]     Fan case side surfaces  13 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , are comprised of Fan case side surfaces  13 A,  13 B,  13 C, and  13 D (in  FIG. 4 , cannot see because of a duct side surface  23 D described later)  
         [0042]     Duct  20  is, as shown in  FIG. 5 , comprised of a duct base  21  for supporting Fan case  10  and Fan case base  11  and a duct side surfaces  23 . Such Duct  20  is one example of a supporting member.  
         [0043]     In  FIG. 5 , Duct side surfaces  23  is comprised of a duct side surface  23 D which is the largest among Duct side surfaces  23 , a duct side surface  23 C next to Duct side surface  23 D in clockwise direction, and duct side surfaces  23 B 2  and  23 B 1  which are parallel to Duct side surface  23 D. When Fan case  10  and Duct  20  are engaged and then mounted to Chassis  2  as shown in  FIG. 4 , the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 B and the even surfaces of Duct side surfaces  23 B 1  and  23 B 2  face each other. Furthermore, the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 D and the even surface of Duct side surface  23 D face each other.  
         [0044]     In Duct base  21 , locking projections  25  (locking projections  25 A 1  and  25 A 2 ) are formed for engaging with Locking holes  15  formed in Fan case base  11 . With engagement between Locking hole  15 A 1  and Locking projection  25 A 1 , and between Locking hole  15 A 2  and Locking projection  25 A 2 , Fan case  10  is fixedly positioned in Duct  20 .  
         [0045]     In Duct side surface  23 , a locking lugs  22  is formed for locking Fan case  10  with Duct  20  by being hooked on the upper edge of Fan case side surface  13 . Duct side surface  23  is an elastic member capable of bending for locking Duct  20  with Fan case  10 .  
         [0046]     Locking lugs  22  is comprised of a locking lug  22 B 1  formed in Duct side surface  23 B 1 , a locking lug  22 B 2  formed in Duct side surface  23 B 2 , a locking lug  22 C formed in Duct side surface  23 C, and locking lugs  22 D 1  and  22 D 2  formed in Duct side surface  23 D.  
         [0047]     In the situation illustrated in  FIG. 4 , Locking lugs  22 B 1  and  22 B 2  are locked on the upper edge of Fan case side surface  13 B, and Locking lug  22 C is locked on the upper edge of Fan case side surface  13 C, and Locking lugs  22 D 1  and  22 D 2  are locked on the upper edge of Fan case side surface  23 D. Thus, Fan case  10  does not fall off Duct  20 .  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 3  ( a ), Fan case  10  and Duct  20  are engaged together, and then mounted to Chassis  2 .  
         [0049]     When no cushion material is provided in between engaged Fan case  10  and Duct  20 , if Fan  14  in Fan case  10  is driven and then Fan case vibrates, a wobble in vertical direction (in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , direction P 1 ) or in right-angled direction with respect to Fan case base  11  may be generated because of the dimensional tolerance between Locking holes  15  and Locking projections  25 . The wobble is absorbed by the wiring to be described later.  
         [0050]     Additionally, Locking holes  15  and Locking projections  25  are respectively formed in Fan case  10  and Duct  20 , however, locking projections and locking holes engaging with said locking projections can be respectively formed in Fan case  10  and Duct  20 .  
         [0051]     In the next, the wiring in Image forming apparatus X is explained.  
         [0052]      FIG. 3 ( a ) and  FIG. 3 ( b ) respectively show a cross-sectional view before and after the wiring.  
         [0053]     As mentioned above, since Developing member Z heats up, Fan  14  as noted above is often placed near Developing member Z in the side surface of the main body of Image forming apparatus X. Moreover, since Paper feeding roller  32  and Separation roller  33 , Manual paper feeding roller  34 , Intermediate delivery roller  35 , Resist roller  36  are arranged in the lower side of Developing member Z and Fan  14 , Clutch C 1  of a motor (Paper feeding motor  46 ) rotating Paper feeding roller  32  and Separation roller  33 , Clutch C 3  of a motor (Paper feeding motor  46 ) rotating Intermediate delivery roller  35 , and Clutch C 4  of a motor (Paper feeding motor  46 ) rotating Resist roller  36  are often installed. On the other hand, Control board  1 , Clutches C 1 , C 3  and C 4 , and Solenoid  3  are certainly connected by a wire S. With effective utilization of these, Wire S connecting from Control board  1  to Clutches C 1 , C 3 , C 4 , and Solenoid  3  is interposed in a gap formed between Fan case  10  housing Fan  14  therein and Duct  20  supporting Fan case  10  by engaging therewith, utilized as a cushion material.  
         [0054]     In concrete terms, as shown in FIGS.  3 ( b ) and  4 , Wire S as one example of the wire wired inside of Image forming apparatus X runs outside of Fan case side surface  13 A from Control board  1 , and is fixed by being interposed in between the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 B and the even surface of Duct side surface  23 B 1 , and in the gap formed between the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 B and the even surface of Duct side surface  23 B 2 , and then connected to Clutch C 1 .  
         [0055]     As in the case of the above-mentioned Wire S 1 , Wire S 2  runs outside of Fan case side surface  13 A from Control board  1 , and is interposed in between the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 B and the even surface of Duct side surface  23 B 1 , and then in the gap formed between the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 B and the even surface of Duct side surface  23 B 2 . Wire S 2  is then fixed by being interposed closer to the side of Fan case base  11  than Wire S 1 , thereby being connected to Solenoid  3 .  
         [0056]     Wires S 3  and S 4  run from Control board  1 , and are fixed by being interposed in the gap formed between the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 D and the even surface of Duct side surface  23 D. Further, they are then fixed by being interposed in the gap formed between the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 C and the even surface of Duct side surface  23 C, thereby being connected to Clutches C 3  and C 4 . Wire S 4  is interposed closer to the side of Fan case base  11  than Wire S 3 .  
         [0057]     As described above, Wires S is fixed by being interposed in the gap formed between the even surface of Fan case side surface  13  in Fan case  10  and the even surface of Duct side surface  23  in Duct  20 .  
         [0058]     In FIGS.  3  ( b ) and  4 , Wires S, S 2 , S 3 , and S are respectively indicated as a line for the purpose of explanation, however, two of these wires are wired as a couple in practice.  
         [0059]     As described above, in the mounted condition as shown in  FIG. 4 , Duct side surface  23  contacts with Fan case side surface  13  in parallel as having their surface parts faced each other, and therefore, it is suitable for Wires S to be interposed in between Fan case side surface  13  and Duct side surface  23 .  
         [0060]     In other words, when Wires S is interposed in between the even surfaces (between Fan case side surface  13  and Duct side surface  23 ), the pressure to be applied to Wires S is dispersed compared to the case when wires are interposed between lines, points, or edges, and thus, the possibility of deformation and damage of the wires becomes low.  
         [0061]     As described above, when Wires S is interposed in between even surfaces facing each other in the mounted condition of Fan case  10  and Duct  20 , the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 B and Wires S 1  and S 2 , the even surface of Duct side surface  23 B 1  and Wires S 1  and S 2 , the even surface of Fan case side surface  13 D and Wires S 3  and S 4 , and the even surface of Duct side surface  23 D and Wires S 3  and S 4  contact respectively, and thus, Fan case  10  is elastically supported by elastic function of the coating material of Wires S. Such elastic function enables suppression of the vibration transmission of the fan housed in Fan case  10 . And the wobble in between Fan case  10  and Duct  20  provided in Image forming apparatus X, in vertical or right-angled direction with respect to Fan case base  11 , is dissolved with an infill of Wires S as the elastic body in the gap between Fan case  10  and Duct  20 . This enables the reduction of unwanted sound generated by the wobble.  
         [0062]     Furthermore, Wires S is fixed by being interposed in the gap formed between Fan case  10  and Duct  20 , and therefore, additional and specific member for fixing Wires S is not need. Consequently, compared to the conventional fixing structure of wiring that requires additional and specific member for fixing Wires S, the structure described above is inexpensive.  
         [0063]     In this embodiment, the fixing structure of wiring provided in an image forming apparatus is described as an example, however, this should not be intended to limit the scope, and the present invention can be applied to other electronic devices such as personal computers.  
         [0064]     Additionally, in this embodiment, the fixing structure of wiring in which wires are interposed in between a fan case and a duct is described, however, this is merely an example, and the present invention can comprise any other fixing structures of wiring in electronic devices provided with a supporting member for supporting a drive member driven with vibration by engaging therewith, in which wires are interposed.