Patent Publication Number: US-2020301349-A1

Title: Connecting device, casing, and image forming apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-050614, filed on Mar. 19, 2019, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     This disclosure relates to a connecting device, a casing, and an image forming apparatus. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     As an example of a connecting device, there is known a circuit board holder disposed between a first circuit board and a second circuit board. The circuit board holder includes a first latch passing through an opening of the first circuit board to engage the first circuit board and a second latch passing through an opening of the second circuit board to engage the second circuit board. 
     There is also known a laser printer that includes a metal plate spring to connect a power supply box of a lower frame and an upper frame to the ground. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connecting device that includes a connecting member and a connected member. The connecting member is connected to the connected member. The connecting member includes a contact portion contacting a surface of the connected member and a flat spring configured to sandwich the connected member together with the contact portion. The connected member includes a passage hole through which the contact portion passes, a communication hole communicating with the passage hole and narrower than the passage hole, and a holding portion disposed around the communicating hole and configured to hold the contact portion. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a casing that includes the connecting device. The connected member is a frame of the connecting device, and the connecting member is a grounding conductor electrically connected with the connected member. 
     In still another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an image forming apparatus that includes the casing and an image forming device. The image forming device is disposed in the casing and configured to form an image. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a casing according to an embodiment of present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a connection state between a frame and a grounding conductor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of holes of the frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the frame and an exterior cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the grounding conductor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the grounding conductor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a connection state between another frame and another grounding conductor according to a variation of an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a connection state between another frame and another grounding conductor according to a second variation of an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a connection state between a common frame and an extension frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a connection state between the common frame, the extension frame, a second extension frame and a third extension frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view of image forming apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to attached drawings. In the drawings for explaining exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, identical reference numerals are assigned as long as discrimination is possible to components such as members and component parts having an identical function or shape, thus omitting a description thereof once the description is provided. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a casing according to an embodiment of present disclosure. 
     A casing  1  (an example of a connecting member) includes a planar frame  100  (an example of a connected member), another planar frame  300  (an example of another connected member), and a grounding conductor  200  (an example of a connecting member). The frame  100  and the frame  300  are disposed facing each other. The grounding conductor  200  is connected to both the frame  100  and the frame  300 . 
     The grounding conductor  200  is electrically connected to both the frame  100  and the other frame  300  and has electrical continuity with the frame  100  and the other frame  300 . 
     The grounding conductor  200  is slidable in directions indicated by arrow A and can be connected to or detached from the frame  100  and the other frame  300 . 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a connection state of the frame  100  and the grounding conductor  200  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a connection state between the frame  100  and the grounding conductor  200 . The frame  300  and the grounding conductor  200  are also connected in the same configuration as in  FIG. 2 . 
     The grounding conductor  200  includes a grounding conductor body  210 , a first connector  224 , and a second connector  234 . Both the first connector  224  and the second connector  234  are integrated with the grounding conductor body  210 . The grounding conductor  200  also includes a first bent portion  220 , a second bent portion  230 , and a flat spring  240 . The first bent portion  220  is integrated with the first connector  224  and bent in the normal direction of a surface of the first connector  224 . The second bent portion  230  is integrated with the second connector  234  and bent in the normal direction of a surface of the second connector  234 . 
     The first bent portion  220  and the second bent portion  230  are spaced apart from each other in directions indicated by arrow B. A first contact portion (contact surface)  222  and a second contact portion (contact surface)  232  are formed on the first bent portion  220  and the second bent portion  230 , respectively, and contact a surface of the frame  100 . Note that the directions of arrow B are parallel to the surface of the frame  100  and perpendicular to the directions of arrow A. 
     The frame  100  includes a first passage hole  110 , a second passage hole  160 , a first communication hole  120 , and a second communication hole  170 . The first passage hole  110  and the second passage hole  160  have a size such that the first bent portion  220  and the second bent portion  230  can pass through the first passage hole  110  and the second passage hole  160 , respectively. The first communication hole  120  and the second communication hole  170  are communicated with the first passage hole  110  and the second passage hole  160 , respectively. The first communication hole  120  and the second communication hole  170  have a smaller width than the first passage hole  110  and the second passage hole  160 . The first communication hole  120  and the second communication hole  170  have a size which prevents the first bent portion  220  and the second bent portion  230  from passing through the first communication hole  120  and the second communication hole  170 , respectively. 
     A first holding portion (holding surface)  130  and a second holding portion (holding surface)  180  are formed around the first communication hole  120  and the second communication hole  170 . The first holding portion  130  and the second holding portion  180  contact and hold a first contact portion  222  and a second contact portion  232 , respectively. 
     The first passage hole  110 , the first communication hole  120 , and the first holding portion  130  are spaced apart from the second passage hole  160 , the second communication hole  170 , and the second holding portion  180  in the directions of arrow B. Such an arrangement can position the grounding conductor  200  with respect to the frame  100  in the directions of the arrow B. 
     In a state illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first contact portion  222  and the second contact portion  232  contact and are held by the first holding portion  130  and the second holding portion  180 , respectively. 
     Further, the flat spring  240  is disposed between the first contact portion  222  and the second contact portion  232  in the directions of arrow B. The flat spring  240 , together with the first contact portion  222  and the second contact portion  232 , sandwiches the frame  100  and have electrical continuity with the frame  100 . 
     In the state illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when removing the grounding conductor  200  from the frame  100 , first, the grounding conductor  200  is moved in the right downward direction of arrow A (from the first and second communication holes  120  and  170  toward the first and second passage holes  110  and  160 ). This movement allows the first bent portion  220  and the second bent portion  230  to move from above the first holding portion  130  and the second holding portion  180  to above the first passage hole  110  and the second passage hole  160 , respectively. 
     Then, moving the grounding conductor  200  downward in  FIG. 2 , that is, the normal direction to a surface of the frame  100  allows the first bent portion  220  and the second bent portion  230  to pass through the first passage hole  110  and the second passage hole  160 , respectively. Thus, the grounding conductor  200  can be detached from the frame  100 . 
     By contrast, when connecting the grounding conductor  200  with the frame  100 , first, the grounding conductor  200  is moved from below the frame  100  toward above the frame  100 . This allows the first bent portion  220  and the second bent portion  230  to pass through the first passage hole  110  and the second passage hole  160 , respectively. 
     When the grounding conductor  200  is moved in the left upward direction of arrow A (from the first and second passage holes  110  and  160  toward the first and second communication holes  120  and  170 ), the grounding conductor  200  is positioned in the state illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     For example, in a case of a comparative configuration including latches that penetrate openings of circuit boards and engage with the circuit boards, the user needs to access a back side of each circuit board and pinch the latch to detach the latch from the opening while pinching the latch. By contrast, in the present embodiment, the user can easily detach the grounding conductor  200  from the frame  100  simply by moving the grounding conductor  200  in the right downward direction of arrow A and then vertically downward in  FIG. 2 . 
     In the above-described comparative configuration, it is difficult to penetrate the latch through the opening and attach the latch to each circuit board after the distance between the two circuit boards is fixed. However, in the present embodiment, even after the distance between the frame  100  and the frame  300  is fixed, the user can pass the first bent portion  220  and the second bent portion  230  through the first passage hole  110  and the second passage hole  160  while tilting the grounding conductor  200 . As a result, the user can easily attach the grounding conductor  200  to the frame  100 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of holes of the frame  100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The first passage hole  110  includes a first left end  110 L and a first right end  110 R. The first communication hole  120  includes a first left end  120 L, a first right end  120 R, and a first edge  120 E. The first holding portion  130  is arranged adjacent to an outside (left side) of the first communication hole  120  in the leftward direction of arrow B. The first left end  110 L and the first left end  120 L are connected via a left connecting portion  132 , and the first right end  110 R and the first right end  120 R are connected via a right connecting portion  134 . 
     The distance between the first left end  110 L and the first right end  110 R is larger than a width of the first bent portion  220  in the directions of arrow B. The length of a shorter one of the first left end  110 L and the first right end  110 R is larger than the length of the first bent portion  220  in the directions of arrow A. As a result, the first bent portion  220  can pass through the first passage hole  110 . 
     The distance between the first left end  120 L and the first right end  120 R is smaller than each of the distance between the first left end  110 L and the first right end  110 R and a width of the first bent portion  220  in the directions of arrow B. The distance between the first left end  120 L and the first right end  120 R is larger than a width of the first connector  224  in the directions of arrow B. As a result, the first bent portion  220  does not pass through the first communication hole  120 . 
     Abutting an end of the first connector  224  to the first edge  120 E in the upward direction of arrow A in  FIG. 3  causes the first bent portion  220  to be positioned in a direction moving from the first passage hole  110  to the first communication hole  120 . 
     The second passage hole  160  includes a second left end  160 L and a second right end  160 R. The second communication hole  170  includes a second left end  170 L, a second right end  170 R, and a second edge  170 E. The second holding portion  180  is disposed adjacent to an outside (right side) of the second communication hole  170  in the rightward direction of arrow B in  FIG. 3 . The second left end  160 L and the second left end  170 L are connected via a left connecting portion  182 . The second right end  160 R and the second right end  170 R are connected via a right connecting portion  184 . 
     The distance between the second left end  160 L and the second right end  160 R is larger than a width of the second bent portion  230  in the directions of arrow B. The length of a shorter one of the second left end  160 L and the second right end  160 R is larger than the length of the second bent portion  230  in the directions of arrow A. As a result, the second bent portion  230  can pass through the second passage hole  160 . 
     The distance between the second left end  170 L and the second right end  170 R is smaller than each of the distance between the second left end  160 L and the second right end  160 R and a width of the second bent portion  230  in the directions of arrow B. The distance between the second left end  170 L and the second right end  170 R is larger than a width of the second connector  234  in the directions of arrow B. As a result, the second bent portion  230  does not pass through the second communication hole  170 . 
     Abutting an end of the second connector  234  to the second edge  170 E in the upward direction of arrow A in  FIG. 3  allows the second bent portion  230  to be positioned in a direction moving from the second passage hole  160  to the second communication hole  170 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a state in which an exterior cover  400  is attached to the frames  100  and  300  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the exterior cover  400  (an example of an attachment) is attached to the frame  100  and the other frame  300  in a leftward direction of arrow A from the right side. 
     As a result, the grounding conductor  200  is pressed by the exterior cover  400 . Accordingly, ends of the first connector  224  and the second connector  234  illustrated in  FIG. 2  abut the first edge  120 E and the second edge  170 E, respectively, illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and the grounding conductor  200  is positioned relative to the frame  100  and the frame  300  in the leftward direction of arrow A. Since the grounding conductor  200  serves as a backing of the exterior cover  400 , quality and robustness are enhanced. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the grounding conductor  200  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The flat spring  240  includes a left flat spring  240 L and a right flat spring  240 R disposed between the first contact portion  222  and the second contact portion  232 . 
     The left flat spring  240 L and the right flat spring  240 R each have elasticity and are connected to the rigid grounding conductor body  210  by a generally known method such as welding, caulking, or screw fastening. Portions of the left flat spring  240 L and the right flat spring  240 R that contact the frame  100  deforms reversibly due to elasticity. 
     When burr sides of the left flat spring  240 L and the right flat spring  240 R are faced against the frame  100 , a surface of the frame  100  contacts the left flat spring  240 L and the right flat spring  240 R and is damaged. As a result, electrical continuity between the frame  100  and each of the left flat spring  240 L and the right flat spring  240 R is enhanced, and electrical grounding is enhanced. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the grounding conductor  200  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 6  is a view of a state in which the grounding conductor  200  is not connected to the frame  100 . An upper face  240 H of the left flat spring  240 L and the right flat spring  240 R is located above a height  222 H of the first contact portion  222  and a height  232 H of the second contact portion  232 . In other words, the left flat spring  240 L and the right flat spring  240 R are located at a side (upper side) opposite to a normal direction (lower side) of each of the first contact portion  222  and the second contact portion  232  relative to the first contact portion  222  and the second contact portion  232 . 
     Owing to this structure, in a state in which the grounding conductor  200  is connected to the frame  100 , the left flat spring  240 L and the right flat spring  240 R elastically deform by only a difference of height between the upper face  240 H and each of the height  222 H and the height  232 H. As a result, the left flat spring  240 L and the right flat spring  240 R reliably contact the frame  100  by a large elastic force. Thus, electrical continuity and electrical grounding are enhanced. 
       FIG. 7  is a view of a connection state between the other frame  300  and the grounding conductor  200  according to a variation of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The connection between the frame  300  and the grounding conductor  200  is not limited to the same configuration as the connection between the frame  100  and the grounding conductor  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . For example, the connection may be a configuration described as follows. 
     The grounding conductor  200  includes a connection portion  250  that is connected to the frame  300 . The connection portion  250  includes a left protrusion  254 L and a right protrusion  254 R connected to the grounding conductor body  210  and another flat spring  252 . The left protrusion  254 L and the right protrusion  254 R are spaced apart in the directions of arrow B. 
     The frame  300  includes a first passage hole  310 , a second passage hole  360 , a first communication hole  320 , and a second communication hole  370 . The first passage hole  310  and the second passage hole  360  have a size which allows the left protrusion  254 L and the right protrusion  254 R to pass through the first passage hole  310  and the second passage hole  360 , respectively. The first communication hole  320  and the second communication hole  370  are connected with the first passage hole  310  and the second passage hole  360 , respectively, and have a narrower width than the first passage hole  310  and the second passage hole  360 , respectively. The first communication hole  320  and the second communication hole  370  have a size which prevents the left protrusion  254 L and the right protrusion  254 R from passing through the first communication hole  320  and the second communication hole  370 , respectively. 
     The first passage hole  310  and the first communication hole  320  are spaced apart from the second passage hole  360  and the second communication hole  370  in the directions of arrow B. 
     When the frame  300  and the grounding conductor  200  are connected, the frame  100  and the frame  300  are already positioned in the normal direction of the surface of the frame  300 , and the frame  300  and the grounding conductor  200  are positioned. Therefore, it is not necessary to newly position the frame  300  and the grounding conductor  200 . In other words, a contact portion or a holding portion as illustrated in  FIG. 2  does not need to be provided. 
     In such a case, the left protrusion  254 L and the right protrusion  254 R pass through the first passage hole  310  and the second passage hole  360  respectively. As a result, the other flat spring  252  can contact the frame  300 . Accordingly, the flat spring  252  and the flat spring  240  illustrated in  FIG. 2  have electrical continuity, which enables the frame  100  and the frame  300  to have electrical continuity. 
       FIG. 8  is a view of a connection state between the other frame  300  and the grounding conductor  200  according to a second variation of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The connection between the frame  300  and the grounding conductor  200  is not limited to the same configuration as the connection between the frame  100  and the grounding conductor  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . For example, the connection may be a configuration described as follows. 
     The frame  300  includes a flange  380 , and the flange  380  includes a screw hole  382 . 
     The grounding conductor  200  includes a screw hole  256 . A screw  384  is fastened to the flange  380  via the screw hole  256  and the screw hole  382  to position the grounding conductor  200  to the frame  300 . 
     In this case, the direction in which the screw  384  is fastened is the same as one of the directions in which the grounding conductor  200  illustrated in  FIG. 1  slides. Therefore, the grounding conductor  200  can be easily connected to or detached from the frame  100  and the other frame  300 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a connection state between a common frame  1000  and an extension frame  3000  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the frame  100  serves as a bottom surface of the common frame  1000 , and the other frame  300  serves as a bottom surface of the extension frame  3000  that is added to the common frame  1000 . A common exterior cover  20  is attached to the common frame  1000 . 
     The common frame  1000  is used for an image forming apparatus with a small-capacity sheet feeding tray(s) and the like. The extension frame  3000  is used as a sheet feeding tray dedicated for an image forming apparatus with a large sheet capacity. In the present embodiment, when the extension frame  3000  is added to the common frame  1000 , the grounding conductor  200  can be easily connected to the common frame  1000  and the extension frame  3000  only by sliding the grounding conductor  200  in the left upward direction of arrow A illustrated in  FIG. 2  and the like. As a result, a sheet feeding tray or the like having ground connection can be easily added. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a connection state between the common frame  1000 , the extension frame  3000 , a second extension frame  4000  and a third extension frame  5000  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     In  FIG. 10 , in addition to the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the second extension frame  4000  and the third extension frame  5000  added to the extension frame  3000  are provided. A second exterior cover  4400  (an example of an attachment of a second attachment set) is attached to the common frame  1000 , the extension frames  3000 ,  4000 , and  5000 . 
     The second extension frame  4000  includes a second grounding conductor  4200  (an example of a connecting member of the second attachment set) and a second frame  4300  (an example of a connected member of the second attachment set). The second grounding conductor  4200  is connected to the frame  300 . The frame  4300  is connected to the second grounding conductor  4200  and serves as a bottom surface of the extension frame  4000 . 
     The third extension frame  5000  includes a third grounding conductor  5200  (an example of a connecting member of a third attachment set) and a third frame  5300  (an example of a connected member of the third attachment set). The grounding conductor  5200  is connected to the frame  4300 . The third frame  5300  is connected to the grounding conductor  5200  and serves as a bottom surface of the extension frame  5000 . 
     The common frame  1000  is used for an image forming apparatus with a small-capacity sheet feeding tray(s) and the like. The extension frame  5000  is used as a sheet feeding tray dedicated for an image forming apparatus with a large sheet capacity. In the present embodiment, when the extension frames  3000 ,  4000 , and  5000  are added to the common frame  1000 , the grounding conductor  200  can be easily connected to the common frame  1000  and the extension frames  3000 ,  4000 , and  5000  only by sliding the grounding conductor  200  in the left upward direction of arrow A illustrated in  FIG. 2  and the like. As a result, a sheet feed tray or the like having ground connection can be easily added. 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic view of image forming apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Image forming apparatuses  1 A,  1 B, and  1 C illustrated in  FIG. 11  each include a casing  1  that includes an image forming device  150  to form an image. 
     The image forming apparatus  1 A includes a small-capacity sheet feeding tray  40 A, a common exterior cover  20 , and a frame  100  disposed at the bottom of the apparatus. 
     The image forming apparatus  1 B includes the casing  1  illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a large-capacity sheet feeding tray  40 B, the common exterior cover  20 , an exterior cover  400 , and the frame  300  disposed at the bottom of the apparatus. 
     The image forming apparatus  1 C includes the casing  1  illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a multiple sheet feeding tray  40 C, the common exterior cover  20 , a second exterior cover  4400 , and the third frame  5300  disposed at the bottom of the apparatus. 
     For image forming apparatus, a lineup of models with different sheet tray capacities and different numbers of sheet feeding trays may be produced depending on the market needs. In such a case, if a basic system is built as a small-sized model like the image forming apparatus  1 A, frames can be added to the basic system to produce a model with an increased sheet feed capacity like the image forming apparatus  1 B and the image forming apparatus  1 C. Thus, many parts that are not related to the change of sheet feeding trays can be standardized, and cost reduction can be achieved. 
     In the above descriptions, the term “printing” in the present disclosure may be used synonymously with, e.g. the terms of “image formation”, “recording”, “printing”, and “image printing”. Further, the coater according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can also be applied to an apparatus that performs printing on an electrophotographic process on a sheet material coated with a coating liquid. 
     The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention.