JP2000250368A - Filter device for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filter device for an electrophotographic device which effectively removes the odorous component of the gas generated in a heat fixing section and is excellent in the capturing rate characteristic of particulates. SOLUTION: This filter device has a first air filter 40 which alone is extremely high in the capturing rate of extremely fine dust, a gas removing filter 42 which is arranged on the leeward of the first air filter 40 and is used for removing the odorous gaseous components, a second air filter 50 which is arranged on the leeward of the gas removing filter 42 and consists of a middle performance air filter having the low capturing rate of the filter alone lower than the capturing rate of the first air filter 40, a frame 32 which holds the circumference of the first air filter 40, the gas removing filter 42 and the second air filter 50 and sealing up members 56 which seals the joint part between the circumference of leeward of the second air filter 50 and the frame 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filter device suitable for use in a heat fixing type electrophotographic apparatus, and more particularly, to a filter device which effectively removes an odor component of gas generated in a heat fixing section to remove fine particles. The present invention relates to a filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus having excellent capture ratio characteristics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic apparatus represented by a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like generally has a heat fixing unit for fixing toner electrostatically transferred from a photosensitive member to a transfer medium such as paper. In the heat fixing unit, gas and ozone containing smoke are generated due to heating of the electrostatically transferred toner. In particular, such generation is remarkable in a flash fixing system frequently used in a large printer. Generally, a filter device is mounted to remove these (for example, JP-A-63-182682).

[0003]

However, in the conventional filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus, the odor component of the gas generated in the heat fixing unit cannot be effectively removed, so that a sweet odor or a pungent odor is generated around the electrophotographic apparatus. There was a risk of occurrence. Further, it has been desired to further improve the capture rate characteristics of the fine particles.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus, which effectively removes the odor component of the gas generated in the heat fixing section and is excellent in the characteristics of capturing fine particles. The purpose is to:

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a first air filter having a very high collection rate of extremely fine dust by itself; (1) a gas removal filter for removing an odorous gas component disposed downstream of the air filter, and a gas removal filter disposed downstream of the gas removal filter, the collection rate of which is lower than that of the first air filter alone; A second air filter comprising a performance air filter, a frame holding the first air filter, the gas removal filter, and the periphery of the second air filter; and a periphery of a leeward surface of the second air filter and the frame. And a sealing member that seals the joint portion.

It is preferable that the gas removal filter has a synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layer having at least one of a chemical reaction type deodorant adhered thereto and an activated carbon layer.

[0007] The gas removal filter is composed of two synthetic fiber non-woven fabric layers to which a chemical reaction type deodorant is attached, and between the two synthetic fiber non-woven fabric layers, a particle size of 8 to 12 mesh 95 weight according to JIS K1474. % Of activated carbon at a bulk density of 0.19 to 0.60 g / cm ³ . When the bulk density is within the above range, the odor component contained in the gas can be effectively removed, and the gas flow resistance can be reduced.

The activated carbon layer may be an activated carbon fiber fabric layer.

A rubber packing is mounted on the leeward end surface of the frame, and the frame is installed in an exhaust passage from a heating and fixing unit of the electrophotographic apparatus via the rubber packing. More preferably, the rubber packing has a SRIS0101 type C hardness of 5 to 30 and a compression set of 30% or less according to ASTM D1056. When the compression set is 30% or less, the sealing properties are particularly improved.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an electrophotographic filter device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an IB part shown in FIG. 2 (A) is FIG.
FIG. 3A is a schematic perspective view of a filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus, FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of the filter apparatus for an electrophotographic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG.

The filter device 2 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1A is mounted on a flash fixing type printer 4 as an electrophotographic device shown in FIG.
The gas in or near the inside is sucked by the fan 8 and is installed at a position where the gas is exhausted to the outside of the casing 10 through the filter device 2. The fan 8 may be arranged on the windward side of the filter device 2, and may be configured to forcibly send gas in or near the heat fixing unit 6 to the filter device 2.

An outline of the printer 4 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 4 has a photosensitive drum 12 and a developing unit 14, a transfer unit 16, a cleaning unit 18, a pre-charger 18, and a laser irradiation unit 2 around the photosensitive drum 12.
2 is arranged. The cleaning unit 18 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 12, and the pre-charger 20 uniformly charges the cleaned outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 12. The laser irradiator 22 irradiates the uniformly charged surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 12 with light of a predetermined pattern, thereby removing the charged charge in the portion irradiated with the light and leaving the electrostatic latent image on the portion where the charge remains. To form

In the developing section 14, a toner, which is colored fine particles charged in the opposite polarity to the electrostatic latent image, is attached to the latent image to form a visible image. Next, in the transfer section 16, the recording paper 25 (transfer medium) sent from the hopper 24 is overlaid on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 12. Then, a charge having a polarity opposite to the charge polarity of the toner is applied to the recording paper from the back side of the recording paper 25 by corona discharge or the like, and the toner image on the photoconductor is transferred to the recording paper by electrostatic force. The recording paper 25 onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing unit 6, where it is heated by a xenon lamp or the like to fuse the toner image and fix it on the recording paper. The recording paper 25 on which the toner image has been fixed is overlaid on the stacker 26.

In the fixing section 6, a gas containing an odor component or a smoke component is generated by heating the toner.
Filtering is performed by the filter device 2 according to the present embodiment, and smoke and deodorization are achieved.

As shown in FIG. 1, the filter device 2 according to the present embodiment has a filter body 30 and a frame 32 surrounding the outer periphery of the filter body 30. The frame 32 is
For example, the filter main body 30 is made of metal such as wood or stainless steel, and has a windward opening 34 and a leeward opening 36 for exposing the front and back surfaces of the filter body 30 to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 2, a rubber packing 38 is mounted on the leeward end surface of the frame 32 along the entire circumference of the frame 32. The frame 32 is provided with the rubber packing 38 interposed therebetween. ,
It is installed in an exhaust passage from the heating and fixing unit 6 of the electrophotographic apparatus 4 shown in FIG. Note that the rubber packing 38 is
It may be attached to the windward end face of No. 2 along the entire circumference. By mounting such a rubber packing 38 on at least the leeward side end surface of the frame 32, the rubber packing 38 is introduced from one leeward side opening 34, penetrates the front and back surfaces of the filter body 30, and is leeward on the other side. The gas flowing out of the opening 36 is prevented from leaking to another.

The rubber packing 38 is not particularly limited, but has a SRIS0101 type C hardness of 5 to 30,
Rubber packing having a compression set of 30% or less according to ASTM D 1056 is preferably used. The material of the rubber packing 38 is not particularly limited. For example, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR), isoprene rubber (IR), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), chloroprene rubber (CR)
Diene rubber, butyl rubber (IIR), ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber (EPDM),
Acrylic rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, olefin rubber such as fluoro rubber, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, polysulfide rubber, or foams of these, or urethane or nylon foam, soft vinyl chloride resin, etc. . Preferably, rubber packing 38
Is made of closed-cell foam rubber.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the filter body 3
0 is held by the frame 32 and has a first air filter 40 at the most windward side. First air filter 40
Is bent a plurality of times (for example, pleated) along a plane direction perpendicular to the flow of gas to be cleaned (arrow X). In the present embodiment, the first air filter 40 is configured as a high-performance filter that has a very high collection rate of extremely fine dust by itself. The high performance filter is not particularly limited, but may be a HEPA air filter (High
Efficiency Particle Air Filter) is preferably used. The HEPA air filter uses a counting method (DOP
Method), the collection rate of ultrafine dust of 0.3 μm is 99.
It is a filter made of glass fiber filter paper that is 97% or more.

First air filter 4 held by frame 32
A gas removal filter 42 is mounted on the leeward side of the zero. As shown in FIG. 1B, the gas removal filter 42 includes two synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layers 44 and 46 to which a chemical reaction type deodorant is attached, and the two synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layers 4 and 46.
4, 46, particle size according to JIS K 1474, 8 to
Activated carbon of 12 mesh 95% by weight or more has a bulk density of 0.19
Activated carbon layer 48 filled at ~ 0.60 g / cm ³
And

The synthetic fiber non-woven fabrics 44 and 46 are not particularly limited, but non-woven fabrics having a thickness of about 2 to 10 mm and made of polyester, rayon, polypropylene or the like can be exemplified. The chemical reaction type deodorant attached to the synthetic fiber nonwoven fabrics 44 and 46 is not particularly limited. For example, it is composed of a compound of a phosphate ester and copper (II). It has the function of deodorizing odor, hydrogen sulfide odor and amine odor.

The average particle size of the activated carbon contained in the activated carbon layer 48 is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 1 to 5 mm.
The thickness of the activated carbon layer 48 is preferably about 3 to 20 mm. The synthetic fiber nonwoven fabrics 44 and 46 also have a function of preventing granular activated carbon from jumping out.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a second air filter 50 is laminated on the leeward side of the gas removal filter 42. The second air filter 50 includes the first air filter 40.
It is composed of a glass fiber filter paper, a synthetic fiber filter paper, a synthetic fiber non-woven fabric, or the like made of a medium-performance air filter having a lower collection rate than a single substance. The second air filter 50 is similar to the first air filter 40 in the material of the filter itself, but differs in eye roughness and the like.
The first air filter 40 has a higher dust collection rate than the second air filter.

In this embodiment, a windward wire mesh 52 is laminated on the windward surface of the gas removal filter 42, and a leeward wire mesh 54 is laminated on the leeward surface of the second air filter 50. is there. These wire meshes 52 and 54
The synthetic fiber nonwoven fabrics 44 and 46 are attached so as to effectively prevent the synthetic fiber nonwoven fabrics 44 and 46 from being excessively expanded outward together with the second air filter 50 due to the gravity of the granular activated carbon contained in the activated carbon layer 48 of the gas removal filter 42. For this purpose,
The wire meshes 52 and 54 need not necessarily cover the entire surface and back surface of the filter body 30. For example, a band-shaped or ribbon-shaped wire mesh is attached to a part of the surface and back surface of the filter body 30, and the synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric 44 and 46 may be effectively prevented from bulging outward together with the second air filter 50.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (A), 1 (B) and 2 (A), a seaming member 56 seals the joint between the periphery of the leeward surface of the second air filter 50 and the frame 32. As described above, it is mounted over the entire circumference of the frame 32. The seaming member 56 is for sealing a gap between the frame body 38 and the second air filter 50, and is, for example, an adhesive applied and cured. This seaming member 56 is a wire mesh 54
May be mounted over the entire circumference of the frame 32 so as to seal the joint between the frame 32 and the leeward surface of the second air filter 50 from above. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, the filter device 2a for an electrophotographic apparatus may be configured by using a rectangular ring frame as the covering member 56a. The material of the rectangular ring frame forming the seaming member 56a is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include synthetic resin, wood, and metal. The seaming member 56a formed of a rectangular ring frame is attached to the leeward opening 36 of the frame 32 by a tucker, nail, staple, or the like.

When the filter device 2 for an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present embodiment is installed in the exhaust passage of the electrophotographic apparatus 4 shown in FIG. 3, the odor component of the gas generated in the heat fixing unit 6 is effectively removed. It has excellent characteristics of capturing fine particles.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the activated carbon layer 48 of the gas removal filter 42 is exemplified by a layer filled with granular activated carbon, but the activated carbon layer 48 has a thickness of one.
An activated carbon fiber fabric layer of about 30 mm may be used. The activated carbon carbon fiber fabric layer has an excellent deodorizing effect similarly to the granular activated carbon.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the synthetic fiber nonwoven fabrics 44 and 46 are arranged on both sides of the activated carbon layer 48. However, for example, the nonwoven fabric 46 on the leeward side may be omitted.

[0030]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on more detailed examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 A filter device 2 having the structure shown in FIG. 1A was manufactured. The vertical dimension of the wooden frame 32 is 285 mm, and the horizontal dimension b is 5
It was 00 mm and the thickness was 56 mm.

For the first air filter 40, the collection rate of 0.3 μm fine dust by the DOP method alone is 99.9.
A 7% HEPA glass fiber filter paper (0.4 mm thick, product number H320-A manufactured by Hokuetsu Paper Co., Ltd.) was pleated (concavo-convex). The zigzag unit width U of the first air filter 40 after the pleating was about 3 mm, and the zigzag thickness T was 25 mm.

As the gas removal filter 42, two synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layers 44 to which a chemical reaction type deodorant is attached,
Activated carbon having a particle size of 8 to 12 mesh 95% by weight or more according to JIS K 1474 and a bulk density of 0.45 ± 0.03 g between the two synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layers 44 and 46.
/ Cm ³ , and an activated carbon layer 48 filled with the same.
Synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layer 4 to which a chemical reaction type deodorant is attached
Polyester nonwoven fabric (product number ZCL-F3002 manufactured by Zeon Kasei Co., Ltd.) to which a chemically reactive deodorant composed of a phosphate ester and a copper (II) compound each having a thickness of 3 mm was attached was used as 4,46. In the activated carbon layer 48,
Granular activated carbon having an average particle size of 3 mm
m so as to uniformly fill the synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layers 44 and 46 in the surface direction.

The second air filter 50 laminated on the downwind side of the synthetic fiber non-woven fabric layer 46 has a diameter of 0.3 by the DOP method.
Thickness at which the collection rate of fine dust of 90 μm is 90% by itself.
A 4 mm medium-performance air filter (product number H730-A manufactured by Hokuetsu Paper Co., Ltd.) was used.

The end face of the leeward opening of the frame 32 has a thickness of 3 m.
Independent foam type neoprene packing 38 (product number C-4205 manufactured by INOAC CORPORATION)
Was attached. SRIS0101 type C of packing 38
The hardness was 10, and the compression set of ASTM D1056 was 30% or less. Further, as the seaming member 56,
Adhesive (product number A-404 manufactured by Sanyuresin Co., Ltd.)
A and H-110A).

The filter device 2 configured as described above was attached to the exhaust line of the heat fixing unit 6 of the electrophotographic device 4 (product number F6760D manufactured by Fujitsu Ltd.) shown in FIG. A printing test was actually performed on the electrophotographic apparatus 4 at a printer printing rate of 20%, and the amount of dust and odor discharged from the exhaust port of the exhaust line were examined. Table 1 shows the results. As shown in Table 1, the amount of the discharged dust was 0.2 mg / m ³ . The odor was a very slight sweet odor.

[0037]

[Table 1]

The amount of the discharged dust was measured by a light scattering integral type floating dust relative concentration measuring instrument (digital dust meter: P-5H, S
(HIBATA) was used to sample and measure the exhaust at a position about 30 cm away from the exhaust port. The odor was sensory evaluated by three panelists.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1 As the first air filter 40, 0.3 μm by the DOP method was used.
0.4% thickness with a collection rate of 90% of fine dust
A filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus was assembled in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a medium-performance air filter (No. H730-A manufactured by Hokuetsu Paper Co., Ltd.) was used, and the same test as in Example 1 was performed. Was. Table 1 shows the results. As shown in Table 1, the amount of the discharged dust was 1.2 mg / m ³ .
In addition, the smell was dusty and pungent.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2 A gas removing filter 42 was arranged on the windward side of the first air filter 40, and the positional relationship between the first air filter and the gas removing filter was reversed. ,
A filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus was assembled, and the same test as in Example 1 was performed. Table 1 shows the results. As shown in Table 1, the amount of the discharged dust was 0.2 mg / m ³ . Also, the odor was initially only a very slight sweet odor, as in Example 1, but as the driving time became longer,
The odor became stronger and the deodorizing action was shorter than in Example 1.

Comparative Example 3 An electrophotographic apparatus was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a polyester nonwoven fabric to which no deodorant was adhered was used instead of the polyester nonwoven fabric to which the chemical reaction type deodorant was adhered. A filter device was assembled, and the same test as in Example 1 was performed. Table 1 shows the results. As shown in Table 1, the amount of the discharged dust was 0.2 mg / m ³ . In addition, a stimulating odor was felt.

[0042]Comparative Example 4 JIS K between the two synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layers 44 and 46
 Particle size 8-12 mesh according to 1474 95% by weight or more
Activated carbon with a bulk density of 0.18 ± 0.03 g / cm ³At
Example 1 except for filling and forming the activated carbon layer 48
Assemble the filter device for the electrophotographic device in the same manner as
The same test as in Example 1 was performed. Table 1 shows the results.
As shown in Table 1, the amount of discharged dust was 0.2 mg / m³
Met. As for odors, sweet and pungent odors were felt.
Was terrified

Comparative Example 5 A filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus was assembled in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the seaming member 56 was not used.
The same test as in Example 1 was performed. Table 1 shows the results. Table 1
As shown in the figure, the amount of the discharged dust was 0.4 mg / m ³ . As for the odor, a slight sweet smell was felt.

Reference Example 1 As packing 38, SRIS0101 of packing 38 was used.
A chloroprene packing having a Type C hardness of 50 and an ASTM D 1056 compression set of 18.8% (product number C-45 manufactured by Inoac Corporation)
Except that 55) was used, a filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus was assembled in the same manner as in Example 1 and the same test as in Example 1 was performed. Table 1 shows the results. As shown in Table 1,
The discharged dust amount was 1.5 mg / m ³ . As for the odor, a sweet odor and a pungent odor were felt.

[0045]

As described above, according to the filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention, the odor component of the gas generated in the heat fixing section is effectively removed, and the trapping rate characteristics of the fine particles are improved. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an electrophotographic filter device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an IB part shown in FIG. is there.

2A is a schematic perspective view of the filter device for an electrophotographic device shown in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 2B is a diagram of a filter device for an electrophotographic device according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is an exploded perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a flash fixing type printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Filter device 4 Laser printer device (electrophotographic device) 6 Heat fixing unit 30 Filter body 32 Frame 34 Upwind opening 36 Downwind opening 38 Packing 40 First air filter 42 Gas removal filters 44, 46 ... Synthetic fiber non-woven fabric layer 48 ... Activated carbon layer 50 ... Second air filter 52, 54 ... Wire mesh 56, 56a ...

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Eiji Sakurai 4-1-1, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (72) Mitsukuni Kawano 4-1-1, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa No. 1 Fujitsu Limited F term (reference) 2H027 JB02 JB05 JB06 ZA07 2H033 AA35 BB01 BC08 4D019 AA01 BA03 BA04 BA13 BB03 BB04 BB05 BB10 BC05 BC10 BC20 CA02 CB04

Claims (5)

[Claims] A first air filter having a very high collection rate of extremely fine dust alone; a gas removal filter disposed downstream of the first air filter for removing odorous gas components; A second air filter, which is arranged on the leeward side of the gas removal filter and is composed of a medium-performance air filter having a lower trapping rate by itself than the first air filter; and the first air filter, the gas removal filter, and the second air A filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: a frame that holds a periphery of a filter; and a sealing member that seals a joint between the periphery of a leeward surface of the second air filter and the frame. 2. The filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas removal filter has a synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layer to which a chemical reaction type deodorant is attached, and an activated carbon layer. 3. The gas removal filter according to JIS K 1474, wherein two synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layers having a chemically reactive deodorant adhered to at least one of them are provided between the two synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric layers. Activated carbon having a particle size of 8 to 12 mesh 95% by weight or more has a bulk density of 0.19 to 0.60 g.
The filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an activated carbon layer filled at / cm ³ . 4. The filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the activated carbon layer is an activated carbon fiber fabric layer. 5. A rubber packing is mounted on the leeward end surface of the frame, and the frame is installed in an exhaust passage from a heating and fixing unit of an electrophotographic apparatus via the rubber packing. The rubber packing has a SRIS0101 type C hardness of 5 to 30 and a compression set of 30 of ASTM D1056.
The filter device for an electrophotographic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio is not more than%.