JP2003241591A - Electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently aircondition the surrounding of an image forming appara tus such as a photoreceptor by reducing areas to be air-conditioned in the image forming apparatus to miniaturize an air-conditioning means in the image forming apparatus housed in the main body case of a plurality of image forming units. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises: a plurality of image forming units 6; a main body case 1 for housing a plurality of the image forming units 6; the single air-conditioning means 11 for conditioning air; and a channel 30 formed so that the air conditioned by the air-conditioning means 11 may flow through the inside of a plurality of the image forming units 6 one after another. Since the areas to be air-conditioned by the air-conditioning means 11 are reduced to be only a plurality of the image forming units 6, the areas to be air-conditioned become smaller than that in the case of air-conditioning the whole of the inside of the main body case 1, so that the air-conditioning means 11 is miniaturized. Furthermore, since the conditioned air supplied from the single air-conditioning means 11 flows through the insides of a plurality of the image forming units 6 one after another, the air-conditioning means 11 is further miniaturized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the composition of air around an image forming member such as a photoconductor or a charger, particularly, temperature and humidity, nitric acid compounds, ammonia gas, NO _x , ozone, etc. Various problems occur due to the influence of ionic substances.

For example, in a high-humidity environment, the amount of charge on the toner is reduced and scumming occurs.

Further, in a high temperature environment, the cleaning performance of the photosensitive member by the cleaning blade deteriorates, and the residual toner on the photosensitive member cannot be sufficiently removed, so that the image quality deteriorates.

When the ionic substance adheres to the photoconductor, the deterioration of the photoconductor surface is accelerated to cause abnormal wear of the photoconductor, and the adhered ionic substance makes the photoconductor surface conductive. The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor is blurred and so-called image deletion occurs.

Therefore, the air around the image forming members such as the photoconductor and the charger is adjusted (hereinafter referred to as air conditioning).
However, it is necessary to maintain the temperature and humidity at appropriate values and remove ionic substances. Examples of the invention for performing such air conditioning include Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 7-72770 and 6-2.
The invention described in Japanese Patent No. 36132 is known.

The invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-72770 is capable of performing air conditioning by removing moisture in the air, ozone generated by discharge in a charger, paper dust in the air from the periphery of the photoconductor. According to the invention, the entire area in the image forming apparatus is air-conditioned.

The invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-236132 discloses a nitric acid compound generated by discharge of a charger by installing a hygroscopic substance near the photoconductor to lower the absolute humidity around the photoconductor. The invention is intended to prevent the formation of nitric acid, nitrates and the like by combining with water.

[0009]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-72770
In the invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. JP-A-2003-187, the entire area of the image forming apparatus is air-conditioned, and the volume to be air-conditioned is extremely large. For this reason, the air-conditioning means for performing air-conditioning must be made large, the cost of the air-conditioning means itself increases, and the power consumption during operation of the air-conditioning means increases. Furthermore, the noise generated by the operation of the air conditioning means becomes large.

The invention of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-236132 also dehumidifies the entire area of the image forming apparatus as in the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-72770, and moisture flows from the outside into the image forming apparatus. Is relatively free, it cannot be expected to have a sufficient effect of removing water around the photoconductor.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the air-conditioning area in the image forming apparatus and downsize the air conditioning means in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming units housed in a main body case. To efficiently perform air conditioning around the image forming members such as the photoconductor and the charger.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a plurality of electrophotographic image forming members are housed in an image forming case to form images of different colors. Image forming unit, a main body case that houses a plurality of the image forming units, one air conditioning unit that adjusts air, and air supplied from the air conditioning unit is formed so as to flow in the image forming unit one after another. Flow path,
Have.

The term "air-conditioning means" as used herein means a substance that regulates the temperature and humidity of the air and is harmful to the image formation contained in the air, such as nitric acid compounds, ammonia gas, ions such as NO _x and ozone. It means a device having a function of removing a volatile substance.

According to the present invention, the area to be air-conditioned by the air-conditioning means is only within the plurality of image forming units, and air conditioning should be performed as compared with the case where the entire body case housing these image forming units is air-conditioned. The area is reduced, and the air conditioning unit can be downsized. Furthermore, since only one air-conditioning unit is provided, the cost of the air-conditioning unit can be reduced compared to the case where a plurality of air-conditioning units are provided for each image forming unit. Moreover, since the air supplied from this one air-conditioning unit flows through the plurality of image-forming units one after another, each image-forming unit is connected to the air-conditioning unit through a separate flow path, and the image-forming units are simultaneously connected. The amount of air supplied from the air conditioning unit per unit time can be reduced as compared with the system of supplying air, the air conditioning unit can be further downsized, and it is supplied by each image forming unit. Since the amount of air is the same, the air conditioning in each image forming unit can be performed uniformly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, in the portion between the two image forming units in the flow path, the inside of the image forming unit on the upstream side is provided. There is a filter that removes harmful substances generated in.

[0016] Here, the term "hazardous substances generated in the imaging unit" is a nitrate compound and NO _X and ozone generated during charging process in the image forming units.

As in the present invention, when the flow path is formed so that the air supplied from the air-conditioning means flows in the plurality of image forming units one after another, if no means is taken, The harmful substance generated in the image forming unit on the upstream side enters the image forming unit on the downstream side, and the air conditioning performance in the image forming unit on the downstream side is deteriorated.

However, by providing a filter in the portion between the two image forming units in the flow path, the harmful substances generated in the upstream image forming unit are filtered by the filter before entering into the downstream image forming unit. Can be removed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the air conditioning performance in the downstream image forming unit caused by the harmful substances generated in the upstream image forming unit entering the downstream image forming unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, air blowing means is provided on at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side of the filter in the flow path.

Therefore, even if a pressure loss occurs due to the provision of a filter in the flow path, the pressure loss can be compensated by the air blowing means, and the air can be smoothly supplied from the air conditioning means into each image forming unit. It is possible to perform air conditioning for each image forming unit.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claims 1 to 3.
In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to any one of the items, the flow direction of the air flowing in the flow path is an array direction of the image forming units in a direction away from a fixing unit provided in the main body case. Is along.

Therefore, when the image forming unit closer to the fixing unit tends to have a higher temperature due to the influence of heat from the fixing unit, the air having a lower temperature supplied from the air conditioning means tends to have a higher temperature. By supplying in order from the units, the temperature inside each of the image forming units can be satisfactorily air-conditioned, and the temperature within each image forming unit can be made uniform.

The invention according to claim 5 is the same as claims 1 to 4.
In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus described in any one of (1) to (4), the flow path is closed so that the air flowing in the flow path returns to the air conditioning unit.

Therefore, the air conditioned by the air conditioning unit is circulated to the air conditioning unit after air conditioning in each image forming unit, so that the air conditioning unit is compared with the case where the outside air is always taken in and the air is newly adjusted. It is possible to reduce the operating cost such as the power consumption required for the operation. Further, it is possible to prevent an incompatible substance, such as paper dust or dust, from entering the flow path from the outside, and improve the air conditioning performance in each image forming unit.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
And it demonstrates based on FIG. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing the schematic structure of a tandem type electrophotographic color image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one of the image forming units, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the structure of an air conditioning unit. .

This color image forming apparatus has a main body case 1 as shown in FIG. 1, and in the main body case 1, a paper conveyance path 4 from a paper feed section 2 to a paper ejection section 3 is formed.
A registration roller 5, four image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C and 6B, a conveyor belt 7, four transfer devices 8 corresponding to each image forming unit 6, a fixing unit 9 and the like are provided on the sheet conveying path 4. Are arranged. Further, four optical writings are formed in the main body case 1 to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of a photoconductor provided in the image forming unit 6 by emitting laser light according to image data. Means 10Y, 10M, 10
An air conditioner 11 for adjusting the air supplied to the image forming units 6 is provided. Here, a subscript Y attached to the image forming unit 6 and the optical writing unit 10,
M, C, and B are colors of the image to be formed (Y is yellow, M is
Means magenta, C means cyan, and B means black).

The image forming unit 6 is composed of an image forming case 12, an electrophotographic image forming member such as a photoconductor 13 housed in the image forming case 12, a charging device 14, a developing device 15 and a cleaning device 16. ing. During image formation in each image forming unit 6, the surface of the photoconductor 13 is uniformly charged by the charger 14, and the charged surface of the photoconductor 13 is exposed by the laser beam emitted from the optical writing means 10. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is written, and the toner supplied from the developing device 15 adheres to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The toner image on the photoconductor 13 is transferred onto a sheet conveyed by the conveyor belt 7 at a position facing the transfer device 8.

The image forming case 12 has an inlet 17 through which the air conditioned by the fixing unit 11 flows into the image forming unit 6.
And the air outlet 18 through which the air flows out of the image forming unit 6.
And are formed. Further, the image forming case 12 is formed with a slit-shaped exposure opening 19 into which the laser light emitted from the optical writing means 10 enters, and the exposure opening 19 is covered with a transparent member 20 such as glass or resin. There is. Furthermore, in order to transfer the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 13 to the image forming case 12 on the sheet conveyed by the conveyor belt 7, a part of the photoconductor 13 is exposed to the outside of the image forming case 12. A transfer opening 21 is formed.
Therefore, the image forming case 12 is a case in which only the transfer opening 21 is formed as an opening through which unadjusted air may enter when the image forming case 12 is mounted in the main body case 1.

The air conditioning means 11 is driven by a storage case 22, a photocatalyst 23 such as titanium oxide contained in the storage case 22, an ultraviolet light emitting means 24 for activating the photocatalyst 23, a pump 25, and a pump 25. It is configured by an intake port 26 that sucks air into the storage case 22, an exhaust port 27 that exhausts air in the storage case 22 by driving the pump 25, and the like. The photocatalyst 23 decomposes nitric acid compounds existing in the air.

The four image forming units 6 housed in the main body case 1 are arranged such that the outlet port 18 of one image forming unit 6 and the inlet port 17 of another image forming unit 6 are connected. , The image forming unit 6 located at one end side in the arrangement direction
The inflow port 17 of B and the exhaust port 27 of the air conditioning unit 11 are connected by a pipe 28. Further, the air outlet 18 and the air conditioner 11 of the image forming unit 6Y located on the other end side in the arrangement direction.
The suction port 26 is connected by a pipe 29. The air supplied from the air conditioner 11 is supplied by the pipes 28, 29, the inlet 17, the outlet 18 formed in each image forming unit 6, the space in each image forming unit 6, and the like. A flow path 30 is formed which flows in the image forming units 6B, 6C, 6M, and 6Y one after another.

The air supplied from the air conditioning means 11 and flowing in the flow path 30 flows in the order of the image forming units 6B, 6C, 6M and 6Y, and the arrangement order of the image forming units 6B, 6C, 6M and 6Y is fixed. Along the direction away from the part 9. That is, the image forming unit 6B is located closest to the fixing unit 9,
The image forming unit 6Y is located farthest from the fixing unit 9.

In such a structure, the pump 25 in the air conditioning means 11 is driven to suck air from the suction port 26 into the storage case 22 and to suck air from the exhaust port 27 to the outside of the storage case 22. Exhaust is done. And
The air exhausted from the exhaust port 27 sequentially flows along the flow path 30 in the image forming units 6B, 6C, 6M, and 6Y, and is recirculated from the intake port 26 into the storage case 22.

Since the nitric acid compound contained in the air in the storage case 22 is decomposed by the photocatalyst 23, the air exhausted from the exhaust port 27 does not contain or contains the nitric acid compound. As a result, it becomes a very small amount.

Further, since the air supplied from the air-conditioning means 11 enters into each image forming unit 6, the pressure in each image forming unit 6 becomes high, and the transfer opening 21 or the like into the image forming unit 6 is performed. Ingress of outside air is blocked.

Therefore, since the nitric acid compound is not contained in the air in the image forming unit 6 or is present in a very small amount, the nitric acid compound in the air is not contained in the image forming unit 6. It is possible to prevent the generation of ionic substances such as nitric acid and nitrates by combining with the moisture in the inside, and the above-mentioned various inconveniences caused by the generated ionic substances adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 13. For example, it is possible to prevent abnormal wear of the photoconductor 13 and blurring of the electrostatic latent image due to conductivity of the surface of the photoconductor 13.

Here, the area to be air-conditioned by the air-conditioning means 11 is only in the plurality of image forming units 6, and the main body case 1
The area to be air-conditioned is smaller than that in the case where the entire interior is air-conditioned, and the air-conditioning unit 11 can be downsized. Furthermore, since only one air-conditioning unit 11 is provided, the cost of the air-conditioning unit 11 can be reduced as compared with the case where an air-conditioning unit is provided for each image forming unit 6. Moreover, since the air supplied from the one air-conditioning unit 11 flows through the plurality of image-forming units 6 one after another, each image-forming unit 6 is connected to the air-conditioning unit by a separate flow path. The amount of air supplied from the air conditioning unit 11 per unit time can be reduced as compared with the system in which air is supplied to the image unit at the same time, and the air conditioning unit 11 can be further downsized. Moreover, since the amount of supplied air is the same in each image forming unit 6, the air conditioning in each image forming unit 6 can be performed uniformly.

Further, since the air supplied from the air conditioning means 11 flows back into the air conditioning means 11 after flowing through the flow path 30, an incompatible substance from the outside into the flow path 30, such as paper dust or It can prevent the entry of dust etc.,
The air conditioning performance in each image forming unit 6 can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 6
The description has been given by taking as an example the case where the flow path 30 is circulated by connecting the Y outlet 18 and the suction port 26 of the image forming unit 6 with the pipe 29. However, the pipe 29 is omitted,
The structure may be such that the outflow port 18 of the image forming unit 6Y is opened to the outside.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on. In this embodiment and each of the following embodiments, the same parts as those of the other embodiments described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, an air conditioner 11a is provided in place of the air conditioner 11 described in the first embodiment, and other parts than the air conditioner 11a are the same as those in the first embodiment. Is the same.

The air-conditioning means 11a includes a storage case 22,
Dehumidifying means 31 built in the storage case 22,
It is composed of a pump 25, a suction port 26, an exhaust port 27, and the like. The dehumidifying means 31 is composed of a cooling dew condensation means 31a such as a Peltier element, and an adsorption transportation means 31b that mainly transports the dew condensation outside the storage case 22 by utilizing a capillary phenomenon. The adsorption transport means 31b has a structure in which fibers are bundled, and the storage case 2 in this adsorption transport means 31b is used.
2 The portion protruding to the outside serves as an evaporation unit 31c that evaporates the transported moisture.

This air conditioning means 11a is connected to the image forming units 6B, 6C, 6M and 6Y through the pipes 28 and 29 to form a flow path 30 like the structure shown in FIG.

In such a structure, the dehumidifying means 3
By using the air-conditioning unit 11a having the built-in air conditioner 1, the air whose moisture is removed and the humidity is lowered can be used as the flow path 30.
(See FIG. 1) along with the image forming units 6B, 6C, 6M,
It flows in 6Y one after another and is returned to the storage case 22 through the suction port 26.

Here, in the present embodiment, since the water content in the air supplied to each image forming unit 6 (see FIG. 1) is small, the water content in the air supplied to the image forming unit 6 is large. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the above-described inconvenience that occurs, for example, the inconvenience that the toner charge amount is reduced and the background stain occurs.

Further, since the amount of water in the air supplied to the image forming unit 6 is small, even if a nitric acid compound is present in the air in the image forming unit 6, the nitric compound is combined with the water in the air. As a result, ionic substances such as nitric acid and nitrates are less likely to be generated, and the above-mentioned various inconveniences caused by the adhesion of these ionic substances to the surface of the photoconductor 13, for example, abnormal wear of the photoconductor 13. It is possible to prevent blurring of the electrostatic latent image due to the surface of the photoreceptor 13 becoming conductive.

In the present embodiment, the air conditioning means 11a
The air dehumidified by the air is supplied into the image forming unit 6, the air is circulated to the air conditioning means 11a, and the image forming unit 6 is again supplied.
Since the air supplied to the image forming unit 6 is exhausted to the outside as it is, and the new outside air is sucked into the air conditioning means 11a to dehumidify, the operation of the power consumption and the like required for the operation of the air conditioning means 11a is performed. The cost can be reduced.

Further, a cooling dew condensation means 3 such as a Peltier element
1a also has a function of lowering the temperature of the air in the storage case 22, that is, a function of lowering the temperature of the air supplied to the image forming unit 6. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the image forming unit 6 can also be air-conditioned so as to lower the internal temperature.

When the temperature inside the image forming unit 6 is controlled by supplying the air whose temperature has been lowered to the image forming unit 6, the temperature is reduced and it is arranged near the fixing unit 9 and is affected by the heat from the fixing unit 9. Image forming unit 6 where the temperature tends to rise
By flowing the air in the order of B, 6C, 6M, and 6Y, the temperature inside the image forming unit 6 can be satisfactorily air-conditioned.
The temperature inside each image forming unit 6 can be made uniform.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on. The basic structure of this embodiment is the first
This embodiment is the same as the second embodiment or the second embodiment, and as the air-conditioning means, an air-conditioning means 11a that mainly exhibits a dehumidifying function is provided. The present embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that a harmful substance generated during charging processing in the image forming unit 6 is present in a portion of the flow path 30 between the two image forming units 6. The point is that a filter 32a for removing a certain nitric acid compound, NO _X , ozone, etc. is arranged.
Furthermore, in the flow path 30, the downstream side of the image forming unit 6Y located on the most downstream side along the flow direction of the air supplied from the air conditioning unit 11a (the image forming unit 6Y and the air conditioning unit 11a).
A similar filter 32b is disposed also between (and between) and the upstream side (air conditioning means 1) of the image forming unit 6B located on the most upstream side in the flow direction of the air supplied from the air conditioning means 11a.
A similar filter 32c is also arranged between 1a and the image forming unit 6B).

Examples of the filters 32a, 32b, 32c include a paper-like honeycomb structure containing activated carbon and a structure in which a photocatalyst and ultraviolet light emitting means are combined as shown in FIG.

[0051] In this arrangement, the charged photosensitive member 13 for image formation in the image forming units within 6 is performed, harmful substances such as nitric compounds and NO _X and ozone due to the charging process occurs To do.

The harmful substance generated in each image forming unit 6 is contained in the air flowing in the flow passage 30 and tends to move in the flow passage 30, but is removed by the filter 32a. This prevents harmful substances generated in the upstream image forming unit 6 from entering the downstream image forming unit 6. Further, the filter 32b prevents harmful substances generated in the image forming unit 6Y from entering the air conditioning unit 11a, and even if there is a harmful substance entering the air conditioning unit 11a, the harmful substances are stored in the image forming unit 6B. Ingress is prevented by the filter 32c.

As a result, even if the flow path 30 is formed so that the air conditioned by the air conditioning means 11a flows through the plurality of image forming units 6 one after another, the harmful substances generated in a certain image forming unit 6 are generated. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience of entering the other image forming unit 6.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on. The basic structure of the present embodiment is the third
Is the same as that of the third embodiment, and the blowing means 3 is provided upstream of each of the filters 32a and 32c with respect to the third embodiment.
3 is provided. As the air blowing means 33, the flow path 30
A cross-flow fan or the like is suitable because its cross section is elongated. It should be noted that these blowers 33 are provided for each filter 32.
It may be provided on the downstream side of a and 32c. Filter 32b
With regard to (2), the pump 25 (see FIG. 4) of the air conditioning means 11a located on the downstream side thereof functions in the same manner as the blowing means.

Filters 32a, 32 are provided in the middle of the flow path 30.
By providing b and 32c, the filter 32
Pressure loss occurs at points a, 32b, and 32c, which obstructs the flow of air and reduces the ability to supply air.

Therefore, as in the present embodiment, by providing the blowing means 33 on the upstream side or the downstream side of the filters 32a, 32c, the filters 32a, 32c are provided.
Even if a pressure loss occurs due to the provision of the above, the pressure loss can be compensated for by the air blowing unit 33, and the air can be smoothly supplied into each image forming unit 6, and the image forming unit 6 Good air conditioning.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the paper is conveyed by the conveyor belt 7, and the images of the respective colors formed by the image forming units 6 are successively transferred onto the paper conveyed by the conveyor belt 7. Although the description has been given by taking the color image forming apparatus of the system as an example, the present invention can be applied to a color image forming apparatus of a type using an intermediate transfer belt.

[0058]

According to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the invention, the area to be air-conditioned by the air-conditioning means is only in the plurality of image forming units, and these image forming units are housed. The area to be air-conditioned is smaller than that in the case where the entire body case is air-conditioned, and the air-conditioning unit can be downsized. Further, since only one air-conditioning unit is provided, the cost of the air-conditioning unit can be reduced as compared with the case where the air-conditioning unit is provided for each image forming unit. Moreover, since the flow path is formed so that the air supplied from this one air-conditioning unit flows in the plurality of image forming units one after another, each image forming unit is connected to the air-conditioning unit by a separate flow path. It is possible to reduce the amount of air supplied from the air-conditioning unit per unit time and further downsize the air-conditioning unit, as compared with the system that simultaneously supplies air adjusted to each image forming unit. Since the image forming units supply the same amount of air, the air conditioning in each image forming unit can be performed uniformly.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the upstream side of the image forming device is provided in a portion of the flow path between the two image forming units. Since a filter for removing harmful substances generated in the unit is provided, even if a flow path is formed so that the air conditioned by the air-conditioning unit sequentially flows in the plurality of image forming units, A filter can prevent harmful substances generated in the image forming unit from entering the downstream image forming unit, and harmful substances generated in the upstream image forming unit can be stored in the downstream image forming unit. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the air conditioning performance of the image forming unit on the downstream side caused by the entry.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the blowing means is provided in at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side of the filter in the flow path. Therefore, even if a pressure loss occurs due to the installation of a filter in the flow path, the pressure loss can be compensated by the air blower, and the air can be smoothly supplied from the air conditioner to each image forming unit. The air conditioning for each image forming unit can be performed well.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the flow direction of the air flowing in the flow path is in the main body case. When the image forming units closer to the fixing unit tend to have a higher temperature due to the influence of heat from the fixing unit, the air conditioner tends to be higher because the image forming units are closer to the fixing unit. By supplying the low-temperature air supplied from the means in order from the image forming units that tend to have a high temperature, the temperature inside each of the image forming units can be satisfactorily air-conditioned. It is possible to make the internal temperature uniform.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in the flow passage, the air flowing in the flow passage serves as the air conditioning means. Since it is closed to recirculate, the air adjusted by the air conditioning unit is recirculated to the air conditioning unit after air conditioning in each image forming unit, so when outside air is always taken in and the air is newly adjusted. It is possible to reduce the operating cost such as power consumption required for operating the air conditioning unit, and to prevent incompatible substances such as paper dust and dust from entering the flow path from the outside. Therefore, the air conditioning performance in each image forming unit can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing the schematic structure of an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one image forming unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the structure of an air conditioning unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of an air conditioning unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional front view showing a schematic structure of an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional front view showing a schematic structure of an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 body case 6 (6B, 6C, 6M, 6Y) Image forming unit 9 fixing section 11, 11a, air conditioning means 12 image forming case 13, 14, 15, 16 Electrophotographic image forming member 30 channels 32a filter 33 Blower means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tetsuro Miura             1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Yasushi Nakazato             1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Satoru Inokari             1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Takeo Suda             1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Ricoh F-term (reference) 2H027 DA13 JA02 JA03 JA11 JB03                       JB13 JB15 JB17 JC02 JC05                       JC08                 2H030 AA06 AB02 AD18 BB19

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of image forming units that house electrophotographic image forming members in the image forming case to form images of different colors, a main body case that houses the plurality of image forming units, and an air container. An image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system having one air-conditioning unit for adjusting the air conditioner, and a flow path formed so that air supplied from the air-conditioning unit successively flows in the image forming unit. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a filter for removing harmful substances generated in the upstream image forming unit is provided in a portion of the flow path between the two image forming units. Photographic image forming apparatus. 3. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the filter in the flow path is provided with a blowing unit. 4. The flow direction of air flowing in the flow path is
The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is arranged along a direction in which the image forming units are arranged in a direction away from a fixing unit provided in the main body case. 5. The flow passage is closed so that the air flowing in the flow passage is returned to the air conditioning unit.
5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 4 to 4.