JP2003241607A - Cleaning device cooling means for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device wherein the temperature rises of a cleaning device and a blade can be reduced by establishing an efficient duct arrangement, dispensing with the installation of additional fans, and establishing an effective air flow, and also, the copying device main body can be made compact. <P>SOLUTION: As for the cleaning device constituted so that the external wall of the cleaning container functions as a duct, the cleaning blade constitutes a part of the external wall of the cleaning container, and also, the surface of the blade constitutes a part of the duct communicating from the fan, and also, the duct opening is arranged near a primary electrifying device. <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 a cleaning device cooling means for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser printer, a laser copying machine and a laser fax machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus will be described below.

FIGS. 4 to 7 are diagrams showing conventional examples.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view including the main part thereof.

The copying apparatus 1 has an apparatus main body 1 having a built-in image forming section, and the apparatus main body 1 includes an original placing table 5, a light source 6, a lens system 7, four sheet feeding cassettes 9a to 9d and the like. The image forming unit, which includes the photosensitive drum 10 having a cylindrical shape and the like, is provided substantially at the center of the apparatus main body 1.

In the vicinity of the periphery of the photosensitive drum 10, a developing device 11 containing toner, a cleaning device 12,
Primary charger 13, post charger 14, transport roller 1
7a and 17b, a conveyor belt 17, a transfer charger 15, and a separation charger 16 are provided.

Paper feed rollers 19a, 19b, 19c and 19d are provided in the paper feed cassettes 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, respectively, and a pair of transport rollers 20a, 20b and 20 are provided.
The transfer sheet S is guided to the registration roller pair 22 through the c, 20d and the paper path 21.

The fixing device 2 is provided at the rear end portion of the conveying device 17.
5, a paper discharge roller pair 26 is arranged behind the fixing device 25 so as to discharge the transfer sheet S to a tray or the like outside the apparatus main body.

To describe the above operation in detail, the original placed on the original table 5 is pressed by the pressure plate 33, and when the copying operation is started, the reflection light source of the original illuminated by the moving light source 6 is The light is reflected by the moving mirror 32 for adjusting the optical path length, passes through the lens system 7, is reflected by the fixed mirror 23, and is imaged on the drum-shaped photosensitive drum 10 rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

The photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged in advance by the primary charger 13, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by forming the light image.

Toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 by the developing device 11 to make it visible,
The potential is adjusted by the post charger 14, and the process proceeds to the position of the transfer charger 15. After the transfer step, the photosensitive drum 10 feeds one of the paper feed cassettes 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and the paper feed rollers 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, and a pair of transport rollers 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. The transfer sheet S is transferred with the toner image visualized on the transfer sheet S by the transfer charger 15, the transfer sheet S is separated from the photosensitive drum 10 by the separation charger 16, and the transfer device 17 fixes the toner image on the transfer sheet S. 25 heating rollers 43
It is heated and pressed between the pressure roller 44 and the pressure roller 44 to be fixed, and is discharged out of the apparatus by the paper discharge roller pair 26.

In the image forming apparatus such as a copying machine having the above-described structure, the primary charger 13 and the post charger 1 are provided.
4. When a document is copied, a high voltage is applied to the transfer charger 15 and the separation charger 16, so that ozone is generated.

Further, since image disturbance may occur due to the adhering of a charge generation substance such as NO _X generated around these chargers on the drum, a certain amount of air is kept around each electrified area to prevent the adhering. The flow of is needed.

As described above, in a known image forming apparatus that repeats the step of transferring the toner image electrostatically formed on the surface of the toner adherend such as the photosensitive drum 10 to the transfer material such as paper, the transfer of Photosensitive drum 1 without transfer to transfer material each time
It is necessary to sufficiently remove the residual toner remaining at 0. For this reason, the cleaning device 12 is provided around the photosensitive drum.
As a cleaning means, a means for scraping off and removing the residual toner by pressing the edge of the cleaning blade 31 made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber to the image carrier has been widely used as a cleaning means.

Further, since the fixing device 25 fixes the toner image at a very high temperature, it is always exposed to a high temperature in the vicinity of the fixing device 25.

Therefore, for the resin member near the fixing device, one having heat resistance specifications is used, a heat insulating member is provided, or high temperature air is exhausted outside the machine. As described above, in many devices, a fan dedicated to exhaust is disposed near the fixing device 25.

In particular, the cleaner fan 37 is a fan provided to prevent the temperature rise of the cleaning device 12 and the blade, and positively applies high temperature air to prevent waste toner in the cleaning device 12 from being exposed to high temperature and coagulating and solidifying. It is provided for the purpose of exhausting to the outside of the aircraft.

Since the silicone oil vapor is also discharged from the fixing device 25, the other exhaust fans such as the cleaner fan 37 may be provided with the air cleaning filters 24 by the number of the fans.

Toner may float inside the apparatus main body 1 when an image is formed, and the floating toner may adversely affect the image. Therefore, the floating toner is exhausted in the vicinity of the image forming unit 2. A fan 8 is provided.

Of course, the floating toner exhaust fan 8 may also be provided with the air cleaning filter 24.

In order to efficiently convey the transfer sheet in the conveying device 17, it is necessary to adsorb the transfer sheet S by the conveying device 17, so that a conveying portion suction fan 18 is also arranged in the vicinity of the conveying device 17.

Ducts 36 are provided between the exhaust ports corresponding to the fans 4, 8, 18, and 37, respectively, and the air exhausted from the fans is represented by a flow 48 of air in FIG. Then, the copying machine 3 is ejected laterally from the back side.

Further, an opening member called a louver is provided at the substantially exhaust port.

[0024]

In the cleaning device using the cleaning blade 31 as described above,
By disposing the plate-shaped blade 31 in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the surface of the traveling image carrier, and pressing one edge of the blade against the surface of the image carrier, the toner can be removed. Done.

However, such an arrangement method of the blades 31 is, of course, unavoidable that the friction between the blade edge and the photosensitive drum becomes large, and the blades 31 are affected by the friction and the high temperature air from the fixing device. May cause its own temperature rise.

For this reason, the toner in the cleaning device 12 is melted and agglomerated, and it becomes difficult to discharge the collected toner out of the machine, and the residual toner is agglomerated on the blade 31, and the blade 3
1 may occur, or the blade may be turned over at a predetermined position so that the blade edge or the surface of the image bearing member may be damaged and the cleaning performance may be significantly reduced.

Therefore, it is necessary not to raise the temperature.

In the above-mentioned conventional example, the cleaner fan 37 is provided so that the heated air in the vicinity of the cleaning device 12 is discharged to the outside of the machine.
Due to the structure close to the above, sufficient cooling is difficult unless a method such as increasing the exhaust capacity is taken, and exhausting by a fan is not the only means for cooling the blade 31 itself of the cleaning device 12. , The effect was not enough.

As described above, the problem of suppressing the temperature rise of the cleaning device 12 as well as the entire device is becoming indispensable. Therefore, when the air inside the device is to be exhausted further, it is attached to the device main body 1. The noise level deteriorates due to the increase in the total number of fans, the cost increases due to the increase in the number of fans and the total number of the filters,
Increase in fan motor power consumption and fixing device 25
An increase in power consumption due to the contradictory effect of taking heat from the fixing device 25 itself by a fan provided in the vicinity and increasing the energization time of the heater for controlling the fixing temperature.
Sheet metal to improve the heat resistance of process unit peripherals by using
Occurrence of space in the machine due to an increase in fans, and image deterioration due to adhesion of a charge generation substance such as NO _X generated around the charger to the drum have become problems.

Therefore, the present invention reduces the noise level by increasing the total number of each fan and reduces the cost by reducing the filters, while reducing the temperature rise of the entire apparatus, the cleaning apparatus, especially the blade, and further copying. In order to achieve both compactness of the main body of the device, we propose an efficient duct configuration and layout, and establish a lean airflow to achieve the above-mentioned items. The purpose is to provide means.

[0031]

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present invention is to exhaust the air inside the apparatus main body,
Alternatively, a process unit including a fan for sucking air into the main body, an air duct communicating with the fan, a photoconductor for image formation, a charging device, and a cleaning device for collecting untransferred toner left on the photoconductor And an image forming apparatus having a fixing unit for fixing an unfixed toner image at a position facing the process unit in the apparatus main body,
In the cleaning device in which the outer wall portion of the cleaning device housing is configured as an air duct, the cleaning blade constitutes a part of the outer wall portion of the device housing, and the surface of the cleaning blade forms a part of the air duct communicating with the air blowing means. The cleaning device cooling means of the image forming apparatus is also characterized in that it also serves.

In the above structure, the outside air from the air duct communicating with the air blower causes the air to flow to the outer wall surface of the cleaning device, or the outer surface of the cleaning blade configured as the outer wall portion of the cleaning device. The outer surface or the cleaning device housing is directly cooled.

A second invention of the present invention is a cleaning device cooling means for an image forming apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the air duct has an opening on the primary charger side.

In the above structure, since the air duct communicating with the blowing means has an opening on the side of the primary charger, the suction port is close to the position where the blade is arranged, and air closer to the outside air temperature is sent to the blade surface. According to the first aspect of the invention, the blade cooling effect is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the air duct on the main body side of the image forming apparatus which communicates with the duct on the cleaning device side is a duct for sucking outside air into the primary charging device in the process unit. The duct has an opening on the side of the primary charger, and air sucked from the outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus flows through an air duct communicating with the primary charging apparatus provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The cleaning device cooling means for the image forming device according to the first invention to the second invention, characterized in that the duct is arranged so as to form a ventilation path that is sent to the duct on the cleaning device side after passing through.

In the above structure, the outside air sucked from the duct on the apparatus main body passes through the inside of the primary charging device and is used for removing the charge generation substance floating on the surface of the photosensitive drum near the primary charging device. Similar to the second aspect of the invention, the outer surface of the cleaning blade configured as the outer wall portion of the housing of the cleaning device or the cleaning device housing is directly cooled.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a cleaning device for an image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, characterized in that it has a duct function by changing the length of the shield plates at both ends of the primary charger. It is a cooling means.

In the above structure, by changing the shield plate lengths at both ends of the primary charger, the function as a duct can be obtained, and the flow of air after passing through the primary charger can be controlled.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the shield plates on both ends of the primary charger, the shield plates located on the cleaning device side have a longer distance to the photosensitive drum than the shield plates facing each other. The cleaning device cooling means of the image forming device according to the first to fourth inventions is characterized in that.

In the above structure, the cleaning device side has a larger distance between the shield plate end and the photosensitive drum than the opposing side, so that the air is guided to the opening on the cleaning device side after passing through the primary charger. As in the fourth aspect, the outer surface of the cleaning blade configured as the outer wall portion of the housing of the cleaning device or the cleaning device housing is directly cooled.

As described above, the present invention can be summarized and summarized as follows.

(1) Exhaust air from the device body, or
A process unit including a fan for sucking air into the main body, an air duct communicating with the fan, a photoconductor for image formation, a charging device, and a cleaning device for collecting untransferred toner left on the photoconductor, A cleaning blade of a cleaning device in which an outer wall portion of the cleaning device housing of an image forming device having a fixing unit for fixing an unfixed toner image in a position facing the process unit is configured as an air duct. Is a part of the outer wall portion of the apparatus casing, and the cleaning blade surface also serves as a part of an air duct communicating with the air blowing means.

(2) In the image forming apparatus having a cleaning device in which the surface of the cleaning blade also serves as a part of the air duct communicating with the air blowing means, the air duct has an opening on the primary charger side. A cleaning device cooling unit for an image forming apparatus according to (1) above.

(3) In the image forming apparatus having a cleaning device in which the surface of the cleaning blade also serves as a part of the air duct communicating with the blowing means, the air duct on the image forming apparatus main body side communicating with the cleaning device side duct is A duct for sucking outside air into the primary charging device in the process unit, the duct on the cleaning device side has an opening on the primary charger side, and the air sucked from outside the image forming device main body side Characterized in that the duct is arranged so as to form a ventilation path that flows in an air duct that communicates with the primary charging device provided in the above, passes through the inside of the primary charging device, and is then sent to a duct on the cleaning device side. Cleaning device cooling means for the image forming apparatus according to (1) or (2).

(4) In an image forming apparatus having a cleaning device in which the surface of the cleaning blade also serves as a part of an air duct communicating with the blowing means, the duct function can be achieved by changing the length of the shield plates at both ends of the primary charger. A cleaning device cooling unit for an image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3) above.

(5) In the both-end shield plate that also functions as the duct of the primary charger of the image forming apparatus having the cleaning device whose cleaning blade surface also functions as a part of the air duct communicating with the blowing means, the end portions thereof The cooling device cooling device for an image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein the shield plate located on the cleaning device side has a longer distance from the opposing shield plate to the photosensitive drum. means.

[0047]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings of FIGS.

In the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the exhaust fan 4, the floating toner exhaust fan 8, the conveyance unit suction fan 18, the primary charger cleaning fan 27, and the optical cooling fan 2 are used.
A fan 8 operates during image formation and functions as follows.

The exhaust fan 4 discharges silicon oil vapor, which is a release agent used mainly around the fixing device 25, and high temperature air to the outside of the apparatus.

The floating toner exhaust fan 8 mainly discharges air containing ozone and floating toner generated in the image forming section 2 to the outside of the apparatus.

The conveying section suction fan 18 sucks the internal air and discharges it to the outside of the machine in order to generate a negative pressure required in the conveying section.

The optical cooling fan 28 serves to discharge the hot air around the motor to the outside of the machine for cooling the dedicated motor for moving the light source 6 in the direction of arrow A.

However, before the air is discharged to the outside of the machine by the fans 4, 8, 18 and 28, the air is filtered by the filter 2
By passing through 4, the ozone, the floating toner, and the release agent in the exhaust are removed, and clean air is discharged to the outside.

A primary charger cleaning fan 27 is provided on the front side of the main body of the copying apparatus 3 to blow air to the primary charger 13 and cool the cleaning device 12.

The fresh air 41 taken in by the primary charger cleaning fan 27 passes through the inside of the primary charger duct 39 formed by communicating with the primary charger cleaning fan 27 and passes through the inside of the primary charger.

At this time, a high voltage is applied when the original is copied.
Generated around the charger due to _XCharge generation substances such as
And dust etc. are removed by this air.

As described above, conventionally, the air used to remove the charge-generating substance was conventionally discharged as it is through the various filters to the outside of the machine. In the present invention, this cleaning air is used. The cleaning device is characterized by being reused as cooling air. As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device 12 of the copying machine includes a housing duct 38.
The entire cleaning device 12 is surrounded by.

The cleaning blade 31 is constructed so as to be a part of the outer wall of the housing of the cleaning device 12 and a part of the inner wall of the housing duct 38.

The housing duct 38 has an inlet port between the primary charger 13 and the photosensitive drum 10, and an outlet port has an exhaust port on the lower side of the apparatus. Further, the shield plates 36a, 36 forming the both ends of the primary charger 13 are
b has a length 36a on the cleaning device 12 side.
The developing device 11 side 36b differs from the developing device 11 side 36b in that the cleaning device 12 side 36a has a shorter shield plate length and the distance from the end to the photosensitive drum 10 is longer. ing.

Therefore, the fresh air 41 taken in from the outside of the apparatus main body 1 has passed through the primary charger to remove impurities floating near the photosensitive drum 10, and then the shield plate 3
It is guided by 6a and 36b and guided to the cleaning device 12 side.

The cleaning blade 31 is the primary charger 1
The air introduced from the primary charger 13 side is first blown to the outer surface of the cleaning blade 31 to cool the blade surface, and then the housing duct 38 since it is provided so as to be located near the opening on the third side. It is configured to be circulated inside and to be discharged to the outside by the suction fan 18 for the transport unit.

As described above, since the air circulation layer is always formed between the fixing device 25 and the outer wall of the cleaning device 12 in the housing duct, the high temperature air by the fixing device 25 is shut off and the cleaning device is removed. It has a very large effect on the cooling of 12.

[0063]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the fan for discharging the air in the main body of the apparatus or sucking the air into the main body, the air duct communicating with the fan, and the image forming are formed. Main body of the apparatus, a process unit including a photoconductor, a charging device, and a cleaning device that collects untransferred toner left on the photoconductor, and a fixing unit that fixes an unfixed toner image at a position facing the process unit. In the cleaning device of the image forming apparatus in which the cleaning device housing outer wall portion is configured as an air duct, the cleaning blade constitutes a part of the device housing outer wall portion, and the cleaning blade surface serves as a blower. Effective as the outside surface of the cleaning blade is directly cooled by the outside air, which also functions as a part of the communicating air duct. Retirement is possible. In addition, since the outer wall of the cleaning device casing is formed into a duct, an air circulation layer is formed between the fixing device and the outer wall of the cleaning device, which brings about a great effect on the temperature rise of the cleaner.

Therefore, it is no longer necessary to provide an exhaust fan dedicated to the cleaner, which has been required so far.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the air duct on the cleaning device side is provided with the opening on the primary charger side, it is possible to bring the position from the outside air intake port to the blade installation position close to each other, and infinitely. Since air near the outside temperature drifts on the surface of the blade, the blade cooling effect is further improved as compared with the first invention, so that the cleaning device can be cooled more effectively in a smaller space than in the first invention.

Further, by keeping the suction port away from the fixing device to prevent the temperature rise of the suction air, and by providing the suction port in the non-image forming part (between the cleaning part and the primary charging device) of the photosensitive drum, the The adverse effect of image deterioration can be prevented.

According to the third invention, the air duct on the main body side of the image forming apparatus which communicates with the duct on the cleaning device side is a duct for sucking outside air into the primary charging device in the process unit, and the duct on the cleaning device side. Is provided with an opening on the side of the primary charging device, and air sucked from outside the main body of the image forming apparatus flows in an air duct communicating with the primary charging device provided on the side of the image forming apparatus main body, After the passage, the duct is arranged so that it becomes a ventilation path that is sent to the duct on the cleaning device side, so that the outside air from the air duct is used to remove the charge control products floating on the surface of the photosensitive drum near the primary charging device. Similarly to the first and second inventions, the outer surface of the cleaning blade and the outer wall of the cleaning device are directly cooled.

Therefore, the charging device cleaning fan and the cleaning device cooling fan, which have been separately provided so far, can be combined into one.

In the fourth and fifth inventions, the end lengths of the shield plates on both ends of the primary charger are changed. In other words, the shield plate located on the cleaning device side is made shorter than the opposing shield plate, and the distance from the end to the photosensitive drum is made longer so that it has the function of a duct and there is no need to add another member such as a seal. In addition, air can be guided.

For this reason, it is possible to prevent unnecessary cost UP. Further, the wind speed, the direction, etc. can be adjusted by adjusting the end length.

As described above, the following effects can be obtained by making the duct shape as mentioned in the first to fifth inventions of the present invention.

Even if the number of fans is not increased or the number of fans is reduced, it is possible to further suppress the temperature rise of the cleaning device and the blade.

Noise reduction during operation due to reduction of fans.

The cost of parts is reduced by reducing the number of fans and filters associated with the fans and eliminating the need to use heat resistant resin around the process unit.

Reduction of space occupancy in the machine by the fan (miniaturization of the device).

Reduction of power consumption due to high efficiency of air flow.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram best representing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the entire copying apparatus main body according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear sectional view of the entire copying apparatus main body according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the entire body of a conventional copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a rear sectional view of the entire body of a conventional copying machine.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the entire body of a conventional copying machine.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the flow of air in a conventional copying machine apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 device body 2 Image forming section 3 Copier 4 Exhaust heat fan (air purification filter) 5 Document holder 6 light source 7 lens system 8 Floating toner exhaust fan 9 paper cassettes 10 Photosensitive drum 11 Developer 12 Cleaning device 13 Primary charger 14 post charger 15 Transfer charger 16 Separation charger 17 Conveyor 18 Conveyor suction fan 19 Paper feed roller 20 Conveyor roller 21 Paper path 22 Registration roller pair 23 Optical mirror (fixed) 24 Ozone filter (air purification filter) 25 fixer 26 Paper ejection roller pair 27 Primary charger cleaning fan 28 Optical cooling fan 29 Device back cover 30 Paper output section 31 cleaning blade 32 Optical mirror (moving) 33 Crimping plate 34 Rear plate of the device body 35 Front side plate of device body 36 duct 37 cleaner fan 38 Cleaner device housing duct 39 Primary charger cleaning fan duct 40 exhaust fan 41 Fresh Air 42 air holes 43 heating roller 44 Pressure roller 47 fins 48 air flow S transfer sheet

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fan for exhausting air from the apparatus main body or sucking air into the main body, an air duct communicating with the fan, a photoconductor for image formation, a charging device, and a photoconductor left on the photoconductor. An outer wall portion of the cleaning device housing of the image forming apparatus having a process unit including a cleaning device that collects untransferred toner and a fixing unit that fixes an unfixed toner image at a position facing the process unit. In the cleaning device configured as an air duct, the cleaning blade constitutes a part of the outer wall of the device casing, and the surface of the cleaning blade also serves as a part of the air duct communicating with the air blowing means. Means for cooling a cleaning device of an image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus having a cleaning device in which the surface of the cleaning blade also functions as a part of an air duct communicating with a blowing unit, wherein the air duct has an opening on the primary charger side. The cleaning device cooling means for the image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. An image forming apparatus having a cleaning device in which the surface of the cleaning blade also serves as a part of an air duct communicating with the air blowing means, wherein the air duct on the image forming apparatus main body side communicating with the cleaning device side duct comprises: A duct for sucking outside air into the primary charging device in the process unit, the duct on the cleaning device side is provided with an opening on the primary charger side, and the air sucked from outside the image forming apparatus main body is directed to the image forming apparatus main body side. Flowing in the air duct communicating with the provided primary charging device,
3. The cleaning device cooling means for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the duct is arranged so as to form a ventilation path that is sent to the duct on the cleaning device side after passing through the inside of the primary charging device. 4. An image forming apparatus having a cleaning device in which the surface of the cleaning blade also functions as a part of an air duct communicating with the air blowing means, and has a duct function by changing the shield plate length at both ends of the primary charger. 4. The cleaning device cooling means for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 5. A double-sided shield plate that also functions as a duct of the primary charger of an image forming apparatus having a cleaning device whose surface serves as a part of an air duct that communicates with a blower, ,
5. The cleaning device cooling means for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shield plate located on the cleaning device side is longer than the opposing shield plate to the photosensitive drum.