JP2004341097A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing discharge of ozone over a long period of time and discharge of nasty smell as well. <P>SOLUTION: Ozone is removed by a catalyst type ozone filter 222. Thereafter, air passed through the catalyst type ozone filter 222 is deodorized by disposing an activated carbon filter 223 downstream of the catalyst type ozone filter 222. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copying machine, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier using an electrophotographic method, for example, a photosensitive member configured in a drum shape is uniformly charged by a charger, and the photosensitive member is controlled based on image information. To form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. The electrostatic latent image is formed into a toner image by a developing device, and the toner image is transferred to a recording sheet and fixed to form an image.
[0003]
As a charger used in such an image forming apparatus, particularly in a high-speed machine or a color machine having a high process speed, a corona discharge corotron or a corona discharge system capable of applying a sufficient charge to a photoconductor rotating at a high speed is used. Scorotrons are often used. Although corotrons and scorotrons have a large charging ability, they emit corona discharge current to the photoreceptor, so that ozone is easily generated. When this ozone stays around the photoreceptor, it damages the photoreceptor.Therefore, a duct is placed near the corotron and scorotron. It is configured to discharge ozone out of the machine.
[0004]
Further, also in the developing device, the developing roller, which is a developer carrier, is rotated at a high speed in order to develop an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor rotating at a high speed, so that the toner is easily scattered in the apparatus. If the scattered toner adheres to the charger, it may cause charging failure, or may adhere to the paper transport system or the paper itself to cause image contamination.Therefore, a duct is also provided near the developing device. , And is configured to discharge the toner scatter scattered from the developing device to the outside of the apparatus.
[0005]
Such a duct discharges ozone and toner clyde generated from the charger and the developing device to the outside of the machine, but directly discharges air containing ozone and toner clydra sucked from the vicinity of the charging device and the developing device. If discharged outside the machine, the surrounding environment will be contaminated.Therefore, a suction filter or ozone filter is placed in the exhaust path to remove ozone or toner cry from the suctioned air and then discharge the air to the outside of the machine. ing.
[0006]
Here, as a conventional technique, an ozone filter for removing ozone in the discharged air is provided at an upstream position of an exhaust fan for discharging air in the apparatus body, and further, an ozone filter for removing ozone in the discharged air is provided at an upstream position of the ozone filter. The dust collection filter that removes dust is provided. By mounting a plurality of the dust collection filters so that they can be attached and detached and the number of attachments can be changed, the exhaust pressure can be increased by lowering the static pressure and the dust collection performance can be improved as compared with using a single thick dust collection filter. There is a technique of increasing the pressure and removing ozone (see Patent Document 1).
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-194967 (page 4-5, FIG. 3)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in recent years, a catalytic ozone filter having a function of decomposing ozone as an ozone filter can maintain ozone removing performance for a long period of time, and thus is often used in an image forming apparatus. However, the catalytic ozone filter is excellent in the performance of decomposing ozone, but at the same time adsorbs odor components from the atmosphere, such as chemical substances and lower fatty acids contained in tobacco and cosmetics, and releases it. Having. Therefore, the odor component accumulated in the catalytic ozone filter during the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus is released at a stretch to the surrounding environment at the time of the next image forming operation after the operation is stopped for a while, resulting in an unpleasant odor. There was a problem that causes.
Patent Document 1 described above discloses a technique for removing scattered toner and ozone by combining a plurality of dust collection filters and an ozone filter. However, air that has passed through the ozone filter is directly discharged to the outside. Therefore, the odor component stored in the ozone filter is released as it is to the surrounding environment, and the above-mentioned technical problem cannot be solved.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to suppress the emission of ozone for a long period of time and to suppress the emission of an odor. An object of the present invention is to provide a forming apparatus.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For this purpose, the image forming apparatus of the present invention, after removing ozone by the catalytic ozone removing device, arranges a deodorizing device downstream of the catalytic ozone removing device, and removes air passing through the catalytic ozone removing device. It is characterized by deodorizing. Here, the catalytic ozone removing means may be characterized by removing ozone contained in air exhausted from around the latent image carrier on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. Further, the deodorizing means can be characterized in that it is arranged at a distance of 5 to 20 mm from the catalytic ozone removing means. Further, a heating means can be provided in the catalytic ozone removing means. In addition, it is also possible to adopt a configuration further provided with a dust filter means on the upstream side of the catalytic ozone removing means.
[0011]
Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the air around the latent image carrier on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is exhausted to the outside by the exhaust duct, ozone contained in the air exhausted from the exhaust duct is converted into a catalytic type. It is characterized in that it is decomposed by an ozone filter and the air that has passed through the catalytic ozone filter is deodorized by a deodorizing filter. Further, a dust filter may be further provided upstream of the catalytic ozone filter to filter dust contained in air exhausted from the exhaust duct.
[0012]
Further, the present invention is regarded as a filter device, and after removing ozone by a catalytic ozone filter, a deodorizing filter is disposed downstream of the catalytic ozone filter, and air passing through the catalytic ozone filter is deodorized. I have. In particular, the deodorizing filter may be characterized in that it is arranged at a distance of 5 to 20 mm from the catalytic ozone filter. In addition, a configuration in which a dust filter is further provided on the upstream side of the catalytic ozone filter may be employed.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an image reading unit 1 and an image forming unit 2.
The image reading unit 1 includes a transparent platen glass 12 on which a document (not shown) is placed, a light source 14 for irradiating the document, and a first reflection mirror 15 for reflecting light reflected from the document, and moves in the horizontal direction in the figure. A flexible document illumination unit 13, a mirror unit 16 including a second reflection mirror 17 and a third reflection mirror 18 for reflecting light from the document illumination unit 13, and arranged on an optical path of light reflected by the mirror unit 16. The imaging unit 19 includes an imaging unit CCD (Charge Coupled Device) that receives light reflected by the mirror unit 16.
[0014]
The document illuminating unit 13 irradiates light to the document from below the platen glass 12 while moving in the horizontal direction in the drawing. Then, the reflected light from the document is imaged on the imaging unit CCD by the imaging lens 19 via the mirror unit 16.
The imaging unit CCD reads reflected light from the document as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) analog signals. An image processing unit IPS (Image Processing System) controlled by the control unit 100 described below is connected to the imaging unit CCD. The image processing unit IPS includes an image reading data output unit 21 that performs A / D conversion of a reading image signal input from the imaging unit CCD, and converts data (digital data) output from the image reading data output unit 21 into yellow (Y) and magenta. Image data output to convert to (M), cyan (C), and black (K) image data, perform data processing such as density correction and enlargement / reduction correction, and output as write image data (laser drive data) And a part 22. A laser drive signal output device 24 is connected to the image processing unit IPS. The laser drive signal output device 24 outputs a laser drive signal corresponding to the write image data output from the image processing unit IPS at a predetermined timing. Output to an optical scanning device ROS (Raster Output Scanner).
[0015]
The image forming unit 2 includes a photosensitive drum 31 serving as an image carrier that rotates in the direction of arrow A, and a charger 32 that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 31 to a negative polarity around the photosensitive drum 31. Developing devices 33Y, 33M, 33C and 33K containing toners of respective colors of optical scanning devices ROS, Y, M, C and K for irradiating the photosensitive drum 31 with a laser beam L modulated by a laser driving signal are mounted and rotated. A rotary developing device 33 that rotates around a shaft 33a, a drum cleaner 34 that removes toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 31, and a photoconductor drum 31 is charged to a negative polarity after primary transfer in a primary transfer unit T1 described later. A post-primary transfer charger 35 and a charge removing lamp 36 for removing charge from the photosensitive drum 31 before charging by the charger 32 are provided. In addition, a control unit 100 that controls the operation of each device (each unit) is provided. In the present embodiment, the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 31 is configured to be charged to a negative polarity such as OPC (Organic Photoconductor), and the development is performed by a reversal development method. Therefore, the used toner has a characteristic that it is easily charged to a negative polarity.
[0016]
Here, the charger 32 for charging the photoconductor drum 31 has a U-shaped shield formed of a metal such as aluminum and a gold-plated wire such as tungsten or SUS having a diameter of 0.08 to 0.5 mm. And a charged corotron. The shield is grounded, and a voltage of -5 to -8 kV is applied to the charging wire to generate corona discharge, thereby charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 to -400 to -700V.
On the other hand, the post-primary transfer charger 35 is also formed of a corotron similarly to the charger 32, and charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 charged to a positive polarity in the primary transfer to 0V or a negative polarity.
[0017]
Further, in the image forming section 2, an intermediate transfer belt 41 for intermediately carrying the toner image developed by the rotary developing device 33 is disposed so as to contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 in the primary transfer section T1. I have. The intermediate transfer belt 41 is a film-shaped endless belt made of a resin such as polyimide or polyamide and having a thickness of, for example, about 0.1 mm. The intermediate transfer belt 41 contains an appropriate amount of an antistatic agent such as carbon black and has a volume resistivity of 10%. ⁶ -10 ¹⁴ Ωcm. The intermediate transfer belt 41 is stretched by a plurality of rolls 46, 47, 48a to 48c, 49 and is configured to rotate in the direction of arrow B. Among these rolls, a roll 46 is a driving roll for rotating the intermediate transfer belt 41, a roll 47 is a tension roll for keeping the tension applied to the intermediate transfer belt 41 constant, and rolls 48a to 48c are idlers that are driven and rotated. The roll and the roll 49 are backup rolls for secondary transfer described later.
[0018]
In addition, a primary transfer roll 42 is provided at the primary transfer portion T1 where the intermediate transfer belt 41 contacts the photosensitive drum 31 so as to be in pressure contact with the photosensitive drum 31 via the intermediate transfer belt 41 on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 41. It is arranged. The primary transfer roll 42 is configured to rotate following the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 41.
The primary transfer roll 42 includes a shaft and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the shaft. The shaft is made of a metal such as iron or SUS. The sponge layer is formed of a blend rubber of NBR, SBR and EPDM containing a conductive agent such as carbon black, and has a volume resistivity of 10%. ⁷ -10 ⁹ Ωcm cylindrical roll. The primary transfer roll 42 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 31 with the intermediate transfer belt 41 interposed therebetween. Further, the primary transfer roll 42 is supplied with a positive voltage (primary transfer bias) having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity (minus polarity) of the toner. Is applied. As a result, the toner images formed on the photosensitive drum 31 are sequentially electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 41, and a superimposed toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 41.
[0019]
Further, in the secondary transfer portion T2 of the intermediate transfer belt 41 facing the transport path of the sheet S, a secondary transfer member T2 is provided on the toner carrying surface side (outside) of the intermediate transfer belt 41 so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 41. A next transfer roll 50 and a backup roll 49 provided on the back side (inside) of the intermediate transfer belt 41 and serving as a counter electrode of the secondary transfer roll 50 and supplied with power are provided. The backup roll 49 is formed by winding a semiconductive elastic body around a conductive metal roll. ⁶ -10 ⁸ It has been adjusted to Ωcm.
[0020]
On the other hand, the secondary transfer roll 50 is formed by wrapping the surface of a metal roll with carbon-dispersed urethane foam and winding a semiconductive elastic body around the outside thereof. ⁷ -10 ⁹ It has been adjusted to Ωcm. When a color toner image is formed, the secondary transfer roll 50 is used until the toner image up to the last color, that is, each of the Y, M, and C color toner images passes through the portion facing the secondary transfer roll 50. Are retracted to a position separated from the intermediate transfer belt 41. Then, the secondary transfer roll 50 is transferred at the same time that the toner image including the final color, that is, the toner image of each color in which K is superimposed on Y, M, and C is transferred to the secondary transfer portion T2. Is configured to contact the intermediate transfer belt 41. At the time of the secondary transfer, the secondary transfer roll 50 is pressed against the backup roll 49 with the intermediate transfer belt 41 interposed therebetween, and the secondary transfer roll 50 is further grounded to form a secondary transfer bias with the backup roll 49, The toner image is secondarily transferred onto the sheet S conveyed to the secondary transfer section T2.
[0021]
Further, a belt cleaner 60 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer portion T2 of the intermediate transfer belt 41 at a position facing the idler roll 48a with the intermediate transfer belt 41 interposed therebetween. The belt cleaner 60 is arranged so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 41, and when a color toner image is formed, the toner image up to the last color, that is, the Y, M, and C toners Until the image passes through the portion facing the belt cleaner 60, the image is retracted to a position away from the intermediate transfer belt 41. The belt cleaner 60 is configured to abut the intermediate transfer belt 41 after the Y, M, and C color toner images pass through the portion facing the belt cleaner 60, and the toner image including the final color, that is, Y , M, C, and K, the transfer residual toner after the secondary transfer of each color toner image in the secondary transfer portion T2 is removed.
[0022]
Further, a mark MK for position detection is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 41, and a belt position detection sensor SN for detecting the mark MK is attached downstream of the belt cleaner 60. In this image forming apparatus, the control section 100 controls the timing of writing a latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 based on a highly accurate position detection signal of the intermediate transfer belt 41 output from the belt position detection sensor SN.
[0023]
Further, as a paper transport system, a paper tray 71 on which the paper S is placed, a pickup roll 72 for taking out the paper S placed on the paper tray 71, and a transport for transporting the paper S fed by the pickup roll 72 A roll 73, a registration roll 74 for temporarily damming the sheet S for timing adjustment, a transport chute 75 for guiding the sheet S to the secondary transfer unit T <b> 2, a guide 76 for guiding the sheet S after the secondary transfer, and And a paper transport belt 77. Further, a fixing device 80 that includes a fixing roll and a pressure roll and that fixes the toner transferred to the sheet S by heating and pressing the sheet S is provided downstream of the sheet conveying belt 77 in the sheet conveying direction. On the downstream side of the fixing device 80 in the sheet conveying direction, a sheet discharge tray 90 for depositing the sheet S discharged to the outside is provided.
[0024]
Next, an image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. When a copy start key of a user interface (not shown) is turned on, a predetermined image forming process is executed. First, a document placed on the platen glass 12 is irradiated by the light source of the document illumination unit 13. The original reflected light reflected from the original is reflected by the first reflecting mirror 15 of the original illuminating unit 13 and the second reflecting mirror 17 and the third reflecting mirror 18 of the mirror unit 16 and passes through the imaging lens 19 for imaging. It is read as R, G, B analog signals by the CCD. The read image signal of the imaging unit CCD is input to the image processing unit IPS. Then, in accordance with the writing image data output from the image processing unit IPS, the laser drive signal output device 24 sends out a laser drive signal, and the laser beam L is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 31 from the optical scanning device ROS. .
[0025]
The photosensitive drum 31 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A, and the surface thereof is charged by the charger 32 to -400 to -700V. Thereafter, the latent image is written by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 with the laser beam L from the optical scanning device ROS. At this time, if the electrostatic latent image written on the photosensitive drum 31 corresponds to the yellow (Y) image information, the electrostatic latent image is transferred to the Y developing device 33Y in which the Y toner is stored. After the development, a Y toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 31. Then, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 41 by a primary transfer bias applied to a primary transfer roll 42 at a primary transfer portion T1 where the photosensitive drum 31 and the intermediate transfer belt 41 face each other. Is transferred to
[0026]
In the case of forming a single color image (for example, a black and white image), the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 41 is secondarily transferred to the sheet S immediately, but in the case of forming a color image composed of a plurality of color toner images, The process of forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 31 and the primary transfer of the toner image are repeated by the number of colors. For example, when a full-color image is formed by superimposing four color toner images, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) toner images are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 31. Are formed, and these toner images are sequentially primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 41. In the intermediate transfer belt 41, the Y, M, C, and K toner images are positioned at predetermined positions on the intermediate transfer belt 41 at each rotation while rotating at the same peripheral speed as the photosensitive drum 31. They are put together and superimposed sequentially.
[0027]
The toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 41 in this manner is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion T2 with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 41. On the other hand, the paper S is taken out of the paper tray 71 by the pickup roll 72, transported one by one by the transport roll 73, and then transported to the position of the registration roll 74. Thereafter, the sheet S is supplied to the secondary transfer unit T2 so that the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 41 arrives at the secondary transfer unit T2. The sheet S is sandwiched between the transfer roller 50 and the transfer roller 50. At this time, in the secondary transfer portion T2, the secondary transfer bias applied to the backup roll 49 causes the transfer electric field formed between the secondary transfer roll 50 and the backup roll 49 to act on the intermediate transfer belt 41. Is secondarily transferred (collectively transferred) to the sheet S. Thereafter, the sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 80 by the guide 76 and the sheet conveying belt 77 to fix the toner image on the sheet S by heating and pressing, and then discharged to the sheet discharge tray 90. Is done. Further, the toner (transfer residual toner) attached to the intermediate transfer belt 41 after the secondary transfer is removed by the belt cleaner 60.
[0028]
On the other hand, on the photosensitive drum 31 after passing through the primary transfer portion T1, a positive primary transfer bias is applied to the photosensitive drum 31 in the primary transfer, so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is charged to a positive potential. Have been. Therefore, in order to stabilize the charging potential in the next cycle by the charging device 32, negative charging is performed by the charging device 35 after the primary transfer, and the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 31 is inverted from zero potential to negative potential.
After passing through the charger 35 after the primary transfer, the drum cleaner 34 removes the toner (transfer residual toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 31. After cleaning by the drum cleaner 34, light is emitted from the charge removing lamp 36 before charging by the charger 32 to remove the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 31 to approximately 0V. Thus, the charging potential in the next cycle by the charger 32 can be stably charged to a predetermined potential.
[0029]
Next, the exhaust in the image forming apparatus will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, a first duct 201 disposed between the charger 32 and the rotary developing device 33, and a first duct 201 disposed behind the post-primary-transfer charger 35. The air in the image forming apparatus is exhausted by using the second duct 202 and the third duct 203 disposed inside the paper transport belt 77.
The first duct 201 sucks air around the photosensitive drum 31 including ozone generated from the charger 32 and toner cloud scattered from the rotary developing device 33. Further, the second duct 202 sucks air around the photosensitive drum 31 containing ozone generated from the charger 35 after the primary transfer. Further, the third duct 203 sucks the air inside the paper transport belt 77 to attract the paper S to the paper transport belt 77.
[0030]
Here, FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement of the first duct 201 and the second duct 202. FIG. 2 is a view of the image forming apparatus as viewed obliquely from the upper front. As shown in FIG. 2, the first duct 201 and the second duct 202 are arranged in parallel with the installation direction of the charger 32, the rotary developing device 33 (see FIG. 1), and the post-primary transfer charger 35. The surrounding air is sucked over the entire length of the photosensitive drum 31 in the longitudinal direction. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the third duct 203 is also disposed so as to suck air inside the paper transport belt 77 over the entire width of the paper transport belt 77 (see FIG. 1). .
[0031]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the duct on the back surface of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram of the image forming apparatus as viewed obliquely from above from behind. As shown in FIG. 3, the first duct 201 and the second duct 202 are connected to a merging duct 211. The junction duct 211 is connected to an inlet of the filter device 220. The third duct 203 is also connected to the inlet of the filter device 220 in parallel with the merging duct 211.
The outlet of the filter device 220 is connected to a discharge duct 212, and a blower 213 composed of a sirocco fan, a cross flow fan, or the like is installed in the discharge duct 212. The blower 213 sucks air from the first duct 201, the second duct 202, and further from the third duct 203, and after passing the air through the filter device 220, exhausts the air from the outlet 214 of the discharge duct 212 to the outside of the machine. I do.
[0032]
Next, the filter device 220 for purifying air from the junction duct 211 and the third duct 203 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the filter device 220. In the filter device 220, a first filter portion 220a into which air from the merging duct 211 flows and a second filter portion 220b into which air from the third duct 203 flows are integrally formed, and the first filter portion 220a And the second filter section 220b are separated from each other by a partition wall 220c. The filter device 220 is configured to be slidable with respect to a guide 225 (see also FIG. 3) installed between the merging duct 211 and the third duct 203 and the discharge duct 212, and is configured to be detachable. ing.
The first filter unit 220a includes, in order from the inlet side, a dust filter 221 as an example of a dust filter that mainly removes toner particles, and a catalytic ozone as an example of a catalytic ozone remover that mainly removes ozone. A filter 222 and an activated carbon filter 223 as an example of a deodorizing means for mainly removing an odor are arranged in series. On the other hand, a dust filter 224 for mainly removing paper dust is provided in the second filter section 220b.
[0033]
The dust filters 221 and 224 provided in the first filter unit 220a and the second filter unit 220b are made of, for example, a nonwoven fabric such as a polyolefin-based or polyester-based synthetic fiber or a glass fiber, and have a bellows shape folded in zigzag. Is formed. The dust filters 221 and 224 are configured such that the collection rate of fine dust of 0.8 μm by the counting method (DOP method) can be 80% or more, preferably 90%. As the dust filters 221 and 224, a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particle Air Filter), which is a high-performance filter having a collection rate of 0.3 μm fine dust by a counting method (DOP method) of 99% or more, is used. You can also.
[0034]
The catalytic ozone filter 222 disposed on the downstream side of the dust filter 221 of the first filter unit 220a is, for example, a honeycomb having a plate thickness of 20 mm and an opening of 60 mm × 120 mm. ₂ Is a ceramic catalyst containing as a catalyst component. The ozone contained in the air sucked from the first duct 201 and the second duct 202 becomes ₂ Is decomposed into Here, as the catalyst component, in the present embodiment, MnO 2 is porous, has a large surface area ratio, and has relatively high ozonolysis performance. ₂ But MnO ₂ Instead of NiO, Fe ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ And metal oxides such as ZnO. Note that in the catalytic ozone filter, it is sufficient that the metal oxide is applied to at least the surface of the catalytic ozone filter. ₂ And the like.
By the way, the performance of decomposing ozone increases as the chance of contact between the catalytic ozone filter 222 and the air increases and the longer the time, the higher the performance of the catalytic ozone filter 222 becomes. The reaction increases. On the other hand, increasing the number of cells decreases the suction flow rate of the blower 213. Therefore, the number of cells of the catalytic ozone filter 222 is set to 100 to 300 cells per square inch from the viewpoint of efficiently exhausting the ozone without stagnating the air in the apparatus and efficiently decomposing ozone. Is preferred.
Further, in order to improve the ozone decomposition performance of the catalyst component, a heating means such as a heater can be provided in the catalytic ozone filter 222. For example, MnO ₂ Then 40-50 ° C, TiO ₂ In this case, by heating to 120 to 150 ° C., it is possible to ensure the performance of decomposing and removing relatively high-concentration ozone.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, an activated carbon filter 223 as an example of a deodorizing unit is disposed downstream of the catalytic ozone filter 222 in the first filter unit 220a. The activated carbon filter 223 has, for example, a thickness of 20 mm and an area of 60 mm × 120 mm, and is composed of two synthetic fiber nonwoven layers and an activated carbon layer filled so as to be sandwiched between the synthetic fiber nonwoven layers. As the synthetic fiber nonwoven fabric, for example, a nonwoven fabric made of polyester, rayon, polypropylene, or the like having a thickness of 2 to 5 mm can be used. Further, as the activated carbon, those having an average particle size of, for example, 1 to 5 mm can be used. Further, besides the particulate activated carbon, a fibrous activated carbon can also be used. Further, a filter in which an activated carbon component is applied to a corrugated base material can be used. The thickness of the activated carbon layer can be set to 3 to 20 mm.
[0036]
By arranging the activated carbon filter 223 on the downstream side of the catalytic ozone filter 222 in this way, it is possible to suppress the odor components accumulated in the catalytic ozone filter 222 from being released outside the device. That is, the catalytic ozone filter 222 is excellent in the performance of decomposing ozone and can maintain the performance for a long period of time, but at the same time, from the atmosphere, smell components such as chemical substances and lower fatty acids contained in tobacco and cosmetics, etc. Etc., and has the property of releasing it. Therefore, if the air is directly discharged from the catalytic ozone filter 222 to the outside of the apparatus, the odor component accumulated in the catalytic ozone filter 222 during the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus may be removed after the operation is stopped for a while. At the time of the next image forming operation, it is released at a stretch to the surrounding environment and gives off odor, which may cause discomfort to the user.
Therefore, the activated carbon filter 223 is disposed downstream of the catalytic ozone filter 222 so that the odor components accumulated in the catalytic ozone filter 222 are adsorbed by the activated carbon filter 223 to prevent the odor components from being discharged outside the apparatus. It was done. As a result, the long-term excellent ozone decomposition performance of the catalytic ozone filter 222 can be utilized, and the emission of the odor components accumulated in the catalytic ozone filter 222 to the outside of the apparatus is suppressed. No discomfort is felt.
[0037]
Further, as described above, by installing a heating means such as a heater on the catalytic ozone filter 222 and heating it, it is possible to improve the ozone decomposition performance of the catalyst component. The release amount of the odor component stored in the ozone filter 222 also increases, and the odor increases. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the activated carbon filter 223 is disposed downstream of the catalytic ozone filter 222, so that these odor components are also adsorbed by the activated carbon filter 223 and released outside the machine. Since it can be suppressed, the decomposition performance of ozone can be improved without causing discomfort due to an unpleasant odor.
[0038]
Here, it is preferable that the activated carbon filter 223 is disposed at a distance d of 5 to 20 mm from the catalytic ozone filter 222. When the distance d between the catalytic ozone filter 222 and the catalytic ozone filter 222 is set to 5 mm or less, the air pressure in the space between the activated carbon filter 223 and the catalytic ozone filter 222 becomes too high, and the flow of air passing through the filter device 220 is interrupted. This is because the ability to remove ozone and toner cloud from the periphery of the photosensitive drum 31 which is an original function of the filter device 220 is reduced. On the other hand, when the distance d between the catalytic ozone filter 222 and the catalytic ozone filter 222 is set to 20 mm or more, almost no air stays in the space between the activated carbon filter 223 and the catalytic ozone filter 222, and This is because the time is shortened and the ozone decomposition efficiency is reduced, and the air passage time in the activated carbon filter 223 is shortened and the adsorption efficiency of the odor component is reduced.
[0039]
By the way, in the filter device 220 of the present embodiment, the catalytic ozone filter 222 and the activated carbon filter 223 are provided only in the first filter section 220a, and only the dust filter 224 is provided in the second filter section 220b. I have. This is because the first filter unit 220a has a first duct 201 for sucking air around the photosensitive drum 31 including ozone generated from the charger 32 and a toner cloud scattered from the rotary developing device 33, and after the primary transfer. Since air from the second duct 202 that sucks air around the photosensitive drum 31 containing ozone generated from the charger 35 flows in, the catalytic ozone filter 222 in addition to the dust filter 221 and the catalyst as described above It is necessary to provide an activated carbon filter 223 for removing the odor component from the type ozone filter 222. In the second filter part 220b, the vicinity of the paper transport belt 77 containing the paper powder of the paper S transported by the paper transport belt 77 is provided. Since only the air from the third duct 203 that sucks the air is sucked, at least almost no ozone is contained, This is because it is sufficient only dust filter 221.
[0040]
As described above, in the present embodiment, by disposing the activated carbon filter 223 on the downstream side of the catalytic ozone filter 222, odor components from the atmosphere adsorbed by the catalytic ozone filter 222, such as tobacco and cosmetics, are included. When the chemical substances, lower fatty acids, and the like to be released from the catalytic ozone filter 222, the released odor component can be adsorbed by the activated carbon filter 223. Therefore, the odor component accumulated in the catalytic ozone filter 222 during the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus is adsorbed by the activated carbon filter 223 when the odor component is released to the surrounding environment at a stretch after the operation is stopped for a while. Is done. As a result, while being able to utilize the excellent long-term ozone decomposition performance of the catalytic ozone filter 222, it is possible to suppress the odor components accumulated in the catalytic ozone filter 222 from causing an unpleasant odor and causing discomfort to the user. Can be.
[0041]
In the present embodiment, the activated carbon filter 223 is used as an example of the deodorizing means disposed downstream of the catalytic ozone filter 222, but any device having a function of removing an odor can be used. . For example, those using a graft polymerization method in which odor molecules are adsorbed and deodorized by a chemical reaction with a special gel, or a chemical reaction type quenching using a phosphate ester and a copper compound supported and processed on fibers, nonwoven fabric, activated carbon, silica gel, etc. Deodorant, and TiO that decomposes by decomposing hydrocarbons when irradiated with light ₂ It is also possible to use a photocatalytic filter using the above method.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the emission of ozone for a long period of time and the emission of unpleasant odor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which an exemplary embodiment is applied;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement of a first duct and a second duct.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a duct in a rear portion of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a filter device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image reading part, 2 ... Image forming part, 31 ... Photoreceptor drum, 32 ... Charging device, 33 ... Rotary developing device, 35 ... Charging device after primary transfer, 41 ... Intermediate transfer belt, 42 ... Primary transfer roll, 49 ... backup roll, 50 ... secondary transfer roll, 201 ... first duct, 202 ... second duct, 203 ... third duct, 211 ... merge duct, 212 ... discharge duct, 213 ... blower, 214 ... discharge port, 220 ... Filter device, 220a ... First filter part, 220b ... Second filter part, 220c ... Partition, 221,224 ... Dust filter, 222 ... Catalyst ozone filter, 223 ... Activated carbon filter, 225 ... Guide

Claims (10)

Catalytic ozone removing means for removing ozone,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a deodorizing means for deodorizing air which has passed through the catalytic ozone removing means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catalytic ozone removing unit removes ozone contained in air exhausted from around a latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deodorizing unit is disposed at a distance of 5 to 20 mm from the catalytic ozone removing unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catalytic ozone removing unit includes a heating unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a dust filtering unit upstream of the catalytic ozone removing unit. A latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed,
An exhaust duct for exhausting air around the latent image carrier to the outside,
A catalytic ozone filter that decomposes ozone contained in the air exhausted from the exhaust duct,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a deodorizing filter for deodorizing air that has passed through the catalytic ozone filter. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a dust filter that filters dust contained in the air, on an upstream side of the catalytic ozone filter. A catalytic ozone filter that decomposes ozone,
A deodorizing filter for deodorizing air that has passed through the catalytic ozone filter. 9. The filter device according to claim 8, wherein the deodorizing filter is arranged at a distance of 5 to 20 mm from the catalytic ozone filter. 9. The filter device according to claim 8, further comprising a dust filter upstream of the catalytic ozone filter.

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