JP2006208842A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus whose exhaust efficiency can be enhanced by preventing the exhaust leakage in an exhaust path in the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has: an exhaust unit 110 constituted by connecting a fan 112 and a duct 113 and having a seal board 111 over an opening edge 112e of a frame of the end of connection and provided to be tilted on the opening edge 112e; and an exterior cover 120 in which a louver 121 which guides the air discharged from the exhaust unit 110 to the outside of the apparatus and a rib 122 which projects inside the apparatus and has an opening larger than an opening of the frame of the exhaust unit 110 around the louver 121 are formed, the seal board 111 is tilted by pressure of the rib 122, sandwiched between the rib 122 and the opening edge 112e and a gap is sealed in accordance with engagement of an opening of the rib 122 with the edge of connection of the exhaust unit 110. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an exhaust function for releasing heat generated by a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a transfer material, power supply means for supplying power to an internal control means, and the like to the outside of the apparatus. Is.

  In recent years, the size of image forming apparatuses has been reduced, and the space inside the apparatus has been reduced. In particular, abnormal images due to deterioration of the developer due to heat generated in the machine and deterioration of the developer or toner aggregation in the developing unit. In addition, there is a problem that the drive unit is damaged due to blocking.

  In order to solve such problems, exhaust heat to the outside by the duct and fan is performed, but there is a gap between the louver part provided in the exterior cover and the exhaust heat fan or duct, Due to the flow resistance by the louver, the wind that should be exhausted through the gap circulates into the machine, lowering the exhaust efficiency, and causing the abnormal image and damage due to the rise in the machine temperature.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, urethane foam, maltoprene (polyester polyurethane light-shielding sponge) 822 or the like is attached to the inside of the exterior cover 820 as a seal material, Means have been proposed to prevent leakage. However, when assembling the exterior cover, peeling of the maltoprene and the placement of the maltoprene cannot be performed with high accuracy, so there is a gap between the fan and the duct, or fan stoppage or abnormal noise occurs due to maltoprene contact with the fan blades. There was also.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, it is also proposed to cover the outer periphery of the fan 912 or the duct 913 with a rib 922 provided on the exterior cover 920. However, if the clearance between the outer periphery of the fan or duct and the rib is made small, it is difficult to increase the positional accuracy of the fan, and the assembling property of the outer cover is impaired.

Patent Document 3 discloses a technique in which a fan motor is fixed to a metal frame as an exterior cover with a screw via a blanket, and a joint between the fan motor and a duct is covered with a sheet member to prevent exhaust leakage. Yes.
Patent document 4 discloses a technique of providing a deformable connecting pipe between heat radiating ducts.
Patent Document 5 discloses a technique in which a seal member is interposed between a cylindrical portion provided on an exterior cover and a duct connected to the cylindrical portion.
Patent Document 6 discloses a technique for coupling to a louver with a flexible duct.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-105366 JP-A-6-318028 JP 2002-251112 A JP-A-6-088945 JP-A-11-0665403 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-043658

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of improving exhaust efficiency by preventing exhaust leakage in an exhaust path in the apparatus. And

  The present invention provided to solve the above-mentioned problems is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material by an electrophotographic method, a fan for exhausting air inside the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus, and the air to the fan. And an exhaust unit having a seal plate provided to be able to tilt over the open end of the frame at the connecting end, and an air discharged from the exhaust unit A louver that leads the outside of the apparatus and an exterior cover that is formed around the louver and that has a rib that protrudes toward the inside of the apparatus and that is larger than the opening of the frame of the exhaust unit. As the opening of the rib is fitted to the end, the seal plate is tilted by the pressure of the rib and is sandwiched between the rib and the opening end to close the gap. An image forming apparatus (claim 1).

Here, it is preferable that an opening shape of the frame of the exhaust unit and the rib is a rectangle, and a seal plate is provided at each of the opening end portions of the exhaust unit that hit each side of the rectangle.
In addition, the protrusion height differs between the rib corresponding to the opening end of the exhaust unit that hits one of the opposite sides of the rectangle and the rib corresponding to the opening end of the exhaust unit that hits the other opposite side of the rectangle. Is preferred.

  The present invention provided to solve the above-mentioned problems is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material by an electrophotographic method, a fan for exhausting air inside the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus, and the air to the fan. And an exhaust unit having a seal plate provided to be able to tilt over the open end of the frame at the connecting end, and an air discharged from the exhaust unit A louver that guides the outside of the apparatus and an exterior cover that is formed around the louver and has a rib that protrudes toward the inside of the apparatus and that is an opening larger than the opening of the frame of the exhaust unit. Further, a protruding claw is provided, and as the exterior cover is arranged so that the louver is close to the connection end of the exhaust unit, the seal plate is tilted by the pressing of the claw, and the And sandwiched between the open end portion, an image forming apparatus characterized by closing the gap (claim 4).

Here, it is preferable that an opening shape of the frame of the exhaust unit and the rib is a rectangle, and a seal plate is provided at each of the opening end portions of the exhaust unit that hit each side of the rectangle.
Further, the protruding height of the rib and claw corresponding to the opening end of the exhaust unit that hits one of the opposite sides of the rectangle, and the rib and claw corresponding to the opening end of the exhaust unit that hits the other opposite side of the rectangle It is preferable that the protruding height is different.

  In the inventions according to claims 1 to 6, the seal plate is preferably made of an elastic body.

  According to the present invention, the seal plate provided in the exhaust unit prevents leakage of wind that occurs in the path to the louver of the exterior cover regardless of the height of the rib protruding into the space up to the louver. Since the gap can be further closed with higher accuracy than when maltoprene or the like is applied and moreover only when the rib shape is used to prevent leakage, it is possible to increase the exhaust efficiency and suppress the rise in the in-machine temperature. Further, since the seal plate does not protrude from the fan or the duct until the exterior cover is assembled, the assembling property of the exterior cover is not impaired. Furthermore, since it is possible to avoid attaching maltoprene or the like to the exterior cover, the exterior cover can be easily recycled.

2. Description of the Related Art Today, electrophotographic apparatuses are increasing in color, such as color copiers and color printers, according to market demands.
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of color developing devices around one photoconductor, and a toner is attached to each of the developing devices to form a composite toner image on the photoconductor. A so-called one-drum type that records a color image on a sheet, and a plurality of photoconductors provided side by side, each having a developing device, and forming a single color toner image on each photoconductor, There is a so-called tandem type in which monochromatic toner images are sequentially transferred to record a composite color image on a sheet.

  Comparing the 1-drum type and the tandem type, the former has only one photoconductor, so that there is an advantage that it can be relatively downsized and cost can be reduced. (4 times) Since image formation is repeated to form a full-color image, it is difficult to speed up image formation. The latter, on the contrary, has the disadvantage of increasing the size and cost, but it is easy to speed up image formation. There is an advantage that is. Recently, tandem type has been attracting attention because the demand for full-color monochrome speed is desired.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tandem type electrophotographic apparatus includes a direct transfer system in which an image on each photoconductor 1 is sequentially transferred onto a sheet s conveyed by a sheet conveying belt 3 by a transfer apparatus 2; As shown in FIG. 2, the image on each photoconductor 1 is once transferred sequentially to the intermediate transfer body 4 by the primary transfer device 2, and then the image on the intermediate transfer body 4 is transferred to the sheet s by the secondary transfer device 5. There are indirect transfer systems that perform batch transfer. The transfer device 5 is a transfer conveyance belt, but there are also roller shapes and methods.

Comparing the direct transfer type with the indirect transfer type, the former arranges the sheet feeding device 6 on the upstream side of the tandem type image forming apparatus T on which the photoconductors 1 are arranged, and the fixing device 7 on the downstream side. There is a drawback in that the size increases in the sheet conveying direction.
On the other hand, the latter can set the secondary transfer position relatively freely. In addition, the sheet feeding device 6 and the fixing device 7 can be arranged so as to overlap the tandem type image forming apparatus T, and there is an advantage that downsizing is possible.

  In the former, in order not to increase the size in the sheet conveying direction, the fixing device 7 is arranged close to the tandem type image forming apparatus T. Therefore, the fixing device 7 cannot be arranged with a sufficient margin that the sheet s can bend, and an impact (particularly with a thick sheet) when the leading edge of the sheet s enters the fixing device 7 or the fixing device. Due to the difference in speed between the sheet conveyance speed when passing through the sheet 7 and the sheet conveyance speed by the transfer conveyance belt, there is a drawback that the fixing device 7 tends to affect the image formation on the upstream side.

On the other hand, in the latter case, the fixing device 7 can be disposed with a sufficient margin that the sheet s can be bent, so that the fixing device 7 can hardly affect the image formation.
In view of the above, in recent years, indirect transfer type among tandem type electrophotographic apparatuses has been attracting attention.

  In this type of color electrophotographic apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1 after the primary transfer is removed by the photoreceptor cleaning device 8 to clean the surface of the photoreceptor 1. In preparation for the second image formation. Further, the transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 4 after the secondary transfer is removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 9 to clean the surface of the intermediate transfer body 4 to prepare for the image formation again.

Hereinafter, a basic configuration of an image forming apparatus which is a premise to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 3 shows an electrophotographic apparatus of a tandem type indirect transfer system. In the figure, reference numeral 100 is a copying machine main body, 200 is a paper feed table on which it is placed, 300 is a scanner mounted on the copying apparatus main body 100, and 400 is further above it. An automatic document feeder (ADF) to be attached to the document.

  The copying machine main body 100 is provided with an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member 10 at the center. As shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate transfer member 10 is formed by forming a base layer 11 made of a base layer 11 made of a material that is difficult to stretch, such as a canvas, on a fluorine resin with a small elongation or a rubber material with a large elongation. 12 is provided. The elastic layer 12 is made of, for example, fluorine-based rubber or acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber. The surface of the elastic layer 12 is coated with, for example, a coating layer 13 having good smoothness by coating a fluorine resin.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, in the illustrated example, it is wound around three support rollers 14, 15, and 16 so that it can be rotated and conveyed clockwise in the figure.
In this illustrated example, an intermediate transfer body cleaning device 17 for removing residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 10 after image transfer is provided on the left of the second support roller 15 among the three.
Further, among the three images, four images of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are arranged on the intermediate transfer member 10 stretched between the first support roller 14 and the second support roller 15 along the conveyance direction. The tandem image forming apparatus 20 is configured by arranging the forming units 18 side by side.

An exposure device 21 is further provided on the tandem image forming apparatus 20 as shown in FIG.
On the other hand, a secondary transfer device 22 is provided on the side opposite to the tandem image forming apparatus 20 with the intermediate transfer body 10 interposed therebetween. In the illustrated example, the secondary transfer device 22 is configured by spanning a secondary transfer belt 24, which is an endless belt, between two rollers 23, and is pressed against the third support roller 16 via the intermediate transfer body 10. The image on the intermediate transfer body 10 is transferred to a sheet.

  A fixing device 25 for fixing the transfer image on the sheet is provided beside the secondary transfer device 22. The fixing device 25 is configured by pressing a pressure roller 27 against a fixing belt 26 that is an endless belt.

  The secondary transfer device 22 described above is also provided with a sheet transport function for transporting the image-transferred sheet to the fixing device 25. Of course, a transfer roller or a non-contact charger may be arranged as the secondary transfer device 22, and in such a case, it is difficult to provide this sheet conveying function together.

  In the illustrated example, a sheet reversing device 28 for reversing the sheet so as to record an image on both sides of the sheet is provided below the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25 in parallel with the tandem image forming device 20 described above. Is provided.

  Now, when making a copy using this color electrophotographic apparatus, a document is set on the document table 30 of the automatic document feeder 400. Alternatively, the automatic document feeder 400 is opened, a document is set on the contact glass 32 of the scanner 300, and the automatic document feeder 400 is closed and pressed by it.

  When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, when the document is set on the automatic document feeder 400, the document is transported and moved onto the contact glass 32, and then the document is set on the other contact glass 32. At that time, the scanner 300 is immediately driven to travel the first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34. Then, the first traveling body 33 emits light from the light source and further reflects the reflected light from the document surface toward the second traveling body 34, and is reflected by the mirror of the second traveling body 34 and passes through the imaging lens 35. The document is placed in the reading sensor 36 and the original content is read.

  When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, one of the support rollers 14, 15, and 16 is driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown), and the other two support rollers are driven to rotate to convey the intermediate transfer member 10. To do. At the same time, the individual image forming means 18 rotates the photoconductors 40 to form black, yellow, magenta, and cyan monochrome images on the photoconductors 40, respectively. Then, along with the conveyance of the intermediate transfer member 10, the single color images are sequentially transferred to form a composite color image on the intermediate transfer member 10.

On the other hand, when a start switch (not shown) is pressed, one of the paper feed rollers 42 of the paper feed table 200 is selectively rotated, and the sheet is fed out from one of the paper feed cassettes 44 provided in multiple stages in the paper bank 43, and the separation roller 45. Then, the sheets are separated one by one into the paper feed path 46, transported by the transport roller 47, guided to the paper feed path 48 in the copying machine main body 100, and abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped.
Alternatively, the sheet feed roller 50 is rotated to feed out the sheets on the manual feed tray 51, separated one by one by the separation roller 52, put into the manual feed path 53, and abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped.

  Then, the registration roller 49 is rotated in synchronization with the composite color image on the intermediate transfer member 10, the sheet is fed between the intermediate transfer member 10 and the secondary transfer device 22, and transferred by the secondary transfer device 22. A color image is recorded on the sheet.

  The image-transferred sheet is conveyed by the secondary transfer device 22 and sent to the fixing device 25. The fixing device 25 applies heat and pressure to fix the transferred image, and then the switching roller 55 is used to switch the discharge roller. The paper is discharged at 56 and stacked on the paper discharge tray 57. Alternatively, it is switched by the switching claw 55 and put into the sheet reversing device 28, where it is reversed and guided again to the transfer position, and an image is recorded also on the back surface, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 57 by the discharge roller 56.

  On the other hand, the intermediate transfer body 10 after the image transfer is removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 17 to remove residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 10 after the image transfer, so that the tandem image forming apparatus 20 can prepare for another image formation.

  Here, the registration roller 49 is generally used while being grounded, but it is also possible to apply a bias for removing paper dust from the sheet.

  In the tandem image forming apparatus 20 described above, the individual image forming means 18 includes, for example, a charging device 60, a developing device 61, and a primary device around a drum-shaped photoconductor 40 as shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer device 62, a photoconductor cleaning device 63, a charge removal device 64, and the like.

  The present invention provides an exhaust structure for releasing heat generated in a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a transfer material, power supply means for supplying power to an internal control means, etc. to the outside in the image forming apparatus. It has the characteristics.

The configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an exhaust unit disposed in the image forming apparatus.
The exhaust unit 110 is formed by connecting a fan 112 for discharging the air inside the image forming apparatus to the outside of the apparatus and a duct 113 that guides the air to the fan 112, and an opening end 112e of the frame body at the connection end. The seal plate 111 is provided so as to be tiltable on the open end 112e.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the opening shape of the frame body at the connecting end of the exhaust unit 110 is a rectangle, and the seal plate 111 is provided at each of the opening end portions 112e of the exhaust unit 110 that hit each side of the rectangle. Is provided. Each seal plate 111 is radially arranged around the center of the opening of the exhaust unit 110.

The seal plate 111 is composed of a single sheet, and a part of itself is bent as shown in FIG. By sticking the sticking portion 111a on the outer periphery of the frame body of the fan 112, the seal plate 111 is disposed at the opening end portion 112e. The seal plate 111 is preferably made of a flexible material, and may be formed of, for example, an elastic film.
The exhaust unit has a configuration in which the fan 112 is disposed at the connection end in the figure, but may have a configuration in which the duct 113 is disposed at the connection end.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an exterior cover that covers the image forming apparatus.
The exterior cover 120 includes a louver 121 that guides the air discharged from the exhaust unit 110 to the outside of the device, and a rib 122 that protrudes to the inside of the device around the louver 121 and is larger than the opening of the frame of the exhaust unit 110. And are formed.

  The rib 122 is formed integrally with the base of the exterior cover 120 and may be an injection molded product. Moreover, the protrusion height is made larger than the distance from the discharge unit 110 to the exterior cover 120 (louver 121) when it is arranged in the apparatus. In addition, the opening part of the rib 122 should just be larger than the opening part of the frame of the exhaust unit 110, and a strict dimensional accuracy is not required. As will be described later, it is sufficient that the sealing plate 111 has a dimensional accuracy enough to close the gap between the rib 122 and the open end 112e.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state when the exterior cover 120 is assembled to the image forming apparatus.
First, as shown in FIG. 8A, the exterior cover 120 is assembled so that the opening of the rib 122 faces the opening of the exhaust unit 110. At this time, when the exterior cover 120 is properly assembled to the image forming apparatus, the opening of the rib 122 is fitted into the connection end of the exhaust unit 110.

  With this assembly, when the rib 122 is pressed and the portion of the seal plate 111 protruding from the opening end 112e is pushed in the longitudinal direction of the exhaust unit 110 (rightward in FIG. 8A), the seal plate 111 With the opening end 112e as a fulcrum, the portion inside the frame of the fan 112 is tilted to the left side in FIG. 8A and the portion protruding from the opening end 112e is tilted to the right side in FIG.

  By tilting the seal plate 111, as shown in FIG. 8B, the seal plate 111 is sandwiched between the rib 122 and the open end 112e, and seals the gap. That is, the seal plate 111 serves as a partition wall that blocks air that is about to leak from the gap between the opening end 112 e of the exhaust unit 110 and the rib 122. As a result, exhaust from the exhaust unit 110 to the outside of the machine is efficiently performed, and it is possible to prevent the exhaust heat from being circulated.

Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Here, the configuration of the exterior cover is different from that of the first embodiment, and the exhaust unit is the same as that of the configuration shown in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an exterior cover that covers the image forming apparatus.
The exterior cover 220 includes a louver 221 that guides air discharged from the exhaust unit 110 to the outside of the device, and a rib 222 that protrudes to the inside of the device around the louver 221 and that is larger than the opening of the frame of the exhaust unit 110. And a claw 223 that further protrudes is provided at the tip of the rib 222.

  The rib 222 is formed integrally with the base of the exterior cover 220 and may be an injection molded product. Further, the protruding height is the same as or smaller than the distance from the discharge unit 110 to the exterior cover 220 (louver 221) when arranged in the apparatus. Note that the opening of the rib 222 does not require strict dimensional accuracy as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state when the exterior cover 220 is assembled to the image forming apparatus.
10A shows a case where the protruding height of the rib 222 is the same as the distance from the discharge unit 110 to the exterior cover 220 (louver 221), and FIG. 10B shows a case where the protruding height of the rib 222 is smaller than the distance. Is shown.

  First, the exterior cover 220 is assembled so that the opening of the rib 222 faces the opening of the exhaust unit 110. At this time, when the exterior cover 220 is properly assembled to the image forming apparatus, the opening of the rib 222 is close to the connection end of the exhaust unit 110.

  Along with this assembly, the portion protruding from the opening end 112e of the seal plate 111 is pushed in the longitudinal direction of the exhaust unit 110 (the right direction in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B) by the pressing of the claws 223. With the opening end 112e as a fulcrum, the seal plate 111 has the inner part of the frame of the fan 112 on the left side in FIGS. 10A and 10B, and the part protruding from the opening end 112e on the right side in FIG. Will be tilted.

  By tilting the seal plate 111, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the seal plate 111 is sandwiched between the rib 222 and the opening end 112e to seal the gap. That is, as in the first embodiment, the seal plate 111 serves as a partition wall that blocks air that is about to leak from the gap between the opening end 112 e of the exhaust unit 110 and the rib 122. As a result, exhaust from the exhaust unit 110 to the outside of the machine is efficiently performed, and it is possible to prevent the exhaust heat from being circulated.

Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an exhaust unit disposed in the image forming apparatus.
The exhaust unit 210 is formed by connecting a fan 212 for discharging the air inside the image forming apparatus to the outside of the apparatus and a duct 213 that guides the air to the fan 212, and an open end 212e of the frame body at the connection end. The seal plate 211 is provided so as to be tiltable on the open end 212e. Each constituent material is the same as that of the exhaust unit 110 in the first embodiment, and only the shape of the seal plate 211 is different from that in the first embodiment.

That is, in the first embodiment, when the seal plate 111 is viewed from the front (FIG. 6A), the portion corresponding to the corner of the opening (rectangular) of the frame body at the connection end of the exhaust unit 110 is cut. Thus, the adjacent seal plates 111 are not overlapped with each other.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the portion is not cut and the sealing plate 211 is rectangular when viewed from the front (FIG. 11), and the opening (rectangular) of the frame at the connection end of the exhaust unit 210 is formed. There are overlapping parts at the corners. In addition, in FIG. 11, the overlapping portions are such that the seal plates 211 arranged at the top and bottom in the drawing are on the front side of the drawing, and the sealing plates 211 arranged on the left and right in the drawing are on the rear side of the drawing.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an exterior cover that covers the image forming apparatus.
The exterior cover 320 includes a louver 321 that guides the air discharged from the exhaust unit 210 to the outside of the device, and a rib 322a that protrudes to the inside of the device around the louver 321 and is larger than the opening of the frame of the exhaust unit 210. , 322b.

  The ribs 322a and 322b are integrally formed on the base of the exterior cover 320, and may be injection molded products. Here, the protrusion height differs between the rib corresponding to the open end of the exhaust unit 210 that hits one of the opposite sides of the rectangle and the rib corresponding to the open end of the exhaust unit 210 that hits the other opposite side of the rectangle. I have to. That is, in FIG. 12, the protruding heights of the ribs 322b arranged on the left and right in the drawing are made lower than the protruding heights of the ribs 322a arranged on the upper and lower sides in the drawing. The openings of the ribs 322a and 322b do not require strict dimensional accuracy as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state when the exterior cover 120 is assembled to the image forming apparatus.
First, the exterior cover 320 is assembled so that the openings of the ribs 322 a and 322 b are opposed to the openings of the exhaust unit 210. At this time, when the exterior cover 320 is properly assembled to the image forming apparatus, the openings of the ribs 322a and 322b are fitted into the connection ends of the exhaust unit 210.

  In association with this assembly, first, the rib 322a having a high protruding height hits the opposing seal plate 211, and the portion protruding from the opening end portion 212e of the seal plate 211 by this pressing causes the longitudinal direction of the exhaust unit 210 (in FIG. 13). With the opening end 212e as a fulcrum, the seal plate 211 tilts to the left side in FIG. 13 and the part protruding from the opening end 212e to the right side in FIG. Is done. Accordingly, the seal plate 211 is sandwiched between the rib 322a and the opening end portion 212e, and seals the gap.

  Next, the rib 322b hits the opposing seal plate 211, and the seal plate 211 has the opening end portion 212e as a fulcrum in the same manner as described above, and the portion inside the frame body of the fan 212 is on the left side of the page in FIG. The protruding part is tilted to the right side of the page. As a result, the seal plate 211 is sandwiched between the rib 322b and the open end 212e, and seals the gap.

  In this manner, by shifting the timing at which the ribs are pressed between the upper and lower combinations of the seal plates 211 and the left and right combinations, the seal plates 211 can be tilted regardless of the overlapping portions of the adjacent seal plates 211. Further, since the gap between the rib and the opening end can be closed near the corner of the opening (rectangular) of the frame at the connection end of the exhaust unit 210, the exhaust efficiency can be further improved.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the exterior cover is provided with claws 423a and 423b having different heights protruding further at the tips of the ribs 422, so that the opening of the exhaust unit that hits one of the opposite sides of the rectangle. The projecting height of the rib 422 and the claw 423a corresponding to the end portion may be different from the projecting height of the rib 422 and the claw 423b corresponding to the opening end portion of the exhaust unit corresponding to the other of the opposite sides of the rectangle. Also by this configuration, by shifting the timing at which the claws are pressed between the upper and lower combinations of the seal plates 211 and the left and right combinations in the same manner as described above, the seal plates 211 can be tilted regardless of the overlapping portions of the adjacent seal plates 211. Exhaust efficiency can be improved.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a tandem direct transfer system in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a tandem type indirect transfer system in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an intermediate transfer member. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure in an image formation means. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an exhaust unit in a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an exterior cover in a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which mounted | wore with the exterior cover in 1st Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the exterior cover in 2nd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which mounted | wore with the exterior cover in 2nd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the exhaust unit in 3rd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the exterior cover in 3rd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which mounted | wore with the exterior cover in 3rd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the variation structure of the exterior cover in 3rd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure (1) of the conventional exhaust unit and an exterior cover. It is the schematic which shows the structure (2) of the conventional exhaust unit and an exterior cover.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,40 Photoconductor 2,5 Transfer device 3 Sheet conveyance belt 4,10 Intermediate transfer member 6 Paper feed device 7,25 Fixing device 8,63 Photoconductor cleaning device 9 Intermediate transfer member cleaning device 11 Base layer 12 Elastic layer 13 Coat Layers 14 to 16 Support roller 18 Image forming means 20 Tandem image forming apparatus 21 Exposure apparatus 22 Secondary transfer apparatus 23 Roller 24 Secondary transfer belt 26 Fixing belt 27 Pressure roller 28 Sheet reversing apparatus 30 Document table 32 Contact glass 33, 34 Traveling body 35 Imaging lens 36 Reading sensor 42, 50 Paper feed roller 43 Paper bank 44 Paper feed cassette 45, 52 Separation roller 46, 48, 53 Paper feed path 47 Transport roller 49 Registration roller 51 Manual feed tray 55 Switching claw 56 Discharge roller 57 Paper discharge tray 60 Charging device 6 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developing apparatus 62 Primary transfer apparatus 64 Static elimination apparatus 100 Copying apparatus main body 200 Paper feed table 300 Scanner 400 Automatic document feeder 110,210 Exhaust unit 111,211 Seal plate 112,212,812,912 Fan 112e, 212e Open end 113 , 213, 813, 913 Duct 120, 220, 320, 420, 820, 920 Exterior cover 121, 221, 321, 421, 821, 921 Louver 122, 222, 322 a, 322 b, 422, 922 Rib 223, 423 a, 423 b Claw 822 Moltoprene

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a transfer material by electrophotography,
A fan for discharging the air inside the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus and a duct for guiding the air to the fan are connected to each other, and can be tilted on the opening end across the opening end of the frame at the connecting end. An exhaust unit having a seal plate provided on the louver, a louver for guiding the air discharged from the exhaust unit to the outside of the apparatus, and an opening larger than the opening of the frame of the exhaust unit projecting to the inside of the apparatus around the louver An exterior cover formed with a rib to be a part,
As the opening of the rib is fitted to the connecting end of the exhaust unit, the seal plate is tilted by the pressure of the rib and is sandwiched between the rib and the opening end to close the gap. An image forming apparatus.   The opening shape of the frame of the exhaust unit and the rib is rectangular, and a seal plate is provided at each of the opening end portions of the exhaust unit that hit each side of the rectangle. Image forming apparatus.   The protrusion height differs between the rib corresponding to the opening end of the exhaust unit that hits one of the opposite sides of the rectangle and the rib corresponding to the opening end of the exhaust unit that hits the other of the opposite sides of the rectangle. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a transfer material by electrophotography,
A fan for discharging the air inside the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus and a duct for guiding the air to the fan are connected to each other, and can be tilted on the opening end across the opening end of the frame at the connecting end. An exhaust unit having a seal plate provided on the louver, a louver for guiding the air discharged from the exhaust unit to the outside of the apparatus, and an opening larger than the opening of the frame of the exhaust unit projecting to the inside of the apparatus around the louver An exterior cover formed with a rib to be a part,
A claw that further protrudes is provided at the tip of the rib, and the seal plate is tilted by the pressure of the claw as the exterior cover is arranged so that the louver is close to the connection end of the exhaust unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is sandwiched between the rib and the opening end to close the gap.   The opening shape of the frame of the exhaust unit and the rib is rectangular, and a seal plate is provided at each opening end of the exhaust unit that hits each side of the rectangle. Image forming apparatus.   The protruding height of the rib and claw corresponding to the opening end of the exhaust unit that hits one of the opposite sides of the rectangle, and the protruding height of the rib and claw corresponding to the opening end of the exhaust unit that hits the other opposite side of the rectangle The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seal plate is made of an elastic body.

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