JP2007019236A - Electric apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric apparatus capable of efficiently cooling a device getting a high temperature among a plurality of devices provided on a substrate. <P>SOLUTION: A cooling fan 20 takes the open air to cool the plurality of devices provided on the substrate. A cooled device determination part 103 determines a device to be cooled among the plurality of devices depending on an operation mode. An air direction control unit 105 controls the direction of the air from the cooling fan 20 to cool the device determined by the determination part 103. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric apparatus in which a plurality of devices are arranged on a substrate, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus such as a scanner, a printer, a copier, and a multifunction machine having these functions.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copier has been proposed in which the rotational speed of an exhaust fan is variable. As such an image forming apparatus, for example, the number of rotations of the cooling fan can be varied according to the current change of the load to be cooled, or the number of rotations of the cooling fan can be varied according to the continuous use time or the number of continuous copies. Things have been proposed.

Further, in an image forming apparatus that can set the fixing set temperature during the printing operation in two stages of a normal temperature and a high temperature, the number of rotations of the fan in the high temperature print mode is greater than the number of rotations of the fan in the normal temperature print mode. Is controlled to be higher, the exhaust capacity in the normal temperature print mode is optimized, and the generated noise is reduced (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-42710 A

  In recent years, with the space saving and speeding up of the image forming apparatus, the temperature rise of the power source or the like tends to increase, and a further cooling effect for suppressing the temperature rise is required. However, when the cooling fan is driven at a high speed in order to obtain a cooling effect, there is a problem that noise increases.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus includes a print mode for executing an image forming operation for forming an image on recording paper, a temperature of a heat roller of a fixing unit for fixing the image formed on the recording paper by stopping the image forming operation. There are a plurality of operation modes such as a standby mode for maintaining the temperature and a power saving mode for reducing the power consumption by lowering the temperature of the heat roller. The plurality of devices arranged on the substrate are different in devices that become high temperature according to these operation modes. Therefore, when the cooling fan is fixed and the substrate is uniformly cooled, it is difficult to efficiently cool a high temperature device among a plurality of devices arranged on the substrate.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide an electrical apparatus that can efficiently cool a high-temperature device among a plurality of devices arranged on a substrate. To do.

  An electrical apparatus according to the present invention is an electrical apparatus in which a plurality of devices are disposed on a substrate, and includes a cooling fan that sucks outside air and cools the plurality of devices disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of devices. Cooling device determining means for determining a device to be cooled, and wind direction adjusting means for adjusting the air direction of the cooling fan to cool the device determined by the cooling device determining means.

  According to this configuration, a device to be cooled is determined from among the plurality of devices, and the air direction of the cooling fan is adjusted to cool the determined device. It is possible to directly apply air from the cooling fan to the device, and it is possible to efficiently cool a device that is at a high temperature among a plurality of devices arranged on the substrate.

  Further, in the above-described electrical apparatus, the electronic device further includes an operation mode setting unit that sets one operation mode from a plurality of operation modes different from each other at a high temperature, and the cooling device determination unit includes the plurality of devices. It is preferable to determine the device to be cooled according to the operation mode.

  According to this configuration, one operation mode is set from a plurality of operation modes different from each other at a high temperature, and a device to be cooled is determined from the plurality of devices according to the operation mode. The device to be cooled can be determined from the plurality of devices arranged in accordance with the operation mode.

  The electric device preferably further includes a louver provided on an intake side of the cooling fan and an angle adjusting unit that adjusts an angle of opening the louver according to the operation mode.

  According to this configuration, the angle at which the louver provided on the intake side of the cooling fan is opened is adjusted according to the operation mode, so the amount of air sucked in each operation mode can be adjusted and noise can be suppressed. it can.

  Further, in the above-described electrical apparatus, the electronic device further includes a temperature measurement unit that measures the temperature of each of the plurality of devices for each device, and the cooling device determination unit is configured such that the temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit is selected from the plurality of devices. The highest device is preferably determined as the device to cool.

  According to this configuration, the temperature of the plurality of devices is measured for each device, and the device having the highest temperature among the plurality of devices is determined as the device to be cooled. Therefore, the device to be cooled is determined for each operation mode. Instead, it is possible to cool a device having a particularly high temperature, and it is possible to more efficiently cool a device having a high temperature among a plurality of devices arranged on the substrate.

  Further, in the above electric apparatus, the cooling device determining unit includes a print mode for executing an image forming operation for forming an image on recording paper, a fixing unit for stopping the image forming operation and fixing an image formed on the recording paper. The device to be cooled may be determined according to any one of a standby mode in which the temperature of the heat roller is maintained at a constant temperature and a power saving mode in which the temperature of the heat roller is reduced to reduce power consumption. preferable.

  According to this configuration, the print mode for executing the image forming operation for forming the image on the recording paper, the temperature of the heat roller of the fixing unit for fixing the image formed on the recording paper to stop the image forming operation, and to be a constant temperature. A device to be cooled is determined in accordance with any one of a standby mode to be maintained and a power saving mode in which the temperature of the heat roller is lowered and power consumption is suppressed. Therefore, since the device to be cooled is determined according to each operation mode of the print mode, the standby mode, and the power saving mode, the device that becomes high temperature in the print mode, the device that becomes high temperature in the standby mode, and the power saving mode Each of the devices that are sometimes hot can be cooled.

  Further, in the above electric apparatus, the cooling device determining unit includes a print mode for executing an image forming operation for forming an image on recording paper, a fixing unit for stopping the image forming operation and fixing an image formed on the recording paper. The device for cooling is determined according to any one of the standby mode for maintaining the temperature of the heat roller at a constant temperature and the power saving mode for reducing the temperature of the heat roller and suppressing power consumption, When the operation mode is the print mode, the angle adjusting means sets the louver to a fully open state, and when the operation mode is the standby mode, sets the louver to a half open state, and the operation mode is the power saving mode. In some cases, the louver is preferably closed.

  According to this configuration, when the operation mode is the print mode, the louver is fully open, when the operation mode is the standby mode, the louver is half open, and when the operation mode is the power saving mode, the louver is It is in a closed state. Therefore, the louver is fully opened in the print mode where higher heat is generated than in the other operation modes, so the amount of air sucked can be increased, and in the standby mode where the heat generated is lower than in the print mode, In the power saving mode in which the louver is in a half-open state and generates less heat than the other operation modes, the louver is in a closed state, so that noise can be suppressed.

  According to the present invention, a device to be cooled is determined from among the plurality of devices, and the air direction of the cooling fan is adjusted to cool the determined device. It is possible to directly apply air from the cooling fan to the device, and it is possible to efficiently cool a device that is at a high temperature among a plurality of devices arranged on the substrate.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus as an example of an electrical apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a substrate on which a plurality of devices are arranged. A plurality of devices 11 (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) are arranged on the substrate 10 shown in FIG. In addition, in this specification, when referring generically, it shows with the reference symbol which abbreviate | omitted the alphabetic suffix, and shows the reference symbol which attached | subjected the alphabetic suffix when showing an individual structure. For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 1, the shape of each device 11 is a rectangular parallelepiped shape, but the shape of all the devices 11 is not necessarily a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the shape differs depending on the type of the device 11.

  The device 11 in the present embodiment is an electronic component that generates heat, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a heater, a triac, a coil, and a transformer. In an image forming apparatus, a device that becomes high temperature varies depending on an operation mode. The operation modes in the image forming apparatus include a print mode, a standby mode, and a power saving mode.

  In the print mode, an image forming operation for forming an image on recording paper is executed. In the standby mode, the image forming operation is stopped, and the temperature of the heat roller of the fixing unit that fixes the image formed on the recording paper is kept constant. In the power saving mode, the temperature of the heat roller of the fixing unit is lowered to suppress power consumption.

  In the print mode, for example, devices such as a CPU, triac, and heater are hotter than other devices. In the standby mode, for example, devices such as a coil and a transformer are hotter than other devices. In the power saving mode, for example, A device such as a power supply circuit becomes hotter than other devices.

  On the surface side of the substrate 10 on which the plurality of devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are disposed, a cooling fan 20 that sucks outside air and cools the plurality of devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d disposed on the substrate 10. Is provided. The cooling fan 20 is disposed so as to be rotatable in a horizontal direction (direction indicated by an arrow YA in FIG. 1) with a vertical axis PA penetrating the upper surface and the lower surface as a rotation axis and penetrating the side surfaces vertically. It is arranged to be rotatable in the vertical direction (the direction indicated by the arrow YB in FIG. 1) with PB as the rotation axis. Thus, the cooling fan 20 can change the wind direction three-dimensionally by rotating in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  Although four devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are arranged on the substrate 10 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and five or more devices may be arranged. Moreover, you may arrange | position three or less devices.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the cooling mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In addition, the broken line arrow in FIG. 2 represents the flow of air. The louver 30 shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the intake side of the cooling fan 20. The louver 30 is rotatably supported with respect to a support shaft 33 fixed to the apparatus main body 31 or the outer frame 35 of the louver 30, and one end is connected to the wire 34. One end of the wire 34 is connected to a louver angle adjustment motor 120 fixed to the apparatus main body 31, and the other end is connected to a spring 32 fixed to the apparatus main body 31. The louver 30 is fixed by the balance between the force with which the louver angle adjusting motor 120 winds the wire 34 and the urging force of the spring 32.

  The louver angle adjustment motor 120 adjusts the angle at which the louver 30 is opened according to the operation mode. The louver angle adjustment motor 120 widens the opening area of the louver 30 by winding the wire 34 of the louver 30 and narrows the opening area of the louver 30 by rewinding the wire 34.

  A wind direction adjusting motor 130 and a rotation speed adjusting motor 140 are connected to the cooling fan 20. The wind direction adjusting motor 130 adjusts the angle of the cooling fan 20 by rotating the cooling fan 20 in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and changes the direction of the wind sent from the cooling fan 20. The rotation speed adjustment motor 140 adjusts the rotation speed of the cooling fan 20 according to the operation mode.

  The outer frame 35 of the louver 30 and the cooling fan 20 are connected by a bellows-shaped duct 40, and the shape of the duct 40 changes as the angle of the cooling fan 20 changes. The air taken in by the louver 30 passes through the duct 40 and is sucked by the cooling fan 20. And by adjusting the angle which opens the louver 30, the air volume which the cooling fan 20 takes in can be adjusted, and noise can be suppressed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3 includes a control unit 100, an operation unit 110, a louver angle adjustment motor 120, a wind direction adjustment motor 130, a rotation speed adjustment motor 140, and a temperature sensor 150. In FIG. 3, the same components as those in FIG. The operation unit 110 receives various input instructions from the user such as a print start instruction for starting printing (image forming operation).

  The control unit 100 includes a CPU, a ROM (read only memory) in which program data is recorded, a RAM (random access memory) used as a work area of the CPU, and the like, and controls the entire image forming apparatus. The control unit 100 executes program data stored in advance, thereby operating mode setting unit 101, cooling device storage unit 102, cooling device determination unit 103, fan angle storage unit 104, wind direction adjustment unit 105, and rotation speed adjustment. Functions as the unit 106, the louver angle storage unit 107, and the louver angle adjustment unit 108.

  The operation mode setting unit 101 sets the operation mode of the image forming apparatus. As described above, in this embodiment, there are three operation modes: the print mode, the standby mode, and the power saving mode. The operation mode setting unit 101 sets any one of a print mode, a standby mode, and a power saving mode. The operation mode setting unit 101 sets the operation mode to the print mode when a print start instruction is received by the operation unit 110. Also, the operation mode setting unit 101 sets the operation mode to the standby mode when printing is completed. Furthermore, the operation mode setting unit 101 sets the operation mode to the power saving mode when a predetermined time elapses after the standby mode is set. In the present embodiment, the time from the standby mode to the power saving mode is set in advance, and may be set by the user using the operation unit 110. Further, a mode change switch may be provided in the operation unit 110 so that when the user presses the mode change switch, the standby mode is switched to the power saving mode.

  The cooling device storage unit 102 stores an operation mode and a device to be cooled in association with each other in advance. The cooling device determination unit 103 determines a device to be cooled from a plurality of devices according to the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101. Of the plurality of devices on the substrate 10, a device that is at a high temperature is known in advance for each operation mode by experiments or the like. For this reason, if the operation mode is set, the device to be cooled is naturally determined. The cooling device determination unit 103 reads a device corresponding to the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101 from the cooling device storage unit 102, thereby determining a device to be cooled from a plurality of devices.

  The temperature sensor 150 is provided in each device 11 and measures the temperature of the device 11. The cooling device determination unit 103 has a temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature regardless of the device determined according to the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101. Determine the device as the device to cool.

  The fan angle storage unit 104 stores each device disposed on the substrate 10 and the rotation angle of the cooling fan 20 in the horizontal direction and the rotation angle in the vertical direction in association with each other. The air direction adjusting unit 105 adjusts the air direction of the cooling fan 20 to cool the device determined by the cooling device determining unit 103. That is, the airflow direction adjustment unit 105 reads the rotation angle in the horizontal direction and the rotation angle in the vertical direction of the cooling fan 20 associated with the device determined by the cooling device determination unit 103 from the fan angle storage unit 104, The rotation drive amount according to the read horizontal rotation angle and the rotation drive amount according to the vertical rotation angle are output to the wind direction adjusting motor 130.

  The rotation speed adjustment unit 106 adjusts the rotation speed of the cooling fan 20 according to the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101. As described above, the operation modes in the present embodiment include a print mode, a standby mode, and a power saving mode. When the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101 is the print mode, the rotation speed adjustment unit 106 determines the rotation speed of the cooling fan 20 as a first rotation speed that is faster than the rotation speed in the other modes. When the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101 is the standby mode, the rotation speed of the cooling fan 20 is determined to be a second rotation speed lower than the rotation speed in the print mode, and the operation mode setting unit 101 When the set operation mode is the power saving mode, the rotation speed of the cooling fan 20 is determined to be a third rotation speed that is slower than the rotation speed in the standby mode. The rotation speed adjustment unit 106 outputs the rotation speed of the cooling fan 20 determined according to the operation mode to the rotation speed adjustment motor 140. The rotation speed adjustment motor 140 drives the cooling fan 20 to rotate at the rotation speed output by the rotation speed adjustment unit 106.

  The louver angle storage unit 107 stores each operation mode in association with the angle at which the louver 30 is opened. In the present embodiment, the angle of the louver 30 can be adjusted in three stages according to the operation mode. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining an angle at which the louver is opened. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state of the louver in the print mode, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a state of the louver in the standby mode. (C) is a figure which shows the state of the louver at the time of a power saving mode. In addition, the broken-line arrow in FIG. 4 represents the flow of air.

  In the print mode, the temperature of the device on the substrate 10 is higher than that in the other modes, so it is necessary to increase the amount of air sucked from the louver 30. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, the angle of the louver 30 in the print mode is perpendicular (90 degrees) to the short direction of the substrate 10 (fully open state), and is parallel to the direction of the wind that is taken in. Adjusted to be.

  In the standby mode, since the temperature of the device on the substrate 10 is lower than that in the print mode, the air volume sucked from the louver 30 may be reduced as compared with that in the print mode. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the angle of the louver 30 in the standby mode is perpendicular (45 degrees) to the short direction of the substrate 10 (half-open state), and with respect to the direction of the wind that is taken in It is adjusted to be 45 degrees.

  Further, in the power saving mode, the temperature of the device on the substrate 10 is lower than that in the other modes, so that the air volume sucked from the louver 30 may be eliminated and only the cooling fan 20 may be driven. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4C, the angle of the louver 30 in the power saving mode is an angle at which the louver 30 is closed, and is substantially parallel (approximately 0 degrees) to the short direction of the substrate 10 (closed). State), and adjusted so as to be substantially perpendicular to the direction of the wind that is taken in.

  The louver angle adjustment unit 108 adjusts the angle of the louver 30 according to the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101. The louver angle adjustment unit 108 reads out the angle of the louver 30 associated with the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101 from the louver angle storage unit 107, and sets the drive amount for opening the louver 30 at the read angle. Output to the louver angle adjustment motor 120. The louver angle adjustment motor 120 adjusts the angle of the louver 30 by winding or rewinding the wire 34 based on the driving amount output by the louver angle adjustment unit 108.

  Next, the operation of the control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the control unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  First, in step S1, the operation mode setting unit 101 sets one of the print mode, the standby mode, and the power saving mode. Next, in step S2, the cooling device determination unit 103 reads out a device corresponding to the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101 from the cooling device storage unit 102, and determines the read device as a device to be cooled.

  Next, in step S <b> 3, the temperature sensor 150 measures the temperature of the device and outputs the measured temperature to the cooling device determination unit 103. A plurality of devices are arranged on the substrate 10, and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 provided in each device is output to the cooling device determination unit 103.

  Next, in step S <b> 4, the cooling device determination unit 103 determines whether there is a device having a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature among the devices measured by the temperature sensor 150. Here, when it is determined that there is a device having a temperature equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature (YES in step S4), in step S5, the cooling device determining unit 103 has already determined the device having the highest temperature among the devices having the predetermined temperature or higher. It is determined whether or not the same cooling device.

  Here, the device having the highest temperature among the devices having the predetermined temperature or higher is not the same device as the cooling device that has already been determined, that is, the device having the temperature that is higher than the predetermined temperature and that has the highest temperature, and the cooling that has already been determined. When it is determined that the device is a different device (NO in step S5), in step S6, the cooling device determination unit 103 determines that the device is not the device determined according to the operation mode, but is the most of the devices having a predetermined temperature or higher. A device having a high temperature is determined as a device to be cooled.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no device above the predetermined temperature (NO in step S4), or the device having the highest temperature among the devices above the predetermined temperature is the same device as the cooling device that has already been determined, That is, when it is determined that the device having a temperature equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature and having the highest temperature and the already determined cooling device are the same device (YES in step S5), in step S7, the wind direction adjusting unit 105 The rotation angle in the horizontal direction and the rotation angle in the vertical direction of the cooling fan 20 associated with the device determined by the cooling device determination unit 103 are read from the fan angle storage unit 104, and the read rotation angle in the horizontal direction is read out. The rotational drive amount corresponding to the rotational angle and the rotational drive amount corresponding to the rotational angle in the vertical direction are output to the wind direction adjusting motor 130.

  Then, the wind direction adjusting motor 130 drives the cooling fan 20 to rotate in the horizontal direction based on the horizontal driving amount of the cooling fan 20 output by the wind direction adjusting unit 105, and is also output by the wind direction adjusting unit 105. The cooling fan 20 is rotationally driven in the vertical direction based on the rotational drive amount of the cooling fan 20 in the vertical direction. In this way, it is possible to directly apply the exhaust air from the cooling fan 20 to a device that is at a high temperature among a plurality of devices on the substrate 10.

  Next, in step S8, the louver angle adjustment unit 108 reads out the angle of the louver 30 associated with the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101 from the louver angle storage unit 107, and uses the read angle as the louver 30. Is output to the louver angle adjustment motor 120. Louver angle adjustment motor 120 drives louver 30 based on the drive amount output by louver angle adjustment unit 108. In this manner, the angle at which the louver 30 is opened can be adjusted according to the operation mode.

  Next, in step S9, the rotation speed adjustment unit 106 determines the rotation speed of the cooling fan 20 according to the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101, and adjusts the determined rotation speed of the cooling fan 20 to the rotation speed. Output to the motor 140. The rotation speed adjustment motor 140 rotates the cooling fan 20 at the rotation speed output by the rotation speed adjustment unit 106.

  In addition, although the rotational speed adjustment part 106 in this Embodiment has set the rotational speed of the cooling fan 20 in three steps according to the operation mode, this invention is not specifically limited to this, For example, the cooling fan 20 May be set in two stages: full speed for rotating at a normal rotational speed and half speed for rotating at half the normal rotational speed. In this case, for example, if the operation mode is the print mode, the cooling fan 20 is rotated at full speed, and if the operation mode is the standby mode, the cooling fan 20 is rotated at half speed, and the operation mode is the power saving mode. For example, the cooling fan 20 is rotated at half speed.

  In this manner, a device to be cooled is determined from among the plurality of devices, and the air direction of the cooling fan 20 is adjusted to cool the determined device, so that the high temperature of the plurality of devices arranged on the substrate 10 is increased. It is possible to directly apply the air from the cooling fan 20 to the device to be formed, and it is possible to efficiently cool a device that is at a high temperature among a plurality of devices arranged on the substrate 10.

  In addition, one operation mode is set from a plurality of operation modes that are different from each other at a high temperature, and a device to be cooled is determined from the plurality of devices according to the operation mode. A device to be cooled from the plurality of devices can be determined according to the operation mode.

  In addition, since the opening angle of the louver 30 provided on the intake side of the cooling fan 20 is adjusted according to the operation mode, the amount of air sucked in each operation mode can be adjusted, and noise can be suppressed. In addition, when the louver 30 is provided on the exhaust side of the cooling fan 20 and the direction of the wind is changed, the wind hits the louver 30, so that there is a possibility that a loss of air volume may occur. However, in the present embodiment, since the louver 30 is provided on the intake side of the cooling fan 20, the device can be efficiently cooled without impairing the air volume even if the angle of the cooling fan 20 is changed.

  Also, the temperature of multiple devices is measured for each device, and the device whose measured temperature is equal to or higher than the preset temperature is determined as the device to be cooled, so the device to be cooled is determined for each operation mode. Instead of this, a device having a particularly high temperature can be cooled, and a device having a high temperature among a plurality of devices arranged on the substrate 10 can be more efficiently cooled.

  Further, a print mode for executing an image forming operation for forming an image on recording paper, a standby mode for stopping the image forming operation and fixing the temperature of the heat roller of the fixing unit for fixing the image formed on the recording paper at a constant temperature, The device to be cooled is determined in accordance with any one of the power saving modes in which the temperature of the heat roller is lowered and the power consumption is suppressed. Therefore, since the device to be cooled is determined according to each operation mode of the print mode, the standby mode, and the power saving mode, the device that becomes high temperature in the print mode, the device that becomes high temperature in the standby mode, and the power saving mode Each of the devices that are sometimes hot can be cooled.

  Furthermore, when the operation mode is the print mode, the louver 30 is fully opened, when the operation mode is the standby mode, the louver 30 is half open, and when the operation mode is the power saving mode, the louver 30 is It is in a closed state. Accordingly, the louver 30 is fully opened in the print mode in which higher heat is generated than in other operation modes, so that the amount of air to be sucked can be increased, and in the standby mode in which the heat generated is lower than in the print mode. In the power saving mode in which the louver 30 is in a half-open state and generates less heat than in other operation modes, the louver 30 is in a closed state, so that noise can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the louver 30 is fixed and the angle of the cooling fan 20 is changed. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the louver 30 is fixed to the cooling fan 20 so that the cooling fan 20 and the louver are fixed. You may change the angle with 30 simultaneously.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus is described as an example of an electrical device. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and a plurality of devices 11 are arranged on the substrate 10, depending on the operation mode. As long as the high temperature device 11 is a different electrical device, it may be another electrical device other than the image forming apparatus.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the cooling device determination unit 103 determines whether the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature set in advance, according to the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101. Although not the determined device, a device whose temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature is determined as a cooling device, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this. The cooling device determination unit 103 may determine a device having the highest temperature measured by the temperature sensor 150 as a device to be cooled without determining a device according to the operation mode set by the operation mode setting unit 101. Good.

  In this case, the temperature of a plurality of devices is measured for each device, and the device having the highest temperature among the plurality of devices is determined as the device to be cooled, so the device to be cooled is not determined for each operation mode. In particular, a device having a high temperature can be cooled, and a device having a high temperature among a plurality of devices arranged on the substrate 10 can be more efficiently cooled.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the temperature sensor 150 is provided for each device. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and cooling is performed according to only the operation mode without providing the temperature sensor 150 for each device. A device may be determined.

It is a figure which shows an example of the board | substrate with which the some device is arrange | positioned. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a cooling mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the angle which opens a louver. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an operation of a control unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Board | substrate 11 Device 20 Cooling fan 30 Louver 100 Control part 101 Operation mode setting part 102 Cooling device memory | storage part 103 Cooling device determination part 104 Fan angle memory | storage part 105 Wind direction adjustment part 106 Rotational speed adjustment part 107 Louver angle memory | storage part 108 Louver angle adjustment Unit 110 Operation unit 120 Louver angle adjustment motor 130 Wind direction adjustment motor 140 Rotational speed adjustment motor 150 Temperature sensor

Claims (6)

An electrical apparatus in which a plurality of devices are arranged on a substrate,
A cooling fan that sucks outside air and cools a plurality of devices arranged on the substrate;
Cooling device determining means for determining a device to be cooled from a plurality of devices;
An electrical apparatus comprising: a wind direction adjusting unit that adjusts a wind direction of the cooling fan to cool the device determined by the cooling device determining unit. An operation mode setting means for setting one operation mode from a plurality of operation modes different from each other at a high temperature;
2. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device determination unit determines a device to be cooled from a plurality of devices according to an operation mode. A louver provided on the intake side of the cooling fan;
The electrical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an angle adjusting unit that adjusts an angle at which the louver is opened according to the operation mode. Temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of each of the plurality of devices for each device;
2. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device determination unit determines a device having the highest temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit from among a plurality of devices as a device to be cooled.   The cooling device determining means is a print mode for executing an image forming operation for forming an image on recording paper, a temperature of a heat roller of a fixing unit for stopping the image forming operation and fixing the image formed on the recording paper at a constant temperature. The device to be cooled is determined according to any one of a standby mode to be maintained and a power saving mode to reduce power consumption by reducing the temperature of the heat roller. Electrical equipment. The cooling device determining means is a print mode for executing an image forming operation for forming an image on recording paper, a temperature of a heat roller of a fixing unit for stopping the image forming operation and fixing the image formed on the recording paper at a constant temperature. A standby mode to be maintained, and a power-saving mode for reducing power consumption by reducing the temperature of the heat roller, and determining a device to be cooled,
When the operation mode is the print mode, the angle adjusting means sets the louver to a fully open state, and when the operation mode is the standby mode, sets the louver to a half open state, and the operation mode is the power saving mode. The electrical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the louver is in a closed state.

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