JP2007025654A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain structure capable of preventing heat or the like generated in a fixing part from affecting an image forming part after installing an image forming apparatus designed such that the image forming part and the fixing part can be separated for the convenience of transfer or installation of the image forming apparatus using its separating structure. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming part frame body (first accommodating body) 40 for accommodating the image forming part; a fixing part frame body (second accommodating body) 30 for accommodating the fixing part and an exhaust duct portion is integrally formed on a connecting part of both frame bodies 40, 30 only after connection. When an exhaust fan 31 operates, an air current is generated by sucking the internal air of the image forming part frame body 40 and the fixing part frame body 30 and components such as toner particles generated in the image forming part, the heat generated in the fixing part which should be exhausted are exhausted to the outside of the apparatus. In addition, the air in the image forming part frame body 40 is supplied to the exhaust duct portion as cooling air by a suction fan 21 provided to a conveying mechanism 20 accommodated on the side of the image forming part frame body 40 and a fixing device 13, etc. is cooled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a full-color copying machine or printer that employs an electrophotographic system.

  In general, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process includes an image forming station that obtains a visible image by visualizing a latent image formed using light, magnetism, electric charge, and the like, and sends the image to the image forming station. The visible image is transferred to the recording sheet. FIG. 7 shows an example of a color image forming apparatus. In this case, a structure is shown in which each of the four image forming stations Pa to Pd includes photosensitive drums 1a to 1d as image carriers. Around the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, there are exposed units 2a to 2d, developing units 3a to 3d, primary transfer units 4a to 4d each composed of a roller pair with the drum, and cleaning units 5a to 5d along the drum rotation direction. Has been placed. Further, an intermediate transfer belt 6 made of an endless flat belt is wound around a plurality of rollers below the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, and a drive source motor (not shown) is used with one roller 7 as a drive motor. ) Is input. Around the intermediate transfer belt 6, a registration detection sensor 8, a secondary transfer unit including a pair of rollers 9 and 11, an intermediate transfer cleaning unit 10, and the like are arranged along the belt traveling direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing. .

  With this configuration, a color image is formed as follows. First, in the exposure part 2a of the first image forming station Pa, a latent image of the yellow (Y) component color of the original image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1a by electrophotographic means, and then Y toner is applied in the developing part 3a. The latent image is converted into a visible image with the developer. In the primary transfer unit 4 a, the visible Y color toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6. While the Y-color toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6, the second image forming station Pb similarly forms a magenta (M) component color latent image on the photosensitive drum 1b, and then the developing unit. In 3b, a magenta toner image with M color toner is obtained. Then, when the intermediate transfer belt 6 that has finished transferring the Y color toner image at the first image forming station Pa moves to the primary transfer portion 4b of the second image forming station Pb, the Y color toner image is transferred. The M color toner image is transferred to a predetermined position on the intermediate transfer belt 6.

  Thereafter, image formation is performed in the same procedure for cyan (C) and black (Bk) colors. When the superposition of the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is completed, the intermediate transfer belt 6 further moves to reach the secondary transfer portions 9 and 11 and is transferred onto the sheet as the recording material that has been sent. Are transferred at once. The sheet onto which the toner images formed by the image forming unit as described above are transferred is sent to the transport mechanism 20. In the transport mechanism 20, a sheet is placed on a transport belt having a plurality of through suction holes, sucked by a suction fan, and sent to the fixing unit 13 while being sucked and held on the belt. The fixing unit 13 is pressurized and heated by a pair of fixing rollers and an internal heater to fix the toner image on the sheet. After the fixing process, the sheet is discharged out of the apparatus main body.

  Incidentally, in recent years, in the field of the color image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  In order to realize such high-speed and high-quality image output, it is possible to increase the toner fixing ability to the recording sheet. By installing a plurality of fixing devices in the sheet conveyance path, the fixing nip is sequentially passed. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the fixing ability by improving the fixing performance (see Patent Document 1) and increasing the size of the fixing device.

  If the fixing unit itself is increased in size by improving the fixing capability in this way, the configuration in which the image forming unit and the fixing unit are accommodated in one container greatly affects the transportation situation. For example, the fixing unit is carried into an elevator. There are situations where it is impossible. In view of this, a structure has been proposed in which an image forming unit having an image forming station and the like and a fixing unit including a fixing device can be separated (see Patent Document 2).

  Even in such a configuration, heat is conducted from the fixing device housing side toward the image forming housing side. In order to prevent heat conduction, conventionally, a configuration in which an air duct is provided between a fixing unit and an image forming unit is known (see Patent Document 3).

JP-A-6-258970 JP 2001-183959 A JP 2003-280414 A

  However, in the case where the fixing container and the image forming container are separate from each other, if such an air duct is newly provided inside either the fixing container or the image forming container, the number of parts increases. Problems arise.

  In addition, by configuring the fixing container as a heat source separately, an effect of separating the heat source can be obtained. However, since heat is conducted through a fastening part where the fixing container and the image forming container are fastened, the fastening part Problems such as toner fusion occur in image forming means arranged in the vicinity.

  An object of the present invention is an image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit and a fixing unit can be separated for the convenience of airframe transportation and installation, and the separation unit is used to generate the fixing unit during the operation of the machine after installation. The purpose is to prevent the image forming part from being affected by the heat generated.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is formed by an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a recording material, a first container that stores the image forming unit, and the image forming unit. A fixing unit that fixes an image on the recording material, and a second container that accommodates the fixing unit and is attached to the outside of the first container, the first container and the second container. And a recording material on which an image is formed is conveyed from the first container to the second container, and the image is fixed, and is used for guiding air to the outside by a fan. It has an air passage formed between the first container and the second container by coupling the first container and the second container.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, there is an image forming apparatus in which the image forming unit and the fixing unit can be separated for the convenience of transportation and installation of the machine, and the machine is in operation after installation using the separation structure. It is possible to prevent the image forming unit from being affected by heat generated in the fixing unit.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components common to the members shown in FIG. 7 of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be avoided, so that differences from the conventional example will be clarified.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the color electrophotographic copying apparatus according to the present embodiment includes four image forming stations Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd. Each of these image forming stations Pa to Pd has a photosensitive drum as an image carrier. 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d are arranged. Around each of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, exposure units 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, which are image exposure units that expose an image on the photosensitive drum charged by the charging unit along the rotation direction, and the photosensitive drums Development units 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d, which are developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image, primary transfer units 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d that transfer the toner image on the photosensitive drum to the intermediate transfer member, and cleaning. Parts 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are arranged. Further, an intermediate transfer belt 6 made of an endless flat belt is wound around a plurality of rollers below the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, and a drive source motor (not shown) is used with one roller 7 as a drive motor. ) Is input. Around the intermediate transfer belt 6, a registration detection sensor 8, a secondary transfer unit 9 including a pair of rollers 9 and 11, an intermediate transfer cleaning unit 10, and the like are arranged along the belt traveling direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing. Yes.

  That is, in the exposure unit 2a of the first image forming station Pa, after forming a yellow (Y) component color latent image of the original image on the photosensitive drum 1a by electrophotographic means, the developing unit 3a applies Y color toner. The latent image is converted into a visible image with the developer. In the intermediate transfer belt 6 that is driven to run by the drive roller 7 or the like, a Y toner image that is visualized in the primary transfer portion 4a is transferred to the belt surface. While the Y toner image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6, the second image forming station Pb similarly forms a magenta (M) component color latent image on the photosensitive drum 1b, and then develops it. A magenta toner image using M toner is obtained at the portion 3b. Then, when the intermediate transfer belt 6 that has finished transferring the Y color toner image at the first image forming station Pa moves to the primary transfer portion 4b of the second image forming station Pb, the Y color toner image is transferred. The M color toner image is transferred to a predetermined position on the intermediate transfer belt 6. Thereafter, images are formed in the same procedure for cyan (C) and black (Bk) colors, and when the four color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 6, the intermediate transfer belt 6 further moves. Then, the secondary transfer unit 9 performs batch transfer onto the sheet on the recording material.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the sheet on which the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 6 are collectively transferred in the secondary transfer unit 9 is sent to the conveyance mechanism 20, on the conveyance belt 12 having a large number of through holes. And is sucked and sucked by an electric suction fan (suction means) 21 and conveyed to the downstream fixing unit 13. The sheet is fixed by the fixing unit 13 including a pair of rollers, whereby a multicolor (full color) image is obtained.

  Here, the image forming unit including the image forming stations Pa to Pd and the like is stored in an image forming unit frame 40 that is a first container, and is a second container separate from the image forming unit frame 40. A fixing unit frame 30 accommodates a fixing unit 13 as an image heating unit, a second fixing unit 34 to be described later, and the like. Both frame bodies 30 and 40 are housings formed of a framed prismatic pipe P, a thin steel plate serving as a side plate, or the like. When the fixing unit frame 30 is positioned and set, the fixing unit frame 30 is assembled by pin coupling or the like using pins provided outside the image forming unit frame 40 serving as an attachment reference. The image forming unit frame 40 and the fixing unit frame 30 can be moved independently of each other.

  When an image is to be output with high image quality, the sheet is passed through the nip portion of the second fixing unit 34 accommodated in the fixing unit frame 30 to improve the fixability of the toner on the sheet. Can be achieved. The sheet that has undergone the fixing process in the second fixing unit 34 is sent to the paper discharge unit and discharged.

  Further, in the fixing unit frame 30, an exhaust fan (exhaust means) 31 using an axial flow type electric fan is disposed on the upper portion, and extends to the exhaust fan 31 so that the exhaust duct portion is connected to the side plate 32 of the fixing unit frame and the frame. It is formed using the body top plate 33. The exhaust duct unit exhausts heat generated from the fixing units 13 and 34 to the outside of the apparatus main body, and also circulates and exhausts toner fine particles floating in the internal air sucked from the image forming unit frame 40 side. Therefore, preferably, a dustproof filter for removing such toner fine particles and dust is provided in the exhaust duct portion on the upstream side of the exhaust fan 31.

  Here, the exterior of the fixing unit frame 30 and the image forming unit frame 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A shows a state before the fixing unit frame 30 and the image forming unit frame 40 are connected to each other. FIG. 2B shows a state where the fixing unit frame 30 and the image forming unit frame 40 are connected. The state after connecting is shown. Reference numerals 401 and 402 in the drawing denote first air passage forming members for forming air passages. In the present embodiment, a pipe is used as the first air path forming member, and the first air path forming member projects from the side plate 403 of the image forming unit frame 40. Moreover, the code | symbol 301,302 in the figure shows the 2nd air path formation member for forming an air path. In the present embodiment, a pipe is used as the second air path forming member and protrudes from the side plate 303 of the fixing unit frame 30. As shown in FIG. 2B, the fixing unit frame 30 and the image forming unit frame 40 are coupled to each other, so that a space is formed between the side plate 303 and the side plate 403, and this is an air path in the present invention.

  FIG. 3 shows a wind flow using the air path. The air in the air path is sucked and discharged by the fan provided in the fixing unit frame 30.

  As described above, an appropriate gap is provided between the side plates (connecting portions) to be a portion where the fixing unit frame 30 and the image forming unit frame 40 are joined to each other, and the air path (duct space) in which the airflow flows. ). The space duct between the side plates and the exhaust duct reaching the exhaust fan 31 are combined and communicated to form an “exhaust duct portion” that communicates from the image forming unit frame 40 to the fixing unit frame 30. . Therefore, the exhaust duct portion is formed by combining the side plates of both frame bodies only when the image forming unit frame body 40 and the fixing unit frame body 30 are connected and joined. That is, in this embodiment, the position of each side plate on the side where the fixing unit frame and the image forming unit frame face each other is recessed from the portion where the fixing unit frame and the image forming unit frame are coupled. It is arranged at the position.

  FIG. 4 is a view of the image forming apparatus as viewed from the front. Reference numeral 401 (402) indicates the front (front) and rear side edge portions of the image forming unit frame, and reference numeral 301 (302) indicates the fixing unit. The edge part of the side plate of the front (front surface) and rear surface of a frame is shown. Reference numeral 50 denotes a connecting portion between the side plates of the front surface and the rear surface. Then, when the image forming unit frame and the fixing unit frame are coupled, the opposing surfaces, that is, the positions of the side plate 403 and the side plate 303 are positioned on opposite sides of the coupling unit. A space serving as an air passage is formed. In the present embodiment, the side plates of the respective frames that form the air passages are configured to be located on opposite sides of the facing direction from the coupling portion, but any one of the frames is configured in this way. Even so, it is possible to form a space as a wind path.

  By the way, when such an exhaust duct part is formed by combining, if a slight gap is generated at the joint between the image forming part frame 40 and the fixing part frame 30, the degree of sealing of the exhaust duct part is reduced and the exhaust part is exhausted. The suction function by the fan 31 may be lowered. In order to prevent this, a sealing member made of a stretchable foam material is sandwiched between both frame members in the joint portion to improve the sealing property, and the generated heat can be effectively exhausted. In addition, in order for hot air generated in the fixing unit frame 30 to rise and be effectively discharged outside the apparatus main body, the exhaust fan 31 is mounted on the top plate 33 on the fixing unit frame 30 side as in this embodiment. It is more effective to attach to the image forming unit frame 40 than to install it on the image forming unit frame 40 side.

  On the other hand, as is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, the transport mechanism 20 is provided on the downstream side of the secondary transfer section including the roller pairs 9 and 11 in the image forming section frame body 40, and the end of the transport belt 12 is arranged at the end. The fixing unit frame 30 is arranged so as to protrude into the fixing unit frame 30. In addition, two sirocco fans, for example, are used as the suction fans 21 provided in the transport mechanism 20, and fan ducts (cooling air supply ducts) extending upward in the drawing perpendicular to the sheet transport direction on the sirocco fan exhaust side. 22 is provided. The outlet side exhaust port of the fan duct 22 is provided so as to be located outside the sheet conveyance region, and is directed to communicate the exhaust direction with the exhaust duct unit.

  FIG. 6 is a view as seen from the direction in which the recording material is conveyed. As shown in FIG. 6, since the conveyance mechanism 20 passes through both the prisms across the image forming unit frame 40 and the fixing unit frame 30, both frames have openings. Therefore, the exhaust port of the fan duct 22 extending from the transport mechanism 20 and the intake port of the exhaust duct unit shared by the image forming unit frame 40 and the fixing unit frame 30 are not directly connected to the duct. Further, by providing the exhaust duct opening in the entire region in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, an air flow flows so as to wrap the conveying mechanism 20, and the image forming unit frame 40 and the fixing unit frame 30 are provided. An air curtain is generated in the opening existing in the. This air curtain can block and prevent heat from being transmitted from the opening. The condition is that the air volume (exhaust volume from the exhaust side) of the suction fan 21 is smaller than the air volume (intake volume) of the exhaust fan 31 disposed on the upper part of the fixing unit frame 30. If the air volume of the suction fan 21 of the transport mechanism 20 is larger than the air volume of the exhaust fan 31 on the fixing unit frame 30 side, the air current is disturbed in the upper part of the transport mechanism 20 to disturb the toner image transferred to the sheet This is because there is a problem in that the temperature of the image forming unit is raised by drawing in the heated airflow to the image forming unit frame 40 side.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, in the flow of airflow in both the image forming unit frame body 40 and the fixing unit frame body 30, the transport mechanism 20 is sucked by the suction fan 21 provided therein. It is arranged at a position away from the fixing unit 13 so that the internal air of the image forming unit frame 40 having a low temperature can be pulled in by the air flow generated in step. Since various motors mounted on the image forming unit frame 40 are also heat sources, measures for raising the temperature of the image forming unit using such heat sources are provided with a duct in the front-rear direction between the image forming stations. Each of the axial fans is arranged on the exhaust side to take in the outside air outside the apparatus main body from the intake port and generate an air flow that is exhausted out of the apparatus body from the exhaust port. This temperature is sufficiently lower than the temperature inside the fixing unit frame 30.

  The air in the image forming unit frame 40 sucked by the suction fan 21 of the conveying mechanism 20 is carried to the outside of the sheet conveying region through the fan duct 22, and between the image forming unit frame 40 and the fixing unit frame 30. The air is exhausted from above the exhaust duct. At that time, the air sucked from the inside of the image forming unit frame 40 is used as cooling air to be blown to the fixing unit 13 and the side plates of the frame 30 and the prismatic pipe frame P to cool the air, and to the upper part of the fixing unit frame 30. Carry it out of the main body.

  Further, this air flow is provided between the fixing device and the image forming unit frame, so that it is possible to further reduce the heat of the fixing unit toward the image forming unit frame.

  With such a duct configuration, it is possible to effectively prevent the image forming unit in the image forming unit frame 30 from being heated without being affected by the heat generated in the fixing unit 13 or the like, thereby causing image degradation. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of realizing stable image output without any problem. Further, the fixing means accommodated in the fixing unit frame 30 can be constituted by only one fixing unit 13, and even in that case, one fixing unit 13 is not arranged in the image forming unit frame 30. By providing in the fixing unit frame 30, the image forming unit in the image forming unit frame 40 can be prevented from being affected by the heat generated from the fixing unit 13. Further, if a plurality of fixing units 13 are provided in order to achieve high-quality and high-speed image output, the thermal effect will be so great that all fixing units can be accommodated in the fixing unit frame 30. Is particularly effective. Further, in the configuration in which a plurality of fixing devices are provided, one fixing device is provided in the image forming frame, and even if the one fixing device is used as the fixing frame, the image heating frame is changed to the image forming frame. This heat transfer can be prevented by the present invention. In this embodiment, the recording material conveying unit is disposed on the image forming apparatus frame. However, the recording material conveying unit may be disposed on the image heating frame side.

  Therefore, the present embodiment can be summarized as follows. (1) The radiant heat generated from the fixing unit 13 can be efficiently exhausted to the outside of the apparatus main body, and by suppressing the temperature rise of the image forming unit, the occurrence of fused toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum is prevented. can do. (2) By suppressing the temperature rise in the image forming unit, the toner fluidity of the developing unit and the cleaning unit can be ensured, and toner melting and fixing can be prevented. (3) The exhaust path of the suction fan provided in the conveyance mechanism 20 that feeds the sheet as the recording material, in this case the transfer material sheet, to the fixing unit 13 is clarified, and the diffusion of the air current in the apparatus main body can be prevented Therefore, it is possible to prevent the internal temperature of the apparatus main body from rising and to prevent image deterioration due to the fused toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the technical idea of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views showing before and after the fixing unit frame and the image forming unit frame are coupled. A perspective view showing a state after the fixing unit frame and the image forming unit frame are combined. Sectional drawing which shows the exhaust duct part of this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the exhaust duct part of this embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the exhaust duct part of this embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Photosensitive drum (imaging part)
6 Intermediate transfer belt 9, 11 Secondary transfer unit 13 Fixing unit 20 Conveying mechanism 12 Conveying belt 21 Suction fan (suction means)
22 Fan duct (cooling air supply duct)
30 fixing unit frame (second container)
31 Exhaust fan (exhaust means)
32 Side plate for exhaust duct portion formation 33 Top plate for exhaust duct portion formation 34 Second fixing portion 40 Image forming portion frame (first container)

Claims (6)

Image forming means for forming a toner image on the recording material;
A first container for housing the image forming means;
Fixing means for fixing an image on the recording material formed by the image forming means;
A second container that houses the fixing means and is attached to the outside of the first container;
Have
In the image forming apparatus in which the first storage body and the second storage body are coupled, the recording material on which an image is formed is conveyed from the first storage body to the second storage body, and the image is fixed.
It has an air passage formed between the first container and the second container by coupling the first container and the second container for guiding the air to the outside by a fan. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air passage is an air passage that leads to an exhaust air passage provided in the second container, and the fan is a fan provided in the exhaust air passage. apparatus.   It has a conveying means for conveying a recording material from the first container to the second container, and a suction fan for sucking the recording material to the conveying means, and the fan is the suction fan. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The air passage is an air passage that leads to an exhaust air passage provided in the second housing body, and a recording material is provided from the first housing body to the second housing body and a first fan provided in the exhaust air passage. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transport unit that transports the recording medium and a second fan that sucks the recording material into the transport unit. 5.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coupling portion between the first container and the second container is coupled via a sealing member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is a foamable material that can be elastically expanded and contracted.

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