JP2007065105A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can be miniaturized and made compact and is easy to safely conduct maintenance or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises an image forming part 100 and an image reading part 200. The image reading part 200 is arranged upward of the upper part of the image forming part 100 so as to cover the image forming part 100. The image forming part 100 has a heating part 7 in the inside of the upper part; an exhaust part 302 positioned between the image forming part 100 and the image reading part 200 and for exhausting heat caused in a heating part 7 is provided; the image reading part 200 is connected to the image forming part 100 which can perform back and forth rotation between a closed position positioned upward of the image forming part and an open position for releasing the upper part of the image forming part; and the image forming part 100 has an openable and closable cover C on the upper part of the image forming part, and the exhaust part 302 is provided in the image reading part 200. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes an image forming apparatus, in particular, an image forming unit and an image reading unit, and the image reading unit is disposed above an upper portion of the image forming unit so as to cover the image forming unit. The forming portion relates to an image forming apparatus having a heat generating portion inside the upper portion.

  A general image forming apparatus of this type is one in which an image forming unit can perform image formation by an electrophotographic method, and the image forming unit can form a monochrome image or a color image. (Typically capable of forming a full-color image).

  Also, an image forming unit (printer unit) that forms an image by electrophotography generally has a fixing device for fixing the toner image on a recording medium on which the toner image is formed. Such a fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium under heat and pressure, and thus serves as a heat generating portion.

  An image forming unit and an image reading unit, and the image reading unit is disposed above the image forming unit so as to cover the image forming unit, and the image forming unit is disposed on the inner side of the upper part. FIG. 5 shows an example of the image forming apparatus having the above.

The image forming apparatus in FIG. 5 is an image apparatus having a copying function, and an image reading unit B that reads an image from a document is fixedly disposed above the image forming unit A that performs image formation. The image forming unit A forms an image based on the document image information read by the image reading unit B. The reason why the image reading unit B is arranged above the image forming unit A with a gap is to protect the image reading unit B from the heat generated by the heat generating unit (fixing device) H inside the image forming unit.
This type of image forming apparatus is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-17690.

JP 2005-17690 A

  However, in this way, in the image forming apparatus in which the image reading unit is arranged above the image forming unit with an interval, it is inevitable to increase the size of the entire image forming apparatus. It is difficult to respond.

  Accordingly, the present invention includes an image forming unit and an image reading unit, and the image reading unit is disposed above the upper part of the image forming unit so as to cover the image forming unit, and the image forming unit is disposed on the upper part. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having a heat generating portion inside thereof, which can be reduced in size and size as compared with a conventional image forming apparatus of the same type.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can easily perform operations such as maintenance.

  In addition, the present invention is an image forming apparatus which suppresses thermal damage such as a burn caused by a heat generating part of an apparatus handler (for example, a service person or a user), and performs operations such as maintenance safely. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be used.

  The present invention includes an image forming unit and an image reading unit, and the image reading unit is disposed above the upper part of the image forming unit so as to cover the image forming unit, and the image forming unit is disposed on the upper part. An image forming apparatus having a heat generating portion inside, and having an exhaust portion that is located between the image forming portion and the image reading portion and discharges hot air caused by the heat generating portion. A forming apparatus is provided.

  Here, the image reading unit scans and reads an image on a document image, and provides the read image information to the image forming unit. For example, an optical image reading method known per se is widely used. A device can be mentioned.

  Further, as the image forming unit having the heat generating unit, for example, an image forming unit that forms an image by an electrophotographic method based on image information provided from the image reading unit, or further, based on image information provided from an external computer or the like. However, there can be mentioned those capable of forming an image by an electrophotographic method.

  In an image forming unit that forms an image by electrophotography, generally, a recording medium to which a toner image is transferred is passed through a fixing device, where the toner image is fixed to the recording medium under heat and pressure. Such a fixing device serves as a heat generating portion.

Further, the image forming unit may form a monochrome image or may form a color image.
In any case, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the image forming unit can form an image based on the image information read by the image reading unit.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be, for example, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a complex machine that also serves one or more of these.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the exhaust unit is provided between the image forming unit and the image reading unit disposed above the image forming unit, so that the exhaust unit allows the heat generating unit on the upper inner side of the image forming unit. The resulting hot air can be discharged to the outside smoothly. As described above, since the hot air caused by the heat generating part can be smoothly discharged to the outside, it is possible to reduce the distance between the image reading part and the image forming part while suppressing damage to the image reading part due to heat. Accordingly, the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced in size and size.

  The image reading unit is configured to reciprocally rotate between a closed position above the upper part of the image forming unit and an open position that opens the upper part of the image forming unit so as to cover the image forming unit. You may connect to a part. In this way, by connecting the image reading unit to the image forming unit so as to be capable of opening and closing, maintenance can be easily performed in the open position when the image reading unit is open. Furthermore, even if the image forming apparatus is reduced in size and size by reducing the interval between the image forming unit and the image reading unit by providing the exhaust unit, maintenance or the like is performed in the open position of the image reading unit. Easy to do.

  Further, the image reading unit may be connected to the image forming unit so as to be capable of opening and closing, and the image forming unit may be provided with an openable / closable cover so that maintenance and the like can be performed more easily. In that case, by placing the image reading unit in the open position, the exhaust unit is positioned so as to face the heat generating unit as the image reading unit reciprocally rotates and the heat generating unit so that the opening / closing cover can be easily opened. The image reading unit may be provided such that a position retracted (separated) from the unit can be reciprocally rotated.

  In any case, the exhaust section may be any duct that can smoothly guide the hot air caused by the heat generating section to the outside of the image forming apparatus. A case where a fan is arranged can be exemplified.

  When the exhaust part includes a duct for guiding hot air from the heat generating part to the outside, the upper part of the image forming part (the opening / closing cover when the upper part is provided with the open / close cover) has a vent hole formed in the heat generating part. You may have the ventilation hole formation part which faces. In that case, the duct of the exhaust part may be provided so as to cover the vent hole forming part. In this case, at least a part of the hot air from the heat generating part is led into the duct through the vent hole forming part.

  Or the duct of an exhaust part may be provided so that it may be located adjacent to this vent hole formation part, without covering this vent hole formation part. In this case, outside air can flow into the heat generating part region through the vent hole forming part and be guided to the duct from the region. In this case, since the vent hole forming part is exposed to the outside air, the temperature rising heating is suppressed accordingly, and the temperature of the hot air emitted from the heat generating part is easily lowered by the introduction of the outside air.

  As described above, when the image reading unit is connected to the image forming unit so as to be capable of reciprocating between a closed position and an open position, and the image forming unit has the opening / closing cover, the opening / closing is performed. The cover preferably covers at least a part of the exhaust unit when the image reading unit is opened in the open position. By doing so, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which a service person, a user, etc., touches the exhaust part heated and heated by being used for hot air discharge during maintenance, etc. Maintenance can be performed.

  In this case, when the exhaust part includes a duct for guiding hot air from the heat generating part to the outside, the opening / closing cover is opened when the image reading part is in the open position. It is good also as what covers at least one part.

  As described above, when the image reading unit is connected to the image forming unit so as to be capable of reciprocating between a closed position and an open position, and the image forming unit has the opening / closing cover, the opening / closing is performed. The cover may be attached to the image forming unit main body so that the part near the reciprocating rotation axis of the image reading unit can be rotated and opened and closed in the same direction as the image reading unit. It is preferable to do so in order to facilitate the opening and closing operation of the cover and to increase the opening angle of the cover.

  In addition, an open / close cover is provided on the upper part of the image forming unit, and the open / close cover is attached to at least one of the ducts when the portion near the reciprocating rotation shaft of the image reading unit is rotatably attached to the image forming unit main body. The unit may be provided so as to be able to fall down to the image reading unit side when the image reading unit is disposed at the open position.

  By providing the opening / closing cover of the image forming unit in this manner, the image reading unit is opened to the open position, and the duct part that can be collapsed is collapsed to the image reading unit side. It can be opened at a larger opening angle than when there is no collapse, and maintenance and other operations become easier.

  In this case, the open / close cover of the image forming unit further covers the duct opening formed when the image reading unit opens to the open position and the collapsible duct portion falls to the image reading unit side. You may make it open to the image reading part side.

  As described above, the open / close cover of the image forming unit has a vent hole formed therein and has a vent hole forming unit facing the heat generating unit, and the duct of the exhaust unit has the image reading unit in the closed position. At this time, it may be provided so as to cover the vent hole forming portion. In this case, the collapsible duct portion may be a duct front wall farther from the reciprocating rotation shaft of the image reading unit. If it does so, it is preferable when opening an opening-and-closing cover large in a maintenance etc.

  Further, as described above, the opening / closing cover of the image forming unit has a vent hole formed therein and has a vent hole forming unit facing the heat generating unit, and the duct of the exhaust unit has the image reading unit in the closed position. In this case, the air hole forming portion may be provided adjacent to the air hole forming portion without covering the air hole forming portion. Also in this case, if the duct part that can be collapsed is the duct front wall that is far from the reciprocating rotation shaft of the image reading unit, it is preferable to open the opening / closing cover in a maintenance manner or the like.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the image forming unit and the image reading unit are provided, and the image reading unit is disposed above the image forming unit so as to cover the image forming unit. The forming unit is an image forming apparatus having a heat generating part inside the upper part, and can provide an image forming apparatus that can be reduced in size and size as compared with a conventional image forming apparatus of the same type. it can.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide such an image forming apparatus that is easy to perform operations such as maintenance.

  Further, according to the present invention, such an image forming apparatus, which suppresses thermal damage such as a burn caused by a heat generation part of an apparatus handler (for example, a service person or a user), and safely operates the apparatus as much as possible. An image forming apparatus capable of performing the above can be provided.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
The image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an image forming unit 100, an image reading unit 200, and an exhaust unit 301 disposed between the image forming unit 100 and the image reading unit 200.

The image reading unit 200 is already known in its basic configuration, reads a document image, and provides the read document image information to the image exposure device 3 of the image forming unit described below.
The image reading unit 200 is rotatably connected at one end to the image forming unit 100 by the axis P <b> 1, so that the image reading unit 200 covers the image forming unit 100 so as to cover the image forming unit 100. 1 can be reciprocally rotated between a closed position (position shown in FIG. 1) located above and an open position (position shown in FIG. 2) that opens the upper portion of the image forming unit.
The image reading unit 200 has an operation panel (not shown) for operating the image forming apparatus on the front side (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2).

  Here, the image forming unit 100 is capable of forming a full-color image. The image forming unit 100 includes a photoconductor 1 that is rotationally driven. The surface of the photoconductor 1 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by a charging charger 2 and image exposure is performed from the image exposure device 3 to the charged area. An electrostatic latent image is formed, and the latent image is developed by the developing device 4 to form a visible toner image. The image exposure apparatus 3 performs image exposure based on image information from the image reading apparatus 200 or based on image information provided from a computer (not shown).

  The developing device 4 includes a holder 4H that is rotationally driven, and a yellow developing device 4Y, a magenta developing device 4M, a cyan developing device 4C, and a black developing device 4K. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color is sequentially formed on the photoreceptor 1 based on the image data for each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and the latent image corresponding to one color is formed each time the latent image is formed. The latent image is developed by a developing unit corresponding to the color among the four developing units.

  The toner images of the respective colors sequentially formed on the photoreceptor 1 in this manner are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5 each time one toner image is formed, and the toner image transferred above is transferred onto the toner image. Is transferred to The multiple toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 in this way are supplied one by one from the recording medium supply unit 6 by the supply roller 61, and sent in synchronization with the multiple toner image by the timing roller pair 62. It is secondarily transferred to a recording medium S such as a recording sheet, and fixed to the recording medium by heating and pressurization by a fixing device 7.

Here, the fixing device 7 is a main heat generating unit in the image forming unit 100. The recording medium on which the toner image is fixed in this manner is guided by a guide such as the upper guide portion G to reach the discharge roller pair R, r, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 8 by the roller pair.
The above is the case of full-color image formation. For example, it is also possible to form a monocolor image using only the black developing device 4K.

The intermediate transfer belt 5 and the like will be described in a little more detail.
The intermediate transfer belt 5 is a rotationally driven drive roller 51, a primary transfer roller 52 disposed opposite to the photoreceptor 1, a roller 53 that contacts the photoreceptor 5 in cooperation with the roller 52, a driven roller 54, and It is wound around a roller group consisting of tension rollers 55.

  The primary transfer roller 52 transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor 1 to the intermediate transfer belt 5 by applying a primary transfer voltage. The secondary transfer roller 10 is disposed opposite to the driving roller 51, and the secondary transfer roller 10 is applied with a secondary transfer voltage so that the recording is passed between the belt portion on the roller 51 and the transfer roller 10. The toner image on the belt 5 is transferred to the medium S.

The secondary transfer roller 10 is separated from the belt 5 until the primary transfer of the predetermined toner image onto the belt 5 is completed, and is pressed toward the belt 5 when the primary transfer of the predetermined toner image is completed.
Further, after the toner image on the transfer belt 5 is secondarily transferred to the recording medium S, the transfer belt 5 is cleaned by the cleaning device 9 in preparation for the next primary transfer of the toner image. The cleaning device 9 is provided so as to face the driven roller 54 around which the transfer belt 5 is wound.

  The discharge tray 8 includes a portion 81 closer to the pair of discharge rollers R and r and a tip portion 82 connected to the portion 81 so as to be rotatable. The pivotable tip portion 82 is supported by a support member 80 on the image forming unit main body and smoothly continues to the tray portion 81 when the discharge tray 8 is placed at a position to receive the discharged recording medium S. Take a posture.

  A plate-like vent hole forming portion 83 is provided above the upper guide portion G that guides the recording medium S discharged from the fixing device 7 to the discharge roller pair R, r. The vent hole forming portion 83 has a plurality of slit-shaped vent holes extending in a direction crossing the recording medium conveyance direction. The air hole forming portion 83 is disposed so as to face the fixing device 7 which is a heat generating portion.

The portion 81 of the discharge tray 8 and the vent hole forming portion 83 also serve as a cover C that opens and closes the upper portion of the image forming portion 100.
The cover C is rotatably connected to the image forming unit main body by a shaft P2 at an end portion of the image reading unit 200 that is closer to the rotating shaft P1.

  Thus, the cover C can take a position to close the upper portion of the image forming unit 100 as shown in FIG. 1, and when the image reading unit 200 is placed in the open position as shown in FIG. The open position that opens the top of the unit can be taken. When taking the open position as shown in FIG. 2, the portion 81 of the discharge tray 8 can take a position that substantially contacts the lower surface of the image reading unit 200 in combination with the structure and position of the exhaust unit 301 described later. The portion 82 on the front end side of the discharge tray 8 is already separated from the support member 80 on the image forming unit, so that the portion 81 can be bent along the lower surface of the image reading unit.

  By thus opening the image reading unit 200 and the cover C, it is possible to easily perform maintenance and the like of the image forming apparatus. In this example image forming apparatus, the front side (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the image forming unit 100 is the front side, so that paper can be replenished and the cover can be operated from the front side, and when the cover C is opened. From the front side, using the upper space, replacement of the developing device and the intermediate transfer belt, jam paper processing, and the like can be performed from one direction on the front side, and various maintenance can be easily performed. FIG. 2 also shows how the unit including the belt 5 is taken out in conjunction with the opening operation of the cover C for maintenance. Further, as described above, the operation panel is provided at the upper part on the front side of the image reading unit 200, and the copy operation itself can be performed on the front side.

  The exhaust unit 301 is provided in the image reading unit 100 and can be rotated together with the reading unit 100. When the image reading unit 100 is placed in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the exhaust unit 301 faces the fixing device 7 serving as a heat generating unit. When the image reading unit 100 is in the open position as shown in FIG. 2, the image reading unit 100 takes a position away from the fixing device 7.

  The exhaust unit 301 includes a duct D1 for guiding hot air generated from the fixing device 7 to the outside of the image forming apparatus, and an exhaust fan F provided in the duct. Although not shown, the duct D1 has a window portion for releasing hot air.

The duct D1 has a side wall ws1 whose position is indicated by a broken line in FIGS. 1 and 2 and closes both sides, and a front wall W1 that closes the front.
The duct D1 covers the vent hole forming portion 83 of the cover C when the cover C of the image reading unit 200 and the image forming unit 100 is disposed at the closed position shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the front wall W <b> 1 faces the front end of the vent hole forming portion 83 of the cover C that is farther from the image reading portion rotation shaft P <b> 1 and the cover rotation shaft P <b> 2.

  The front wall W1 is rotatably connected to the image reading unit 200. When the image reading unit 200 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the front wall W1 hangs downward by its own weight and takes a position to form the duct D1. When the image reading unit 200 takes the open position shown in FIG. 2, the image reading unit 200 falls to the image reading unit 200 by its own weight and takes a folded posture.

  When the image reading unit 200 is placed in the open position and the front wall W1 of the duct D1 falls in this way, an opening of the duct D1 formed thereby (formed between the side walls ws1 due to the fall of the front wall W1). The opening) is covered with the cover C when the cover C is opened. In other words, when the image reading unit 200 is placed in the open position and the cover C is opened, the cover C can be opened at a large opening angle with the duct D1 substantially covered with the cover C in this way.

  As described above, when the image reading unit 200 is placed in the open position and the cover C is opened, the cover C substantially covers the duct D1, so that the apparatus handler (serviceman, user, etc.) is raised by the hot air from the fixing device 7. There is little risk of touching the heated duct D1, and maintenance and the like can be performed safely. Further, since the cover C can be opened at a large opening angle, maintenance and the like can be easily performed.

  Further, since the exhaust unit 301 is formed so as to be close to the rotation axis P1 of the image reading unit 200 as a whole, the front wall W1 of the duct D1 can be tilted toward the image reading unit 200 side. In addition, since the tip portion 82 of the cover C can be bent, the cover C can be opened at a large opening angle by any of these, or by a combination of two or more of them. Maintenance can be performed easily.

  According to the image forming apparatus described above, the exhaust unit 301 is provided between the image forming unit 100 and the image reading unit 200 disposed above the image forming unit 100. The hot air resulting from the heat generating part (fixing device 7) can be smoothly discharged to the outside.

  More specifically, in a normal use state of the image forming apparatus (see FIG. 1) in which the cover C of the image forming unit 100 is closed and the image reading unit 200 is in the closed position, the heat generating unit (fixing device 7) is used. The resulting hot air flows into the duct D1 directly from the heat generation region, through the vent hole forming portion 83, and is guided out of the duct D1. Further, by the operation of the fan F, the outside air is sucked from the gap between the discharge roller pair R, r portion, etc., and the gas in the image forming unit 100 is also sucked into the heat generating area where the fixing device 7 is, and further directly from the heat generating area together with the hot air In addition, the air is sucked into the duct D1 through the vent hole forming portion 83 and smoothly discharged out of the duct D1.

  As described above, the hot air caused by the heat generating unit 7 can be smoothly discharged to the outside, and accordingly, the distance between the image reading unit 200 and the image forming unit 100 is suppressed by the damage of the image reading unit 200 due to heat. The entire image forming apparatus can be reduced in size and size.

  Further, the image reading unit 200 covers the image forming unit 100 so as to cover the upper part of the image forming unit 100 (see FIG. 1) and the open position that opens the upper part of the image forming unit 100 (see FIG. 2). The image forming unit 100 is connected to the image forming unit 100 so as to be capable of reciprocating rotation between the image forming unit 100 and the upper part of the image forming unit 100 can be opened and closed by the cover C. As described above, since the cover C can be opened at a large opening angle, the maintenance of the image forming apparatus can be easily performed.

  Further, when the image reading unit 200 is placed in the open position and the cover C of the image forming unit 100 is opened, the cover C substantially covers the duct D1 heated and heated by the hot air caused by the fixing device 7, so that only Maintenance can be performed safely without fear of burns.

Next, another example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 employs an exhaust unit 302 instead of the exhaust unit 301 in the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The other points are the same as those of the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. Components and parts that are substantially the same as those of the image forming apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the apparatus of FIGS.

  The exhaust unit 302 in the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is also provided in the image reading unit 100 and can be rotated together with the reading unit 100. When the image reading unit 100 is placed in the closed position shown in FIG. When the image reading unit 100 is in the open position as shown in FIG. 4, a position away from the fixing device 7 is taken.

  The exhaust unit 302 includes a duct D2 for guiding the hot air generated from the fixing device 7 to the outside of the image forming apparatus, and an exhaust fan F provided in the duct. Although not shown, the duct D2 has a window part for releasing hot air.

The duct D2 has a side wall ws2 that closes both sides, the position of which is indicated by a broken line in FIGS. 3 and 4, and a front wall W2 that closes the front.
The duct D2 is adjacent to the vent hole forming part 83 without covering the vent hole forming part 83 of the cover C when the cover C of the image reading part 200 and the image forming part 100 is disposed at the closed position shown in FIG. Located. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the front wall W2 faces the rear end of the vent hole forming portion 83 of the cover C that is closer to the image reading portion rotation shaft P1 and the cover rotation shaft P2.

  The front wall W2 is also rotatably connected to the image reading unit 200. When the image reading unit 200 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 3, the front wall W2 hangs down by its own weight and takes a position to form the duct D2. When the image reading unit 200 takes the open position shown in FIG. 4, the image reading unit 200 falls to the image reading unit 200 by its own weight and takes a folded posture.

  When the image reading unit 200 is placed in the open position and the front wall W2 of the duct D2 falls in this way, an opening of the duct D2 formed thereby (formed between the side walls ws2 by the fall of the front wall W2). The opening) is covered with the cover C when the cover C is opened. In other words, when the image reading unit 200 is placed in the open position and the cover C is opened, the cover C can be opened at a large opening angle with the duct D2 substantially covered with the cover C in this way.

  As described above, when the image reading unit 200 is placed in the open position and the cover C is opened, the cover C substantially covers the duct D2, so that the apparatus handler (serviceman, user, etc.) is raised by the hot air from the fixing device 7. There is little fear of touching the heated duct D2, and maintenance and the like can be performed safely. Further, since the cover C can be opened at a large opening angle, maintenance and the like can be easily performed.

  Further, the exhaust unit 302 is formed so as to be closer to the position closer to the rotation axis P1 of the image reading unit 200 than the exhaust unit 301 as a whole, and the front wall W2 of the duct D2 is formed on the image reading unit 200. Since the tip portion 82 of the cover C can be bent and the cover C can be bent, the cover C can be bent at a large opening angle by any of these, or by a combination of two or more of these. It can be opened and maintenance can be performed easily.

  According to the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 described above, the exhaust unit 302 is provided between the image forming unit 100 and the image reading unit 200 disposed above the image forming unit 100, so that the image is generated by the exhaust unit 302. The hot air resulting from the heat generating part (fixing device 7) inside the upper part of the forming part 100 can be smoothly discharged to the outside.

  More specifically, in a normal use state of the image forming apparatus (see FIG. 3) in which the cover C of the image forming unit 100 is closed and the image reading unit 200 is in the closed position, the heating unit (fixing device 7) is used. The resulting hot air flows from the heat generation area into the duct D2, and is guided out of the duct D2. Further, due to the operation of the fan F, not only the outside air from the gap between the discharge roller pair R and r part, but also from the air hole forming part 83 and further, the gas in the image forming part 100 is also generated in the heat generating area where the fixing device 7 is located. Then, it is sucked into the duct D2 from the heat generation area together with hot air, and is smoothly discharged out of the duct D2.

  As described above, the hot air caused by the heat generating unit 7 can be smoothly discharged to the outside, and accordingly, the distance between the image reading unit 200 and the image forming unit 100 is suppressed by the damage of the image reading unit 200 due to heat. The entire image forming apparatus can be reduced in size and size.

  The image reading unit 200 is coupled to the image forming unit 100 so as to be reciprocally rotatable between a closed position (see FIG. 3) and an open position (see FIG. 4), and covers the upper part of the image forming unit 100. When the image reading unit 200 is in the open position, the cover C can be opened at a large opening angle as described above. Therefore, maintenance of the image forming apparatus can be easily performed. be able to.

  Further, when the image reading unit 200 is placed in the open position and the cover C of the image forming unit 100 is opened, the cover C substantially covers the duct D2 heated and heated by the hot air caused by the fixing device 7. Since the temperature rise of the vent hole forming portion 83 of the cover C is suppressed by the passage of outside air, maintenance and the like can be performed safely without much fear of burns.

  The image forming unit in the image forming apparatus described above may form a monochrome image. The image forming apparatus described above may be used as a facsimile machine or the like.

  The present invention includes an image forming apparatus, in particular, an image forming unit and an image reading unit, and the image reading unit is disposed above an upper portion of the image forming unit so as to cover the image forming unit. The forming unit has an image forming apparatus having a heat generating part inside the upper part to meet the demands for downsizing and compacting that are required today, and to meet the requirements for safety and ease of operation during maintenance. It can be used to make it correspond.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state where an image reading unit and an image forming unit cover are opened in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the other example of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an image reading unit and an image forming unit cover are opened in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image formation part 1 Photoconductor 2 Charger charger 3 Image exposure apparatus 4 Developing apparatus 4H The holder driven rotationally
4Y Yellow developing unit 4M Magenta developing unit 4C Cyan developing unit 4K Black developing unit 5 Intermediate transfer belt 51 Driving roller 52 Primary transfer roller 53 Belt contact roller 54 Followed roller 55 Tension roller 6 Recording medium supply unit 61 Supply roller 61
62 Timing roller pair S Recording medium 7 Fixing device G Guide part R, r Discharge roller pair C Cover 8 Discharge tray 81, 82 Tray part 83 Vent hole forming part 80 Tray support member P2 Rotating shaft 10 of cover C Secondary transfer roller 9 Cleaning device 200 Image reading part P1 Rotating shafts 301, 3020 of image reading part Exhaust part D1, D2 Duct W1, W2 Duct front wall ws1, ws2 Duct side wall F Fan

Claims (16)

  An image forming unit and an image reading unit, and the image reading unit is disposed above the image forming unit so as to cover the image forming unit, and the image forming unit is disposed on the inner side of the upper part. The image forming apparatus includes an exhaust unit that is located between the image forming unit and the image reading unit and exhausts hot air caused by the heat generating unit. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust unit includes a duct for guiding hot air from the heat generating unit to the outside.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an exhaust fan is disposed in the duct.   The upper part of the image forming part has a vent hole formed therein and has a vent hole forming part facing the heat generating part, and the duct of the exhaust part is provided so as to cover the vent hole forming part. Item 4. The image forming apparatus according to Item 2 or 3.   The upper part of the image forming unit has a vent hole formed therein and has a vent hole forming unit facing the heat generating unit, and the duct of the exhaust unit forms the vent hole without covering the vent hole forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided so as to be adjacent to the portion.   The image reading unit is reciprocally rotatable between a closed position above the upper part of the image forming unit and an open position that opens the upper part of the image forming unit so as to cover the image forming unit. The image forming unit has an openable / closable cover at the top of the image forming unit, and the exhaust unit faces the heat generating unit as the image reading unit reciprocally rotates. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading unit is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between a position and a position retracted from the heat generating unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the opening / closing cover on the upper part of the image forming unit covers at least a part of the exhaust unit when the image reading unit is opened in the open position.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the exhaust unit includes a duct for guiding hot air from the heat generating unit to the outside.   The exhaust unit includes a duct for guiding hot air from the heat generating unit to the outside, and the open / close cover on the upper part of the image forming unit is opened when the image reading unit is in the open position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least a part of the duct is covered.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an exhaust fan is disposed in the duct.   The opening / closing cover on the upper part of the image forming unit is rotatably attached to the image forming unit main body at a portion near the reciprocating rotation axis of the image reading unit, and can be opened / closed in the same direction as the image reading unit, At least a part of the duct is provided so as to be able to fall down to the image reading unit side when the image reading unit is disposed at the open position, and the image reading unit includes an open / close cover. The opening portion can be opened at a larger opening angle than when the duct portion is not tilted in a state in which the duct portion is opened to the open position and the tiltable duct portion is tilted to the image reading portion side. Or the image forming apparatus according to 10.   The open / close cover of the image forming unit is configured to cover the duct opening formed when the image reading unit opens to the open position and the collapsible duct portion falls to the image reading unit side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, which opens sideways.   The open / close cover of the image forming unit has a vent hole formed therein and a vent hole forming unit facing the heat generating unit, and the duct of the exhaust unit is configured such that when the image reading unit is in the closed position, The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided so as to cover the vent hole forming portion.   The open / close cover of the image forming unit has a vent hole formed therein and a vent hole forming unit facing the heat generating unit, and the duct of the exhaust unit is configured such that when the image reading unit is in the closed position, The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided so as to be adjacent to the air hole forming portion without covering the air hole forming portion.   The open / close cover of the image forming unit has a vent hole formed therein and a vent hole forming unit facing the heat generating unit, and the duct of the exhaust unit is configured such that when the image reading unit is in the closed position, 13. The duct portion that is provided so as to cover the vent hole forming portion and is capable of falling down is a duct front wall that is far from the reciprocating rotation axis of the image reading portion of the duct. Image forming apparatus.   The open / close cover of the image forming unit has a vent hole formed therein and a vent hole forming unit facing the heat generating unit, and the duct of the exhaust unit is configured such that when the image reading unit is in the closed position, The duct portion is provided so as to be adjacent to the vent hole forming portion without covering the vent hole forming portion, and the collapsible duct portion is separated from the reciprocating rotation shaft of the image reading portion of the duct. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image forming apparatus is a far front wall of the duct.