JP2007148253A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which prevents a user from feeling unpleasant by solving the problem that air heated in a housing and exhausted from an exhaust hole is blown to the user. <P>SOLUTION: A fist side cover 102 has a first exhaust hole 102a for exhausting air heated by a heat roller 51 to outside the housing, and a second exhaust hole 102b for exhausting air heated by a power supply board 201 to outside the housing. The printer 1 has a heat conduction member 230 which is arranged to connect the first exhaust hole 102a and second exhaust hole 102b to each other and conducts the heat of the air heated by the heat roller 51 to the air warmed by the power supply board 201. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for cooling the inside of an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, a technique for forming a developer image on a recording medium by an electrophotographic method in an image forming apparatus is known. Such an image forming apparatus generally includes a fixing device that heats and melts a developer image transferred from a photoreceptor to a recording medium and thermally fixes the developer image on the recording medium.

  Since such a fixing device is heated to a high temperature in order to heat and melt the developer image, it generates a large amount of heat to the surroundings and raises the temperature inside the image forming apparatus. When the temperature inside the image forming apparatus rises in this way, there is a possibility that the image formed on the recording medium may be disturbed by causing the control circuit for controlling the operation of the photosensitive member or the fixing device to be heated and causing a malfunction. .

In order to solve such a problem, an exhaust port is formed in a housing that covers the photoconductor, the fixing device, and the like, and air heated by the fixing device is blown out of the image forming apparatus (outside the housing) from the exhaust port by a blower. ) To cool the inside of the image formation (inside the housing). (For example, see Patent Document 1)
JP-A-11-31935

  However, the air discharged from the exhaust port after being heated to a high temperature by the fixing device may be heated up to about 60 ° C., and when the air hits the user, the user may feel uncomfortable. The degree of discomfort given to the user is usually greater as the temperature of the air discharged from the outlet is higher than room temperature.

  This includes motors that drive the rollers in the image forming apparatus, polygon motors that rotate the polygon mirror for exposing the photosensitive member at high speed, power supply boards that supply power to the fixing device and the photosensitive member, etc. This may also occur when the air heated by the air is discharged out of the image forming apparatus. Such a phenomenon may also occur in an image forming apparatus such as an ink jet system that includes a power supply substrate and a motor.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing discomfort given to a user.

  In order to achieve this object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, an image forming unit that forms a predetermined image on a recording medium, a high heat source that generates heat, and heat having a smaller heat quantity than the high heat source. A low heat source that emits heat, a first discharge port that covers the image forming unit, the high heat source, and the low heat source, and discharges air heated by the high heat source to the outside of the image forming apparatus, and is heated by the low heat source A casing formed with a second discharge port for discharging the heated air to the outside of the image forming apparatus, and air heated by the high heat source is sent to the first discharge port via a first path, A blower that sends air heated by a heat source to the second outlet through a second path, and the first path and the second on the downstream side in the blowing direction of the blower from the low heat source and the high heat source. Arranged to connect the route, Characterized in that the air heated by the serial high heat source and a metal heat transfer member for transmitting heat to the air heated by the lower heat source.

  According to such a configuration, the air heated by the high heat source and the air heated by the low heat source are in contact with the heat transfer member on the downstream side in the blowing direction by the blower rather than the high heat source and the low heat source, The heat of the air heated by the high heat source is transferred to the air heated by the low heat source. Thus, since the temperature of the air discharged through the first discharge port after being heated by the high heat source is lowered and approaches room temperature, the discomfort given to the user can be suppressed even if the air hits the user. .

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the image forming unit generates a latent electrostatic image by supplying a photosensitive member on which the electrostatic latent image is formed and a developer to the photosensitive member. A developer carrying member that is developed into a developer image, a transfer unit that transfers the developer image from the photoreceptor to a recording medium, a fixing device that thermally fixes the developer image transferred to the recording medium, and the image A power supply board for supplying power to the forming unit, wherein the high heat source is the fixing device, and the low heat source is the power supply board.

  According to such a configuration, the fixing device is heated to a high temperature in order to melt the developer, and thus generates a considerably large amount of heat as compared with the normal power supply substrate. Therefore, the heat of the air heated by the fixing device is transferred to the air heated by the power supply board by the heat transfer member, so that the temperature of the air discharged through the first discharge port is lowered and the user feels uncomfortable. The possibility of giving

  Further, the air heated by the fixing device contains an odor generated when the developer is melted by the fixing device, and this odor gives a stronger stimulus to the user's olfactory sensation as the temperature rises. In the present invention, since the temperature of the air heated by the fixing device and discharged through the first discharge port is lowered, it is possible to suppress the air from giving a strong stimulus to the user's olfaction and causing discomfort. Can do.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein an air flow suppressing member for suppressing air flow is provided between the fixing device and the power supply substrate. .

  According to such a configuration, since the air flow suppressing member that suppresses the air flow between the fixing device and the power supply board is provided, it is possible to prevent the air heated by the fixing device from contacting the power supply board. Is done. As a result, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the power board is overheated and damaged by the air.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the fixing unit is disposed so that a longitudinal direction thereof extends in a horizontal direction, and the power supply board is disposed in a horizontal direction below the fixing unit. It is arranged to extend.

  According to such a configuration, since the power supply board is disposed below the fixing device, air that is heated by the fixing device and rises directly hits the power supply board, so that the power supply board is overheated and its function is impaired. Can be prevented.

  In addition, since the fixing device and the power supply substrate are both horizontally arranged, the vertical size of the image forming apparatus can be further reduced.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the housing has a plurality of walls, and the first discharge port and the second discharge port are on the same wall. It is formed.

  According to such a structure, since the 1st discharge port and the 2nd discharge port were formed in the same wall surface, it becomes easy to shorten the distance of a 1st discharge port and a 2nd discharge port. In this way, the size of the heat transfer member can be suppressed.

  An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the air blowing device is disposed downstream of the high heat source and the low heat source in the air blowing direction. Heated air is sucked and sent to the first outlet, and air heated by the low heat source is sucked and sent to the second outlet.

  According to such a configuration, the air blower can suppress the air from diffusing before reaching the discharge port when the air is sucked out rather than pushing it out toward the discharge port. As a result, the image forming apparatus can be cooled more efficiently.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the blower device sends the air heated by the high heat source to the first discharge port; And a second air blower for sending air heated by the low heat source to the second outlet.

  According to such a configuration, since the first blower and the second blower are provided corresponding to the first discharge port and the second discharge port, the exhaust is performed more reliably.

  An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the heat transfer member is further downstream in the air blowing direction than the air blowing device, and the first discharge port and the first air outlet. It is arranged on the upstream side in the blowing direction from the two outlets.

  According to such a configuration, the image forming apparatus can be downsized as compared with the case where the heat transfer member is provided outside the discharge port.

  Moreover, since the heat transfer member is disposed at a position closer to the discharge port, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the air cooled by the heat transfer member is heated again in the housing.

  An image forming apparatus according to a ninth aspect is characterized in that in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the heat transfer member is formed of aluminum.

  According to such a configuration, it is lighter and cheaper than copper or the like, so that the image forming apparatus can be prevented from becoming heavy. In addition, the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

  An image forming apparatus according to a tenth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the heat transfer member has a flat plate shape and has a plurality of holes through which air sent by the blower is passed. It is characterized by.

  According to such a configuration, since the heat transfer member has a flat plate shape, space in the image forming apparatus can be saved.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an image forming unit that forms a predetermined image on a recording medium, a heat source that generates heat, the image forming unit and the heat source are covered, and the air heated by the heat source is imaged. A housing in which a discharge port for discharging to the outside of the forming device is formed, a blower device that sends the air heated by the heat source toward the discharge port, and a downstream side in the blowing direction by the blower device than the heat source And a metal heat dissipating member that dissipates heat of the air heated by the heat source to the inside of the image forming apparatus or to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the temperature of the air discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus by dissipating the heat of the air heated by the heat source to the inside or outside of the image forming apparatus. As a result, the user can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Example 1]
<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of a printer 1 as an image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a paper feed unit 2, a process unit 3 as an image forming unit, a paper discharge unit 6, a casing 100, and a power supply unit 200.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 100 covers the paper feed unit 2, the process unit 3, the paper discharge unit 6, and the power supply unit 200.

  The paper feeding unit 2 is disposed on the lower side of the printer 1 and supplies paper P as a recording medium to the process unit 3.

  The process unit 3 is disposed above the paper feed unit 2 and forms an image on the surface of the paper P supplied from the paper feed unit 2.

  The paper discharge unit 6 discharges the paper P on which the image is formed on the surface by the process unit 3.

  The power supply unit 200 transforms and adjusts the power supplied from the commercial power supply and supplies it to a drive unit (not shown) that drives the process unit 3, the paper feed unit 2, the paper discharge unit 6, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer 1 as viewed from above, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the printer 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing 100 includes a front cover 101 disposed on the arrow A direction (hereinafter referred to as “A direction”) side and a rear cover disposed on the opposite side of the front cover 101. 104, a first side cover 102 disposed on the arrow B direction (hereinafter referred to as B direction) side in the figure, and a second side cover 102 disposed on the arrow C direction (hereinafter referred to as C direction) side in the figure. A side cover 103 (see FIG. 4) is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the front cover 101 has a rotating shaft 101 a that is rotatably supported by the main body of the printer 1 at the lower end.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first side cover 102 has a first discharge port 102 a for discharging air inside the printer 1 (inside the casing 100) to the outside of the printer 1 (outside the casing 100). A second discharge port 102b and an opening 102c for exposing the connector 107 for supplying power from a commercial power source are formed.

  The paper feed unit 2 includes a paper feed cassette 20, a pickup roller 21, a separation roller 22, a separation pad 23, a guide 24, and a registration roller 25.

  The paper feed cassette 20 has a box shape with the upper part openable from the printer 1 in the A direction, and a large number of sheets P can be stacked.

  The pickup roller 21 is disposed above the end of the paper feed cassette 20 in the A direction, and feeds the paper P stacked on the paper feed cassette 20 toward the separation roller 22.

  The separation roller 22 and the separation pad 23 are arranged to face each other, and the paper P fed from the pickup roller 21 is nipped and pressed to separate the paper P one by one and send it toward the guide 24.

  The guide 24 guides the paper P sent from the separation roller 22 toward the registration roller 25 while bending it into a substantially U shape.

  The registration roller 25 is arranged to face the registration roller 26, stops the leading end of the paper P guided by the guide 24, corrects the skew, and sends it to the photosensitive drum 31 at a predetermined timing.

  The process unit 3 includes a drum cartridge 32, a developing cartridge 34, a scanner 33, and a fixing unit 50.

  The scanner 33 is provided in an upper portion of the printer 1 and includes a laser light emitting device, a mirror, and a lens (not shown), and reflects or reflects a laser beam based on predetermined image data emitted from the laser light emitting device to the mirror and the lens. After being transmitted, the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is irradiated (exposed) to form an electrostatic latent image.

  The developing cartridge 34 is detachably mounted on the drum cartridge 32, and includes a developing roller 35 as a developer carrying member, a supply roller 36, and a developer storage chamber 37 for storing the developer.

  The developer storage chamber 37 is provided with an agitator 40 that agitates the developer stored while being driven to rotate and sends the developer to the supply roller 36.

  The supply roller 36 is provided adjacent to the developer storage chamber 37 and supplies the developer sent from the agitator 40 to the development roller 35.

  The developing roller 35 is disposed to face the supply roller 36, and a positive developing bias is applied to the surface. The developer fed from the supply roller 36 is positively charged to a predetermined potential by the sliding contact between the development roller 35 and the supply roller 36 and the development bias.

  When the positively charged developer is supplied from the developing roller 35 to the photosensitive drum 31 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, it adheres only to the exposed portion of the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 where the potential has dropped. . In this manner, the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a developer image.

  The drum cartridge 32 is disposed below the scanner 33, and includes a photosensitive drum 31 as a photosensitive member, a transfer roller 39 as a transfer unit, a charger 38, and a registration roller 26. The drum cartridge 32 can be attached to and detached from the printer 1 when the front cover 101 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 and the inside of the printer 1 is opened.

  The photosensitive drum 31 is a cylindrical drum having a photosensitive resin formed on the surface thereof, and is disposed to face the developing roller 35.

  The charger 38 is a scorotron type charger, and is disposed above the photosensitive drum 31 with a gap therebetween to positively charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 31.

  The transfer roller 39 is disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 31 and a negative transfer bias is applied to the surface. The transfer roller 39 holds the sheet P between the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 and the region where the developer image is formed in a state where a transfer bias is applied to the surface. In this way, the developer image is transferred to the surface of the paper P due to the potential difference.

  The fixing unit 50 includes a heating roller 51 as a fixing device serving as a high heat source, a pressing roller 52, and a fixing case 54.

  The heating roller 51 includes a heater for heating and melting the developer, and the developer image transferred on the paper P between the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 39 is transferred between the pressing roller 52 and the heating roller 51. To heat fix the paper P. A rotation shaft 51a (extending in the longitudinal direction) of the heating roller 51 extends in the C direction (horizontal direction). The heating roller 51 generates heat by being heated to a high temperature of about 200 ° C. by such a heater, and heats the surrounding air.

  The pressing roller 52 is pressed toward the heating roller 51.

  The fixing case 54 is made of resin and covers the heating roller 51 and the pressing roller 52.

  The fixing case 54 includes an upper cover 56 that covers the heating roller 51 and a lower cover 58 that covers the pressing roller from the lower side.

  The upper cover 56 has an upper guide portion 56 a that guides the paper P passing through the photosensitive drum 31 between the heating roller 51 and the pressing roller 52 from above.

  The lower cover 58 has a lower guide portion 58 a that guides the paper P passing through the photosensitive drum 31 between the heating roller 51 and the pressing roller 52 from below.

  The power supply unit 200 includes a power supply board 201 serving as a low heat source and a power supply board cover 203 serving as an air flow suppressing member.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power supply board 201 is disposed so as to extend in the horizontal direction below the fixing unit 50, and is connected to the connector 107 by a wiring (not shown) and collectively receives the power supplied from the commercial power supply. The electric power is divided and supplied to the process unit 3 and a drive unit (not shown) provided with a main motor (not shown). The power supply board 201 is heated by electric resistance when a current from the commercial power supply passes through the wiring and various elements of the power supply board 201, generates heat of a smaller amount of heat than the heating roller 51, and heats the surrounding air.

  The power supply cover 203 is formed of a flame retardant resin, and is disposed so as to cover the power supply substrate 201 as shown in FIG. Further, the power supply substrate 203 has an open end in the B direction and an end in the C direction (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The power supply cover 203 has a guide portion 203 a that guides the paper P that has passed through the photosensitive drum 31 to the fixing unit 50.

  The paper discharge unit 6 includes a guide 61, a guide 62, a paper discharge tray 63, and a paper discharge roller 64.

  The guide 61 and the guide 62 guide the paper P conveyed from the fixing unit 50 toward the paper discharge roller 64 while being bent in a substantially U shape.

  The paper discharge roller 64 discharges the paper P guided by the guide 61 and the guide 62 to the paper discharge tray 63.

  The paper discharge tray 63 is provided integrally with the housing 100, and the sheets P discharged by the paper discharge roller 64 are stacked.

<Configuration for Discharging Air in Printer 1 Outside Printer 1>
Next, a configuration for discharging the air in the printer 1 which is a feature of the present invention to the outside of the printer 1 will be described in detail.

  4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the printer 1. 4 and 5, the rear cover 104 and the like are omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the printer 1 includes a first fan 220 as a first air blower, a second fan 225 as a second air blower, and a heat transfer member 230.

  The first fan 220 sucks the air heated by the heating roller 51 between the heating roller 51 and the first discharge port 102a and sends it to the first discharge port 102a via the first path P. The first path P indicates a trajectory of air sucked by the first fan 220 and discharged through the first discharge port 102a in a space above the power supply cover 203.

  The second fan 225 sucks the air heated by the power supply substrate 201 between the power supply substrate 201 and the second discharge port 102b and sends it to the second discharge port 102b via the second path Q. The second path Q indicates a trajectory of air sucked by the second fan 225 and discharged through the second discharge port 102b in the space surrounded by the power supply cover 203.

  The blower device according to the present invention includes a first fan 220 and a second fan 225.

  FIG. 6 is a view in which the printer 1 in FIG. 2 is cut along line XX and the first side cover 102 is partially cut away. The figure surrounded by the great circle in FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the small circle.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heat transfer member 230 is located between the first fan 220 and the first outlet 102 a (on the downstream side in the blowing direction of the first fan 220 from the first fan 220 and the first fan 220. The upstream side in the air blowing direction from the discharge port 102a) and the space between the second fan 225 and the second discharge port 102b (the downstream side in the air blowing direction by the second fan 225 from the second fan 225) and the second discharge port The first path P and the second path are connected to each other on the upstream side in the blowing direction with respect to 102b. As shown in FIG. 6, the heat transfer member 230 is made of aluminum and has a flat plate shape, and a large number of holes 230 a through which air passes are formed. With such a configuration, the air heated by the heating roller 51 and the air heated by the power supply substrate 201 are allowed to pass through, and heat is transferred from the air heated by the heating roller 51 to the air heated by the power supply substrate 201. .

<Effects of the configuration of this embodiment>
Next, the effect by the structure of a present Example is demonstrated.

  Air heated by the heating roller 51 and heated by the power supply substrate 201 downstream of the heating roller 51 in the blowing direction by the first fan 220 and downstream of the power supply substrate 201 in the blowing direction by the second fan 225. When the air contacts the heat transfer member 230, the heat of the air heated by the heating roller 51 is transferred to the air heated by the power supply substrate 201. In this way, the temperature of the air discharged from the first discharge port 102a after being heated by the heating roller 51 is lowered and approaches room temperature, so that discomfort given to the user can be suppressed even if the air hits the user. it can.

  For example, when the air heated to 55 ° C. by the heating roller 51 and the air heated to 35 ° C. by the power supply substrate 201 are brought into contact with the heat transfer member 230 at a room temperature of 30 ° C., the air is discharged from the first discharge port 102a. It is possible to reduce the temperature of the air to 50 ° C. Although the user may feel uncomfortable when the air heated by the heating roller 51 as much as 25 ° C. above the room temperature directly hits the user, the temperature can be lowered to 50 ° C. by the configuration of the present embodiment, so the user It is possible to suppress the discomfort given to the user.

  Further, the air heated by the heating roller 51 includes odor that is generated when the developer is melted by the heating roller 51, and this odor gives a stronger stimulus to the user's olfactory as the temperature is higher.

  In the present embodiment, since the temperature of the air heated by the heating roller 51 and discharged from the first discharge port 102a is lowered, the air is prevented from giving a strong stimulus to the olfactory sense of the user and causing discomfort. can do.

  Since the power supply cover 203 that suppresses the air flow between the heating roller 51 and the power supply substrate 201 is provided, the air heated by the heating roller 51 is suppressed from coming into direct contact with the power supply substrate 201. As a result, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the power supply board 201 is overheated and damaged by the air.

  Since the power supply substrate 201 is disposed below the heating roller 51, it is possible to prevent the power supply substrate 201 from being overheated and impairing its function by the air rising when heated by the heating roller 51 hits the power supply substrate 201.

  Further, since the rotation shaft 51a of the heating roller 51 is arranged to extend in the horizontal direction and the power supply substrate 201 is also arranged to extend in the horizontal direction, the vertical size of the image forming apparatus can be further reduced. Become.

  Since the first discharge port 201a and the second discharge port 201b are formed in the first side cover 102 as the same wall surface, the distance between the first discharge port 201a and the second discharge port 201b can be shortened. As a result, the size of the heat transfer member 230 can be reduced.

  The first fan 220 is configured to suck the air heated by the heating roller 51 and send it to the first discharge port 102a, and the first discharge port 102a rather than sending the air to the first discharge port 102a by pushing out the air. It is possible to prevent the air from diffusing before reaching. In this way, the inside of the printer 1 can be cooled more efficiently.

  The second fan 225 is configured to suck the air heated by the power supply substrate 201 and send it to the second discharge port 102b, and the second discharge port 102b rather than sending the air to the second discharge port 102b by pushing out the air. It is possible to prevent the air from diffusing before reaching. In this way, the inside of the printer 1 can be cooled more efficiently.

  Since the first fan 220 and the second fan 225 are provided corresponding to each of the first outlet 102a and the second outlet 102b, the exhaust is performed more reliably.

  4 and 5, the heat transfer member 230 is disposed between the first fan 220 and the first outlet 102a and between the second fan 225 and the second outlet 102b. The image forming apparatus can be downsized as compared with the case where the heat transfer member is provided outside the 102a and the second discharge port 102b.

  Further, since the heat transfer member 230 is disposed at a position closer to the first discharge port 102a and the second discharge port 102b, the air cooled by the heat transfer member 230 is heated again in the housing 100 (in the printer 1). It is possible to suppress the possibility of being

  Since the heat transfer member 230 is made of aluminum and becomes lighter than the case of being made of copper or the like, the weight of the image forming apparatus can be suppressed.

  Since the heat transfer member 230 has a flat plate shape, the space in the printer 1 can be saved.

[Example 2]
Next, Example 2 will be described. The second embodiment is characterized in that the heat of the air heated by the heating roller 51 is radiated to the inside of the printer 500 to reduce the temperature of the air discharged to the outside of the printer 500, and the other portions are the embodiments. Same as 1. Therefore, the description of the same part is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the printer 500 according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the printer 500 includes a first side cover 501, a second side cover 503, a fan 550, a heat transfer member 560, and a heat dissipation member 565.

  The first side cover 501 is formed with a discharge port 501 a for discharging the air heated by the heating roller 51 to the outside of the printer 500.

  The fan 550 is disposed between the fixing unit 50 and the discharge port 501a, sucks the air heated by the heating roller 51, and sends it to the discharge port 501a.

  The heat transfer member 560 is disposed between the fan 550 and the discharge port 501a and is formed of a flat plate made of aluminum and has a large number of holes. The heat transfer member 560 transmits the air heated by the heating roller 51 to the discharge port 501a and transmits the heat of the air to the heat dissipation member 565.

  The heat radiating member 565 is an aluminum flat plate extending downward from the lower end of the heat transfer member 560. The heat radiating member 565 radiates the heat transferred from the heat transfer member 560 to the inside of the printer 500.

  A frame R is provided inside the printer 500 for gently convection of air heated by heat radiated by the heat radiating member 565 into the printer 500.

  According to such a configuration, the heat of the air heated by the heating roller 51 is transmitted to the heat radiating member 565 via the heat transfer member 560 and radiated to the inside of the printer 500. As a result, since the temperature of the air discharged from the discharge port 501a is lowered, it is possible to suppress discomfort to the user even when the air hits the user.

  Further, the frame R prevents the air heated by the heat radiating member 565 from convection to one place. The convection air is gently discharged from between the discharge rollers 64 and the like.

[Example 3]
Next, Example 3 will be described. The third embodiment is characterized in that the heat dissipating member 665 is disposed outside the printer 600, and the other parts are the same as those of the second embodiment. Therefore, the description of the same part is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the printer 600 for explaining the third embodiment, and corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of the printer 1 in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the heat radiating member 665 protrudes to the outside from the lower end of the heat transfer member 560 through the discharge port 501 a and extends downward along the wall surface of the first side cover 501.

According to such a configuration, the heat transmitted to the heat radiating member 665 via the heat transfer member 560 is radiated to the outside of the printer 600, so that the inside of the printer 600 can be efficiently cooled.
[Other examples]
In the first embodiment, the first fan 220 and the second fan 225 are provided for the first discharge port 102a and the second discharge port 102b, respectively. However, the blower may be configured by one fan.

  In the first embodiment, the heating roller 51 is a high heat source and the power supply board 201 is a low heat source. However, a motor that generates a smaller heat than the power supply board may be used as the low heat source.

  In the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, but may be applied to an inkjet or thermal image forming apparatus.

  In the second and third embodiments, the heating roller 51 is a heat source, but a power supply board, a motor, or the like may be a heat source.

  In the first embodiment, the first discharge port 102a and the second discharge port 102b are formed on the same wall surface, but may be formed on different wall surfaces.

  In the first embodiment, the heat transfer member 230 is made of aluminum, but may be formed of stainless steel, tin, or the like.

1 is a central sectional view of a printer 1 as an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer 1 as viewed from above. 2 is a side view of the printer 1. FIG. It is the XX sectional view taken on the line in FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the printer 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram in which the printer 1 is cut along line XX in FIG. 2 and a first side cover 102 is partially cut away. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining Example 2. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining Example 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 50 Fixing unit 51 Heating roller 52 Pressure roller 200 Power supply unit 201 Power supply board 102 1st side cover 102a 1st discharge port 102b 2nd discharge port 230 Heat transfer member 220 1st fan 225 2nd fan

Claims (11)

An image forming unit that forms a predetermined image on a recording medium;
A high heat source that emits heat,
A low heat source that emits less heat than the high heat source;
A first discharge port that covers the image forming unit, the high heat source, and the low heat source, and discharges the air heated by the high heat source to the outside of the image forming apparatus, and image formation of the air heated by the low heat source A housing formed with a second outlet for discharging to the outside of the apparatus;
A blower that sends air heated by the high heat source to the first outlet through a first path and sends air heated by the low heat source to the second outlet through a second path;
Arranged to connect the first path and the second path downstream of the low heat source and the high heat source in the air blowing direction by the blower, and heat from the air heated by the high heat source by the low heat source. An image forming apparatus comprising: a heat transfer member made of metal that transfers heat to the generated air. The image forming unit includes:
A photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
A developer carrier that develops an electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the photoreceptor to form a developer image;
Transfer means for transferring a developer image from the photoreceptor to a recording medium;
A fixing device for thermally fixing the developer image transferred to the recording medium;
A power supply board for supplying power to the image forming unit,
The high heat source is the fixing device;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the low heat source is the power supply substrate.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an air flow suppressing member that suppresses air flow is provided between the fixing device and the power supply substrate. The fixing device is arranged such that the longitudinal direction extends in the horizontal direction,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the power supply substrate is arranged to extend in a horizontal direction below the fixing unit. The housing has a plurality of walls;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first discharge port and the second discharge port are formed on the same wall.   The air blower sucked the air heated by the high heat source disposed downstream of the high heat source and the low heat source and sent to the first outlet, and was heated by the low heat source 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein air is sucked and sent to the second discharge port.   The air blower includes a first air blower that sends air heated by the high heat source to the first outlet, and a second air blower that sends air heated by the low heat source to the second outlet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The heat transfer member is disposed on the downstream side in the air blowing direction with respect to the air blowing device and on the upstream side in the air blowing direction with respect to the first discharge port and the second discharge port. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer member is made of aluminum.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer member has a flat plate shape and has a plurality of holes through which air sent by the blower is passed. . An image forming unit that forms a predetermined image on a recording medium;
A heat source that generates heat,
A housing that covers the image forming unit and the heat source, and is formed with a discharge port for discharging the air heated by the heat source to the outside of the image forming apparatus;
A blower that sends air heated by the heat source toward the outlet;
And a metal heat dissipating member that is disposed downstream of the heat source in the air blowing direction by the air blower and dissipates heat of the air heated by the heat source to the inside or outside of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus.

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