JP2008033163A - Keeping-warm unit and image forming apparatus with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keeping-warm unit which can dehumidify the inside of an image forming apparatus and keep the inside thereof warm by being applied to the image forming apparatus only when used in an environment needing it, and which can suppress an increase in cost and size of the image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The keeping-warm unit 40 provided in a printer 1 is provided with; a humidity detection sensor 43, a temperature detection sensor 44, a heater 45 which is a heat source, a fan 46 which is an air blowing means and a control means 47 controlling the heater 45 and the fan 46 based on information received by each sensor. Since the keeping-warm unit acts independently of operation of the printer 1 and dehumidifies the inside of the printer 1 and keeps the inside thereof warm, the heater 45 and the fan 46 can be moved regardless of the operating state of the printer 1. Thus, the construction of a complicated control system for the heater and the fan is not necessary for a main body 2 of the printer 1. Furthermore, since the keeping-warm unit 40 is freely attachable/detachable to/from outside the printer 1, reduction in cost and power consumption of the printer 1 can be attained and the printer can be made compact. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an external heat retaining unit that retains and dehumidifies the inside of an image forming apparatus represented by a copying machine or a printer. The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus provided with the heat retaining unit.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a photosensitive drum is widely used as an image carrier. A general image forming operation using the photosensitive drum is as follows. The surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged with a predetermined potential by a charging device, and by irradiating the LED light or the like of the exposure device there, the potential is partially attenuated to form an electrostatic latent image of an original image. Is done. The electrostatic latent image is developed with a developing device to form a toner image. After the transfer of the toner image onto the paper, the remaining toner is cleaned on the surface of the photosensitive drum by the cleaning device, and the charge removal is performed by irradiating the neutralization light by the neutralization device in preparation for the next image forming operation. Is called.

  In the photosensitive drum that is the main part of the image forming operation as described above, in particular, when an amorphous silicon photosensitive member is used, if the usage environment is high humidity, the discharge product formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum absorbs moisture. It is known that there are many image flows that are attracted and the toner image is disturbed. In order to prevent the occurrence of image flow, it is necessary to prevent moisture from being generated on the surface of the photosensitive drum, or to remove discharge products formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum and adsorbing moisture.

Further, if the inside of the image forming apparatus is at a high humidity, the transfer performance of the toner onto the paper is adversely affected. In order to prevent moisture from being generated on the surface of the photosensitive drum as a countermeasure against the image flow as described above and to avoid high humidity inside the apparatus to improve transfer performance, a heater in the image forming apparatus has been conventionally used. A method of dehumidifying and keeping warm has been proposed. An example of an image forming apparatus equipped with such a heater can be seen in Patent Document 1.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-77844 (page 7-8, FIG. 2)

  In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the inside of the apparatus is dehumidified and kept warm by controlling the heater mounted in the apparatus by turning off the apparatus power or by the control means built in the apparatus body. I have to. However, in this configuration, since the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body may be required for controlling the heater, a complicated control system must be constructed in the image forming apparatus. As a result, the cost of the image forming apparatus main body may be increased. Further, since the heater is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the cost of the image forming apparatus may be further increased, the apparatus itself may be increased in size, and power consumption may be increased. Depending on the environment in which the image forming apparatus is used, it is not necessary to dehumidify, for example, in a dry area, and a heater is unnecessary. Therefore, an extra functional component is mounted on the image forming apparatus used in such a region, which may increase the cost and size of the unnecessary image forming apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can suppress an increase in cost and size of an image forming apparatus and an increase in power consumption. The present invention is applied only when used in a necessary environment. An object of the present invention is to provide a heat retaining unit capable of dehumidifying and keeping warm. It is another object of the present invention to provide a high-performance image forming apparatus that is provided with such a heat retaining unit and is capable of preventing the occurrence of image flow and improving transfer performance.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a heat retention unit of an image forming apparatus, wherein a humidity detection sensor and / or a temperature detection sensor, a heat source, a blowing unit, and information received from each sensor are used as the heat source. And a control means for controlling the blowing means, and operates independently of the operation of the image forming apparatus, dehumidifies and keeps the inside of the image forming apparatus, and is removable from the outside of the image forming apparatus. It was supposed to be.

  Further, in the heat retaining unit having the above configuration, power is supplied through the image forming apparatus together with the mounting to the image forming apparatus.

  In addition, the heat retention unit having the above configuration includes a power cable that is separate from the image forming apparatus.

  In the present invention, the above-described heat retaining unit is provided in the image forming apparatus.

  Further, the image forming apparatus having the above configuration includes a switch that turns off the heat retaining unit when the apparatus is turned on and turns on the power when the apparatus is turned off.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, in the heat retaining unit of the image forming apparatus, the humidity detection sensor and / or the temperature detection sensor, the heat source, the blowing unit, and the heat source and the blowing unit based on information received from each sensor. Control means for controlling the image forming apparatus, which operates independently of the operation of the image forming apparatus and dehumidifies and keeps the inside of the image forming apparatus. In order to improve, when the inside of the image forming apparatus is dehumidified and kept warm, it is possible to operate the heat source and the air blowing unit regardless of the operation state of the image forming apparatus. Thus, the image forming apparatus main body does not require the construction of a complicated control system for the heat source and the air blowing means. Furthermore, since the heat retaining unit is detachable from the outside of the image forming apparatus, unlike those mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the cost of the image forming apparatus is reduced, the size of the apparatus is reduced, and the power consumption is reduced. Can be achieved. Further, for example, it is possible to prevent an extra functional member from being mounted on an image forming apparatus used in a place such as a dry area that does not need to be dehumidified. In this way, it is possible to suppress an increase in the cost and size of the image forming apparatus and an increase in power consumption, and it can be applied only when used in a necessary environment and can be dehumidified and kept warm inside the apparatus. Can be obtained.

  Further, since the heat retaining unit is attached to the image forming apparatus and supplied with electric power through the image forming apparatus, a dedicated power cable or the like for connecting to the power source is not required. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the cost and size of the image forming apparatus and increase the power consumption, and to reduce the size and cost of the heat retaining unit itself.

  Further, since the heat retaining unit includes a power cable that is separate from the image forming apparatus, it can receive power supply independently of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the image forming apparatus operates even when it is not connected to the power supply at all, and the inside of the image forming apparatus can be dehumidified and kept warm.

  Further, in the present invention, since the image forming apparatus is provided with the above heat retaining unit, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost, an increase in size, and an increase in power consumption, and only when used in a necessary environment, It is possible to dehumidify and keep the temperature inside the apparatus, and it is possible to obtain a high-performance image forming apparatus in which occurrence of image flow is prevented and transfer performance is improved.

  Further, the image forming apparatus includes a switch that turns off the heat retaining unit when the apparatus is turned on, and turns on the heat retaining unit when the apparatus is turned off, so that a complicated control system is not required. The electric power can be supplied to the heat retaining unit with a simple configuration. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the increase in cost and size of the image forming apparatus related to the construction of the control system, and it is possible to easily perform the control for dehumidifying and keeping the temperature inside the apparatus without any trouble.

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

  First, the image output operation of the image forming apparatus including the heat retaining unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described while explaining the outline of the structure with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional right side view showing a schematic structure of a printer as an example of an image forming apparatus. In FIG. 1, the left side is the front side of the printer, and the right side is the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a paper cassette 3 that is a paper storage unit is disposed below the inside of the main body 2 of the printer 1. Inside the paper cassette 3, paper P is stacked and stored. A paper feeding device 4 is disposed above the downstream portion of the paper cassette 3 in the paper conveyance direction. The sheet feeding device 4 feeds the sheet P toward the upper left of the sheet cassette 3 in FIG.

  A paper transport path 5, a registration roller 6, an image forming unit 20, and a transfer unit 30 are disposed downstream of the paper cassette 3 in the paper transport direction. The paper P sent out from the paper cassette 3 reaches the registration roller 6 through the paper transport path 5. The registration roller 6 feeds the paper P to the transfer unit 30 by correcting the oblique feeding of the paper P and timings the toner image formed by the image forming unit 20.

  Image data signals such as characters, graphics, and patterns from an external computer (not shown) are transmitted to the printer 1, and a laser controlled by the optical unit 7 provided above the image forming unit 20 based on the image data. Light L (dashed line in the figure) is irradiated. As a result, the image forming unit 20 forms an electrostatic latent image of the original image on the photosensitive drum 21 that is an image carrier, and the toner image is developed from the electrostatic latent image. The toner image is transferred to the paper P sent in synchronization by the registration roller 6 at a transfer nip portion formed by press contact between the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer roller 31 of the transfer portion 30.

  A fixing device 8, a paper transport path 9, and a paper discharge unit 10 are disposed downstream of the image forming unit 20 and the transfer unit 30 in the paper transport direction. The sheet P carrying the unfixed toner image in the transfer unit 30 is sent to the fixing device 8 and the toner image is fixed by the heat roller. The paper P discharged from the fixing device 8 is sent upward through the paper conveyance path 9, and is discharged from the paper discharge port 11 to the paper discharge unit 10 provided at the top of the main body 2.

  In the printer 1 configured as described above, the series of image output operations as described above are controlled by the control means 12 built in the printer 1.

  On the other hand, a heat retaining unit 40 is provided on the back surface of the main body 2 of the printer 1, which is on the right side in FIG. 1. The heat retaining unit 40 performs dehumidification and heat retention inside the printer 1 by sending warm air into the printer 1. The heat retaining unit 40 is detachably attached to the main body 2 from the outside.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the heat retaining unit 40 and the vicinity of the mounting location will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a perspective view of the printer as seen from the back side, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer as seen from the back side, and shows a state where the heat insulation unit is disassembled, and FIG. It is a schematic structure and a control circuit diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the heat retaining unit 40 is provided on the back surface of the main body 2 of the printer 1. As described above, the heat retaining unit 40 is detachably attached to the main body 2 from the outside.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heat retaining unit 40 includes a humidity detection sensor 43, a temperature detection sensor 44, a heater 45 as a heat source, a fan 46 as a blower, and a control inside a housing 41 and a lid 42. Means 47 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 41 has a box shape with the back side opened, and a lid 42 is attached to the opening. A slit 48 is formed on one surface of the housing 41 on the main body 2 side and the lid 42. In addition, a slit or an opening (not shown) is also provided at a place where the heat retaining unit 40 is mounted on the back surface of the main body 2. Thereby, air can be circulated between the outside and inside of the printer 1 through the inside of the heat retaining unit 40.

  The humidity detection sensor 43 and the temperature detection sensor 44 are provided in the vicinity of the back surface of the main body 2 as shown in FIG. The humidity detection sensor 43 detects the humidity inside the printer 1, and the temperature detection sensor 44 detects the temperature inside the printer 1. The humidity and temperature information obtained by these sensors is transmitted to the control means 47.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fan 46 that is a blowing means is provided inside the housing 41 and just inside the lid 42. The fan 46 receives the command from the control means 47 and circulates air so as to be sucked from the outside through the slit 48 of the lid 42.

  The heater 45 as a heat source is provided on the side closer to the main body 2 than the fan 46. By heating the heater 45 and driving the fan 46, the outside air can be sent into the printer 1 while being warmed.

  The control means 47 controls the heater 45 and the fan 46 based on the humidity and temperature information received from the humidity detection sensor 43 and the temperature detection sensor 44. The control means 47 of the heat retaining unit 40 is separate from the control means 12 (see FIG. 1) of the printer 1, and operates the heat retaining unit 40 independently of the operation of the printer 1, The inside is dehumidified and kept warm.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the heat retaining unit 40 is connected to an electric circuit formed inside the main body 2 while being mounted on the main body 2 of the printer 1. A connection connector (not shown) that electrically connects each other is provided on one surface of the heat retaining unit 40 on the main body 2 side and on the rear surface of the main body 2 where the heat retaining unit 40 is mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the printer 1 includes a power plug 13 and a power switch 14 connected thereto. The power switch 14 is a main switch of the printer 1 and can switch power supply between the printer 1 and the heat retaining unit 40.

  FIG. 4 shows a power-on state of the printer 1, and power is supplied to the control means 12 of the printer 1. At this time, the power supply of the heat retaining unit 40 is off. When the printer 1 is powered on, the fixing device 8 and other motors operate and generate heat, so that the inside becomes relatively high temperature and there is no need for dehumidification and heat retention by the heat retaining unit 40.

  When the printer 1 is turned off, the power switch 14 shown in FIG. 4 connects the wiring that continues from the power plug 13 to the electrical circuit that continues to the heat retaining unit 40. As a result, power is supplied to the heat retaining unit 40 via the printer 1. Then, the heat retaining unit 40 controls the heater 45 and the fan 46 based on the humidity and temperature information received from the humidity detection sensor 43 and the temperature detection sensor 44, and sends warm air into the printer 1. The inside is dehumidified and kept warm.

  As described above, the heat retaining unit 40 provided in the printer 1 as an image forming apparatus includes a humidity detection sensor 43 and a temperature detection sensor 44, a heater 45 as a heat source, a fan 46 as a blowing means, And a control means 47 for controlling the heater 45 and the fan 46 based on the information received from the sensor. The control means 47 operates independently of the operation of the printer 1 and dehumidifies and keeps the inside of the printer 1. Therefore, the heater 45 and the fan 46 can be operated regardless of the operating state of the printer 1 when the inside of the printer 1 is dehumidified and kept warm. Thereby, the main body 2 of the printer 1 does not require the construction of a complicated control system for heaters and fans. Furthermore, since the heat retaining unit 40 is detachable from the outside of the printer 1, unlike the one mounted on the main body 2 of the printer 1, the cost of the printer 1 is reduced, the size of the apparatus is reduced, and the power consumption is reduced. It is possible. Further, for example, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary functional member from being mounted on the printer 1 used in a place such as a dry area where it is not necessary to dehumidify. In this way, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and size of the printer 1 and an increase in power consumption, and the heat retaining unit 40 can be applied only when used in a necessary environment and can dehumidify and retain heat inside the apparatus. Can be obtained.

  Since the heat retaining unit 40 is attached to the printer 1 and is supplied with power via the printer 1, it does not require a dedicated power cable or the like for connection to a power source. Thereby, in addition to being able to suppress an increase in cost and size of the printer 1 and an increase in power consumption, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the heat retaining unit 40 itself.

  Further, in the present invention, since the above-described heat retaining unit 40 is provided in the printer 1, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost, an increase in size, and an increase in power consumption, and it is applied only when used in a necessary environment. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a high-performance printer 1 that can prevent the image flow and improve the transfer performance.

  Furthermore, the printer 1 includes the power switch 14 that turns off the power of the heat retaining unit 40 when the power of the apparatus is turned on and turns on the power of the heat retaining unit 40 when the power of the apparatus is turned off. In addition, power can be supplied to the heat retaining unit 40 with a simple configuration. Therefore, the increase in cost and size of the printer 1 relating to the construction of the control system can be suppressed, and the control for dehumidifying and keeping the inside of the apparatus can be easily performed without trouble.

  Next, the detailed structure of the heat retaining unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration and control circuit diagram around the heat retaining unit and its mounting location. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the configuration common to the first embodiment is described in the drawings, and The description will be omitted.

  In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the heat retaining unit 40 includes a power cable 49 that is separate from the printer 1. As a result, power can be supplied independently of the printer 1. Therefore, the printer 1 operates even when it is not connected to the power supply at all, and the inside of the printer 1 can be dehumidified and kept warm.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, both the humidity detection sensor 43 and the temperature detection sensor 44 are provided. However, both of the sensors are not necessarily provided, and only one of them may be provided. The printer 1 is an image forming apparatus for monochrome printing that uses only black toner. However, the printer 1 is an image forming apparatus for color printing including a copying machine, a fax machine, or a multifunction machine having these functions. It doesn't matter.

  The present invention can be used in general image forming apparatuses.

1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional right side view of a printer which is an image forming apparatus including a heat retaining unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the printer of FIG. 1 from the back side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a printer similar to FIG. 2 as seen from the back side, showing a state in which the heat retaining unit is disassembled. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration and a control circuit diagram around the heat retaining unit in FIG. 2 and its mounting location. It is a schematic configuration and a control circuit diagram around a heat retaining unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention and its mounting location.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer (image forming device)
2 Body 13 Power plug 14 Power switch (switch)
40 Thermal insulation unit 41 Housing 42 Lid 43 Humidity detection sensor 44 Temperature detection sensor 45 Heater (heat source)
46 Fan (Blowing means)
47 Control means 49 Power cable

Claims (5)

A humidity detection sensor and / or temperature detection sensor, a heat source, a blower means, and a control means for controlling the heat source and the blower means based on information received from each sensor;
A heat retaining unit that operates independently of the operation of the image forming apparatus, dehumidifies and heats the interior of the image forming apparatus, and is detachable from the outside of the image forming apparatus.   The heat retaining unit according to claim 1, wherein power is supplied through the image forming apparatus together with the mounting to the image forming apparatus.   The heat retention unit according to claim 1, further comprising a power cable separate from the image forming apparatus.   An image forming apparatus comprising the heat retaining unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a switch that turns off the power of the heat retaining unit when the apparatus is turned on and turns on the power of the heat retaining unit when the apparatus is turned off.