JP2008119887A - Image forming apparatus, apparatus armor cover, paper carrying guide - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently exhausting hot air in the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus, an apparatus external cover and a paper carrying guide. <P>SOLUTION: The paper carrying guide itself has a function of an exhausting duct as well by curving the tip of the paper carrying guide so as to concentrate air flows in spaces existing between the paper carrying guides to an air exhausting fan. The hot air generated from an image forming unit and elevated to the upper part in the apparatus is efficiently concentrated to the exhausting fan by the paper carrying guides to exhaust efficiently the hot air in the apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an apparatus exterior cover, and a sheet conveyance guide.

  In a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus, when a toner image on a recording sheet is heated and fixed, the sheet is heated at a high temperature, so that hot air is easily generated in the apparatus. Since this hot air adversely affects members in the apparatus, it is necessary to quickly exhaust the hot air outside the image forming apparatus.

For example, there is an image forming apparatus in which a duct that guides exhaust including water vapor generated in the apparatus is provided, and an opening for discharging the exhaust to the outside of the apparatus is continuously formed in the duct on the exterior of the apparatus (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-50225

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an apparatus exterior cover, and a sheet conveyance guide that can efficiently exhaust hot air inside the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises an outer wall provided with an exhaust opening for exhausting air inside and at least one concave groove bent or bent in the direction of the exhaust opening. It is characterized by that.

  The invention of claim 2 further comprises a plurality of paper transport guides for guiding the paper along the paper transport path in the invention of claim 1, wherein the concave groove is formed on the outer wall with the paper transport guide. It is characterized by forming by providing in parallel.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an exhaust fan is provided in the exhaust opening.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exhaust opening for exhausting air inside the apparatus, and at least one concave groove curved or bent in the direction of the exhaust opening.

  The invention of claim 5 further comprises a plurality of paper transport guides for guiding the paper along the paper transport path in the invention of claim 4, wherein the concave groove is formed of paper along the paper transport path. It is formed by providing a plurality of paper conveyance guides for guiding the paper in parallel.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, an exhaust fan is provided in the exhaust opening.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when provided in the sheet conveyance path of the image forming apparatus, the tip closer to the exhaust opening for discharging the air inside the image forming apparatus is in the direction of the exhaust opening. It is characterized by a curved or bent shape.

  The inventions according to claims 1, 4 and 7 can increase the exhaust efficiency as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  In the inventions according to claims 2 and 5, space saving and cost reduction can be realized by making the paper transport guide also function as an exhaust duct as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided. It becomes possible.

  In addition, according to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to exhaust hot air reliably by mounting an exhaust fan.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an image forming apparatus, an apparatus exterior cover, and a sheet conveyance guide according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an example of a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an exhaust fan 4 is provided in an exterior cover 3 that can be opened and closed (can be opened and closed in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure) located above the image forming unit 2. A plurality of sheet conveyance guides 6 are provided for guiding the sheet on which the image is formed in 2 along the sheet conveyance path 5.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a perspective view of the paper transport guide 6.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front end portion of the paper conveyance guide 6 (the portion located near the exhaust fan in FIG. 1) is curved or bent.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 with the exterior cover 3 opened.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a plan view of the exterior cover 3 as viewed along line AB in FIG.

  The plurality of paper transport guides 6 are provided on the inner surface of the exterior cover 3 in an arrangement as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the curvature of the leading end of the sheet conveyance guide 6 described in FIG. 2 is directed toward the position where the exhaust fan 4 is provided. That is, by curving or bending the front end of the sheet conveyance guide 6 so that the airflow in the concave groove formed between the sheet conveyance guides 6 is concentrated on the exhaust fan 4, the sheet conveyance guide 6 itself also functions as an exhaust duct. It will be.

  It is possible to further enhance the function of the exhaust duct by concentrating only the rightmost sheet conveyance guide 6 shown in FIG. Becomes more efficient.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the hot air generated from the image forming unit 2 and rising to the upper part in the apparatus is efficiently concentrated on the exhaust fan 4 by the sheet conveyance guide 6, and the hot air in the apparatus is efficiently exhausted. Will be done.

  In addition, by changing the shape of the paper conveyance guide 6, the paper conveyance path 5 is provided near the exterior cover 3 without being limited to the above example in which the paper conveyance guide 6 also functions as an exhaust duct. If not, a configuration in which the outer cover 3 itself also serves as an exhaust duct can be applied by providing a concave groove or the like curved or bent toward the position of the exhaust fan on the inner surface of the outer cover 3. is there.

1 is an example of a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an example of a perspective view of a paper transport guide. 1 is an example of a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus with an exterior cover open. It is an example of the top view which looked at the exterior cover at the AB line in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of hot air exhaust processing in the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image forming unit 3 Exterior cover 4 Exhaust fan 5 Conveyance path 6 Paper conveyance guide

Claims (7)

An exhaust opening for exhausting internal air;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an outer wall provided with at least one concave groove that is curved or bent in the direction of the exhaust opening. A plurality of paper transport guides for guiding the paper along the paper transport path;
The groove is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying guide is formed in parallel on the outer wall. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an exhaust fan is provided in the exhaust opening. An exhaust opening for exhausting air inside the device;
An apparatus exterior cover comprising: at least one concave groove that is curved or bent in the direction of the exhaust opening. A plurality of paper transport guides for guiding the paper along the paper transport path;
The groove is
5. The apparatus exterior cover according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus exterior cover is formed by providing a plurality of paper transport guides for guiding the paper along the paper transport path in parallel. The apparatus exterior cover according to claim 4, wherein an exhaust fan is provided in the exhaust opening. When provided in the paper conveyance path of the image forming apparatus, the tip closer to the exhaust opening for discharging the air inside the image forming apparatus is curved or bent in the direction of the exhaust opening. A paper conveyance guide characterized by.

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