JP2009053407A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus for preventing trouble caused by heat accumulated in the apparatus by discharging the heat accumulated in the apparatus even when a cooling fan is stopped due to power failure or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet includes: a first aperture part to take in outside air, a second aperture part to take in outside air, a fan to send the air taken in from the first aperture part to the inside of the apparatus, and a shutter to block the air taken in from the second aperture part or allow the air to pass through. The fan rotates when the power source of the image forming apparatus is turned on, and the shutter is closed to block the air taken in from the second aperture part when the power source of the image forming apparatus is turned on, and is opened to allow the air taken in from the second aperture part to pass through when the power source of the image forming apparatus is turned off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a cooling technique for internal equipment.

  An image forming apparatus that variably controls the driving time of a cooling fan in accordance with the temperature of a fixing unit after detecting power-off information is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, a cooling fan that introduces outside air into the apparatus and cools the inside of the apparatus, an exhaust port that discharges air in the apparatus, a cooling apparatus that has a shutter that opens and closes when the cooling fan is activated, and an image A forming apparatus is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-10955 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-174596

Since the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 variably controls the stop of the cooling fan in accordance with the temperature of the fixing unit after detecting the power-off information,
The toner in the toner cartridge is prevented from being fused by the heat generated in the fixing unit or the like and accumulated in the apparatus after the power is turned off.

  However, if the cooling fan stops due to the main power switch being turned off, a power failure, or a failure of the cooling fan, the heat accumulated in the apparatus cannot be discharged. For example, in the toner cartridge, the developing unit, There is a problem in that there is a possibility that toner in the cleaning means or in a waste toner collection box (not shown) may be fused or deteriorated.

  In the cooling device and the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the shutter is opened when the cooling fan is operated, and the air in the apparatus can be discharged from the exhaust port so that the inside of the apparatus can be cooled.

  However, if the cooling fan stops in the same manner, the heat accumulated in the apparatus cannot be discharged. For example, the toner in the toner cartridge, the developing unit, or the cleaning means is fused or deteriorated. There was a problem that it might be.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention enables the heat accumulated in the apparatus to be discharged even when the cooling fan has stopped due to a power failure or the like, thereby causing the heat accumulated in the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that prevents occurrence of trouble.

The object is achieved by the following invention.
1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet,
A first opening for taking in external air; a second opening for taking in external air;
A fan that feeds air taken in from the first opening into the apparatus;
A shutter that blocks or passes air taken in from the second opening,
The fan rotates when the power of the image forming apparatus is ON,
The shutter is closed when the power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned on to block air taken in from the second opening, and can be opened when the power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned off. An image forming apparatus capable of passing air taken in from a section.

  By the above means, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that prevents troubles caused by heat accumulated in the apparatus even when the cooling fan stops due to a power failure or the like.

  The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a document feeding unit 2 that transports a document d to the image reading position 21 and then ejects the document d onto a document delivery table 15; an image reading unit 3 that reads an image of the document d; The image forming means 4 for forming a toner image based on the paper, the paper feeding means 5 for picking up a sheet of a predetermined size from the paper feed tray T one by one, and the paper P picked up by the paper feeding means 5 are transferred to the transfer unit. 35, a sheet conveying means 6 for conveying to 35, a fixing means 7 for fixing the transferred toner image on the sheet P, and a reverse discharged / recovered sheet for reversing the fixed sheet or for conveying / feeding it again to the image transfer position. An operation panel 9 having a sheet feeding means 8, a touch panel 91, etc., for performing various displays and inputting operation information such as operation switches, an external PC (Personal Computer), a server, and a network (for example, a LAN) And communication means C11 for carrying out communication via the Internet), and has control means C1 for controlling them, and the like, the.

  This will be described in detail below.

  The image reading means 3 is imaged by the lamp 231 that irradiates the original, the first mirror unit 23 that reflects the reflected light from the original, the second mirror unit 24, the imaging lens 25, and the imaging lens 25. It has a line-shaped CCD 26 that photoelectrically converts a document image.

  When the original d is placed directly on the platen glass 22 and image reading is performed, the first mirror unit 23 and the second mirror unit 24 are moved to form an image of the original on the CCD 26.

  The image forming unit 4 is a part that forms an image using an electrophotographic process, and includes a photoconductive drum 31 having a photoconductive photosensitive layer on the surface as an image carrier, and charging for uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductive drum 31. The exposure unit 33 using an LED array for exposing the photosensitive drum 31 to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the photosensitive drum 31 on the basis of the image data after image processing, and the electrostatic formed on the photosensitive drum 31. A developing unit 34 that develops the latent image into a toner image, a transfer unit 35 that transfers the visualized toner image onto a sheet, AC corona discharge from the back surface of the sheet on which the toner image is transferred, and the photosensitive unit A static eliminator 36 that promotes separation of the sheet from the body drum 31, a cleaning unit 37 for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 31, and the like.

  The fixing unit 7 includes a heating roller 71 having a built-in heating source H, and a pressure roller 72 that rotates while being in pressure contact with the heating roller 71.

  Downstream of the fixing unit 7, a fixing discharge roller 51, a switching unit 52, and a paper discharge roller 53 that discharges the paper toward the paper stacking tray 54 are disposed.

  The reverse paper discharge / refeed means 8 reversely discharges the fixed paper P, or reverses the paper P according to the double-sided image formation mode, and then refeeds the paper P to the image forming means 4.

  Hereinafter, these functions will be described.

  When job information and an image formation activation instruction are input from the operation panel 9, the image forming apparatus 1 is activated.

  As a result, the document feeder 2 separates the documents d placed on the document placing table 11 one by one by the document separator 12 and transports them to the image reading position 21 by the document transport unit 13.

  The document whose image has been read is discharged onto the document discharge table 15 by the document discharge means 14.

  An analog signal obtained by photoelectrically converting the original image read by the CCD 26 is subjected to analog processing and A / D conversion in an image processing unit (not shown) and subjected to image processing such as shading correction, filter processing, γ correction, and image compression processing. After being converted into digital image information, it is temporarily stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 83.

  Then, the photosensitive drum 31 rotated in the direction of the arrow by a driving means (not shown) is uniformly charged by the charger 32, and then statically corresponding to the image information of the document by dot exposure by the exposure means 33 on the photosensitive drum 31. An electrostatic latent image is formed.

  Next, the developing unit 34 uses the electrostatic latent image as a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto the paper P fed by the rotation of the registration roller 38 through the action of the transfer unit 35.

  Then, the sheet carrying the toner image is separated from the photosensitive drum 31 by the static eliminator 36, the toner image transferred onto the sheet is fixed by the fixing unit 7, and the fixed sheet is accumulated on the sheet accumulation tray 54.

  In this way, image formation is performed sequentially, but heat is released from the fixing means 7 or the like that is a heat source during the image formation process.

  Therefore, in order to ventilate the air inside the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is disposed in the first opening (not shown) for taking in external air and the first opening. A fan 16 that feeds air taken in through the opening into the image forming apparatus 1 is provided.

  As will be described in detail later, the fan 16 rotates when the image forming apparatus 1 is powered on.

  The image forming apparatus 1 also has a second opening 41 so that outside air can be taken into the image forming apparatus 1 even when the fan 16 is stopped, for example.

  The second opening 41 is provided with a shutter 45 that blocks or passes the air taken in.

  At the downstream side of the shutter 45, one end of the duct 50 through which the air taken in from the second opening 41 flows is opened, and the other end of the duct 50 is a predetermined portion that may cause trouble with the accumulated heat, For example, the toner cartridge 341, the developing unit 34, the cleaning unit 37, and a waste toner collection box (not shown) are opened around the periphery.

  It should be noted that the other end of the duct 50 is opened around the developing unit 34 and the cleaning means 37 (broken line) so that the drawing is not complicated and unclear. Actually, the toner cartridge 341 and the waste toner collection box are also opened around each other.

  Although it is preferable to open all of these, it may be determined in accordance with the occurrence of trouble by conducting an experiment or the like in advance.

  Then, the air taken in from the second opening 41 passes through the shutter 45 and is sent to, for example, around the toner cartridge 341, the developing unit 34, the cleaning unit 37, and a waste toner collection box (not shown). It is cooling.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 has an exhaust port 17 that takes in air from a first opening (not shown), a second opening 41, and the like and discharges air to the outside of the apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the outside air intake, the shutter, and the regulating means for regulating the operation of the shutter.

2 (a), (b) and (c),
The second opening 41 has alternately an opening 41a that enables the intake of outside air and a closing portion 41b that disables the intake of outside air.

  The shutter 45 has alternately the opening 45a and the closing part 45b corresponding to the opening 41a and the closing part 41b of the second opening 41.

  Then, by closing the closing portion 45b of the shutter 45 with the opening 41a of the second opening 41, the air taken in from the second opening 41 can be blocked (shutter closed).

  Hereinafter, enabling the air taken in from the second opening 41 to be blocked is referred to as a closing operation (or closing), a position where blocking is possible is referred to as a closing position, and a direction enabling blocking is referred to as a closing direction.

  In addition, by making the opening 45a of the shutter 45 coincide with the opening 41a of the second opening 41, the air taken in from the second opening 41 can pass (shutter open).

  Hereinafter, allowing the air taken in from the second opening 41 to pass is referred to as an opening operation (or opening), a position allowing passage is referred to as an open position, and a direction allowing passage is referred to as an opening direction.

  The shutter 45 is provided with a biasing means 46 that constantly biases the shutter 45 in the open position (lower side in the drawing) on the side opposite to the mounting position of the lever 472. The urging means 46 is an elastic member, for example, a spring.

  Therefore, the shutter 45 is biased toward the open position by the biasing means 46 even when the shutter opening / closing solenoid 471 is not energized.

The shutter opening / closing means 47 opens and closes the shutter 45, that is, a shutter opening / closing solenoid 471 which is a driving means for driving in the illustrated vertical direction (direction of arrow W2) (hereinafter, the driving means for driving the shutter 45 is referred to as a shutter opening / closing solenoid 471). When,
It has a lever 472 that transmits the force of the shutter opening / closing solenoid 471 and a support shaft 473 that supports the lever 472 so that it can swing (in the direction of arrow W1).

  One end of the lever 472 is connected to the shutter opening / closing solenoid 471, and the other end of the lever 472 is connected to the shutter 45 (on the side opposite to the biasing means mounting position).

  When the image forming apparatus is powered on and energized, the shutter opening / closing solenoid 471 moves the shutter 45 to the closed position (the upper side in the drawing) via the lever 472 against the urging force of the urging means 46. The closing portion 45b blocks the opening 41a, thereby making it impossible to take in outside air.

  As a result, the shutter 45 closes when the power of the image forming apparatus is ON (that is, the opening 41a is shielded by the closing part 45b) to block the air taken in from the second opening 41.

  The shutter opening / closing solenoid 471 is urged toward the closed position (lower side in the figure) by the urging means 46 when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off and is not energized. Incorporation is possible.

  As a result, the shutter 45 is opened when the power of the image forming apparatus is OFF (the opening 41a and the opening 45a are matched), and allows the air taken in from the second opening 41 to pass therethrough.

  The restricting means 43 for prohibiting or permitting the opening / closing operation of the shutter 45 can prohibit the movement of the shutter 45 from the closed position to the open position.

  The restricting means 43 includes a stopper 432 that prohibits the movement of the shutter 45 described above, and a restricting means drive motor 431 that is a drive means that drives the stopper 432 in the direction of the arrow W3 (hereinafter, the drive means is referred to as a restricting means drive motor 431). ).

  The regulating means drive motor 431 is controlled by the control means C1 to drive the stopper 432 and determine the stop position of the stopper 432.

  The restricting means drive motor 431 may be a pulse motor or a rotary solenoid that rotates the actuator.

  The stopper 432 is positioned at one of a restriction position 433 that prohibits the movement of the shutter 45 from the closed position to the open position, and a non-restriction position 434 where the shutter 45 can freely move.

  As will be described in detail later, when the inside of the apparatus reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, the stopper 432 is positioned at the non-regulating position 434, and the movement of the shutter 45 from the closed position to the open position is permitted.

  When the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the stopper 432 is positioned at the restriction position 433, and the movement of the shutter 45 from the closed position to the open position is prohibited.

  The stopper 432 driven by the restricting means driving motor 431 maintains the position immediately before it is cut off even if the restricting means driving motor 431 is de-energized.

  Therefore, for example, when the inside of the apparatus is at a predetermined temperature or more immediately before the power is turned off and the stopper 432 is in the non-restricted position 434, the power is turned off to energize the restricting means drive motor 431 and the shutter opening / closing solenoid 471. Even when the shutter is disconnected, the stopper 432 maintains the non-restricted position 434 and permits the shutter 45 to move from the closed position to the open position.

  Accordingly, the shutter 45 is moved from the closed position to the open position by the biasing means 46.

  As described above, when the temperature inside the apparatus is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the shutter 45 can be opened and the outside air can be taken in from the second opening 41 even after the fan 16 is stopped due to power interruption or the like. The accumulated heat is discharged, and it is possible to prevent troubles caused by the heat accumulated in the apparatus.

  Further, when the inside of the apparatus is below a predetermined temperature immediately before the power is turned off and the stopper 432 is at the restriction position 433, the stopper 432 maintains the restriction position 433 and the shutter 45 moves from the closed position to the open position. Is prohibited.

  As a result, the shutter 45 cannot move from the closed position to the open position, and maintains the closed position.

  As described above, even when the fan 16 is stopped due to power-off or the like, when the inside of the apparatus is below a predetermined temperature, there is no risk of trouble due to heat accumulated in the apparatus. The outside air is not taken in from the second opening 41 by closing. In addition, it is possible to prevent intrusion of dust from the outside of the apparatus.

  FIG. 2A is a diagram showing that the shutter 45 is in the closed position and is shielded so as to make it impossible to take in outside air from the second opening 41 as in normal operation, for example.

  FIG. 2B is a view of the second opening 41 and the shutter 45 of FIG.

  A pair of shutter guide members 42 are fixed to the housing 1a of the image forming apparatus so as to guide the shutter 45 and make it movable in the front and back direction.

The shutter 45 is guided by the shutter guide member 42 by the ON / OFF of the shutter opening / closing solenoid 46 so as to be movable in the front and back direction.
FIG. 2C is a view in which the shutter 45 is located at the open position and is released so that the outside air can be taken into the second opening 41.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the power supply relationship of the image forming apparatus.

  A commercial power source 60 is connected to the main power switch 61 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  When the main power switch 61 is turned on, commercial power is supplied to the control system power supply 62 and the drive system power supply 65, and control power (for example, 5V system) 63 is output from the control system power supply 62.

  The control means C1 enters the control state by the output of the control power (for example, 5V system) 63.

  When the sub power switch 64 is turned on, the control means C1 outputs an output ON control signal 66 to the drive system power supply 65, and the drive system power supply 65 thereby outputs drive power (for example, 24V system) 67 that is the power supply of the image forming apparatus. To do.

  The fan 16 is energized by the output of the driving power (for example, 24V system) 67 and the fan rotates to send outside air into the apparatus.

  Further, the shutter opening / closing solenoid 471 is energized, and as described above, the shutter 45 is moved to the closed position (the upper side in the drawing) via the lever 472 against the urging force of the urging means 46, thereby making it impossible to take in outside air. To do.

  Further, the restricting means drive motor 431 can be controlled by the control means C1.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram relating to control of the image forming apparatus.

  A block diagram relating to control of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control means C1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 82, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 83, an I / O controller 84 for controlling various means and members under the control of the CPU 81. And it has the bus | bath 85 which connects these mutually.

The ROM 82 has a program for controlling the entire image forming apparatus in advance,
At a predetermined temperature, that is, a temperature at which troubles caused by heat accumulated in the apparatus can be prevented from occurring, for example, toner is collected inside the toner cartridge 341, the developing unit 34, the cleaning unit 37, and a waste toner collection box (not shown). A temperature obtained by adding a marginal temperature to a limit temperature at which no fusion occurs is stored.

  A program for controlling the entire image forming apparatus by the CPU 81 is sequentially stored in the RAM 83 and executed.

  The operation panel 9 displays various operation screens via the I / O controller 84 under the control of the CPU 81, and operation information (selection information on various keys) such as switches displayed on the operation screen is the control means C1. Is input.

  The operation panel 9 has a sub power switch 64 that is a power switch normally used by an operator, and operation information is input to the control means C1.

  When the image forming apparatus activation information is input from the operation panel 9, the document feeding unit 2 operates the document separating unit 12 and the document conveying unit 13 through the I / O controller 84 under the control of the CPU 81. The document d is conveyed to the image reading position 21.

  The image reading unit 3 reads a document image from the document conveyed by the document feeding unit 2 via the I / O controller 84 under the control of the CPU 81, and inputs it as analog document image information to the control unit C1. Then, the control means C1 converts the analog original image into a digital image and stores it in a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) (not shown) or the like.

  The image forming unit 4 forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 by the LED array of the exposure unit 33 based on the digital image data read from the HDD via the I / O controller 84 under the control of the CPU 81. Then, a toner image is formed by the developing unit 34.

  The paper feeding means 5 feeds paper from a predetermined paper feeding cassette based on the paper feeding cassette information input from the operation panel 9 via the I / O controller 84 under the control of the CPU 81.

  Under the control of the CPU 81, the sheet conveying means 6 positions the sheet P supplied from the sheet feeding means 5 via the I / O controller 84 by the registration rollers 38 and conveys the sheet P toward the transfer position at a predetermined timing. .

  The fixing unit 7 adjusts the temperature of the heating roller 71 via the I / O controller 84 under the control of the CPU 81 and fixes the toner image.

  The reverse paper discharge / refeed means 8 performs the paper reversal and paper re-feeding operation under the control of the CPU 81 via the I / O controller 84 during the duplex printing.

  The communication unit C11 is connected to an external PC or the like via a network (for example, a LAN), and transmits and receives image information and the like with the PC under the control of the control unit C1. Then, the control unit C1 stores the received image information or the like in the HDD or the like.

  The fan 16 detects an abnormality when the fan cannot rotate due to a failure or the like, and inputs fan abnormality information to the control means C1.

  The temperature sensor 18 detects the temperature inside the image forming apparatus and inputs the detected temperature information to the control unit C1.

  The mounting position of the temperature sensor 18 is not particularly limited as long as the temperature inside the apparatus can be measured, but preferably, for example, one of the vicinity of the toner cartridge, the vicinity of the developing unit, the vicinity of the cleaning unit, or the vicinity of the waste toner collection box (not shown). The part where the temperature is high is good.

  The drive system power supply 65 is C. Under the control of the PU 81, drive power (for example, 24V system) is output by an output ON control signal input via the I / O controller 84.

  The restriction means drive motor 431 stops the stopper 432 at the restriction position 433 or the non-restriction position 434 via the I / O controller 84.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart relating to cooling of the internal devices of the image forming apparatus.

  This flow is executed by the control means. However, since it is possible to grasp the overall picture by explaining the control related to cooling of the internal equipment of the image forming apparatus in a macro manner, the control executed partially in hardware is also described. It is.

  It should be noted that step numbers are assigned to controls executed by the control means, and step numbers are not assigned to controls executed in hardware.

1. Determination of main switch ON If the main switch 61 is ON, the process proceeds to the next step “supply of commercial power to the control system power supply 62 and the drive system power supply 65”, and if not ON, “control system power supply 62 and drive system Proceed to the step of “off commercial power supply to power supply 65”.

2. Supply of commercial power to control system power supply 62 and drive system power supply 65
When the main switch 61 is turned on, commercial power is supplied to the control system power supply 62 and the drive system power supply 65, and the process proceeds to the next step “control system power output ON”.

3. Control system power output ON (control means start)
By supplying commercial power to the control system power supply 62, control system power is output, the control means C1 is activated, and the process proceeds to the next step (step S101).

4). Sub switch ON / OFF determination (step S101)
If the sub switch 64 is monitored and ON is detected (Yes), the process proceeds to the next step, and Step S101 is repeated until ON is detected (No).

5). Outputs drive system output ON control signal (step S102)
The output ON control signal of the drive system power supply 65 is output, and the process proceeds to the next step “drive system power output ON”.

6). Drive system power output ON
Drive system power is output by the output ON control signal of the drive system power supply 65, and the process proceeds to the next step "fan ON shutter opening / closing solenoid ON".

7). Fan ON Shutter open / close solenoid ON
The fan 16 is energized by the output of the driving system power, and the fan rotates to send outside air into the apparatus.

  Further, the shutter opening / closing solenoid 471 is energized, the shutter 45 is moved to the closed position, the outside air cannot be taken in, and the process proceeds to the next step “image formation”.

  As a result, the air from the second opening 41 is not taken in, but the inside of the apparatus is ventilated (cooled) by the operation of the fan 16.

8). Image formation An image is formed in the image forming unit, and the process proceeds to the next step (step S103).

9. Capture of temperature t2 detected by the temperature sensor (step S103)
The temperature detected by the temperature sensor 18 is captured and stored in, for example, the RAM 83, and the process proceeds to the next step.

10. Reading the predetermined temperature t1 (step S104)
The predetermined temperature t1 is read from the ROM 82, and the process proceeds to the next step.

  For example, in the toner cartridge 341, the developing unit 34, the cleaning unit 37, and the waste toner collection box (not shown), a temperature obtained by adding a margin temperature to a limit temperature at which the toner is not fused is defined as a predetermined temperature t1.

11. Comparison between predetermined temperature t1 and capture temperature t2 (step S105)
The predetermined temperature t1 read in step S104 is compared with the detected temperature t2 of the temperature sensor 18 stored in step S103, and the process proceeds to the next step.

12 Determination of predetermined temperature t1 ≦ take-in temperature t2 (step S106)
As a result of comparing the predetermined temperature t1 and the detected temperature t2, if the take-in temperature t2 is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature t1 (Yes), it is determined that the toner is close to the risk of fusing, and the process proceeds to the next step.

  If the take-in temperature t2 is less than the predetermined temperature t1 (No), it is determined to be safe and the process proceeds to step S109.

  Here, in step S106, when fan abnormality information output when the fan cannot rotate due to a failure or the like is input from the fan 16 to the control means C1, it is determined that the toner has a risk of fusing, You may make it progress to step S107. By doing so, it is possible to move the shutter 45 in the direction in which outside air can be taken in even when the temperature inside the apparatus increases due to the failure of the fan 16.

13. Move the stopper to the non-restricted position (step S107)
In order to prevent toner fusion, the regulating means driving motor 43 is driven to move the stopper 432 to the non-regulating position 434 so that the operation from the closing to the opening of the shutter 45 is permitted.

  As a result, the shutter 45 moves to a position (shutter open position) where outside air can be taken in by the urging of the urging means 46, and proceeds to the next step.

  If, for example, image formation for a long time is not continuously performed after the power is turned on, the temperature (capture temperature) in the image forming apparatus does not normally rise above the temperature defined in step S106.

  In such a case, the stopper 432 is located at the restriction position 433 and moves to the non-regulation position 434 in this step.

  If the stopper 432 is already positioned at the restriction position 433 for some reason, the stopper 432 is moved from the restriction position 433 to the non-restriction position 434 in step S107.

  Needless to say, if the stopper 432 is already positioned at the non-restricted position 434 for some reason, the non-restricted position 434 is maintained in step S107.

  Note that the stopper 432 maintains the position determined in this step even when the power source or the like is turned off.

14 Job end determination (step S108)
The job conditions set by the operator are read out. For example, if image formation of a predetermined number of copies is completed (Yes), it is determined that the job is completed, and the process proceeds to the end. If image formation of a predetermined number of copies is not completed (No) It is determined that the job has not been completed, and the process proceeds to the “image formation” step.

15. Move stopper to regulation position (step S109)
Since there is no possibility of toner fusion or the like, the restricting means driving motor 43 is driven to move the stopper 432 to the restricting position 433, and the shutter 45 is operated so as not to be moved from closing to opening.

  Thereby, the movement of the shutter 45 from the closed position to the open position (movement to a position where intake of outside air can be taken) is prohibited, and the process proceeds to step S108.

  If, for example, continuous image formation for a long time is not performed after the power is turned on, the temperature (capture temperature) in the image forming apparatus does not rise above the temperature defined in the normal step S106.

  In such a case, it goes without saying that the stopper 432 is positioned at the restriction position 433, and the restriction position 433 is maintained in this step.

  If for some reason the stopper 432 is already positioned at the non-restricted position 434, the stopper 432 is moved from the non-restricted position 434 to the restricted position 433 in step S109.

  Needless to say, if the stopper 432 is already positioned at the restriction position 433 for some reason, the restriction position 433 is maintained in step S109.

  Note that the stopper 432 maintains the position determined in this step even when the power source or the like is turned off.

16. Commercial power supply to control system power supply 62 and drive system power supply 65 OFF
When the main switch 61 is turned off, the commercial power supply to the control system power supply 62 and the drive system power supply 65 is cut off, and the process proceeds to the next step “output of control system power and drive system power OFF”.

17. Control system power and drive system power output OFF
When the commercial power supply to the control system power supply 62 and the drive system power supply 65 is cut off, the output of the control system power and the drive system power is turned OFF, and the process proceeds to the next step “fan OFF shutter opening / closing solenoid OFF”.

18. Fan OFF Shutter open / close solenoid OFF
When the drive system power output is turned OFF, the energization of the fan 16 and the shutter opening / closing solenoid 471 is cut off, and the fan 16 stops rotating.

  Further, when the energization is stopped, the shutter opening / closing solenoid 471 attempts to move the shutter 45 in the opening direction (direction in which outside air can be taken in) by the urging of the urging means 46.

  Here, if the stopper 432 is moved to the non-regulating position 434 in step S107 while the outputs of the control system power supply 62 and the drive system power supply 65 are ON, the shutter 45 is moved to the open position by the urging means 46. Moving.

  Even after the outputs of the control system power supply 62 and the drive system power supply 65 are turned off, the shutter 45 is positioned in the open position by the urging means 46.

  Thereby, for example, the outside air can be taken in even after the output of the drive system power is turned off, and the heat stored in the apparatus can be discharged.

  If the stopper 432 is moved to the restriction position 433 in step S109 while the outputs of the control system power supply 62 and the drive system power supply 65 are ON, the outputs of the control system power supply 62 and the drive system power supply 65 are OFF. Even after the shutter 45 is moved, the shutter 45 cannot move in the opening direction, and the shutter 45 maintains the closed position.

  Thereby, for example, after the output of the drive system power is turned off, it is impossible to take in the outside air, and it is possible to prevent entry of dust and the like from the outside into the apparatus.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing with the restriction | limiting means which regulates the operation | movement of an outside air inlet, a shutter, and a shutter. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a power supply relationship of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block diagram relating to control of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to cooling of internal devices of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1a Case 9 Operation panel 16 Fan 18 Temperature sensor 41 Outside air inlet 43 Control means 45 Shutter 47 Shutter opening / closing means 50 Duct 91 Touch panel 341 Toner cartridge C1 Control means

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet,
A first opening for taking in external air; a second opening for taking in external air;
A fan that feeds air taken in from the first opening into the apparatus;
A shutter that blocks or passes air taken in from the second opening,
The fan rotates when the power of the image forming apparatus is ON,
The shutter is closed when the power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned on to block air taken in from the second opening, and can be opened when the power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned off. An image forming apparatus capable of passing air taken in from a section. A temperature detector for detecting the temperature inside the image forming apparatus;
A restricting unit that prohibits or permits the opening and closing operation of the shutter,
If the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the regulation unit operates to prohibit the operation from opening to closing of the shutter, and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is predetermined. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the temperature is lower than the temperature, the image forming apparatus operates so as to prohibit the operation from closing to opening of the shutter. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a duct that sends air taken in from the second opening to a predetermined part inside the image forming apparatus through the shutter. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined portion is around at least one of a toner cartridge, a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and a waste toner collection box.

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