JP2010197702A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a flow path where air flows in a narrow space. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt 62 and a protective member 74 protecting the intermediate transfer belt 62. The protective member 74 is moved between a first position where at least a part of the intermediate transfer belt 62 is covered and a second position where the flow path where the air flows is formed. The intermediate transfer belt is openably and closably attached to an image forming apparatus body and the protective member 74 is moved from the second position to the first position in conjunction with such an operation that the intermediate transfer belt 62 is opened with respect to the image forming apparatus body and moved from the first position to the second position in conjunction with such an operation that the intermediate transfer belt 62 is closed with respect to the image forming apparatus body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, a process member is housed in a case and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. A long opening is formed in the case, and the opening is closed from the open position. In a process unit in which a shutter is rotatably provided to a closed position, and the shutter is rotated to an open position when mounted in the image forming apparatus, the shutter and the shutter are rotated to the open position. A process unit is disclosed in which a ventilation duct surrounded by the outer peripheral surface of the case is formed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a transport path for transporting a transfer material, an exposure unit, an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a belt body, a frame body that supports the lower part of the apparatus, and a door that opens and closes the frame body. The door is in a position retracted from the belt body when the door is closed, and moved to a position for protecting the belt body when the door is open. An image forming apparatus having a protective member is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-1332060

JP 2006-139068 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a flow path through which air flows in a narrow space.

  The present invention according to claim 1 includes a transport member that transports an image or a recording medium that holds the image, and a protection unit that protects the transport member, and the protection unit includes at least a part of the transport member. The image forming apparatus moves between a first position to be covered and a second position at which a flow path through which air flows is formed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the conveying member is attached to the image forming apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable. Moving from the second position to the first position, and moving from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the operation of closing the conveying member with respect to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

  The present invention according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a sealing member that seals the flow path in a state where the protection member is disposed at the second position.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores the developer, and a fixing device that fixes the image on the sheet using at least heat, and the storage unit and the fixing device include the flow unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed across a path.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus main body, a conveying member that can be opened and closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and that conveys an image or a recording medium that holds an image, A flow path forming unit that is openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, forms a flow channel through which air flows, a storage unit that stores a developer, a fixing device that fixes an image on paper using at least heat,
The storage unit and the fixing device are image forming apparatuses that are arranged with the flow path interposed therebetween.

  The present invention according to claim 6 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flow path forming section includes a protection section that protects the transport member as at least a part of the flow path forming section.

  The present invention according to claim 7 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flow path forming portion includes a cover portion that covers the periphery of the power supply substrate as at least a part of the flow path forming portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of switching between a flow path through which air flows and a protection unit and reducing the number of parts compared to the case where each member is provided separately. Can do.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to producing the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of eliminating an operation for forming a flow path.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing air leaking from the flow path. it can.

  According to the present invention of claim 4, in addition to the effects of the present invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, the heat generated from the fixing device as compared with the case without this configuration, It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be made difficult to be transmitted to a storage unit that stores a developer.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which it is difficult for the heat of the fixing device to be transmitted to the housing portion.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which the protective member can be at least part of the flow path forming portion. be able to.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which the cover part can be at least a part of the flow path forming part. be able to.

1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a state in which a main opening / closing part is opened / closed with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 and a state in which a photosensitive unit is attached to and detached from the main body. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a photoreceptor unit used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. The operation of the shutter member included in the photosensitive unit shown in FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shutter member is in the second position, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in the position of 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a developer removing device used in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the belt unit used for the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a second power supply unit used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a first cross-sectional view showing a protective member used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a second cross-sectional view showing a protective member used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12.

  A front-side opening / closing part 18 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 12 so that it can be opened and closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12 using a hinge 20. In addition, the main opening / closing portion 26 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to be opened and closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12 using a hinge 28. An operation unit 32 is attached to the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 12.

For example, the upward surface of the main opening / closing unit 26 corresponding to the upward surface of the image forming apparatus 10 is used as the discharge unit 14 that discharges the sheet on which the image is formed.

  A supply opening / closing part 22 is attached to the front opening / closing part 18 so as to be opened and closed. The supply opening / closing part 22 is normally closed with respect to the front opening / closing part 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When a recording medium different from a recording medium stored in a recording medium supply device 510 described later is used, the supply opening / closing part 22 is opened with respect to the front opening / closing part 18.

  The main opening / closing part 26 is normally closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12. The main opening / closing part 26 is opened when a photoreceptor unit 200Y, 200M, 200C, 200B, which will be described later, is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12. Prior to opening the main opening / closing portion 26, the front opening / closing portion 18 is attached to the main opening / closing portion 26 in order to prevent a support roll 70, an intermediate transfer belt 62 and the like described later from interfering with the front opening / closing portion 18. Opened to the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  When closing the front opening / closing part 18 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12, the main opening / closing part 26 is closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12 prior to closing the front opening / closing part 18.

  A sub-opening / closing part 30 is attached to the main opening / closing part 26 so as to be able to open / close with respect to the main opening / closing part 26. The sub opening / closing part 30 can be opened / closed independently of the main opening / closing part 26, and the main opening / closing part 26 is closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12 and is open with respect to the main opening / closing part 26. can do. The sub opening / closing unit 30 is opened when all or a part of the developer removing device 350 described later is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  The operation unit 32 includes, for example, a numeric keypad for inputting the number of recording media on which image formation is performed, a start button that is operated when image formation is started, and the like.

  In the image forming apparatus main body 12, an image forming unit 40 for forming an image on a recording medium is provided. The image forming unit 40 includes, for example, four photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K.

  Each of the photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K is used as an image forming structure, and each has a photoreceptor drum 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K, and each is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12. can do. The photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are arranged in the order of the photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K from the rear side (the right side in FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus main body 12. Details of the photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K will be described later.

  Each of the photosensitive drums 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K is used as an image holding body that holds an image.

  The image forming unit 40 includes an optical writing device 44 used as a latent image forming device. The optical writing device 44 irradiates each of the photosensitive drums 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K to form a latent image on the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K. .

  The image forming unit 40 includes developing devices 46Y, 46M, 46C, and 46K. The developing device 46Y develops the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 210Y using yellow toner stored therein. The developing device 46M develops the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 210M using magenta toner stored therein. The developing device 46C develops the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 210C using cyan toner stored therein. The developing device 46K develops the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 210K using black toner stored therein.

  The image forming unit 40 includes a transfer device 58. The transfer device 58 includes an intermediate transfer belt unit 60 and a secondary transfer device 84. The intermediate transfer belt unit 60 includes an intermediate transfer belt 62.

  The intermediate transfer belt 62 is used as a conveying member that conveys an image or a recording medium that holds the image, and conveys images (toner images) transferred from the photosensitive drums 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 62 is endless and is stretched around the support rolls 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 so as to be able to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. A drive from a motor 90 (see FIG. 7), which will be described later, is transmitted to the support roll 70 via a gear 92 (see FIG. 7), which will be described later, and the support roll 70 is rotated by receiving the drive transmission from the motor 90. The roll 70 transmits drive to the intermediate transfer belt 62.

  In addition, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 includes primary transfer rolls 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K that are used as a primary transfer device. The primary transfer rolls 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K are provided with a yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, a cyan toner image, and a black toner image respectively formed on the surface of the photosensitive drums 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K. The intermediate transfer belt 62 is transferred.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 60 includes a protection member 74 that is used as a protection unit that protects the intermediate transfer belt 62. The intermediate transfer belt unit 60 will be described later.

  The secondary transfer device 84 has a secondary transfer roll 86. The secondary transfer roll 86 further transfers the yellow toner image, magenta toner image, cyan toner image, and black toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62 to the recording medium.

  Further, the transfer device 58 has a developer removing device 350, and the developer removing device 350 has a scraping member 354. A part of the developer removing device 350 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12 through an opening formed by opening the sub opening / closing portion 30. The developer removing device 350 is used as a storage unit that stores the developer. Details of the developer removing device 350 will be described later.

  Of the members constituting the transfer device 58, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 and the developer removing device 350 are mounted on the main opening / closing part 26. Of the transfer device 58, the secondary transfer roll 86 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  In the image forming apparatus main body 12, a fixing device 50 is provided for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium by the secondary transfer roll 86 to the recording medium. The fixing device 50 includes a heater 51. The fixing device 50 fixes the developer image on the recording medium by pressurizing the developer image onto the paper and applying heat generated by the heater 51.

  A collection container 300 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 12. In the collection container 300, excess developer discharged from the developing devices 46Y, 46M, 46C, and 46K is collected. The collection container 300 is integrated with the photoconductor unit 200K, for example.

  A recording medium supply device 510 that supplies a recording medium to the image forming unit 40 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 12. The recording medium supply device 510 can be pulled out to the front side (left side in FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus main body 12, and the recording medium can be loaded with the recording medium supply apparatus 510 pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 12. To be replenished.

  The recording medium supply device 510 includes a recording medium storage container 512 that stores recording media such as plain paper in a stacked state. In addition, the recording medium supply device 510 includes a transport roll 514 that extracts the uppermost recording medium stored in the recording medium storage container 512 and transports the extracted recording medium toward the image forming unit 40. The recording medium supply device 510 has a retard roll 516 that is used to roll over the recording medium and prevent a plurality of recording media from being conveyed to the image forming unit 40 in an overlapping state.

  Further, a conveyance path 530 used for conveying the recording medium is formed in the image forming apparatus main body 12. The conveyance path 530 includes a main conveyance path 532, a reverse conveyance path 534, and a sub conveyance path 536.

  The main conveyance path 532 is used for conveying the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supply device 510 to the image forming unit 40 and discharging the recording medium on which the image is formed to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 12. In order from the upstream side in the direction in which the recording medium is transported along the main transport path 532, the transport roll 514 and the retard roll 516, the resist roll 542, the secondary transfer roll 86, and the fixing device described above. 50 and a discharge roll 544 are arranged.

  The registration roll 542 temporarily stops the leading end of the recording medium conveyed from the recording medium supply device 510 side, and causes the recording medium to match the timing at which each color toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62. It sends out toward the secondary transfer roll 86.

  The discharge roll 544 discharges the recording medium on which the toner of each color is fixed by the fixing device 50 to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  The reverse conveyance path 534 is a conveyance path that is used for reversing and supplying the recording medium having the toner image fixed on one surface thereof to the image forming unit 40. For example, two reverse transfer rolls 548 and 548 are arranged along the reverse transfer path 534. A recording medium is supplied to the reverse conveyance path 534 from the rear end side by rotating the discharge roll 544 in a reverse direction with the rear end of the recording medium interposed therebetween, and the supplied recording medium is supplied to the reverse conveyance roll 548. By 548, the sheet is conveyed to a position upstream of the registration roll 542.

  The sub-transport path 536 is a transport path for supplying a recording medium different from the recording medium stored in the recording medium supply apparatus 510 to the image forming unit 40. A recording medium is supplied to the sub-transport path 536 from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 12 with the supply opening / closing part 22 opened. A transport roll 552 and a retard roll 554 are provided along the sub-transport path 536. The transport roll 552 is supplied to the sub transport path 536 and transports the recording medium toward the image forming unit 40. The retard roll 554 is used to roll the recording medium supplied to the sub-conveying path 536 and prevent the recording medium from being conveyed to the image forming unit 40 in a state where a plurality of recording media are overlapped.

Further, a first power supply unit 410 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 12.
The first power supply unit 410 has a high voltage power supply circuit and supplies power to, for example, the developing devices 46Y, 46M, 46C, and 46K.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, the second power supply unit 420 is disposed above the intermediate transfer belt 62. The second power supply unit 420 is mounted on the main opening / closing part 26 and supplies power to, for example, the primary transfer rolls 80Y, 80M, 80C, 80K and the like. The second power supply unit 420 is disposed in a space formed between the intermediate transfer belt 62 and the discharge unit 14.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 10, the developer removing device 350 and the fixing device 50 are arranged with the second power supply unit 420 interposed therebetween.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the main opening / closing part 26 is opened and closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12 and a state in which the photoconductor unit 200 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the main opening / closing part 26 is opened with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 and the developer removing device 350 of the transfer device 58 and the second power supply unit 420 are main. It moves together with the opening / closing part 26. That is, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60, the developer removing device 350, and the second power supply unit 420 are opened / closed integrally with the main opening / closing portion 26 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  When the main opening / closing part 26, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60, the developer removing device 350, and the second power supply unit 420 are opened with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12, an opening 36 is formed in the image forming apparatus main body 12. . The photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12 through the openings 36, respectively. The collection container 300 is integrated with the photosensitive unit 200K as described above. For this reason, the collection container 300 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12 integrally with the photoreceptor unit 200K.

  FIG. 4 shows the photoreceptor unit 200Y. The photoconductor units 200M, 200C, and 200K have the same configuration as the photoconductor unit 200Y, although the developer color used is different, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the photoconductor unit 200Y has a photoconductor unit main body 202Y, and the above-mentioned photoconductor drum 210Y is mounted on the photoconductor unit main body 202Y. A charging device 220Y for uniformly charging the surface of the photoreceptor drum 210Y is mounted in the photoreceptor unit main body 202Y. The charging device 220Y includes a charging roll 222Y that comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 210Y. A latent image is written on the surface of the photosensitive drum 210Y uniformly charged by the charging device 220Y by the optical writing device 44 (see FIG. 1).

  Further, a scraping member 224Y used as a cleaning device is mounted in the photoreceptor unit main body 202Y. The scraping member 224Y scrapes off the yellow toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 210Y after the yellow toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62 by the primary transfer roll 80Y (see FIG. 1).

  Further, in the photoreceptor unit main body 202Y, a collection chamber 226Y that collects yellow toner scraped off from the surface of the photoreceptor drum 210Y by the scraping member 224Y is provided.

  Further, a shutter member 230Y is attached to the photoconductor unit main body 202Y via a support member 232Y, for example. The shutter member 230Y is used as a moving member. The shutter member 230Y is connected to the link mechanism 404, and the shutter member 230Y is connected to the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 through the link mechanism 404.

FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of the shutter member 230Y. The shutter member 230Y moves between the position shown in FIG. 5A used as the second position and the position shown in FIG. 5B used as the first position.
The second position shown in FIG. 5A is a position where the shutter member 230Y covers the exposed portion 212Y of the photosensitive drum 210Y (hereinafter referred to as a covering position). Further, the first position shown in FIG. 5B is a position where the shutter member 230Y exposes the exposed portion 212Y from the photoconductor unit main body 202 (hereinafter referred to as an exposed position).

  The shutter member 230Y is in a covering position as shown in FIG. 5A when the photoconductor unit 200Y is detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12. The shutter member 230Y is shown in FIG. 5A when the photosensitive unit 200Y is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 12 and the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 is open with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12. It is in the position to cover. On the other hand, when the photosensitive member unit 200Y is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 12 and the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 is closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12 in the shutter member 230Y, FIG. As shown in FIG.

  The shutter member 230Y is connected to the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 by the link mechanism 404 described above, and is linked to an operation in which the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 is opened with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12 by the action of the link mechanism 404. It moves from the exposed position to the covering position. Further, the shutter member 230Y is moved from the position to be exposed to the position to be exposed in conjunction with the operation of closing the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12 by the action of the link mechanism 404. .

FIG. 6 shows a developer removing device 350.
The developer removing device 350 includes a developer removing device main body 352 fixed to the main opening / closing part 26 (see FIG. 1), and a storage container 370 that can be attached to and detached from the developer removing device main body 352. The developer removing device main body 352 is equipped with the scraping member 354 described above. The developer removing device main body 352 is formed with a passage hole 356 through which the developer passes. A transport member 358 is mounted in the developer removing apparatus main body 352.

  The conveyance member 358 rotates clockwise as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6, and the developer scraped off from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 62 by the scraping member 354 is stored in the storage container 370 through the passage hole 356. Transport to. Further, a fullness detection sensor 360 for detecting whether or not the storage container 370 is full is attached to the developer removing apparatus main body 352.

  The storage container 370 stores the developer removed from the intermediate transfer belt 62 by the scraping member 354 and transported by the transport member 358. In the storage container 370, a passage hole 372 through which the developer conveyed by the conveyance member 358 passes is formed so as to overlap the passage hole 356. Further, a developer transport member 372 is mounted in the storage container 370. The developer conveying member 372 conveys the developer to the full detection sensor 360 side by rotating clockwise as shown in FIG.

  The storage container 370 is replaced when it becomes full of developer. That is, when the storage container 370 becomes full, the storage container 370 is detached from the developer removing device main body 352 and removed from the opening formed by opening the sub opening / closing part 30 (see FIG. 2), and the developer removal is performed. Another storage container 370 is attached to the apparatus main body 352.

  There is a possibility that the developer stored in the storage container 370 may melt due to the influence of heat or the like generated from the fixing device 50 (see FIG. 1), for example. When the developer melts in the storage container 370, the developer transport member 372 may be fixed by the developer solidified after melting and may not rotate. When the developer transport member 372 is hardened, the developer cannot be recovered even if the storage space remains in the storage container 370.

FIG. 7 shows an intermediate transfer belt unit 60 integrated with the main opening / closing portion 26.
As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 includes a right side plate 102, a left side plate 104, and a connecting member 106 that connects the right side plate 102 and the left side plate 104. The right side plate 102, the left side plate 104, and the connecting member 106 are used as a transfer medium support unit that supports an intermediate transfer belt 62 used as a transfer medium. That is, the above-mentioned support rolls 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 (see FIG. 1) are mounted on the right side plate 102 and the left side plate 104, and the support rolls 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 are interposed via The right side plate 102 and the left side plate 104 support the intermediate transfer belt 62.

  The right side plate 102 and the left side plate 104 support the primary transfer rolls 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K (see FIG. 1) described above.

  Further, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 has a gear 92 mounted on the shaft of the support roll 70 (see FIG. 1). Drive is transmitted to the gear 92 from a motor 90 used as a drive source. When the drive is transmitted to the gear 92, the support roll 70 rotates and the drive is transmitted to the intermediate transfer belt 62.

  Further, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 is connected to the above-described link mechanism 404 (see FIG. 4). The intermediate transfer belt unit 60 may be connected to the link mechanism 404 via the main opening / closing part 26 that is integral with the intermediate transfer belt unit 60. That is, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 and the shutter members 230Y, 230M, 230C, and 230K are connected via the link mechanism 404. Therefore, as described above, the shutter members 230Y, 230M, 230C, and 230K are opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing of the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  For example, the left side plate 104 of the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 is connected to a link mechanism 406. The above-described protective member 74 (see FIG. 2) is connected to the link mechanism 406. That is, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 and the protection member 74 are connected to each other. The intermediate transfer belt unit 60 may be connected to the link mechanism 406 via the main opening / closing part 26 integrated therewith.

  A second power supply unit 420 is attached to the right side plate 102 and the left side plate 104. That is, the power supply board 422 included in the second power supply unit 420 is integrated with the right side plate 102 and the left side plate 104.

Further, the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 has an outside air supply device 460.
The outside air supply device 460 is used as a supply device that supplies outside air toward the second power supply unit 420, and includes an intake duct 462, a blower fan 464, and an exhaust duct 466. The intake duct 462 and the blower fan 464 are attached to the left side plate 104, and the exhaust duct 466 is attached to the right side plate 102. In the outside air supply device 460, when the blower fan 464 rotates, outside air is sucked into the image forming apparatus main body 12 (see FIG. 1) via the intake duct 462, and the image forming apparatus main body 12 via the exhaust duct 466. Exhausted outside.

FIG. 8 shows the second power supply unit 420.
The second power supply unit 420 includes the power supply board 422 as described above. The power supply unit 420 also includes a lower plate 424 positioned below the power supply substrate 422, a front plate 426 positioned on the front side, and a rear plate 428 positioned on the rear side. The lower plate 424, the front plate 426, the rear plate 428, and the image forming apparatus main body 12 form a space S1 so as to surround the power supply substrate 422. Thus, by forming the space S1 that surrounds the power supply board 422, the user cannot touch the power supply board 422, and an accident such as an electric shock is prevented.

  Air is sucked into the space S1 from the intake duct 462 (see FIG. 7), and the air in the space S1 is exhausted by the exhaust duct 466 (see FIG. 7), and the space S1 is directed from the back side toward the near side in FIG. All airflow is generated. Thus, the space S1 is used as a duct through which air flows.

  When the air flows in the space S1, the power supply substrate 422 is cooled, and the intermediate transfer belt 62 moving below the space S1 is cooled. In addition, when an air flow is generated in the space S1, a so-called air curtain is formed, and heat is hardly transmitted from one side to the other side with respect to a position where the air flow is formed in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the air flows. Therefore, the heat generated from the fixing device 50 (see FIG. 2) located on the front side of the second power supply unit 420 is difficult to be transmitted to the developer removing device 350 located on the rear side of the second power supply unit 420. Become. For this reason, the developer collected in the developer removing device 350 is hardly melted by heat.

A protective member 74 is shown in FIGS.
The protection member 74 is attached to, for example, the right side plate 102 and the left side plate 104 of the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 using a hinge 76, and is rotated so as to rotate to the second position shown in FIG. 9 and the first position shown in FIG. It can move between one position. Here, the protection member 74 may be attached to the main opening / closing part 26 integrated with the intermediate transfer belt unit 60.

  A sealing member 78 is attached to the end of the protective member 74 opposite to the end supported by the hinge 76. The sealing member 78 is made of a material that deforms when pressed from the outside, such as a sponge.

  Further, the protection member 74 is connected to the link mechanism 406. Here, the link mechanism 406 is connected to, for example, the left side plate 104 of the intermediate transfer belt unit 60. For this reason, the protective member 74 moves in conjunction with the operation of opening and closing the intermediate transfer belt 62 and the like with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12. More specifically, the protection member 74 moves from the second position to the first position in conjunction with the intermediate transfer belt 62 being opened with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12. In addition, the protection member 74 moves from the first position to the second position in association with the intermediate transfer belt 62 being closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  In the state where the protection member 74 is disposed at the first position as shown in FIG. 10, the main opening / closing part 26 in FIG. 3 is partly attached to the image forming apparatus main body 12 in this embodiment. On the other hand, when opened from the front side of the apparatus, the intermediate transfer belt 62 is protected by covering the front part of the belt that is easy to touch when the user works from the front side of the apparatus. More specifically, the protection member 74 covers and protects the position between the support roll 68 and the support roll 70 of the intermediate transfer belt 62. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the operator from directly touching the intermediate transfer belt 62 when the intermediate transfer belt unit 60 is opened with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  In the state where the protection member 74 is arranged at the second position as shown in FIG. 9, the end on the side where the sealing member 78 is attached contacts the front plate 426 via the sealing member 78. Then, when the protection member 74 comes into contact with the front plate 426, a space S2 is formed so as to be surrounded by the protection member 74, the front plate 426, and the lower plate 424.

  The space S2 is used as a flow path through which air flows. That is, air is supplied from the back side in FIGS. 9 and 10 by the blower fan 464 (see FIG. 7), and the air is released to the near side in FIGS. Instead of supplying air to the space S <b> 2 using the blower fan 464, for example, a fan different from the blower fan 464 may be used.

  As the air flows in the space S2, the intermediate transfer belt 62 moving below the space S2 is cooled. Further, when an air flow is generated in the space S2, a so-called air curtain is formed, and it becomes difficult for heat to be transmitted from one side to the other side with respect to a position where the air flow is formed in a direction intersecting the direction in which the air flows. For this reason, heat generated from the fixing device 50 (see FIG. 2) located on the front side of the space S2 is not easily transmitted to the developer removing device 350 located on the rear side of the space S2. For this reason, the developer collected in the developer removing device 350 is hardly melted by heat.

  As described above, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 12 ... Image forming apparatus main body 50 ... Fixing device 60 ... Intermediate transfer belt unit 62 ... Intermediate transfer belt 74 ... Protection member 78 ... Sealing member 350 ..Developer removing device 404 ... Link mechanism 406 ... Link mechanism 420 ... Second power supply unit 422 ... Power supply substrate 460 ... Outside air supply device

Claims (7)

A conveying member that conveys an image or a recording medium that holds the image;
A protection unit for protecting the conveying member;
Have
The protection unit is an image forming apparatus that moves between a first position that covers at least a portion of the transport member and a second position that forms a flow path through which air flows. The transport member is attached to the image forming apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable.
The protection unit moves from the second position to the first position in conjunction with an operation in which the conveying member is opened with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the conveying member moves relative to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus moves from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the closing operation.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sealing member that seals the flow path in a state where the protection member is disposed at the second position. A storage section for storing the developer;
A fixing device for fixing an image on paper using at least heat;
Further comprising
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit and the fixing device are arranged with the flow path interposed therebetween. An image forming apparatus main body;
A conveying member that is openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body and conveys an image or a recording medium holding the image;
A flow path forming portion that is openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body integrally with the transport member, and forms a flow path through which air flows;
A storage section for storing the developer;
A fixing device for fixing an image on paper using at least heat;
Have
The image forming apparatus in which the storage unit and the fixing device are arranged with the flow path interposed therebetween.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flow path forming unit includes a protection unit that protects the conveying member as at least a part of the flow path forming unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flow path forming unit includes a cover that covers the periphery of the power supply substrate as at least a part of the flow path forming unit.

Images