JP2011022310A - Cooling device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling device for efficiently cooling the inside of an apparatus, and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The same number of insertion sections 96 inserted into sections 94 inserted with an inner cover 86 as that of sections inserted to 94 are formed at a bottom end of an outer cover 88. A claw 88a which is hooked to a top end 86c of the inner cover 86 and projections 88b which are brought into contact with projections 86d of the inner cover 86 are formed at the top end 86c of the outer cover 88. That is, the insertion sections 96 of the outer cover 88 are inserted to the sections 94 inserted with the inner cover 86, the claw 88a at the top end of the outer cover 88 is hooked to the top end of the inner cover 86, and the projection 88b of the outer cover 88 is brought into contact with the projections 86d of the inner cover 86, thereby the inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88 are connected. The inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88 constitute a ventilation section communicating with the inside of the apparatus body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling device and an image forming apparatus.

Patent Document 1 has an intake port 4 on one side or rear surface of an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, and an exhaust port 5 on the other side of the apparatus main body, and the intake port to the exhaust port are directly connected by the same route. The main duct 1 having the main fan 6 is provided near the exhaust port, branched from the main duct and led forward, and the suction port 3a (8) of the branch duct 3 is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body. Is disclosed.
Further, Patent Document 2 is provided on the side surface of the front cover 24 and is provided with an intake port 18 for taking outside air into the apparatus main body, and an exhaust port provided on the left cover 28 for exhausting air inside the apparatus main body 23 to the outside of the apparatus main body. 19 and an axial fan 15 that is provided on a substantially straight line connecting the intake port 18 and the exhaust port 19 and guides the air inside the apparatus main body to the exhaust port 19 and exhausts it outside the apparatus main body. .

JP-A-10-268735 JP 2003-076253 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device and an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently cooling the inside of the apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 includes a device main body and an opening / closing portion provided in the device main body, and the opening / closing portion includes an inner cover and an outer cover. The inner cover and the outer cover are cooling devices constituting a ventilation portion communicating with the inside of the apparatus main body.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the inner cover includes an insertion portion that is inserted into the outer cover, and the outer cover includes an insertion portion that is inserted into the inner cover, and the insertion portion includes the insertion portion. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion is configured by inserting the inserted portion.

  The present invention according to claim 3 is the cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an opening that opens downward is formed between the coupling portions.

  The present invention according to claim 4 is the cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner cover is formed with a vent hole for allowing outside air to flow into the device main body.

  The present invention according to claim 5 is the cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner cover and the outer cover are fixed at least at three points.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus main body, an opening / closing section provided in the image forming apparatus main body, a heat source, and a blower section for cooling the heat source. The image forming apparatus includes a cover and an outer cover, and the inner cover and the outer cover constitute a ventilation portion communicating with the inside of the apparatus main body.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a cooling device that can be efficiently cooled without introducing foreign matter in the apparatus main body, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the outside air can be taken in and cooled with a simple structure as compared with the case where the present structure is not provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the present invention according to the first or second aspect, it is possible to prevent damage due to contamination by foreign matters, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the present invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the cooling can be performed with a simple configuration as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the present invention of claim 5, in addition to the effects of the present invention of any of claims 1 to 4, the burden associated with opening and closing of the opening and closing portion is reduced compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided. can do.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be efficiently cooled without introducing foreign matter in the apparatus main body as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

1 is a side view illustrating an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the front cover 84 used for embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the front cover 84 used for embodiment which concerns on this invention, (a) is before attaching the inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88, (b) is after attaching the inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88. Indicates. It is sectional drawing which shows the front cover 84 periphery used for embodiment which concerns on this invention.

Next, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 is a side view of the front side of the image forming apparatus 10. Further, the exterior cover 87 and the like are omitted, and the internal structure of the image forming apparatus 10 is shown. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an apparatus main body 12 in which, for example, four image forming units 14 and a transfer unit 16 are disposed.

  There are four image forming units 14 for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and these are arranged in parallel. Each image forming unit 14 includes a photoconductor 18 used as an image carrier, a charging device 20 composed of, for example, a roll for charging the photoconductor 18, and an LED (light emitting diode), for example. An exposure device 22 for forming a latent image on the photoconductor 18, a developing device 24 for developing the latent image on the photoconductor 18 formed by the exposure device 22 with a developer, and remaining on the photoconductor 18 after transfer. And a cleaning device 26 for cleaning and removing the developer.

  The transfer unit 16 has an intermediate transfer belt 28. The intermediate transfer belt 28 rotates clockwise in the figure while being supported by a plurality of support rolls 30. A primary transfer roll 32 is disposed opposite the photoconductor 18 with the intermediate transfer belt 28 interposed therebetween. Further, a secondary transfer roll 34 is disposed opposite to one support roll 30 with the intermediate transfer belt 28 interposed therebetween.

  A paper supply device 36 is provided below the image forming apparatus main body 12. The paper supply device 36 includes a paper supply base 38 on which paper is stacked, a pickup roll 40 that pulls out the paper stacked on the paper supply base 38, and a feed roll 42 and a retard roll 44 that send out the paper while rolling it.

  Near one end of the image forming apparatus main body 12 (near the left end in the figure), a paper supply path 46 is provided along a substantially vertical direction. A conveyance roll 48, a registration roll 50, a secondary transfer roll 34, a fixing device 52, and a discharge roll 54 are provided along the paper supply path 46. The registration roll 50 temporarily stops the paper sent to the paper supply path 46 and sends it to the secondary transfer roll 34 at a timing. The fixing device 52 includes a heating roll 56 and a pressure roll 58, and fixes the developer image on the paper by applying heat and pressure.

  A discharge unit 60 is provided at the top of the image forming apparatus main body 12. The paper on which the developer image is fixed to the discharge unit 60 by the discharge roll 54 described above is discharged to the discharge unit 60, and the sheets discharged to the discharge unit 60 are stacked.

  The four developer accommodating devices 62 are disposed, for example, above the intermediate transfer belt 28, and each accommodates yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developers. The developer accommodated in the developer accommodating device 62 is supplied to the developing device 24 described above via a developer supply device (not shown). The developer accommodating device 62 has a developer accommodating body 64 that accommodates the developer. The developer accommodating device 62 is inserted into the insertion portion 66 formed in the image forming apparatus main body 12 from the front side to the back side of the image forming apparatus 10.

Further, the image forming apparatus main body 12 is provided with a front cover 84 which is an opening / closing part. The front cover 84 is opened from above with the lower part as a hinge. By opening the front cover 84, the developer storage device 62 can be replaced.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the vent hole 80 a formed in the exterior cover 87 with the front cover 84 opened.
The ventilation hole 80 a is disposed above the transfer unit 16 and is formed adjacent to the four developer accommodating devices 62. A fan 82, which is a blower, is provided in the back of the vent hole 80a.

The front cover 84 has a double structure and includes an inner cover 86 and an outer cover 88.
3A and 3B are perspective views of the front cover 84. FIG. 3A shows a state before the inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88 are attached, and FIG. 3B shows a state after the inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88 are attached.
The inner cover 86 has a convex portion 86a and a concave portion 86b, and a plurality of inserted portions 94 for mounting an outer cover 88 described later are formed in the concave portion 86b. A plurality of protrusions 86 d are provided in the vicinity of the upper end 86 c of the inner cover 86. In addition, a smooth slope 86e is formed at the boundary between the convex portion 86a and the concave portion 86b. Further, the inner cover 86 is formed with a ventilation hole 80b at a position facing the ventilation hole 80a when the front cover 84 is closed.
At the lower end of the outer cover 88, the same number of insertion portions 96 as the insertion portions 94 are inserted into the insertion portions 94 of the inner cover 86.
At the upper end of the outer cover 88, a claw portion 88 a that hooks on the upper end 86 c of the inner cover 86 and a protrusion 88 b that contacts the protrusion 86 d of the inner cover 86 are formed.
That is, the insertion portion 96 of the outer cover 88 is inserted into the insertion portion 94 of the inner cover 86, the claw portion 88a at the upper end of the outer cover 88 is hooked on the upper end 86c of the inner cover 86, and the projection 88b of the outer cover 88 is The inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88 are coupled by contacting the protrusion 86 d of the inner cover 86.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view around the front cover 84.
A plurality of openings 90 are formed between the coupling portions of the inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88. The opening 90 opens downward. A ventilation portion 100 is formed between the inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88. The ventilation unit 100 communicates with the inside of the apparatus main body 12 through the ventilation hole 80b and the ventilation hole 80a.
Further, between the front cover 84 and the apparatus main body 12, for example, a sponge 101 as an impact absorbing material is provided.
That is, when the fan 82 rotates, outside air is sucked from the opening 90, and flows into the apparatus through the ventilation hole 80b and the ventilation hole 80a using the ventilation part 100 between the inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88 as a duct. The inside of the device is cooled. Here, since the outside air is taken into the apparatus by using the ventilation portion 100 between the inner cover 86 and the outer cover 88 as a duct, foreign matters such as dust and toner in the apparatus are prevented from entering the apparatus.

  As described above, the printer is illustrated as an example of the image forming apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applicable to a copying machine, a FAX, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Apparatus main body 80a, 80b Ventilation hole 82 Fan (blowing part)
84 Front cover (opening / closing part)
86 Inner cover 88 Outer cover 90 Opening part 94 Insertion part 96 Insertion part 100 Ventilation part

Claims (6)

  An apparatus main body and an opening / closing part provided in the apparatus main body, the opening / closing part having an inner cover and an outer cover, and the inner cover and the outer cover are in communication with the inside of the apparatus main body. Constituting the cooling device.   The inner cover has an insertion portion to be inserted into the outer cover, the outer cover has an insertion portion to be inserted into the inner cover, and the insertion portion is inserted into the insertion portion. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion is configured.   The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein an opening that opens downward is formed between the coupling portions.   The cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner cover is formed with a vent hole for allowing outside air to flow into the device main body.   The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the inner cover and the outer cover are fixed at least at three points.   An image forming apparatus main body, an opening / closing section provided in the image forming apparatus main body, a heat source, and a blower section for cooling the heat source, the opening / closing section having an inner cover and an outer cover, The inner cover and the outer cover are image forming apparatuses that constitute a ventilation portion communicating with the inside of the apparatus main body.

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