JP2011107325A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress air leak in a first confluence part 341. <P>SOLUTION: An upper wall 341U and a bottom wall 341B of a first confluence part 341 and a lower side rear face cover 305B are respectively connected by a first bracket 361 and a second bracket 363. Thus, because of the air pressure inside the first confluence part 341, a gap is hardly formed between the first confluence part 341 and the lower side rear face cover 305B and air inside the first confluence part 341 is hardly leaked even when the lower side rear face cover 305B is pressed outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  As an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the exhaust duct 30 in which the suction port 31 is installed in the upper part in the vicinity of the developing position where the developing roller 14 c of the rotary developing device 14 faces the photosensitive drum 12 is provided in the rotary developing device 14. A transfer unit cover 25a of the intermediate transfer unit 25 that can be attached and detached adjacent to the duct face the duct plate 41 to define an exhaust passage on the suction port 31 side of the exhaust passage 32. When the intermediate transfer unit 25 is removed for maintenance, the exhaust flow path defined by the transfer unit cover 25a facing the duct plate 41 is opened to the outside.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-98647 (FIG. 2)

  This invention makes it a subject to suppress the leakage of the air in the confluence | merging part which joins the air from a some distribution pipe.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of image forming portions that form toner images by attaching toner to an electrostatic latent image, a housing having an open portion that is open to the side, and a horizontal direction within the housing. A plurality of flow pipes that are arranged side by side and extend in the vertical direction, the upper end communicates with the image forming unit, and circulates air from the image forming unit from the upper end to the lower end, and A merging portion that is accommodated in the housing and joins air from the plurality of flow pipes; a covering member that covers the opening portion of the housing and forms a wall on the opening portion side of the merging portion; and Between the plurality of flow pipes in the arrangement direction of the plurality of flow pipes, between the first connection member that connects the upper wall of the merge portion and the covering member, and between the plurality of flow pipes in the horizontal direction, A second connecting member for connecting the bottom wall of the merging portion and the covering member; An image forming apparatus comprising a.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an opening that opens to the open portion side, one end communicates with the joining portion, the other end communicates with the outside of the image forming apparatus, and air from the joining portion is supplied to the image forming apparatus. A discharge pipe that discharges to the outside of the battery, and a filter that is detachably provided at an opening of the discharge pipe and that removes foreign matter in the air that flows through the discharge pipe, and the covering member includes the discharge pipe The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the discharge pipe is also opened when the opening of the casing is opened while the opening of the pipe is closed.

  According to the structure of Claim 1 of this invention, compared with the case where a 1st connection part and a 2nd connection part are not provided, the leak of the air in a junction part can be suppressed.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, by removing the covering member, in addition to opening the opening portion and the merging portion of the housing, the filter can be attached and detached.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image forming unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the exhaust device in an attached state attached to the first housing of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the exhaust device with all covers removed from the first housing and the second housing. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the exhaust device with the rear cover removed as seen from the rear side. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the exhaust device with the side cover removed as viewed from the side. FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the exhaust device viewed from the front side. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a configuration of a merging portion of the exhaust device.

Below, an example of an embodiment concerning the present invention is described based on a drawing.
(Configuration of image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment)
First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment forms a full-color image or a black-and-white image. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a first casing 10A that forms a horizontal one side (left side in FIG. 1) portion. The second housing 10B is connected to the first housing 10A in a severable manner and constitutes the other side in the horizontal direction (the right side in FIG. 1).

  An image signal processing unit 13 that performs image processing on image data sent from an external device such as a computer is provided on the second housing 10B.

  On the other hand, the first special color (V), second special color (W), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners are provided on the upper portion of the first housing 10A. Toner cartridges 14V, 14W, 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are provided so as to be replaceable along the horizontal direction.

  The first special color and the second special color are appropriately selected from colors other than yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (including transparency). In the following description, the first special color (V), the second special color (W), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are distinguished for each component. Is described by adding any one of V, W, Y, M, C, and K after the reference numeral, and the first special color (V), the second special color (W), yellow (Y), and magenta (M ), Cyan (C), and black (K) are not distinguished, V, W, Y, M, C, and K are omitted.

  Under the toner cartridge 14, six image forming units 16 (an example of image forming units) corresponding to the toners of the respective colors are provided along the horizontal direction so as to correspond to the toner cartridges 14. . An exposure unit 40 is provided between each toner cartridge 14 and the image forming unit 16.

  The exposure unit 40 provided for each image forming unit 16 receives the image data subjected to the image processing by the image signal processing unit 13 from the image signal processing unit 13, and the exposure light L modulated according to the image data. The photoconductor 18 (see FIG. 2) to be described later is irradiated (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, each image forming unit 16 includes a photoreceptor 18 that is rotationally driven in one direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 2). By exposing the exposure light L from each exposure unit 40 to each photoconductor 18, an electrostatic latent image is formed on each photoconductor 18.

  Around each photoconductor 18, a corona discharge (non-contact charging) scorotron charger 20 as an example of a charging device for charging the photoconductor 18 and an electrostatic unit formed on the photoconductor 18 by an exposure unit 40. The developing device 22 that develops the latent image with the developer, the blade 24 as a removing member that removes the developer remaining on the photoconductor 18 after transfer, and the static electricity is discharged by irradiating the photoconductor 18 with light. A static eliminator 26 is provided.

  The scorotron charger 20, the developing device 22, the blade 24, and the charge removal device 26 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 18 so as to face the surface of the photoconductor 18.

  The developing device 22 includes a developer accommodating member 22A that accommodates a developer G containing toner, and a developing roll 22B that supplies the developer G accommodated in the developer accommodating member 22A to the photoconductor 18. Yes. The developer accommodating member 22A is connected to the toner cartridge 14 (see FIG. 1) through a toner supply path (not shown), and the toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 14.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a transfer unit 32 is provided below each image forming unit 16. The transfer unit 32 includes an annular intermediate transfer belt 34 that contacts each photoconductor 18, and a primary transfer roll 36 as a primary transfer member that multiplex-transfers the toner image formed on each photoconductor 18 to the intermediate transfer belt 34. It is configured to include.

  The intermediate transfer belt 34 includes a drive roll 38 driven by a motor (not shown), a tension applying roll 41 that applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 34, a counter roll 42 that faces a secondary transfer roll 62 described later, and a plurality of rolls. It is wound around the winding roll 44 and is driven to circulate in one direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) by the drive roll 38.

  Each primary transfer roll 36 is disposed opposite to the photoreceptor 18 of each image forming unit 16 with the intermediate transfer belt 34 interposed therebetween. The primary transfer roll 36 is applied with a transfer bias voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner polarity by a power supply unit (not shown). With this configuration, the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 18 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 34.

  On the opposite side of the drive roll 38 with the intermediate transfer belt 34 interposed therebetween, a removing device 46 is provided for removing residual toner, paper dust and the like on the intermediate transfer belt 34 by bringing the blade into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 34. .

  Below the transfer unit 32, two recording medium storage units 48 for storing recording media such as paper are provided along the horizontal direction.

  Each recording medium accommodating portion 48 can be pulled out from the first housing 10A. Above one end side (the right side in FIG. 1) of each recording medium container 48, a delivery roll 52 that sends the recording medium P from each recording medium container 48 to the transport path 60 is provided.

  In each recording medium accommodating portion 48, a bottom plate 50 on which the recording medium P is placed is provided. The bottom plate 50 is lowered by an instruction of a control unit (not shown) when the recording medium accommodating portion 48 is pulled out from the first housing 10A. When the bottom plate 50 is lowered, a space in which the user replenishes the recording medium P is formed in the recording medium accommodating portion 48.

  When the recording medium accommodating portion 48 pulled out from the first housing 10A is attached to the first housing 10A, the bottom plate 50 is raised by an instruction from the control means. As the bottom plate 50 moves up, the uppermost recording medium P placed on the bottom plate 50 and the delivery roll 52 come into contact with each other.

  On the downstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction of the sending roll 52 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “downstream side”), a separation roll 56 that separates the recording media P sent from the recording medium accommodating portion 48 one by one. Is provided. A plurality of transport rolls 54 that transport the recording medium P downstream in the transport direction are provided on the downstream side of the separation roll 56.

  The conveyance path 60 provided between the recording medium storage unit 48 and the transfer unit 32 is configured to fold the recording medium P sent out from the recording medium storage unit 48 to the left side in FIG. The folding portion 60B extends to the transfer position T between the secondary transfer roll 62 and the opposing roll 42 so as to be folded back to the right side in FIG.

  The secondary transfer roll 62 is applied with a transfer bias voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner polarity by a power feeding unit (not shown). With this configuration, the toner images of each color that have been multiplex-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 34 are secondarily transferred onto the recording medium P that has been transported along the transport path 60 by the secondary transfer roll 62.

  A preliminary path 66 extending from the side surface of the first housing 10 </ b> A is provided so as to join the second folding portion 60 </ b> B of the transport path 60. A recording medium P sent out from a recording medium accommodation unit (not shown) arranged adjacent to the first housing 10 </ b> A enters the conveyance path 60 through the spare path 66.

  On the downstream side of the transfer position T, a plurality of conveying belts 70 that convey the recording medium P on which the toner image has been transferred toward the second casing 10B are provided in the first casing 10A, and are conveyed to the conveying belt 70. A transport belt 80 that transports the recording medium P to the downstream side is provided in the second housing 10B.

  Each of the plurality of conveyance belts 70 and the conveyance belt 80 is formed in an annular shape and is wound around a pair of winding rolls 72. The pair of winding rolls 72 are respectively arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P, and when one of them is driven to rotate, the conveyance belt 70 (conveyance belt 80) moves in one direction (in FIG. 1). Cycle in the clockwise direction.

  A fixing unit 82 for fixing the toner image transferred onto the surface of the recording medium P to the recording medium P with heat and pressure is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance belt 80.

  The fixing unit 82 includes a fixing belt 84 and a pressure roll 88 disposed so as to contact the fixing belt 84 from below. A fixing unit N is formed between the fixing belt 84 and the pressure roll 88 to fix the toner image by pressurizing and heating the recording medium P.

  The fixing belt 84 is formed in an annular shape and is wound around the drive roll 89 and the driven roll 90. The drive roll 89 faces the pressure roll 88 from above, and the driven roll 90 is disposed above the drive roll 89.

  Each of the driving roll 89 and the driven roll 90 includes a heating unit such as a halogen heater. As a result, the fixing belt 84 is heated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the downstream side of the fixing unit 82, a conveyance belt 108 for conveying the recording medium P sent out from the fixing unit 82 to the downstream side is provided. The conveyor belt 108 is formed in the same manner as the conveyor belt 70.

  A cooling unit 110 that cools the recording medium P heated by the fixing unit 82 is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance belt 108.

  The cooling unit 110 includes an absorption device 112 that absorbs the heat of the recording medium P, and a pressing device 114 that presses the recording medium P against the absorption device 112. The absorption device 112 is disposed on one side (upper side in FIG. 1) with respect to the conveyance path 60, and the pressing device 114 is disposed on the other side (lower side in FIG. 1).

  The absorption device 112 includes an annular absorption belt 116 that contacts the recording medium P and absorbs the heat of the recording medium P. The absorption belt 116 is wound around a driving roll 120 that transmits a driving force to the absorption belt 116 and a plurality of winding rolls 118.

  A heat sink 122 made of an aluminum material that dissipates heat absorbed by the absorption belt 116 by contacting the absorption belt 116 in a planar shape is provided on the inner peripheral side of the absorption belt 116.

  Further, a fan 128 for removing heat from the heat sink 122 and discharging hot air to the outside is disposed on the back side of the second housing 10B (the back side of the paper surface shown in FIG. 1).

  The pressing device 114 that presses the recording medium P against the absorbing device 112 includes an annular pressing belt 130 that conveys the recording medium P while pressing the recording medium P against the absorbing belt 116. The pressing belt 130 is wound around a plurality of winding rolls 132.

  On the downstream side of the cooling unit 110, there is provided a correction device 140 that conveys the recording medium P and corrects the curl of the recording medium P.

  A detection device 180 that detects a toner density defect, an image defect, an image position defect, and the like of the toner image fixed on the recording medium P is provided on the downstream side of the correction device 140.

  The detection device 180 detects the reflected light emitted from the light source to the recording medium P and reflected upward by the recording medium P by a detection element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, thereby causing a toner density defect and an image defect. Image position defects and the like are detected.

  On the downstream side of the detection device 180, a discharge roll 198 that discharges the recording medium P on which an image is formed on one side to a discharge unit 196 attached to the side surface of the second housing 10B is provided.

  On the other hand, when images are formed on both sides, the recording medium P sent from the detection device 180 is conveyed to the reversing path 202 provided on the downstream side of the detection device 180.

  The reversing path 202 includes a branch path 202A that branches from the transport path 60, a paper transport path 202B that transports the recording medium P transported along the branch path 202A toward the first housing 10A, and a paper transport path. A reversing path 202C is provided in which the recording medium P transported along 202B is folded back in the reverse direction and transported in a switchback manner so that the front and back surfaces are reversed.

  With this configuration, the recording medium P switched back and conveyed by the reversing path 202C is conveyed toward the first housing 10A, and further enters the conveyance path 60 provided above the recording medium container 48, and is transferred to the transfer position. It is sent to T again.

  Next, an image forming process of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  The image data that has been subjected to image processing by the image signal processing unit 13 is sent to each exposure unit 40. In each exposure unit 40, each exposure light L is emitted according to the image data and exposed to each photoconductor 18 charged by the scorotron charger 20, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. At this time, ozone is generated by the scorotron charger 20 being discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 18 is developed by the developing device 22, and the first special color (V), the second special color (W), yellow (Y), magenta ( M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptors 28 of the image forming units 16V, 16W, 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K have six primary transfer rolls 36V, 36W, 36Y, 36M, and 36C. , 36K, and sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 34.

  The toner images of the respective colors that have been multiplex-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 34 are secondarily transferred onto the recording medium P conveyed from the recording medium accommodating portion 48 by the secondary transfer roll 62. The recording medium P onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported toward the fixing unit 82 provided inside the second housing 10B by the transport belt 70.

  The toner images of the respective colors on the recording medium P are fixed on the recording medium P by being heated and pressurized by the fixing unit 82. Further, the recording medium P on which the toner image is fixed is cooled by passing through the cooling unit 110 and then sent to the correction device 140 to correct the curvature generated in the recording medium P.

  The recording medium P whose curvature is corrected is discharged to the discharge unit 196 by the discharge roll 198 after an image defect or the like is detected by the detection device 180.

  On the other hand, when an image is formed on a non-image surface where no image is formed (in the case of double-sided printing), after passing through the detection device 180, the recording medium P is reversed by the reversing path 202 and above the recording medium container 48. And a toner image is formed on the back surface according to the above-described procedure.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, components for forming images of the first special color and the second special color (image forming units 16V and 16W, exposure units 40V and 40W, toner cartridges 14V and 14W, The primary transfer rolls 36V and 36W) are configured to be attachable to the first housing 10A as additional parts according to the user's selection. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 10 does not include a part for forming the first special color and second special color images, and the image of any one of the first special color and the second special color. It is good also as a structure which has only the components for forming.

(Configuration of exhaust device according to this embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the exhaust device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the exhaust device in an attached state attached to the first housing 10A of the image forming apparatus.

  The exhaust device 300 according to the present embodiment sucks air containing toner and ozone from the periphery of the photoreceptors 18 of the image forming units 16V, 16W, 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K, and the toner and ozone in the air. This is a device that removes the air and discharges it to the outside of the exhaust device 300 (image forming apparatus 10). As shown in FIG. 3, the exhaust device 300 is detachably attached to the rear surface 11 </ b> B of the first housing 10 </ b> A of the image forming apparatus 10.

  Note that the rear surface 11B of the image forming apparatus 10 is a surface opposite to the front surface 11F. The front surface 11F of the image forming apparatus 10 is a side on which various operations of the image forming apparatus 10 are performed from that side, and for example, an operation unit 15 for operating the image forming apparatus 10 is disposed. This is the side from which the recording medium accommodating portion 48 is pulled out.

The exhaust device 300 includes a first casing 301 constituting a horizontal one side (upper right side in FIG. 3) portion and a second casing 302 constituting a horizontal other side (lower left side in FIG. 3) portion. I have.
The first casing 301 and the second casing 302 are joined in a detachable manner, and each is independently detachable from the first casing 10A of the image forming apparatus 10.

  In the following, the facing surface that faces the first housing 10A is the front surface 300F of the exhaust device 300, the opposite surface is the rear surface 300B, and the right side toward the rear surface 300B is the exhaust device 300 and its components. The right side of the exhaust device 300 and its components will be described as the left side of the rear surface 300B. In addition, since these directions in the exhaust device 300 are determined for convenience of explanation, the left-right direction and the front-rear direction in the exhaust device 300 are not limited to these directions.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first casing 301 and the second casing 302 include frames 303 and 304 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped frame shape, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an upper rear cover 305A, a lower rear cover 305B (an example of a covering member), an upper cover 307, and a bottom cover (an example of a covering member) are provided on the rear surface, upper surface, bottom surface, right side surface, and left side surface of the frame 303. A right side cover (not shown), a left side cover (not shown), and a left side cover (not shown) are detachably provided.

  Accordingly, by removing the upper rear cover 305A, the lower rear cover 305B, the upper cover 307, the bottom cover (not shown), the right side cover (not shown) and the left side cover (not shown) from the frame 303, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear surface, top surface, bottom surface, right side surface and left side surface side of the first housing 301 are opened.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an upper rear cover 306A, a lower rear cover 306B, an upper cover 308, a bottom cover (not shown), a right side are provided on the rear surface, top surface, bottom surface, right side surface, and left side surface of the frame 304. A cover (not shown) and a left side cover 310 are detachably provided.

  Accordingly, by removing the upper rear cover 306A, the lower rear cover 306B, the upper cover 308, the bottom cover (not shown), the right cover (not shown), and the left cover 310 from the frame 304, the second housing The rear surface, upper surface, bottom surface, right side surface, and left side surface side of 302 are opened.

  The upper rear cover 305 </ b> A provided in the first housing 301 and the upper rear cover 306 </ b> A provided in the second housing 302 are respectively formed with suction ports 315 and 316 for sucking outside air.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, first flow pipes 321 </ b> Y, 321 </ b> M, 321 </ b> C, and 321 </ b> K extending along the vertical direction are provided side by side along the horizontal direction in the upper portion of the first housing 301. Yes. The first flow pipes 321Y, 321M, 321C, and 321K are provided corresponding to the image forming unit 16 (see FIG. 1), and are used for the image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K, respectively. is there.

  Each first flow pipe 321 has the same configuration. Specifically, a curved pipe 323 that forms the upper part of the first flow pipe 321 and a straight pipe 325 that is connected to the lower end of the curved pipe 323 are provided. I have. As shown in FIG. 6, each curved pipe 323 is connected to the first straight part 323A along the horizontal direction, a bellows-like curved part 323B connected to the first straight part 323A, and a vertical part connected to the curved part 323B. And a second straight portion 323G along the direction.

  A suction member 327 as an example of a suction portion having a hollow structure is provided on the suction side of the first straight portion 323A of each curved pipe 323. As shown in FIG. 7, each suction member 327 is formed with a plurality of suction ports 327 </ b> A that communicate with the hollow portion. Each suction port 327A is opened around the photoreceptor 18 of each image forming unit 16, for example, on the rear side of the developing device 22 where the toner scatters, the scorotron charger 20 where ozone is generated, and the static elimination device 26. It communicates with the peripheral space of the photoreceptor 18 (see FIG. 1).

  Each suction member 327 passes through each of the plurality of suction ports 327A and the first straight portion 323A of each curved tube 323, and the air sucked from the peripheral space of each photoconductor 18 through each of the plurality of suction ports 327A. It is made to distribute | circulate to the linear part 323A.

  In each curved pipe 323, the first straight portion 323A causes the air to flow backward along the horizontal direction, and the curved portion 323B changes the flow direction of the air from the first straight portion 323A downward from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. The second straight part 323G causes the air from the bending part 323B to flow downward in the vertical direction.

  Each straight pipe 325 has an upper end connected to a lower end of the second straight part 323G of each curved pipe 323. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, each straight pipe 325 is vertically moved at a position displaced along the horizontal direction (left-right direction) with respect to each suction member 327 (suction port 327 </ b> A, first straight portion 323 </ b> A). The air from the second straight portion 323G of each curved pipe 323 is circulated downward in the vertical direction.

  In the present embodiment, the bending portion 323 </ b> B is also deformed in the left-right direction, so that the deviation from the suction member 327 of the straight pipe 325 that forms the vertical portion of the first flow pipe 321 is absorbed. In this way, the curved pipe 323 functions as a connecting portion that connects the straight pipe 325 and the suction member 327 that are shifted in the left-right direction.

  The arrangement interval along the horizontal direction of the straight pipe 325 and the arrangement interval along the horizontal direction of the image forming unit 16 (photoreceptor 18) are equal intervals, and the arrangement interval along the horizontal direction of the straight pipe 325 is also set. Is narrower than the arrangement interval along the horizontal direction of the image forming unit 16 (photosensitive member 18). Since the suction member 327 has an arrangement interval corresponding to the image forming unit 16 (photosensitive member 18), the horizontal displacement between the straight pipe 325 and the suction member 327 is the first flow pipe 321K and the first flow. The size gradually increases in the order of the pipe 321C, the first flow pipe 321M, and the first flow pipe 321Y.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a first filter housing portion 333 in which the first toner filter 331 is housed is provided at the lower end portion of each straight pipe 325. Each first filter housing portion 333 is formed in a hollow box shape and communicates with each straight pipe 325. The first toner filter 331 passes air downward, captures toner as foreign matter in the air, and removes the toner.

  A first fan 335 as an example of a first blower that sends air that has passed through the first toner filter 331 to the downstream side is provided in the downstream portion of each first filter housing portion 333. Each first fan 335 sucks air from above, and discharges the air from the outlet 335A to the diagonally rear left side.

  On the downstream side of the four first fans 335, a first merging portion 341 that joins the air discharged from the four first fans 335 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the first joining portion 341 is formed into a box shape that is hollow and has a rear side open, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. Specifically, the first junction 341 includes the right side wall 341R, the left side wall 341L, the upper wall 341U connected to the upper end of the right side wall 341R and the upper end of the left side wall 341L, and the front end and the left side of the right side wall 341R. An inclined wall 341K connected to a front wall 341F (see FIG. 8) connected to the front end of the wall 341L, a lower part on the front side of the right side wall 341R, and a lower part on the front side of the left side wall 341L, and whose lower side is inclined rearward. And a bottom wall 341B connected to the lower end of the right side wall 341R and the lower end of the left side wall 341L. The rear wall of the first joining portion 341 is configured by a lower rear surface cover 305B.

  In the present embodiment, a first bracket 361 as an example of the first connecting portion is provided on the upper wall 341U, and a second bracket 363 as an example of the second connecting portion is provided on the bottom wall 341B.

  Specifically, the first bracket 361 and the second bracket 363 are disposed at the horizontal center of the upper wall 341U and the horizontal center of the bottom wall 341B, respectively. Specifically, the first bracket 361 and the second bracket 363 are arranged in the horizontal direction in the first filter housing portion 333 (first fan 335) of the first flow tube 321M and the first filter housing portion 333 of the first flow tube 321C. It is arranged at a position straddling (first fan 335).

  As shown in FIG. 8, each of the first bracket 361 and the second bracket 363 is formed in a L-shaped cross section by bending a sheet metal. A horizontal plate 361A of the first bracket 361 is fixed to the upper surface of the upper wall 341U. A horizontal plate 363A of the second bracket 363 is fixed to the upper surface of the bottom wall 341B.

  Each of the vertical plate 361B of the first bracket 361 and the vertical plate 363A of the second bracket 363 has a screw hole 367 into which a screw 365 as a fixing member is screwed, and is a horizontal central portion of the first joining portion 341. It is formed at a position between the first flow pipe 321M and the first flow pipe 321Y in the horizontal direction. As a result, the lower rear cover 305B, the upper wall 341U, and the bottom wall 341B are connected to each other at a position between the first flow pipe 321M and the first flow pipe 321C in the horizontal direction. . An elastic member 369 such as urethane foam is provided between the lower rear cover 305B and the first junction 341 to increase the degree of sealing.

  An insertion port 343 into which the discharge side of the four first fans 335 is inserted is formed in the front wall 341F. On the left wall 341L side of the bottom wall 341B, a discharge port 345 for discharging the air in the first joining portion 341 is formed. The discharge port 345 is formed over the inclined wall 341K.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a first discharge pipe 351 that discharges air to the outside of the exhaust device 300 (image forming apparatus 10) is provided at the discharge port 345 of the first junction 341. It is connected at the lower position.

  A discharge port 351 </ b> A of the first discharge pipe 351 is formed on the bottom surface of the first housing 301. Thereby, the air of the 1st discharge pipe 351 is discharged | emitted to the floor surface in which the exhaust apparatus 300 was installed through the discharge port 351A.

  A first ozone filter 353 that allows the air flowing through the first discharge pipe 351 to pass therethrough and decomposes ozone in the air is detachably attached to the first discharge pipe 351. The first ozone filter 353 is removed rearward through an opening 351B formed in the first discharge pipe 351. The opening 351B of the first discharge pipe 351 is closed in an airtight state by the lower rear cover 305B. Thus, the first ozone filter 353 is replaced by removing the lower rear cover 305B. The first ozone filter 353 is attached and detached in the same direction as the first toner filter 331.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, second flow pipes 322 </ b> V and 322 </ b> W extending along the vertical direction are provided side by side along the horizontal direction at the upper portion of the second housing 302. The second flow pipes 322V and 322W are provided corresponding to the image forming unit 16 (see FIG. 1), and are used for the image forming units 16V and 16W, respectively.

  Each second flow pipe 322 has the same configuration as the first flow pipe 321, a curved pipe 323 that forms the upper part of the second flow pipe 322, a straight pipe 325 that is connected to the lower end of the curved pipe 323, It has.

  Note that the second flow pipe 322, the second toner filter 332 described later, the second filter housing portion 334 described later, and the second fan 336 described later are the first flow pipe 321, the first toner filter 331, and the first filter, respectively. Since it is the same structure as the accommodating part 333 and the 1st fan 335, description of a structure is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a second filter accommodating portion 334 in which a second toner filter 332 is accommodated is provided at the lower end portion of each straight tube 325 of the second circulation tube 322.

  A second fan 336 as an example of a second blower that sends the air that has passed through the second toner filter 332 to the downstream side is provided in the downstream portion of each second filter housing portion 334.

  On the downstream side of the two second fans 336, a second merging portion 342 that merges the air discharged from the two second fans 336 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the second joining portion 342 is formed in a box shape that is hollow and has a rear side opened, as shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, the second junction 342 includes a right side wall 342R, a left side wall 342L, an upper wall 342U connected to an upper end of the right side wall 342R and an upper end of the left side wall 342L, and a front end and a left side of the right side wall 342R. A front wall 342F connected to the front end of the wall 342L, an inclined wall 342K connected to a lower part on the front side of the right side wall 342R and a lower part on the front side of the left side wall 342L, and a lower side inclined rearward, and a right side wall 342R And a bottom wall 342B connected to the lower end of the left side wall 342L. The rear wall of the second merging portion 342 is configured by the lower rear cover 305B.

  An insertion port 344 into which the discharge side of the two second fans 336 is inserted is formed in the front wall 342F. On the left wall 342L side of the bottom wall 342B, a discharge port 346 is formed through which air in the second junction 342 is discharged. The discharge port 346 is formed over the inclined wall 342K.

  The first junction 341 provided in the first housing 301 joins the exhaust from the four fans, whereas the second junction 342 provided in the second housing 302 is obtained from the two fans. Therefore, the horizontal length is shorter than that of the first merging portion 341, and the internal volume is smaller than that of the first merging portion 341. Further, unlike the first joining portion 341, the second joining portion 342 is not connected to the lower rear cover 305B by the first bracket 361 and the second bracket 363.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a second discharge pipe 352 that discharges air to the outside of the exhaust apparatus 300 (image forming apparatus 10) is provided at the discharge port 346 of the second junction 342. It is connected at the lower position. A discharge port 352 </ b> A of the second discharge pipe 352 is formed on the bottom surface of the second housing 302. Thereby, the air of the 2nd discharge pipe 352 is discharged | emitted to the floor surface in which the exhaust apparatus 300 was installed through the discharge port 352A.

  A second ozone filter 354 that allows the air flowing through the second discharge pipe 352 to pass therethrough and decomposes ozone in the air is detachably attached to the second discharge pipe 352. The second ozone filter 354 is removed rearward through an opening 352B formed in the second discharge pipe 352. The opening 352B of the second discharge pipe 352 is closed by the lower rear cover 305B. It should be noted that the attachment / detachment direction of the second ozone filter 354 is the same as the attachment / detachment direction of the second toner filter 332.

(Operation of the exhaust device according to the present embodiment)
Next, the operation of the exhaust device according to this embodiment will be described.

  In the exhaust device 300 according to the present embodiment, air containing toner and ozone is sucked from the space around the photoreceptor 18 of each image forming unit 16 through the plurality of suction ports 327A of the suction members 327.

  The air sucked through the suction port 327A flows rearward along the horizontal direction in the first straight portions 323A of the first flow tubes 321 and the second flow tubes 322, and is directed downward in the vertical direction at the curved portions 323B. And the second straight portion 323G and the straight pipe 325 are circulated downward in the vertical direction.

  The air that has flowed through each first flow pipe 321 and each second flow pipe 322 passes through each first toner filter 331 and second toner filter 332, and the toner is removed.

  The air that has passed through each first toner filter 331 and each second toner filter 332 is sucked into each first fan 335 and each second fan 336 from above, and obliquely left rearward from the discharge port 335A and the discharge port 336A. Discharged.

  The air discharged from the discharge port 335A of each first fan 335 and the discharge port 336A of each second fan 336 is merged at the first merge portion 341 and the second merge portion 342, respectively, and the first discharge pipe 351 and the second discharge tube 352 are combined. It flows into the discharge pipe 352.

  The air flowing into the first exhaust pipe 351 and the second exhaust pipe 352 passes through the first ozone filter 353 and the second ozone filter 354, respectively, and the ozone in the air is decomposed, and the exhaust port 351A and the exhaust port 352A. Are discharged to the floor on which the exhaust device 300 is installed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, air from the plurality of first circulation pipes 321 and the plurality of second circulation pipes 322 are merged at the first merge section 341 and the second merge section 342, respectively. The number of component parts (for example, the first exhaust pipe 351 and the first ozone filter 353, the second exhaust pipe 352 and the second ozone filter 354) on the downstream side of the part 341 and the second merge part 342 is the first circulation. The number is less than the number of pipes 321 and second flow pipes 322. Thereby, the number of parts of the exhaust device 300 is reduced, and the exhaust device 300 is downsized.

  Moreover, since the 1st ozone filter 353 and the 2nd ozone filter 354 are each provided in the 1st discharge pipe 351 and the 2nd discharge pipe 352 which are located in the discharge side rather than the suction inlet 327A, the 1st discharge pipe 351 is provided. And compared with the case where it is provided on the upstream side of the second exhaust pipe 352, the amount of ozone that is naturally decomposed before reaching the first ozone filter 353 and the second ozone filter 354 is increased. Thereby, the lifetime of the 1st ozone filter 353 and the 2nd ozone filter 354 is extended.

  In addition, since air from the first exhaust pipe 351 and the second exhaust pipe 352 is exhausted to the floor surface on which the exhaust device 300 is installed, air flows from the side surfaces and the upper surface of the first housing 301 and the second housing 302. As compared with the case of exhausting air, noise caused by the exhaust of air is reduced.

  Here, in this embodiment, the first bracket 361 and the second bracket 363 connect the upper wall 341U and the bottom wall 341B of the first joining portion 341 and the lower rear cover 305B, respectively. Even if the lower rear cover 305B is pushed outward by the air pressure in the merging portion 341, a gap is hardly formed between the first merging portion 341 and the lower rear cover 305B. Air is hard to leak.

  In the present embodiment, when the lower rear cover 305B is removed, the rear surface of the first housing 301 and the rear surface of the first joining portion 341 are opened, and the opening 351B of the first discharge pipe 351 is opened. The In this open state, the first ozone filter 353 is replaced.

  By the way, when the fixing points of the upper wall 341U and the bottom wall 341B of the first merging portion 341 and the rear cover 305B are other than the horizontal central portion of the first merging portion 341 (for example, the horizontal direction of the first merging portion 341). In the case of one end in the direction), the pressure in the first merging portion 341 becomes higher due to the exhaust air pressure from the first fan 335, so that air easily leaks from the horizontal central portion of the first merging portion 341 that is not fixed. Become. In particular, when the area of the rear cover 305B is large, the rear cover 305B cannot maintain a flat state, and a gap is generated between the rear cover 305B and the first joining portion 341, and air leaks from the gap. End up.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the fixing points of the upper wall 341U and the bottom wall 341B of the first merging portion 341 and the rear cover 305B are the horizontal central portion of the first merging portion 341 and the horizontal direction Since each of both end portions is a horizontal central portion in the horizontal direction of the rear cover 305B fixed to the frame 314, a fixing point to the frame 314 in the rear cover 305B and a fixing point to the first junction 341 Even if the distance between them becomes equal and the pressure in the first joining portion 341 increases, the rear cover 305B maintains the flat state. For this reason, it is difficult to generate a gap between the rear cover 305 </ b> B and the first merging portion 341, and air hardly leaks from the first merging portion 341.

  In the present embodiment, the number of fixing points is not increased, but only the central portion in the horizontal direction of the first merging portion 341 is used as the fixing point. If the number of fixing points is increased, the air leakage from the first joining portion 341 is reduced, but the parts cost is increased. In the present embodiment, the fixed point only in the horizontal center of the first merging portion 341, that is, the minimum fixing point is used, thereby reducing air costs from the first merging portion 341 while reducing the parts cost. is doing.

  The second casing 302 includes components for forming images of the first special color and the second special color (image forming units 16V and 16W, exposure units 40V and 40W, toner cartridges 14V and 14W, primary transfer roll 36V. 36W) is used when it is mounted on the first housing 10A as an additional part. Therefore, in the case of a configuration that does not include parts for forming images of the first special color and the second special color, the second housing 302 is not provided.

  When only a part for forming an image of one of the first special color and the second special color is mounted on the first housing 10A as an additional part, the second flow pipe 322, Each of the second toner filter 332, the second filter housing portion 334, and the second fan 336 may be configured as one. In this configuration, the second junction 342 is not necessary, and the second fan 336 may be directly connected to the second exhaust pipe 352.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 16 Image forming unit (an example of an image forming part)
301 1st housing | casing (an example of a housing | casing)
305B Rear cover (an example of a covering member)
321 first distribution pipe (an example of a distribution pipe)
341 1st junction part (an example of a junction part)
351B opening 351 first discharge pipe (an example of a discharge pipe)
353 Ozone filter (example of filter)
361 First bracket (an example of a first connecting member)
363 Second bracket (an example of a second connecting member)

Claims (2)

A plurality of image forming units that form toner images by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image;
A housing having an open portion that is open on the side;
Provided side by side in the horizontal direction in the housing, each extending along the vertical direction, the upper end communicates with the image forming unit, and the air from the image forming unit is circulated from the upper end to the lower end. Multiple distribution pipes,
A merging portion that is accommodated in the housing and merges air from the plurality of flow pipes;
A covering member that covers the open portion of the housing and forms a wall on the open portion side of the merging portion;
A first connecting member that connects the upper wall of the merging portion and the covering member between the plurality of flow pipes in the arrangement direction of the plurality of flow pipes;
A second connecting member for connecting the bottom wall of the joining portion and the covering member between the plurality of flow pipes in the horizontal direction;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A discharge pipe that has an opening that opens to the open portion side, one end communicates with the joining portion, the other end communicates with the outside of the image forming apparatus, and discharges air from the joining portion to the outside of the image forming apparatus. When,
A filter that is detachably provided at the opening of the discharge pipe, and for removing foreign substances in the air flowing through the discharge pipe;
With
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the covering member closes an opening portion of the discharge pipe and opens an opening portion of the discharge pipe when the opening portion of the housing is opened.

Images