JP2012073419A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which is capable of providing comfortable environment in an area where the image forming apparatus is installed by preventing such problems as exposing a user to direct flow of exhaust air from an exhaust port and exposing a user to driving noise accompanying the rotation of a fan.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming part for performing image formation by fixing toner using a thermofusion process and has: a cover member which covers the image forming part and forms an outer surface of the apparatus; a heat exhaust member for discharging heat generated from image formation; exhaust ports formed in two mutually adjacent faces of the cover member in positions corresponding to the heat discharging positions of the heat exhaust member; and an open/close switching member for switching between opened/closed states of the exhaust ports.

Description

  The present invention relates to an exhaust heat structure provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a multifunction machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine.

  Heat generated from a heat source such as a fixing device or a power source mounted in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a multifunction machine, a printer, or a facsimile is used for temperature management related to performance maintenance such as a printing process, in the printing process, etc. From the viewpoint of preventing melting of high-temperature parts exposed to high temperatures, it is necessary to exhaust heat outside the apparatus.

  As an example of an image forming apparatus provided with an exhaust heat structure that exhausts heat to the outside of the apparatus, for example, in Patent Document 1, air that has flowed due to rotation of a fan as an exhaust heat member mounted on the apparatus side surface, Alternatively, a technique is disclosed in which heat inside the apparatus is exhausted by exhausting air through an exhaust port formed on the back surface.

JP 2008-249888 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, for example, a situation may occur in which the exhaust port of the apparatus is located beside the user's desk or the side of the seat due to circumstances of the apparatus installation location. In this case, there is a problem that the exhaust from the exhaust port directly hits or a noise such as a driving sound caused by the rotation of the fan is generated, and the user is uncomfortable. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the problem of the present invention is that exhaust from the exhaust port directly hits or is caused by noise such as driving sound accompanying rotation of the fan. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of adverse effects and making the installation environment of the image forming apparatus comfortable.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image by fixing toner by heat melting, covers the image forming unit, and includes an outer surface of the apparatus. A cover member, a heat exhaust member for exhausting heat generated during image formation, and an exhaust port formed on two adjacent surfaces of the cover member corresponding to the heat exhaust position of the heat exhaust member And an opening / closing switching member for switching opening / closing of the exhaust port.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that fixes the toner by heat melting to form an image, and covers the image forming unit and forms a device outer surface. An exhaust port is formed at the corners of two adjacent surfaces of the heat exhaust member that exhausts heat generated during image formation and the cover member, and the direction of the exhaust flow from the exhaust port And switching means for switching to one of the surfaces or the other surface.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of adverse effects such as direct exhaust from the exhaust port or noise such as driving sound accompanying rotation of the fan, and to make the installation environment of the image forming apparatus comfortable. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of a printer. It is an external view for demonstrating an exhaust heat part. It is FIG. 2A sectional drawing for demonstrating a waste heat part. It is detail drawing for demonstrating a waste heat part. It is a figure explaining the switching operation | movement of the exhaust gas switch cover by a user. It is a figure explaining the switching operation | movement of the exhaust gas switch cover by a user. It is detail drawing for demonstrating a waste heat part. FIG. 7P is an arrow view of FIG. It is FIG. 7F sectional drawing for demonstrating switching operation | movement of the exhaust gas switching rotation cover by a user. It is detail drawing for demonstrating a waste heat part. It is FIG. 10K sectional drawing for demonstrating a waste heat part.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following description, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change suitably.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a printer 101 as an image forming apparatus to which the exhaust heat structure according to the first embodiment is applied. The printer 101 is an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic method, for example. In the printer 101, the recording paper storage unit 201 is the starting point, and the recording paper feeding roller 202, the first registration roller 203, the second registration roller 204, the first ejection roller 207, and the second ejection roller 208 are the end points. A printing process unit 205, a fixing device 206, and the like as an image forming unit are provided along the recording paper conveyance path S formed in a letter shape. Further, on the rear side of the printer 101 apparatus on the right side in FIG. 1, a fan 211 is provided as a heat exhausting member that exhausts heat generated from the printing process unit 205, the fixing device 206, and the like.

  The recording paper storage unit 201 stores recording paper in a stacked state, and is detachably attached to the lower part of the printer 101. Then, a recording paper feed roller 202 provided at the upper part of the recording paper storage unit 201 takes out the recording paper stored in the recording paper storage unit 201 one by one from the uppermost part and feeds it to the recording paper transport path S. .

  The first registration roller 203 and the second registration roller 204 correct the skew of the recording paper fed from the recording paper feed roller 202 and convey the recording paper to the printing process unit 205.

  The printing process unit 205 can use an electrophotographic printing engine using an LED head having a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) element and a lens array as an exposure apparatus (not shown). In this embodiment, a printing process unit 205 including an electrophotographic printing engine attaches toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor (not shown) by light irradiated from an exposure device (not shown). To form a toner image. The formed toner image is transferred to a recording sheet by a transfer device (not shown). The recording paper on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 206. As the printing process unit 205, it is possible to use a printing engine other than the electrophotographic method, for example, a laser method, an ink jet method, or a dot matrix impact method, and it is necessary to exhaust heat outside the printer 101. The same configuration is possible in any image forming apparatus or other equipment.

  The fixing device 206 is disposed on the downstream side of the recording paper conveyance path S after the printing process unit 205, and includes a heat roller, a backup roller, a thermistor, and the like. For example, a heat roller is formed by coating a hollow cylindrical cored bar made of aluminum or the like with a heat-resistant elastic layer of silicone rubber and coating a PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer) tube thereon. Is formed. In the core bar, for example, a heater such as a halogen lamp is provided. The backup roller, for example, has a structure in which a heat-resistant elastic layer of silicone rubber is coated on a metal core made of aluminum or the like and PFA is coated thereon, and is arranged so that a pressure contact portion is formed between the heat roller and the heat roller. Has been. The thermistor is means for detecting the surface temperature of the heat roller, and is disposed in the vicinity of the heat roller in a non-contact manner. The surface temperature of the heat roller is maintained at a predetermined temperature by controlling the heater based on the detection result of the surface temperature of the heat roller detected by the thermistor. The recording paper on which the toner image formed in the printing process unit 205 is transferred passes through a pressure contact portion formed by a heat roller and a backup roller maintained at a predetermined temperature. Then, the toner is melted and the toner image is fixed.

  The first eject roller 207 and the second eject roller 208 sandwich and convey the recording paper that has passed through the fixing device 206, and eject it as a recording paper 209 to a recording paper stack 210 formed by using the outer casing of the printer 101. .

Although not shown in FIG. 1, as other members constituting the printer 101, the printer 101 includes a microprocessor, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an input / output port, a timer, and the like. A print control unit, an interface control unit that receives print data and control commands, controls the entire sequence of the printer 101, and executes a print operation; and temporarily stores print data input via the interface control unit Receiving memory, print data stored in the receiving memory, and editing the print data to display the image data editing memory for storing the formed image data (image data) and the status of the printer 101 For example, a display unit including a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a user For example, an operation unit having an input means such as a touch panel for receiving instructions from the user, various sensors such as a paper position detection sensor, a temperature / humidity sensor, and a concentration sensor for monitoring the operation state of the printer 101, The image data stored in the image data editing memory is sent to an exposure apparatus (not shown), an exposure apparatus drive control unit for controlling the drive of the exposure apparatus (not shown), a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the fixing device 206, and recording paper A recording paper feed roller 202, a first registration roller 203, a second registration roller 204, a first ejection roller 207, a second ejection roller 208, and the like. A drive control unit for controlling a drive motor for rotating various rollers related to a printing process such as a photosensitive member (not shown); and Comprising a high-voltage power supply or the like for applying a voltage to the seed roller.

  Next, the fixing device 206, various rollers (not shown) related to the printing process, or a fan 211 as a heat exhausting member that exhausts heat generated from a high-voltage power source that applies a voltage to the various rollers, and rotation of the fan 211 The configuration of the exhaust port that exhausts the air that flows through the outside of the printer 101 will be described. In the description of the present invention, a configuration including the fan 211 and the exhaust port will be described as a heat exhaust unit.

  2 is an external view for explaining the exhaust heat unit according to the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A for explaining the exhaust heat unit according to the first embodiment, and FIG. It is detail drawing for demonstrating the exhaust heat part which concerns on 1st Embodiment.

  The fan 211 is mounted at a position corresponding to two surfaces adjacent to each other on the basis of the device corner ridge line portion of the main cover 102. In the present embodiment, the fan 211 is mounted with an inclination of 45 degrees in the left direction of the apparatus with respect to one surface of the main cover 102. Note that the inclination angle does not have to be exactly 45 degrees, and there is no problem even if the inclination angle is around 45 degrees. In the vicinity of the fan 211, a duct 113 for inducing exhaust heat with the main cover 102 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main cover 102 is formed with an exhaust switching cover sliding surface 108 and a fixing hole 112 on two surfaces adjacent to each other with respect to the device corner ridgeline. The exhaust switching cover 103 serving as an opening / closing switching member or switching means is fixed by the surface contact with the exhaust switching cover sliding surface 108 and the fixing claw 107 and the fixing hole 112 engaging with each other. Further, an operation unit 105 is provided at a position corresponding to the device corner ridge line portion of the exhaust switching cover 103, and the exhaust switching cover 103 itself is moved in the same direction by driving the operation unit 105 in the device corner ridge line direction. Can be moved.

  Further, the exhaust switching cover sliding surface 108 is formed with an exhaust port 109 and an exhaust port 110 in a slit shape orthogonal to the apparatus corner ridgeline direction, and the arrangement position of the exhaust port 110 is relative to the exhaust port 109. It is offset upward by one line in the direction of the device corner ridgeline. The offset direction of the exhaust port 109 or the exhaust port 110 is not particularly limited. For example, the arrangement position of the exhaust port 110 is one row below the exhaust port 109 in the apparatus corner ridge line direction. May be offset.

  The exhaust switching sliding surface 108 has a fixed groove 111 and a fixed groove 116 arranged in series in the device corner ridge line direction, and any one of the two fixed grooves is provided in the exhaust switching cover 103. The positioning of the exhaust switching cover 103 can be selected by fitting with the fixed projection 106.

  The exhaust switching cover 103 is formed with exhaust switching cover exhaust ports 104 on both sides of two surfaces adjacent to each other with reference to the device corner ridgeline. The arrangement positions of the exhaust switching cover exhaust ports 104 on the two surfaces are formed in a slit shape perpendicular to the apparatus corner ridge line direction and at the same height position. In the present embodiment, the right side surface and the rear side surface adjacent to the ridge line at the right rear portion of the printer 101 are described as an example of two surfaces adjacent to each other with reference to the device corner ridge line portion. If it is a ridgeline part which can do, there is no restriction | limiting in the selection of the ridgeline part.

  Next, a printing process of the printer 101 having the above configuration will be described.

  First, when print data is input to the printer 101 and image data based on the print data is generated, the printer 101 starts a printing process. At the start of the printing process, the recording paper stored in the recording storage unit 201 is fed out to the recording paper transport path S one by one by the rotation of the recording paper feed roller 202 rotated by driving of a drive motor (not shown). Thereafter, the recording sheet is conveyed to the printing process unit 205 along the sheet conveyance path S while the skew is corrected by the first registration roller 203 and the second registration roller 204.

  In the printing process unit 205, a toner image is formed by attaching toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member (not shown) by light irradiated from an exposure device (not shown). The formed toner image is transferred to a recording sheet by a transfer device (not shown).

  Thereafter, the recording paper is conveyed to a fixing device 206 having a heat roller and a backup roller. The recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is controlled by a temperature control means (not shown) and conveyed to a press contact portion formed by a heat roller and a backup roller maintained at a predetermined surface temperature. Then, the toner is melted by heat applied from the heat roller, and further pressed by the pressure contact portion, whereby the toner image is fixed on the recording paper.

  The recording sheet on which the toner image is fixed is nipped and conveyed by the first eject roller 207 and the second eject roller 208, and then is discharged as the discharged recording sheet 209 to the recording sheet stack 210, and the series of printing processes is completed.

  Next, in the printing process described above, for example, the operation for exhausting heat generated from the fixing device 206, various rollers (not shown) related to the printing process, or a high-voltage power source that applies a voltage to the various rollers is described above. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the switching operation of the exhaust gas switching cover 103 by the user.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, when the user operates the operating portion 105 of the exhaust gas switching cover 103 in the direction B in the figure, the fixing projection 106 of the exhaust gas switching cover 103 and the exhaust gas switching cover sliding surface 108 shown in FIG. The exhaust switching cover 103 is held in the downward direction of the main cover 102 by fitting with the groove 111.

  At this time, the height positions of the exhaust port 109 of the exhaust switchover cover sliding surface 108 and the exhaust switchover cover exhaust port 104 of the exhaust switchover cover 103 coincide with each other, and as shown in FIGS. Heat is exhausted in the direction C on the right side of the apparatus by the rotation of the fan 211.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the user operates the operation portion 105 of the exhaust switching cover 103 in the direction D in the drawing, the fixed projection 106 of the exhaust switching cover 103 and the exhaust switching cover sliding surface shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the exhaust switching cover 103 is held upward in the main cover 102.

  At this time, the height positions of the exhaust port 110 of the exhaust switching cover sliding surface 108 and the switching cover exhaust port 104 of the exhaust switching cover 103 coincide, and as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. Is exhausted in the E direction on the rear side of the apparatus by the rotation of the fan 211.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the user operates the position of the exhaust gas switching cover 103, the exhaust heat direction can be selected from either the right side of the apparatus or the rear side of the apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of adverse effects such as direct exhaust from the exhaust port or noise such as driving sound accompanying the rotation of the fan, and to make the installation environment of the image forming apparatus comfortable. It becomes possible.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, the fan 211 described in the first embodiment and the configuration of the exhaust heat unit including the exhaust port are different. In the following description, the same portions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, the description thereof is omitted, and different portions are described.

  FIG. 7 is a detailed view for explaining the exhaust heat unit according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a view in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7P for explaining the exhaust heat unit according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the main cover 102 according to the second embodiment, the exhaust port 120 and the exhaust port 121 are in the same direction with respect to the device corner ridge line direction on two surfaces adjacent to the device corner ridge line part. It is formed in a slit shape.

  As shown in FIG. 8, duct ribs 125 are formed in the upper and lower portions in the main cover 102 in accordance with the shape of the apparatus corner, respectively, and one duct rib 125 (in this embodiment, the lower duct rib is formed). 125) is provided with a positioning hole 123, and both duct ribs 125 are provided with rotation fulcrum holes 124, respectively.

  Further, rotation fulcrums 117 are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the exhaust switching rotary cover 114 as an opening / closing switching member or switching means, and a rotation knob 119 is provided at one end side. The rotation fulcrum hole 124 formed in the duct rib 125 and the rotation fulcrum 117 are engaged with each other, and the rotation knob 119 that can be operated from the outside of the apparatus is rotated through the rotation knob hole 122 formed in the main cover 102. The exhaust gas switching rotary cover 114 can be rotated. Further, the exhaust switching rotary cover 114 can be positioned and held by engaging the positioning projection 118 provided on the exhaust switching rotary cover 114 with the positioning hole 123 formed in the duct rib 125 described above.

  Next, in the printing process, for example, the operation for exhausting heat generated from the fixing device 206, various rollers (not shown) related to the printing process, or a high-voltage power source for applying a voltage to the various rollers is used with reference to FIG. I will explain. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7F for explaining the switching operation of the exhaust gas switching rotary cover 114 by the user.

  As shown in FIG. 9, for example, when the exhaust gas switching rotary cover 114 is positioned on the right side of the apparatus, that is, the exhaust gas switching rotary cover 114 comes into contact with the exhaust port 121 to block the exhaust port 121. In this case, the heat inside the apparatus is exhausted in the T direction on the rear side of the apparatus by the rotation of the fan 211.

  When the user rotates the rotary knob 119 through the rotary knob hole 122 formed in the main cover 102 to rotate the exhaust switch rotary cover 114 to the Q position in the figure, the exhaust switch rotary cover 114 is provided. When the positioning protrusion 118 engages with the positioning hole 123 formed in the duct rib 125, the exhaust switching rotary cover 114 is positioned and held at the Q position in the figure. Then, both the exhaust ports 120 and 121 are opened, and the heat inside the apparatus is exhausted in the T direction on the rear side of the apparatus and the S direction on the right side of the apparatus by the rotation of the fan 211. .

  Further, when the user rotates the rotary knob 119 through the rotary knob hole 122 formed in the main cover 102 to rotate the exhaust switching rotary cover 114 to the R position in the drawing, that is, the exhaust switching rotary cover 114. However, when the exhaust port 120 is closed by contacting the exhaust port 120, the heat inside the device is exhausted in the S direction on the right side of the device by the rotation of the fan 211.

  In the description of the second embodiment, the vertical slit shape formed in the same direction as the apparatus corner ridge line direction is described as an example of the shape of the exhaust port, but the shape of the exhaust port is not limited to this. For example, the exhaust direction of exhaust heat can be controlled according to the present embodiment, regardless of the shape of the exhaust port, such as a circle shape or a triangle shape, and restrictions on product design. The degree of freedom in design can be improved. In addition, according to the present embodiment, when there is no restriction in the exhaust heat exhaust direction, the exhaust heat can be exhausted from both the exhaust port 120 and the exhaust port 121. For example, the image forming apparatus Thus, it is possible to cope with high-speed printing in which the amount of exhaust heat increases.

[Third Embodiment]
Also in the third embodiment, the configuration of the exhaust heat unit including the fan 211 and the exhaust port described in the first embodiment is different as in the second embodiment. In the following description, the same portions as those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, the description thereof is omitted, and different portions are described.

  FIG. 10 is a detailed view for explaining the exhaust heat unit according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view of FIG. 10K for explaining the exhaust heat unit according to the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the main cover 102 according to the third embodiment is formed with an exhaust port formed in the vicinity of the face of the fan 211 by indenting two surfaces adjacent to the device corner ridge line portion into the device inside. A surface 126 is provided.

  An exhaust port 115 is formed on the exhaust port forming surface 126, and an exhaust switching rotary cover 114 ′ that can be rotated by a rotation fulcrum 117 provided on the main cover 102 is attached. That is, the exhaust port formation surface 126 and the exhaust port 115 are formed so as to be sandwiched between the fan 211 and the exhaust switching rotary cover 114 '.

  Next, in the printing process, for example, an operation for exhausting heat generated from the fixing device 206, various rollers (not shown) related to the printing process, or a high-voltage power source that applies a voltage to the various rollers is shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, for example, when the exhaust switching rotary cover 114 ′ is located on the right side of the apparatus, the heat inside the apparatus is exhausted in the L direction on the rear side of the apparatus by the rotation of the fan 211. Further, when the user rotates the exhaust switching rotary cover 114 ′ to the U position in the drawing, the heat inside the apparatus is exhausted in the M direction on the right side of the apparatus by the rotation of the fan 211.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the exhaust port 115 is formed at a position closest to the fan 211 as compared with the first embodiment or the second embodiment, and the duct inside the apparatus is formed. 113 is also arranged to be the shortest compared to the first embodiment or the second embodiment. Therefore, according to the third embodiment, an exhaust loss related to exhaust heat can be suppressed to a low level, and an image forming apparatus capable of controlling the exhaust heat direction with high cooling efficiency can be provided.

  In the description of the present invention, a printer has been described as a specific example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the heat inside the apparatus such as a copying machine, a multifunction machine, and a facsimile can be discharged. Any apparatus that needs to be heated can be applied to any image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Printer 102 Main cover 103 Exhaust switch cover 104 Exhaust switch cover exhaust port 105 Operation part 106 Fixing protrusion 107 Fixing claw 108 Exhaust switch cover sliding surface 109 Exhaust port 110 Exhaust port 111 Fixing groove 112 Fixing hole 113 Duct 114 Exhaust switch rotation cover 114 'Exhaust switching rotary cover 115 Exhaust port 116 Fixed groove 117 Rotating fulcrum 119 Rotating knob 120 Exhaust port 121 Exhaust port 122 Rotating knob hole 123 Positioning hole 124 Rotating fulcrum hole 125 Duct rib 126 Exhaust port forming surface 201 Recording paper storage unit 202 Recording paper supply Paper roller 203 First registration roller 204 Second registration roller 205 Printing process unit 206 Fixing device 207 First ejection roller 208 Second ejection roller 209 Ejected recording paper 210 Recording paper stack 211 Fan

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit for fixing an image by heat melting to form an image,
A cover member that covers the image forming unit and forms an outer surface of the apparatus;
A heat exhaust member that exhausts heat generated during image formation;
An exhaust port corresponding to the exhaust heat position of the exhaust heat member and formed on two adjacent surfaces of the cover member;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an opening / closing switching member that switches opening / closing of the exhaust port. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing switching member selects and switches one of exhaust ports formed on two surfaces. The image according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust port has a longitudinal direction formed in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the opening / closing switching member, and has a different arrangement position on each surface. Forming equipment. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing switching member is slidably disposed in a ridge line direction of two adjacent surfaces. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing switching member has a rotation shaft in the same direction as a ridgeline direction of two adjacent surfaces, and is rotatably disposed. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the opening / closing switching member is disposed either on an outer side or an inner side with respect to a surface on which the exhaust port is formed. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit for fixing an image by heat melting to form an image,
A cover member that covers the image forming unit and forms an outer surface of the apparatus;
A heat exhaust member that exhausts heat generated during image formation;
Switching means for forming an exhaust port at corners of two adjacent surfaces of the cover member and switching the direction of the flow of exhaust gas from the exhaust port to one of the two surfaces or the other surface An image forming apparatus comprising: