JP2015229937A - Blower module and image formation module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a blower module having a high air blowing efficiency and an image formation module.SOLUTION: A blower module 100 comprises: a top plate part 103 that has the first side 161 and the second side 162 being parallel to each other and the first side is inclined to occupy a higher position than that of the second side; the first plate part 104 extending from the first side downward and spaced apart by a prescribed distance downward; the second side plate part 105 extending downward from the second side; a stabilizer 106 arranged below the second side plate part; a suction port part 107 arranged between the first side and the first side plate part; a bottom plate part 108 opposing against the top plate and crossing with the first side plate part; a discharging port part 109 arranged between the bottom plate part and the stabilizer and having a smaller opening area than that of the suction port part 107; and a cross-flow fan 101 for transferring air sucked from the suction port to the discharging port through a flow passage along the bottom plate part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a blower including a cross flow fan and an image forming apparatus including the blower.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a device that generates heat, such as a fixing device. For this reason, when the image forming apparatus is used, its internal temperature rises. If the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus rises excessively, unnecessary heat is applied to other members mounted inside the apparatus, such as a photosensitive drum and a cleaning unit arranged around the image forming apparatus. As a result, deformation of the other members, deterioration of durability, or deterioration of the developer may be caused, and print quality may be adversely affected. Therefore, it is necessary to suppress an increase in the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus. As a means for suppressing an increase in internal temperature, a blower using a cross flow fan (see, for example, Patent Document 1) widely used in air conditioners may be used.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-101691

  In a conventional blower using a cross flow fan, a negative pressure is generated at a specific location in the fan case, resulting in air current disturbance. Such turbulence of the air current causes a reduction in the intake / exhaust efficiency of the blower, generation of abnormal noise or vibration, or instability of the wind speed of the exhaust.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a blower and an image forming apparatus having high blowing efficiency.

  A blower according to one aspect of the present invention includes a top plate, a first side plate, a second side plate, a stabilizer, an intake port, a bottom plate, an exhaust port, and a crossflow fan. Have The top plate portion has a first side and a second side parallel to each other, and is inclined so that the first side is located at a position higher than the second side. The first side plate portion extends downward from a position spaced a predetermined distance downward from the first side. The second side plate portion extends downward from the second side. The stabilizer is provided below the second side plate portion. The intake port portion is provided between the first side and the first side plate portion. The bottom plate portion faces the top plate portion and intersects the first side plate portion. The exhaust port portion is provided between the bottom plate portion and the stabilizer and has an opening area smaller than that of the intake port portion. The cross flow fan is provided between the first side plate portion and the second side plate portion, and sends air sucked from the intake port portion to the exhaust port portion through a flow path along the bottom plate portion.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the blower.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the ventilation efficiency of the air blower using a crossflow fan can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a blower provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a cross flow fan provided in the blower shown in FIG. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of the blower according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a graph illustrating experimental results. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a blower according to Comparative Example 1 compared with an example of the blower according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a graph illustrating experimental results. FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a blower according to Comparative Example 2 as a comparative example to be compared with the present embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a graph illustrating experimental results.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment described below is only an example which actualized this invention, and does not limit the technical scope of this invention.

  First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 is a printer, and includes an image forming unit 2 and a paper feeding unit 3 as shown in FIG. As another example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, a copier, and a multifunction peripheral can be considered.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 2 executes an image forming process (printing process) based on a print job input from an information processing apparatus such as an external personal computer. The image forming unit 2 forms an image by electrophotography. Therefore, the image forming unit 2 includes a photosensitive drum 4, a charging unit 5, a developing unit 6, a toner container 7, a transfer roller 8, a charge eliminating unit 9, a fixing device 10, and the like.

  The sheet feeding unit 3 includes a plurality of detachable sheet feeding cassettes 3 </ b> A, and feeds sheets stored in the sheet feeding cassettes 3 </ b> A to the image forming unit 2.

  The fixing device 10 heats and fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet while sandwiching the sheet. The fixing device 10 includes a heating roller 11 and a pressure roller 12. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 10 is discharged to the discharge tray 14 by the discharge roller pair 13.

  As described above, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1 includes, for example, a fixing device 10 and a device that generates heat. Therefore, when the image forming operation is performed and the fixing device 10 is driven, the internal temperature of the image forming device 1 rises due to heat generated by the fixing device 10. When the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 1 rises excessively, unnecessary heat is applied to other members mounted inside the image forming apparatus 1 such as the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing unit 6 arranged around the image forming apparatus 1. become. As a result, the print quality may be adversely affected by deformation of the other members, deterioration of durability, or alteration of the developer. Therefore, it is necessary to suppress an increase in the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a blower 100 using a cross flow fan 101 (see FIG. 3) as a device that suppresses an increase in internal temperature. Hereinafter, the blower 100 will be described.

  The blower device 100 suppresses a temperature increase inside the image forming apparatus 10 by performing a blowing operation inside the image forming apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the air blower 100 is provided in the vicinity of the fixing device 10, in the present embodiment, on the downstream side of the fixing device 10 and below the sheet conveyance path 17 on the downstream side thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the blower device 100 includes a cross flow fan 101 and a fan case 102. The cross flow fan 101 includes a driving source (not shown) such as a motor that generates a driving force necessary for its rotation. The driving force generated by the driving source is transmitted to a driving shaft 101A provided in the fan case 102 via a power transmission mechanism including a gear (not shown).

  The cross flow fan 101 sucks air from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and blows air in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The suction position in the circumferential direction of the cross flow fan 101 and the discharge position in the circumferential direction are substantially point-symmetric with respect to the rotation axis 101A of the cross flow fan 101. Since the crossflow fan 101 is a well-known crossflow fan, detailed description thereof is omitted, but as shown in FIG. 3, the crossflow fan 101 includes an impeller 151 and a shaft 152. A plurality of impellers 151 are provided, and a plurality of these impellers 151 are arranged around the shaft 152. The impeller 151 is integrally formed of, for example, resin.

  The shaft 152 has a left end T1 in FIG. 3 connected to the drive shaft 101A. The shaft 152 is rotatably supported at a right end T2 in FIG. 3 by a bearing portion (not shown) provided in the fan case 102 of the blower 100. That is, in the image forming apparatus 10, the cross flow fan 101 is provided in a long shape along a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 at a position below the sheet conveyance path 17 on the downstream side of the fixing roller 11. The cross flow fan 101 can be blown over a wide range in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1 by rotating with power transmitted from a drive unit (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fan case 102 supports the cross flow fan 101 in a rotatable manner. The fan case 102 includes a top plate portion 103, a first side plate portion 104, a second side plate portion 105, a stabilizer 106, an intake port portion 107, a bottom plate portion 108, an exhaust port portion 109, and a guide plate portion 110. And have.

  The top plate 103 has a first side 161 and a second side 162 that are parallel to each other, and is inclined so that the first side 161 is positioned higher than the second side 162. The first side plate portion 104 extends downward from a position spaced a predetermined distance downward from the first side 161 of the top plate portion 103. The second side plate portion 105 extends downward from the second side 162 of the top plate portion 103.

  The stabilizer 106 is provided below the second side plate portion 105. The stabilizer 106 protrudes toward the cross flow fan 101. In the present embodiment, the stabilizer 106 has a rectangular cross section and protrudes. Specifically, the stabilizer 106 includes a first wall portion 111, a second wall portion 112, and a third wall portion 113. The first wall portion 111 extends from the lower end portion of the second side plate portion 105 to the cross flow fan 101 side. The second wall portion 112 extends downward from the end portion of the first wall portion 111 on the cross flow fan 101 side. The second wall portion 112 faces the cross flow fan 101 with a small gap. The third wall 113 extends from the lower end of the second wall 112 to the side opposite to the cross flow fan 101. With such a configuration, the stabilizer 106 passes through the space on the side opposite to the air inlet 107 with respect to the cross flow fan 101 (the left side in FIG. 2), and the air exhausted from the space through which the sucked air passes. The airflow in the upper periphery of the exhaust port 109 is stabilized.

  The air inlet portion 107 has a first side 161 of the top plate portion 103 and an upper end portion 104 </ b> A of the first side plate portion 104. The air inlet 107 is provided between the first side 161 and the first side plate 104. The air inlet 107 forms an air inlet H1. The bottom plate portion 108 constitutes the bottom plate of the fan case 102. The bottom plate portion 108 faces the top plate portion 103 with the cross flow fan 101 interposed therebetween and intersects with the first side plate portion 104. The exhaust port portion 109 has an end portion 108 </ b> A on the second side plate portion 105 side of the bottom plate portion 108 and an end portion 113 </ b> A on the second side plate portion 105 side of the third wall portion 113. The exhaust port portion 109 is provided between the bottom plate portion 108 and the stabilizer 106. The exhaust port 109 forms an exhaust port H2. The area of the exhaust port H2 is smaller than that of the intake port H1. In the present embodiment, the area of the exhaust port H2 is approximately half the area of the intake port H1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the area of the exhaust port H2 is smaller than the area of the intake port H1.

  The intake port H1 and the exhaust port H2 do not overlap in the vertical direction. That is, the upper end 104 </ b> A of the first side plate portion 104 constituting the intake port portion 107 is disposed at a position higher than the third wall portion 113 of the stabilizer 106 constituting the exhaust port portion 109. In particular, in the present embodiment, the intake port 107 is positioned higher than the drive shaft 101A of the cross flow fan 101, and the exhaust port 109 is positioned lower than the drive shaft 101A.

  The cross flow fan 101 is provided between the first side plate portion 104 and the second side plate portion 105. The cross flow fan 101 faces the top plate portion 103, the first side plate portion 104, the second side plate portion 105, and the guide plate portion 110 with a gap therebetween. Further, as described above, the cross flow fan 101 faces the second wall portion 112 constituting the stabilizer 106 through a minute gap.

  In the present embodiment, the uppermost position P1 of the cross flow fan 101 is substantially the same height as the top portion 104A of the first side plate portion 104. The stabilizer 106 is at substantially the same height as the rotation shaft 101A of the cross flow fan 101. Specifically, the vertical center position P <b> 2 of the second wall portion 112 that constitutes the stabilizer 106 is substantially the same height position as the rotation shaft 101 </ b> A of the cross flow fan 101.

  The guide plate portion 110 includes a curved surface portion 110A, a first flat plate portion 110B, and a second flat plate portion 110C. The curved surface part 110 </ b> A has a curved surface along the circumferential surface at a certain distance from the circumferential surface of the cross flow fan 101. The first flat plate part 110 </ b> B has a flat surface along the first side plate part 104. The second flat plate portion 110 </ b> C has a flat surface substantially along the bottom plate portion 108. The guide plate portion 110 smoothly sends the air sucked from the air inlet portion 107 to the exhaust port portion 109 through the flow path 303 along the bottom plate portion 108.

  The air blower 100 forms the following airflow. That is, the cross flow fan 101 rotates in the direction of the arrow 200 in FIG. Thereby, the cross flow fan 101 sends the air sucked from the air inlet 107 to the exhaust port 109 through the flow path 303 along the bottom plate part 108.

  Specifically, when the cross flow fan 101 rotates in the direction of the arrow 200 in FIG. 2, air flows into the fan case 102 from the air inlet 107. Part of the air flowing into the fan case 102 is directly sucked into the cross flow fan 101 (see arrow 300). A part of the remaining air flowing into the fan case 102 is sucked into the cross flow fan 101 while flowing along the inclined surface of the top plate 103. Further, the remaining air that flows along the inclined surface of the top plate 103 reaches the second side plate 105 or the first wall 111 of the stabilizer 106 (see arrow 301). Then, the air bounces off at the second side plate part 105 or the first wall part 111 and then is sucked into the cross flow fan 101.

  Thus, the air sucked into the cross flow fan 101 is mainly discharged to the periphery of the curved surface portion 110A and the first flat plate portion 110B (see arrow 302). The discharged air flows along the guide plate 110 (curved surface 110A, first flat plate 110B, and second flat plate 110C) to the exhaust port 109 (see arrows 303 and 304). The air that has reached the exhaust port 109 is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 109.

The inventor conducted an experiment to verify the blowing performance of the blowing device 100. Hereinafter, the results of the experiment will be described. The Example of the air blower 100 which concerns on this embodiment used for experiment has the following structures. In FIG. 4, a length L1: 62 mm from the bottom plate portion 108 to the first side 161 of the top plate 103, a vertical length L2 of the first side plate portion 104: 32 mm, and a vertical length L3 of the intake port H1. 30 mm, horizontal separation distance L4 from the first side plate portion 104 to the second side plate portion 105: 41 mm, inclination angle θ of the top plate 103 with respect to the horizontal plane: 19 °, the second side of the top plate 103 from the bottom plate portion 108 Length L5 up to 162: 47 mm, length L6 in the vertical direction of the exhaust port H2: 15 mm, length L7 in the vertical direction of the stabilizer 106: 11 mm, length L8 in the vertical direction of the second side plate portion 105: 21 mm, stabilizer 106 protruding length L9 to the crossflow fan 101: 9 mm, separation distance L10 between the stabilizer 106 and the crossflow fan 101: 1.5 mm, the guide plate 110 110 Distance L11 between first flat plate portion 110B and crossflow fan 101: Diameter L12 of crossflow fan 101: 13.5 mm, and the axial lengths of crossflow fan 101, intake port H1, and exhaust port H2 are 280 mm. is there. Area of the intake port H1 is the area of 8400Mm ^2, outlet H2 is a 4200 mm ^2.

  In order to verify the blowing performance of the blowing device 100, the present inventor provided two patterns of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 as comparative examples to be compared with the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. In the air blower 500 of the comparative example 1 shown by FIG. 5 (A), the following points differ compared with the air blower 100 of this embodiment.

That is, in the blower 500, the top plate portion 503 is in a horizontal posture. Further, the top plate portion 503 extends only from the second side plate portion 105 to above the cross flow fan 101, and its length L11 is 19.5 mm. Therefore, the area of the intake port H11 is 6020 mm ² . The above is the difference from the present embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the member same as the air blower 100 of this embodiment.

  When air is sucked in from the air inlet H11 formed by such a configuration by the rotation of the cross flow fan 101 in the direction of the arrow 200, air flows in a direction slightly toward the exhaust port 109 from the vertically lower side. The air that flows in is almost directly sucked into the cross flow fan 101 (see arrow 305). The air discharged from the cross flow fan 101 flows to the exhaust port portion 109 along the guide plate portion 110, and the air reaching the exhaust port portion 109 is discharged from the exhaust port portion 109 to the outside.

  Here, in this comparative example 1, most of the air flowing in from the intake port H11 is directly sucked into the cross flow fan 101, and there is little air reaching the second side plate portion 105 or the vicinity thereof. Therefore, negative pressure is generated in the space S <b> 1 surrounded by the second side plate portion 105, the top plate portion 503, the first wall portion 111 of the stabilizer 106, and the cross flow fan 101. This negative pressure causes a phenomenon that air flows toward the gap between the second wall portion 112 of the stabilizer 106 and the cross flow fan 101 (see arrow 306). This airflow is a part of the air that has reached the exhaust port 109 along the guide plate 110 or the flow of air that has flowed in from the outside through the exhaust port 109. As a result, the airflow at the exhaust port 109 is disturbed, and the flow rate of the air discharged from the exhaust port 109 to the outside decreases.

  FIG. 5B is a graph showing a temporal change in wind speed measured at a predetermined measurement position of the exhaust port 109 in Comparative Example 1. The predetermined measurement position is a position spaced 140 mm in the axial direction from one end portion of the cross flow fan 101 and a height position of 5 mm from the bottom plate portion 108. As can be seen from FIG. 5B, the wind speed at the measurement position is greatly changed. From this, it can be seen that the airflow at the exhaust port 109 is disturbed.

  In the air blower 600 of the comparative example 2 shown by FIG. 6 (A), compared with the air blower 100 of this embodiment, the following points differ.

That is, the air blower 600 has the top plate portion 603 in a horizontal posture. Further, the first side plate portion 104 extends to a height equivalent to the height of the second side plate portion 105. Further, the top plate portion 603 extends only from the upper end portion of the first side plate portion 104 to above the cross flow fan 101, and its length L21 is 19.5 mm. The area of the air inlet H21 is 6020 mm ² . The above is the difference from the present embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the member same as the air blower 100 of this embodiment.

  When air is sucked in from the air inlet H21 formed by such a configuration by the rotation of the cross flow fan 101 in the direction of the arrow 200, air flows in a direction slightly toward the first side plate portion 104 from the vertically lower side. The air that flows in is almost directly sucked into the cross flow fan 101 (see arrow 307). The air discharged from the cross flow fan 101 flows to the exhaust port portion 109 along the guide plate portion 110, and the air reaching the exhaust port portion 109 is discharged from the exhaust port portion 109 to the outside.

  Here, in this comparative example 2, most of the air flowing in from the intake port H21 is directly sucked into the cross flow fan 101, and the air in the vicinity of the first wall portion 111 and the second side plate portion 105 of the stabilizer 106 is Few. Therefore, negative pressure is generated in the space S <b> 2 surrounded by the second side plate part 105, the first wall part 111 of the stabilizer 106 and the cross flow fan 101. Due to this negative pressure, a phenomenon of flowing toward the gap between the second wall portion 112 of the stabilizer 106 and the cross flow fan 101 occurs (see arrow 308). This airflow is a part of the air that has reached the exhaust port 109 along the guide plate 110 or the flow of air that has flowed in from the exhaust port 109 through the outside. As a result, the airflow at the exhaust port 109 is disturbed, and the flow rate of the air discharged from the exhaust port 109 to the outside decreases.

  FIG. 6B is a graph showing temporal changes in wind speed measured at the same measurement position as in Comparative Example 1 in Comparative Example 2. As can be seen from FIG. 6B, although improved compared to Comparative Example 1, the wind speed at the measurement position is greatly changed. From this, it can be seen that a stable airflow is not discharged to the outside from the exhaust port portion 109.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, since it comprised as mentioned above, a negative pressure does not arise in the space enclosed by the 2nd side board part 105, the 1st wall part 111 of the stabilizer 106, and the crossflow fan 101. FIG.

  FIG. 4B is a graph showing temporal changes in wind speed measured at the same measurement position as in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 in this example. As shown in FIG. 4 (B), compared with Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the wind speed at the measurement position did not change greatly, and a measurement result that was substantially constant was obtained. From this, it can be seen that a stable airflow is exhausted from the exhaust port 109 to the outside.

  Thus, in this example, it is considered that the reason why the temporal change in the wind speed is more stable than in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 is as follows.

  In the present embodiment, the intake port 107 is positioned above one side of the cross flow fan 101 and the exhaust port 109 is positioned below the other side of the cross flow fan 101. As a result, the air can be discharged from the exhaust port 109 by utilizing the flow (momentum) of air flowing in from the intake port 107. In particular, in the positional relationship between the air inlet 107 and the air outlet 109, the air inlet 107 and the air outlet 109 are symmetric with respect to the drive shaft 101 </ b> A of the cross flow fan 101 (substantially). It is considered that the air can be exhausted from the exhaust port 109 by making the best use of the air flow (momentum).

  Further, the inflowing air can be spread over the space around the second side plate portion 105 by the top plate portion 103 that is inclined as described above. Therefore, it is considered that no negative pressure is generated in the space or it is difficult to generate the negative pressure. As a result, the gap between the second wall 112 of the stabilizer 106 and the cross flow fan 101 against the air exhausted to the outside from the exhaust port 109 as indicated by the arrow 306 in FIG. 5 and the arrow 308 in FIG. It is thought that the phenomenon that the air flowing toward the

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the intake port portion 107 and the exhaust port portion 109 are disposed at positions that are symmetrical with respect to the drive shaft 101A of the crossflow fan 101. In particular, the lower portion of the intake port portion 107 is located above the upper portion of the exhaust port portion 109. In other words, the intake port H11 and the exhaust port 109 exhaust port H2 of the intake port 107 are provided so as not to overlap each other in the vertical direction. However, the intake port portion 107 and the exhaust port portion 109 are disposed at positions that are point-symmetric with respect to the drive shaft 101A of the cross flow fan 101 (including positions that are substantially point-symmetric), or It is not essential in the present invention that the lower portion is positioned above the upper portion of the exhaust port portion 109.

  In the present embodiment, the area of the exhaust port H2 is smaller than the area of the intake port H1. Accordingly, it is considered that the force for pushing air out from the exhaust port 109 is increased, and it is difficult to generate backflowing air as indicated by the arrow 306 in FIG. 5 and the arrow 308 in FIG.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the airflow around the exhaust port portion 109 is not disturbed or hardly generated, and a stable airflow can be discharged from the exhaust port portion 109 to the outside. As a result, the heat generated in the fixing device 10 can be efficiently discharged outside the image forming apparatus 1. Further, since a stable airflow can be discharged to the outside from the exhaust port portion 109, it is possible to avoid or suppress abnormal noise and vibration caused by the turbulence of the airflow.

10: image forming apparatus 100: blower 101: crossflow fan 102: fan case 103: top plate 104: first side plate 105: second side plate 106: stabilizer 107: air inlet 108: bottom plate 109: exhaust Mouth

Claims (5)

A top plate portion that has a first side and a second side parallel to each other, and is inclined so that the first side is positioned higher than the second side;
A first side plate portion extending downward from a position spaced apart from the first side by a predetermined distance;
A second side plate portion extending downward from the second side;
A stabilizer provided below the second side plate portion;
An air inlet portion provided between the first side and the first side plate portion;
A bottom plate that faces the top plate and intersects the first side plate;
An exhaust port provided between the bottom plate and the stabilizer, and having an opening area smaller than the intake port;
A cross flow fan that is provided between the first side plate portion and the second side plate portion and sends the air sucked from the intake port portion to the exhaust port portion through a flow path along the bottom plate portion;
A blower comprising:   The air blower according to claim 1, wherein an exhaust port formed by the exhaust port portion and an intake port formed by the intake port portion are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to a rotation axis of the cross flow fan.   The blower according to claim 2, wherein an upper portion of the intake port portion is located above a lower portion of the exhaust port portion.   The blower according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stabilizer protrudes toward the cross flow fan and stabilizes an airflow around an upper portion of the exhaust part.   An image forming apparatus comprising the blower device according to claim 1.

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