JP2866106B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrostatic recording method, such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like using a laser.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in this type of image forming apparatus, a uniform charge is applied to a photoconductor by corona discharge from a charger, and a latent image is formed by exposing the photoconductor.
Recording is performed on paper by the fixing process. In this process, at the time of corona discharge from the charger, the high potential causes air to react and generate ozone. If the ozone is left as it is, there is a harm such as deterioration of the photoreceptor. On the other hand, due to recent environmental standards, regulations on ozone concentration have become strict, and image forming apparatuses have to be equipped with powerful ozone removing apparatuses.

In a conventional image forming apparatus, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-14248, an ozone filter made of activated carbon or the like is installed near the upstream or downstream of an exhaust fan that also serves as a cooling device. Ozone was removed by adsorption.

However, such a structure has the following problems.

The replacement of the ozone filter is troublesome because the ozone filter is installed alone in the machine.

The installation place of the ozone filter is limited to the vicinity of the exhaust fan.

Since the air is exhausted through the ozone filter, the flow loss of the exhaust fan increases. As a result, a large exhaust fan must be used.

Due to the filter structure, wind noise is large and noise is high.

In order to solve such a problem, it has been proposed to store the ozonolysis agent in a special case and attach the entire case to a replacement unit such as a cleaning unit. A space is required for installation of the storage case, and particularly in a small-sized image forming apparatus, the installation is difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which does not require the above-mentioned problems and which does not require a special case and space for installing an ozonolysis agent.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus using a corona discharge generating means in an image forming process on a photoreceptor, a volatile ozone decomposing agent is contained in the photoreceptor. It is necessary to provide a volatilization chamber which is filled with a volatile ozone decomposing agent volatilized from the ozone decomposing agent, and that the photoreceptor is provided with a vent hole for discharging the volatile ozone decomposing agent in the volatilization chamber to the outside. Features.

At the time of use, the volatile chamber is filled with the volatile ozone decomposing agent volatilized from the ozone decomposing agent, and the volatile ozone decomposing agent in the volatilizing chamber is released to the outside through the vent to decompose ozone around the photoreceptor. I do.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laser printer to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a printer main body, and reference numeral 11 denotes a paper cassette loaded in the printer main body 10. The sheet 13 fed from the sheet cassette 11 in the direction of arrow A by the sheet feeding device 12
Is transported to the lower side of the drum-shaped photoconductor 15 at a timing by the pair of registration rollers 14. The photoreceptor 15 is driven to rotate in a clockwise direction. At that time, the surface is charged by corona discharge by the charging charger 16 and is irradiated with laser light from the laser optical system 17 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 15 . This latent image is visualized by toner when passing through the developing device 18, and this visible image is transferred to the lower surface of the paper 13 conveyed onto the photoconductor 15 by corona discharge by the transfer charger 19. The sheet 13 is conveyed to a fixing device 20 and a visible image is fixed thereon. Then, the sheet 13 exiting from the fixing device 20 is discharged by a discharge roller 21 to a discharge section 22 in the direction of arrow B. On the other hand, the residual toner is removed from the photoreceptor 15 after the transfer of the visible image by a cleaning device 24 having a cleaning blade 23, and the photoreceptor 15 is subjected to a discharging operation by a discharging brush 25. The toner removed from the photoreceptor 15 is collected by a collection roller 26 into a toner collection tank 27 and stored therein.

As shown in FIG. 2, an ozonolysis agent 28
Is stored. As the ozonolysis agent 28, it is preferable to use a gel-type volatile ozonolysis agent such as terperoid. In addition, the life of the photoconductor 15 is about the same as or slightly longer than the life of the photoconductor 15. Since the ozonolysis agent 28 is housed in the center of the photoconductor 15, both ends of the photoconductor 15 are volatile chambers 29 and 30.

A blind end 31 at one end of the photoconductor 15 and a cover plate 32 closing the other end opening of the photoconductor 15 are provided with a large number of ventilation holes 33 in the circumferential direction as shown in FIGS. 34 are provided. A shaft 35 is integrally formed on the outer surface of the blind end 31, and a cover plate 32 is provided.
A gear 36 is fixed to the outer surface of the photoconductor 15, and both ends of the photoconductor 15 are rotatably supported by bearings 37 and 38.

Therefore, the ozone decomposer 28 is supplied from the photoreceptor through the ventilation holes 33 and 34.
It volatilizes to the outside of both ends of the photoconductor 15 and immediately decomposes ozone generated around the photoconductor 15. By replacing the photoconductor 15, the ozonolysis agent 28 can be replaced at the same time. Ozone decomposer
The life of 28 can be adjusted by its filling amount and the size of vent holes 33 and 34. By setting this life to be about the same as or slightly longer than the life of the photoconductor 15, the number of replacements can be reduced and the running cost can be reduced.

If the ozone decomposing agent 28 is hollow and filled into the photoreceptor 15 in a cylindrical shape, the volatilization area can be increased. Also, a fin-shaped member is provided in one of the ventilation holes 33 and 34 on both sides, so that air can be sucked in from the ventilation hole provided with the fin-shaped member as the photoreceptor 15 rotates and exhausted from the other ventilation hole. Then, the volatilization of the ozone decomposer 28 can be promoted.

According to the present invention, since the ozone decomposing agent is housed inside the photoreceptor, a dedicated space for the ozone decomposing agent is unnecessary, and the ozone decomposing agent does not hinder the air flow. . Further, the ozonolysis agent can be replaced at the same time as the replacement of the photoreceptor, and the replacement work can be omitted.

In addition, the volatile ozone decomposer released to the outside of the photoreceptor is stirred with the air around the photoreceptor by rotation of the photoreceptor, and mixed with the air around the photoreceptor by an exhaust fan or an intake fan. The surrounding ozone can be reliably decomposed and discharged outside the image forming apparatus main body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the photosensitive member, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the entire photosensitive member, and FIG. It is a perspective view. 15 Photoconductor 16 Charger 19 Transfer charger 28 Ozone decomposer

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Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] In an image forming apparatus using a corona discharge generating means in an image forming process on a photoreceptor, a volatile ozone decomposing agent is contained in the photoreceptor, and volatile ozone volatilized from the ozone decomposing agent is contained. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a volatilization chamber filled with a decomposer; and a vent for discharging the volatile ozone decomposer in the volatilization chamber to the outside.