JP3913796B2 - Cooling device for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet-like recording paper, and more particularly to an improvement of a cooling device that cools the image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser pudding, an apparatus main body that forms an image only on one side surface of a sheet-like recording paper is provided as a basic function.
[0003]
Conventionally, an apparatus having various functions (for example, a sorter, an automatic paper feeder, a switchback device that reverses a recording sheet when using the double-sided recording mode) is an optional unit. These optional units are configured to be detachably attached to the apparatus main body according to the user's request.
[0004]
On the other hand, in the above-described image forming apparatus, a heating element such as a heating roller of the fixing device, a paper transport motor constituting a paper transport system, or a solenoid plunger constituting a drive system of various devices is disposed therein. For this reason, a cooling device is provided to discharge the heat generated by these heating elements to the outside of the device.
[0005]
A cooling fan is used as such a cooling device, and the cooling fan is disposed in the apparatus main body to form an air flow inside the apparatus main body, and the heat generated in the apparatus main body is absorbed by the air flow. It was designed to discharge directly to the outside of the main unit.
[0006]
On the other hand, in the option unit described above, similarly to the apparatus main body, a heating element such as a sheet conveying motor constituting a sheet conveying system or a solenoid plunger constituting a driving system of various devices is disposed. A similar cooling fan is provided in the option unit, and heat generated in the option unit by the air flow formed by the cooling fan is discharged to the outside of the option unit.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the conventional image forming apparatus described above has a structure in which the cooling fan constituting the cooling device is independently provided in the apparatus main body or the option unit, so that the number of parts is large and the structure becomes complicated. In addition, since each cooling fan is driven, there is a problem that power consumption is increased.
[0008]
In view of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device for an image forming apparatus that has a simple structure, a small number of parts, and reduced power consumption.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a cooling apparatus for an image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body and an optional unit that can be added to the apparatus main body and has a drive motor. In addition, a cooling fan is disposed only in the apparatus main body, and an air guide that guides and discharges the air formed by the cooling fan to the drive motor in the option unit that drives a roller in the option unit. The drive motor in the optional unit is configured to form a cooling fan only in the apparatus main body of the apparatus main body and the option unit and to drive a roller in the option unit. It said to guide the air discharged from the cooling fan in of emissions That is so as to form an air guide means.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The air guide means of the cooling device described above includes an air introduction hole for introducing air discharged from a cooling fan disposed in the apparatus main body, an air guide plate for guiding the air introduced from the air introduction hole, An air discharge hole for discharging the air guided by the air guide plate to the outside is constituted. Then, the air discharged from the cooling fan in the apparatus body is sucked into the option unit through the air introduction hole and the air guide plate, and after various devices arranged in the option unit are cooled, the air is discharged from the option unit. It is discharged outside.
[0011]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the cooling device according to the present invention will be described in detail. Before that, the image forming apparatus 1 to which the cooling device of the present invention is applied will be described.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 to which a cooling device of the present invention is applied.
[0013]
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 2, a paper discharge unit 3 that is detachably attached to the right side of the apparatus main body 2, and a detachable attachment that is detachably attached to the bottom of the apparatus main body 2, and reverses the traveling direction of the paper. A switchback unit 4 for reversing the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and a second sheet that is detachably mounted on the bottom surface of the switchback unit 4 and accommodates a larger number of sheets (for example, about 500 sheets) than a normal sheet cassette. It comprises a cassette 5.
[0014]
The paper discharge unit 3, the switchback unit 4, and the second paper cassette 5 described above are prepared as optional units that can be added to the outside of the apparatus main body 2. Of these, the paper discharge unit 3 and the switchback unit 4 are provided. Is not used in an image forming process normally performed only by the apparatus main body 2, that is, when an image is formed only on one side of a sheet-like recording sheet.
[0015]
On the other hand, the apparatus main body 2 is composed of an optical unit 6 for outputting a laser beam including image information, an electrostatic recording type image forming means 8 composed of a photoreceptor 7 and the like, a fixing roller 9 and the like. The fixing means 10 and the main components constituting the electrostatic recording system are disposed, and a first paper cassette 12 in which sheet-like recording paper 11 is stacked and accommodated is detachable in the direction of arrow A at the bottom. It is installed.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 13 denotes a folding manual feed tray used in the manual feed mode, 14 denotes a tray cover that covers the manual feed tray 13 when the manual feed tray 13 is stored, and 15 denotes an upper surface of the apparatus main body 2. A main tray cover 17 that covers the main tray 16 is a sub-tray disposed on the side of the paper discharge unit 3.
[0017]
Next, the operation of the above-described image forming apparatus 1 will be briefly described.
[0018]
First, an image forming process in a single-sided recording mode in which an image is formed only on one side of a sheet-like recording sheet will be described.
[0019]
When one sheet of recording paper 11 is fed from the uppermost surface of the first paper cassette 12 by the feed roller 20, the recording paper 11 is conveyed to the image forming means 8 along the first and second paper guide chutes 21 and 22. The image forming unit 8 forms an image on one side of the recording paper. In the middle of the first and second paper guide chutes 21 and 22 described above, the transport rollers 23 and 24 and the registration roller 25 that takes the transport timing of the recording paper separated one by one from the manual feed tray 13 in the manual feed mode. Is intervened.
[0020]
When an image is formed on one side of the recording paper by the image forming means 8, the recording paper is then conveyed to the fixing means 10 via the third paper guide chute 26, where an unfixed image is fixed. . After the image is fixed, the recording sheet on which the image is formed on one side is then discharged to one of the fourth or fifth sheet guide chutes 28 and 29 via the discharge roller 27. .
[0021]
At the base end of the fourth or fifth paper guide chutes 28 and 29, the recording paper discharged from the discharge roller 27 is guided to one of the fourth or fifth paper guide chutes 28 and 29. When the first switching claw 30 rotates counterclockwise and is stopped at that position, the recording paper discharged from the discharge roller 27 is the fourth paper guide. Guided to the chute 28. The recording paper guided to the fourth paper guide chute 28 is discharged onto the main tray 16 via the discharge roller 31.
[0022]
On the other hand, when the first switching claw 30 described above rotates clockwise and is positioned at that position, the recording paper discharged from the discharge roller 27 is guided to the fifth paper guide chute 29. The recording paper guided to the fifth paper guide chute 29 is then guided to the sixth or seventh paper guide chute 32, 33 via the second switching claw 31, but in the single-side recording mode, Since the second switching claw 31 always rotates counterclockwise and is positioned at that position, the recording paper on which an image is formed on one side is discharged onto the sub-tray 17 via the discharge roller 34, and is loaded and accommodated there. Is done.
[0023]
Similarly, when one sheet of recording paper 11 is fed from the uppermost surface of the second paper cassette 5 by the feed roller 35 in the image forming process in the single-sided recording mode, the recording paper is then an eighth paper guide chute 36, The ninth paper guide chute 37 connected to the eighth paper guide chute 36, the tenth paper guide chute 38 connected to the ninth paper guide chute 37, and the tenth paper guide chute 38 The first and second paper guide chutes 21 and 22 that are continuously provided are conveyed to the image forming means 8, and the image forming means 8 forms an image on one side of the recording paper.
[0024]
Note that the recording sheet on which an image is formed on one side is discharged to either the main tray 16 or the sub-tray 17 in the same manner as the recording sheet in the single-sided recording mode described above. In addition, the sheet conveyance rollers 39 and 40 are also interposed in the middle of the eighth and ninth sheet guide chutes 36 and 37 described above.
[0025]
Even in the manual feed mode in the single-sided recording mode, the recording paper loaded and accommodated on the manual feed tray 13 is separated one by one by a separation roller (not shown) and guided to the eleventh paper guide chute 13a, and then the registration roller. 25, the conveyance timing is achieved, and the sheet is conveyed to the second sheet guide chute 22, and thereafter discharged to either the main tray 16 or the sub-tray 17 in the same manner as the recording sheet in the single-sided recording mode described above.
[0026]
Next, an image forming process in the double-sided recording mode for forming images on both sides of the recording paper will be described.
[0027]
The recording paper fed from the first paper cassette 12 by the feed roller 20, an image is formed on one side by the image forming means 8, and the image is fixed by the fixing means 10, enters the paper discharge section 3 via the discharge roller 27. When guided, this time, the second switching claw 31 rotates clockwise by a predetermined angle, and stops at that position, so that the recording sheet on which an image is formed only on one side is transferred to the seventh sheet guiding chute. Guide to 33.
[0028]
The recording paper guided into the seventh paper discharge chute 33 is guided from the downstream end of the seventh paper discharge chute 33 to the switchback unit 4.
[0029]
On the other hand, the switchback unit 4 includes a first holding chute 41 that temporarily holds a recording sheet on which an image is formed, and a switchback that can rotate forward and backward to reverse the traveling direction of the temporarily held recording sheet. The recording sheet, which is composed of the roller 42 and is reversed by reversing the traveling direction, again forms the image forming means of the apparatus main body 2 via the second holding chute 43 disposed on the lower surface side of the first holding chute 41. 8 is guided.
[0030]
On the other hand, a third switching claw 44 is disposed at the end of the seventh paper discharge chute 33. When the third switching claw 44 rotates counterclockwise and stops at that position, the recording paper guided through the seventh paper discharge chute 33 is guided to the first holding chute 41, and When rotating clockwise and stopping at that position, the recording paper guided to the first holding chute 41 is switched back and then guided to the second holding chute 43 via the twelfth paper guiding chute 45.
[0031]
The twelfth paper guide chute 45 and the second holding chute 43 are also provided with paper transport rollers 46, 47 and 48 for transporting paper.
[0032]
Accordingly, the recording sheet guided to the switchback unit 4 by the seventh sheet guide chute 33 is guided to the first first holding chute 41 side by the third switching claw 44 and further forwarded by the switchback roller 42 that rotates forward. The whole is temporarily accommodated in the first holding chute 41. Note that the switchback roller 42 maintains a posture for gripping the rear end of the recording paper guided in the first holding chute 41 even in the temporary holding state of the recording paper.
[0033]
Next, when it is detected that the recording paper is temporarily held in the first holding chute 41, the third switching claw 44 stops by rotating a predetermined rotation angle in the clockwise direction, and the twelfth paper guide. When the upstream side of the chute 45 is expanded, the switchback roller 42 reverses, and this time, the recording paper temporarily held in the first holding chute 41 is transported starting from the rear end, and the twelfth paper guiding chute is conveyed. The recording sheet is guided to the second holding chute 43 via 45.
[0034]
The recording sheet guided in the second holding chute 43 is conveyed to the ninth sheet guiding chute 37 via the curved thirteenth sheet guiding chute 49, and further the tenth sheet guiding chute 38 is moved. Then, it is guided again to the first paper guide chute 21 in the apparatus main body 2.
[0035]
As described above, since the recording sheet conveyed again to the image forming unit 8 through the second holding chute 43 of the switchback unit 4 is inverted upside down, the other side surface of the recording sheet is now turned by the image forming unit 8. Then, an image is formed and further conveyed to the fixing means 10, where the image on the other side is fixed. Thereafter, the recording paper on which images are formed on both sides is discharged to either the main tray 16 or the sub-tray 17 via the discharge roller 27 and the first switching claw 30.
[0036]
In the double-sided recording mode, the recording sheets separated one by one from the manual feed tray 13 in the manual feeding mode and the recording sheets separated and conveyed one by one from the second paper tray 5 are the same as those described above. Through the process, images are formed on both sides of the paper.
[0037]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 shown in a partially broken enlarged view of FIG. 1, a cooling device 50 according to the present invention is provided in the apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the sheet discharge unit 3 as an optional unit. It is arranged.
[0038]
The cooling device 50 includes an electric cooling fan 51 disposed on the upper portion of the right side wall 2a of the apparatus body 2, an air discharge hole 2b for discharging air (arrow B) discharged from the cooling fan 51, and the air The air guide means 60 is configured to introduce the air discharged from the discharge hole 2b into the paper discharge unit 3 and discharge it.
[0039]
Among these, the air guide means 60 guides the air introduction hole 3b formed in the left side wall 3a of the paper discharge portion 3 facing the air discharge hole 2b and the air (arrow C) introduced from the air introduction hole 3b. And an air discharge hole 3c for discharging the air (arrow D) guided by the air guide plate 52.
[0040]
Among them, the air guide plate 52 is a gear type that transmits a driving force of the driving motor 53 to the discharging roller 34 and a driving motor 53 that constitutes a driving system of the discharging roller 34 disposed above the sheet discharging unit 3. The power transmission means 54 and the solenoid 55 that drives the second switching claw 31 are formed integrally with the paper discharge section 3 on the top of the paper discharge section 3 so as to surround the power transmission means 54 and the solenoid 55 that drives the second switching claw 31. The air discharge hole 3 c is formed in the upper wall 3 d of the paper discharge unit 3.
[0041]
In such a cooling device 50, when the electric cooling fan 51 is driven, an air flow of cooling air is formed in the device main body 2 by the cooling fan 51 as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. The inside heat is sucked to cool the inside.
[0042]
On the other hand, the air B discharged by the cooling fan 51 is introduced into the paper discharge unit 3 through the air discharge hole 2b and the air introduction hole 3b. The power transmission means 54 and the solenoid 55 are cooled, and finally, as indicated by an arrow D, the power is discharged from the air discharge hole 3c to the outside of the sheet discharge portion 3 as an optional unit.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the cooling apparatus according to the present invention, in the cooling apparatus for an image forming apparatus having the apparatus main body and an optional unit that can be added to the apparatus main body and has a drive motor, the apparatus main body and the optional unit are provided. And a cooling fan provided only in the apparatus main body, and air guide means for guiding and discharging the air formed by the cooling fan to the drive motor in the option unit for driving a roller in the option unit. As a result, the drive motor in the option unit can be cooled by the cooling air of the cooling fan disposed in the main body of the apparatus, thereby reducing the number of cooling fans and the structure and the number of parts of the cooling apparatus. Power consumption can be reduced by reducing the number of cooling fans. Can also be, it is therefore possible to provide a cooling apparatus inexpensive and running costs low image forming apparatus.
Further, in the cooling device of the present invention, in the cooling device for an image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body and an optional unit that can be added to the apparatus main body and has a drive motor, of the apparatus main body and the optional unit, Since the cooling fan is disposed only in the apparatus main body, and the air guide means for guiding the air discharged from the cooling fan to the drive motor in the option unit for driving the roller in the option unit is formed. The cooling fan installed in the device body can be introduced without diffusing into the optional unit, and the cooling motor can be used to cool the drive motor in the optional unit. If the number of fans can be reduced and the structure of the cooling device and the number of parts can be reduced The, it can also reduce the power consumed by the number of the cooling fan is reduced and thus it is possible to provide a cooling apparatus inexpensive and running costs low image forming apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially broken enlarged view of an image forming apparatus to which a cooling device of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an image forming apparatus to which a cooling device of the present invention is applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Apparatus main body 3 ... Option unit (paper discharge part)
50 ... Cooling device 51 ... Cooling fan 60 ... Air guide means

Claims (2)

In a cooling device for an image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body and an optional unit that can be added to the apparatus main body and has a drive motor,
A cooling fan is provided only in the apparatus main body of the apparatus main body and the option unit, and air formed by the cooling fan in the drive motor in the option unit that drives a roller in the option unit. A cooling device for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that air guide means for guiding and discharging the air is formed. In a cooling device for an image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body and an optional unit that can be added to the apparatus main body and has a drive motor,
A cooling fan is disposed only in the apparatus main body of the apparatus main body and the option unit, and air discharged from the cooling fan to the drive motor in the option unit that drives a roller in the option unit. A cooling device for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that air guide means for guiding and discharging the air is formed.

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