JP4011953B2 - Image forming apparatus provided with an opening / closing mechanism at an intake port or an exhaust port - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a shutter whose aperture ratio can be changed in the air path connecting the outside air and the inside of the apparatus or at the boundary between the outside air in order to cool the temperature inside the apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the image forming apparatus, a power source serving as a heat source, and in an image forming apparatus using electrophotography, an image transferred to a transfer material is fixed on the transfer material. The transferred transfer material is heated to fix the toner image. Since there are many heat sources represented by the fixing heat, the internal temperature of the image forming apparatus will be very high if left as it is.Therefore, an opening is provided on the outer wall to take in cold air from outside air or to remove warm air inside the machine. It is necessary to exhaust outside the machine. In many cases, a fan is provided in the middle of the air passage communicating with the outside air to increase the cooling effect.
[0003]
However, a drive mechanism and an image forming mechanism are operating inside the apparatus, which is a considerable noise source. When trying to increase the opening ratio of the air passage that communicates with the outside air and increase the cooling effect, the above-mentioned operating sound easily leaks to the outside, causing a large noise problem. In addition, in response to recent environmental problems, it is required to reduce the power to zero as much as possible when not in operation. In a device that is cooled with a fan, it is in standby mode or sleep mode. Sometimes it is required to stop the fan.
[0004]
Furthermore, if the power is turned off while the device is still warm, the fan stops and cold air is not introduced, and the warm air is not released outside the device, resulting in an increase in internal temperature. There was also a problem that the allowable temperature was exceeded.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In an image forming apparatus having a heating element in the apparatus, it is necessary to ensure the introduction of the outside air in order to increase the opening ratio of the communication air passage with the outside air and prevent the temperature inside the apparatus from rising, and during operation, the inside of the apparatus through the communication air passage. To solve the contradictory problem of operating noise leaking outside and causing noise problems.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an opening / closing mechanism that can change an opening ratio with the outside air at an intake port that takes in air from outside air into the inside of the device, an exhaust port that discharges air inside the device, or an air passage inside the device. In an image forming apparatus in which a shutter is provided and the aperture ratio of the open / close shutter is changed between operation and stop, a switch operation unit operated by a user, a power supply unit for supplying power to the apparatus, and the switch operation unit A connecting member that connects the power supply unit, and when the switch operation unit is operated, the rotation angle of the switch operation unit changes, so that the connection member moves horizontally along the guide member, and the power supply unit ON / OFF is performed, and the opening / closing shutter performs opening / closing movement linked to the horizontal movement of the connecting member, When the switch operating unit is operated from the OFF position to the ON position, the opening / closing shutter moves in the closing direction so as to reduce the aperture ratio. When the switch operating unit is operated from the ON position to the OFF position, the opening / closing shutter increases the aperture ratio. Thus, it moves in the opening direction.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus A to which the present invention is applied.
[0009]
The paper P separated and fed one by one from the paper cassette in the image forming apparatus A is carried at a predetermined timing to an image forming unit including an image forming process cartridge (not shown) and a transfer roller as an image transfer unit, and is transferred to the paper P. A desired image is printed on the upper surface of the paper P. Thereafter, the toner image is fixed on the paper by passing through a fixing unit having a heating element.
[0010]
Electric power necessary to operate these mechanical parts is supplied from the power supply unit 10. The power switch operating unit 11 and the power unit 10 are connected by a connecting member 12, and the connecting member 12 moves along a guide (guide member) 14 by changing the rotation angle of the switch operating unit 11. The unit 10 is turned on.
[0011]
In addition, an opening / closing shutter 13 is provided at the lower portion of the image forming apparatus A so as to be rotatable, and is linked to the connecting member 12 to perform an opening / closing movement. When the switch operation unit 11 is operated from the OFF position to the ON position, electric power is supplied to the image forming apparatus A, and the switch operation unit 11 becomes movable to perform the above-described image forming process, and at the same time, the operation of the cooling fan starts. The connecting member 12 that is rotatably supported by the switch operating unit moves horizontally along the guide member 14 in accordance with the rotation. Then, the opening / closing shutter linked to the horizontal movement of the connecting member 12 performs an opening / closing movement, and opens / closes in the closing direction so as to reduce the opening ratio with the outside air. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the leakage of the operating sound in the image forming apparatus.
[0012]
On the contrary, when the switch operation unit 11 is operated from the ON position to the OFF position, the cooling fan stops and the image forming apparatus also stops operating, as described above. In conjunction with the operation of the switch operation unit 11, the opening / closing shutter opens and closes in the opening direction to increase the aperture ratio. It is possible to easily introduce cold outside air into the image forming apparatus, and to suppress a temperature rise in the image forming apparatus A by natural convection. Naturally, the operation sound in the image forming apparatus A is not generated when it is OFF, and since there is no sound of the cooling fan, even if the aperture ratio is increased, there is no influence on the noise.
[0013]
(First reference example)
In the above-described embodiment, the opening / closing shutter changes the aperture ratio in conjunction with the operation of the power supply. However, the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the first reference example, and the long holes of the respective opening / closing shutters are linked by fitting with the bosses provided in the connecting member 20. By moving the connecting member 20 linearly, the open / close shutter 13 performs an open / close operation, and the aperture ratio can be changed.
[0014]
One end of the connecting member 20 is biased by the spring 21 in a direction to increase the aperture ratio, and a rack 22 is provided at the other end, and the gear is connected from the drive source 23 of the image forming apparatus A via the torque limiter 24. Then, drive transmission is performed. The drive transmission is transmitted to the right side in FIG. 2 so as to move the connecting member 20 in a direction opposite to the spring force of the spring 21.
[0015]
When the power is turned on and driving of the image forming apparatus A is started, the gear 25 starts to rotate counterclockwise from the driving source via the torque limiter 24. Then, the connecting member 20 starts to move horizontally in the right direction in FIG. Thereafter, the connecting member abuts against the stopper 26, but since the torque limiter 25 acts, the connecting member stops in a state where it abuts against the stopper 26. Therefore, the opening / closing shutter 13 has a small aperture ratio in an operating state where image formation is performed. Held in.
[0016]
Next, when the image forming apparatus A is stopped or when the power source is turned off and the drive source is stopped, the driving force to the connecting member rack 22 is lost. In this case, the connecting member 20 is moved by the spring force of the spring 21. 2 is moved horizontally to the left side of FIG. Thus, when not operating, it is held at a position where the aperture ratio is increased, and cold outside air is introduced as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, and even if the fan stops, the cooling effect is not greatly reduced. It is possible to prevent internal components that are vulnerable to rising from being destroyed by temperature.
[0017]
(Second reference example)
3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining the second reference example.
[0018]
When the power is turned on and the cooling fan 30 starts rotating, the push-down member 31 is pushed to the opposite side of the fan 30 by the wind of the cooling fan 30 and moves horizontally. At that time, the member 31 moves horizontally while pushing down the opening / closing shutter 13 and stops against the stopper 32. A part of the member 31 extends to the opening / closing shutter side, and since the opening / closing shutter is held down by the extended portion, the opening / closing shutter is held at a position where the opened aperture ratio is small.
[0019]
Next, when the image forming apparatus is stopped or in a standby state, or when the power is turned off, the cooling fan stops rotating, and the member 31 is caused by the spring force of the spring 33 as shown in FIG. It moves to the left approaching the cooling fan and stops against the stopper 34. The open / close shutter is biased by a spring (not shown) to increase the aperture ratio in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3, and rotates counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 4 to become a position to increase the aperture ratio. .
[0020]
In this way, by changing the aperture ratio of the open / close shutter according to the rotation of the cooling fan, by increasing the aperture ratio so that a lot of cold outside air can be introduced so as not to greatly reduce the cooling effect even if the fan stops, Also in this reference example, it is possible to prevent internal components that are vulnerable to temperature rise from being destroyed by temperature.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, if the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing shutter is operated in conjunction with the ON / OFF operation of the power switch, the power supply is accidentally turned OFF and the cooling fan stops. Even in the event that the temperature increases, the opening ratio of the air passage that communicates with the outside air will not be destroyed by the temperature rise.
[0022]
Furthermore, when printing is performed, not only can the aperture ratio be reduced to reduce the leakage of internal operating noise and solve the noise problem, but also in a stop or standby state where printing is completed and no new heat is generated from the fixing device, which is the heat source. By increasing the aperture ratio of the openable / closable shutter, the rotation of the cooling fan can be decelerated or stopped to save energy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a first embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a first reference example;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a cooling fan is operating in a second reference example.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a cooling fan is stopped in a second reference example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Power supply 11 Switch operation part 12 Connecting member 13 Opening / closing shutter 14 Guide guide 15 Torque limiter 18 Cooling fan

Claims (1)

At the intake port for taking in air from outside air to the inside of the device, the exhaust port for releasing the air inside the machine, or the air passage inside the device, an open / close shutter that can change the open area ratio with the outside air is provided, and at the time of operation and stop In the image forming apparatus that changes the aperture ratio of the open / close shutter,
A switch operation unit operated by a user; a power supply unit that supplies power to the apparatus; and a connecting member that connects the switch operation unit and the power supply unit. When the switch operation unit is operated, the switch When the rotation angle of the operation unit changes, the connecting member moves horizontally along the guide member and the power supply unit is turned on and off, and the opening / closing shutter is opened and closed linked to the horizontal movement of the connecting member. When the switch operation unit is operated from the OFF position to the ON position, the opening / closing shutter moves in the closing direction so as to reduce the aperture ratio, and when the switch operation unit is operated from the ON position to the OFF position. An image forming apparatus, wherein the opening / closing shutter moves in an opening direction so as to increase an aperture ratio.

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