JP4266771B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention includes an apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet, and a post-processing unit that is attached to the apparatus main body and performs post-processing of the sheet after image formation,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a fan for ventilating a main body side ventilation target in the apparatus main body.

An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a fax machine includes an apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet such as paper. In the apparatus main body, a toner image transferred to the sheet in an image forming process is heated in a fixing process. And fixed to the sheet.
The heat generated in the main body of the apparatus by such a process is such as poor quality due to remelting of toner, poor conveyance due to sheet curl, and poor safety due to excessive temperature rise at the part that the user may touch. In order to cause a problem, the apparatus main body is provided with a fan for ventilating the part where the heat is generated as a main body side ventilation target in order to cool the part where heat is generated.

  In order to reduce the size of the apparatus main body, a post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as sheet sorting, stapling, or punching after image formation can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body as necessary. May be configured.

Even in such a post-processing unit, since a relatively high-temperature sheet immediately after the fixing process is supplied, the same problem as the apparatus main body may occur due to the heat held by the sheet. It is necessary to ventilate and cool the unit-side ventilation target where the high-temperature sheet in the processing unit exists.
Moreover, in order to perform ventilation of the unit side ventilation target, it is conceivable to provide a dedicated fan in the post-processing unit. However, the addition of the fan causes a problem of increasing the size and cost of the apparatus.

  Therefore, as an image forming apparatus that can ventilate the unit side ventilation object while avoiding the increase in size and cost of the apparatus, the side on which the fan of the apparatus body discharges air is the unit side ventilation object of the post-processing unit. By connecting, the unit side ventilation target is connected to the fan in series with the main unit side ventilation target, and the air exhausted from the main unit side ventilation target is passed through the unit side ventilation target, so that the unit side ventilation target An image forming apparatus that performs ventilation has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-241022 A

However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the unit-side ventilation target is connected in series to the main body-side ventilation target with respect to the fan, and the ventilation air is connected to the main-unit ventilation target and the unit-side ventilation target. Since the air is passed through in order, the unit-side ventilation target is supplied with relatively high-temperature air after passing through the main body-side ventilation target. Problems such as poor quality due to re-melting, poor conveyance due to sheet curl, and poor safety due to excessive temperature rise at parts that may be touched by the user may not be prevented. There is a risk that air containing dust will be supplied to the ventilation target on the unit side, causing problems such as contamination of the sheet on the ventilation target on the unit side.
Conversely, even when ventilation air is passed in the order of the unit side ventilation object and the main body side ventilation object, the relatively hot air after passing through the unit side ventilation object is supplied to the main body side ventilation object. In other words, there are cases where the main body side ventilation target cannot be sufficiently cooled.

  Further, in order to sufficiently cool the main body side ventilation target and the unit side ventilation countermeasure, for example, in a configuration in which the unit side ventilation target is connected in series with the main body side ventilation target, the output of the fan is increased. Then, since the wind speed in the main body side ventilation target and the unit side ventilation target becomes large, it is considered that the sheet flutters by the wind and causes a conveyance failure or the like.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to sufficiently ventilate and cool both the main body side ventilation target and the unit side ventilation target without adding a fan. It is in providing a forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet, and a post-processing unit that is attached to the apparatus main body and performs post-processing of the sheet after image formation. Prepared,
An image forming apparatus provided with a fan for ventilating a main body side ventilation object in the apparatus main body in the apparatus main body, the first characteristic configuration of which sucks fresh fresh air into the apparatus main body A main body side suction portion, and a main body side ventilation portion connected in parallel to the main body side ventilation target with respect to the fan,
A unit-side suction part that sucks fresh fresh air into the post-processing unit, and a unit that is connected to the main-body side ventilation part in a state in which the post-processing unit is attached to the apparatus main body. With a side ventilation section,
It said apparatus main body, the air you inhaled from the body-side intake portion is configured to ventilate the body side ventilation target in the apparatus main body,
The post-processing unit is configured to ventilate a unit-side ventilation target in the post-processing unit by air sucked from the unit-side suction unit and passing through the unit-side ventilation unit ,
The post-processing unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body,
In the post-processing unit detachment state in which the post-processing unit is detached from the apparatus main body, the main-unit-side ventilation portion is provided with a closing member that can be closed freely,
The closing member is a damper member that is swingably provided in the main body side ventilation portion, and is biased to close the main body side ventilation portion in the post-processing unit detached state,
In the mounted state of the post-processing unit, the pressing unit of the post-processing unit includes an opening unit that presses the pressed part of the damper member to open the main body side ventilation unit .

According to the first characteristic configuration, the unit-side ventilation target in the post-processing unit is connected to the main-body side ventilation unit provided in the apparatus main body by connecting the unit-side ventilation unit provided in the post-processing unit. Since the fan provided in the main body of the apparatus is connected in parallel with the main body side ventilation target in the main body of the apparatus, both the main body side ventilation object and the unit side ventilation object are connected to the wind speed in both ventilation objects. Without increasing the temperature, it can be sufficiently cooled by ventilating with fresh cold air.
Therefore, the first characteristic configuration realizes an image forming apparatus capable of sufficiently ventilating and cooling both the main body side ventilation target and the unit side ventilation target without adding a dedicated fan for the post-processing unit. be able to.

Further , according to the first characteristic configuration, in the post-processing unit detachment state, the fan provided in the apparatus main body does not need to allow air to pass through the main body side ventilation portion. Ventilation efficiency for the main body side ventilation target by the fan can be improved by closing the portion and preventing the ventilation in the main body side ventilation portion.

Further, according to the first characteristic configuration, in the post-processing unit detached state, the damper member can be urged to close the main body side ventilation portion, while in the post-processing unit mounted state, the opening is performed. By means, the pressing part such as a convex part provided in the post-processing unit presses the pressed part of the damper member and swings the damper member against the urging force, so that the main body side ventilation part is automatically The damper member keeps the ventilation part of the main body closed due to the mistake of the operator who installs the post-processing unit, etc. can do.
Note that the third characteristic configuration and its operational effects of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention are substantially the same as the first characteristic configuration and its operational effects.

In addition to the first characteristic configuration, the second characteristic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an attachment / detachment state detection unit that detects an attachment / detachment state of the post-processing unit with respect to the apparatus main body.
The fan output when the attachment / detachment state detection means detects the post-processing unit attachment state is set larger than the fan output when the attachment / detachment state detection means detects the post-processing unit detachment state. And a fan output setting means.

According to the second characteristic configuration, the fan output in the mounted state of the post-processing unit in which the main body side ventilation unit is opened is set to be larger than the fan output in the post-processing unit detached state in which the main unit side ventilation unit is closed. Thus, while the post-processing unit is installed, both the main unit side ventilation target and the unit side ventilation target are sufficiently ventilated and cooled, and in the post-processing unit detached state, the fan output is reduced as much as possible. Thus, energy saving can be achieved.
Note that the fourth characteristic configuration and the function and effect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention are substantially the same as the second characteristic configuration and the function and effect.

  An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the image forming apparatus 100 performs the post-processing of the apparatus main body 10 that forms an image on a sheet S such as paper, and the sheet S that is attached to the apparatus main body 10 and has formed an image. The copying machine includes a post-processing unit 20 called a finisher.
1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration and a ventilation state of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing a ventilation state of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a ventilation of the image forming apparatus. It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows a state.

  In the apparatus main body 10, an image forming unit 12 that performs an image forming process for transferring a toner image to a sheet S taken out from the paper feeding cassette 11, and the sheet S discharged from the image forming unit 12 are heated to produce the toner image A fixing unit 13 that performs a fixing process for fixing the image is provided, and the sheet S after image formation that has passed through the fixing unit 13 is discharged from the sheet discharge unit 14 of the apparatus main body 10. Note that the configuration of the apparatus main body 10 is not changed from the configuration employed in a normal image forming apparatus, and can be modified as appropriate.

On the other hand, the post-processing unit 20 is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 10 by the coupling mechanism 5 and receives the sheet S after image formation discharged from the sheet discharge unit 14 of the apparatus main body 10 in the sheet receiving unit 21. It is configured as follows.
The connection mechanism 5 is in a state in which the post-processing unit 20 is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the apparatus main body 10 by fixing a bracket provided on the post-processing unit 20 to the apparatus main body 10 with screws or the like. It is configured to be mounted with.

  The post-processing unit 20 includes a punching unit 22 that performs so-called punching for punching a sheet S, a stacking unit 23 that positions and stacks the sheets S, and a stapling unit that performs so-called stapling for binding the sheets S stacked on the stacking unit 23. 24, a retracting roller 25 for retracting the next sheet S at the time of stapling is provided, and the sheet received by the sheet receiving unit 21 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) on the apparatus body 10 side. The sheet S is appropriately subjected to post-processing such as punching and stapling, and the sheet S is discharged to the discharge tray 26. Note that the configuration of the post-processing unit 20 is not changed from the configuration employed in a normal image forming apparatus, and can be modified as appropriate.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 is characterized by a ventilation structure in the apparatus main body 10 and the post-processing unit 20, and the ventilation structure will be described.

The apparatus main body 10 is provided with a fan 30 for ventilating the main body side ventilation target A in the apparatus main body 10.
In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 12 and the fixing unit 13 that generate heat and require cooling are set as the main body side ventilation target A, and the main body side ventilation target A is configured to be ventilated in a concentrated manner. However, as a matter of course, the other part or the entire interior of the apparatus main body 10 may be the main body side ventilation target A.

The fan 30 is installed on the back side of the apparatus main body 10 and is configured to suck the air of the main body side ventilation object A and discharge the sucked air to the exhaust duct 31 side.
Specifically, a main body side suction portion 47 for allowing air to flow into the main body side ventilation target A from the outside is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 10.
In addition, openings 35 and 36 through which air is discharged from the main body side ventilation target A to the outside are provided above the back surface of the apparatus main body 10. The openings 35 and 36 connect the duct 33 and the duct 32. To the fan 30.

  Therefore, the air flowing into the main body side ventilation target A from the main body side suction portion 47 passes through the main body side ventilation target A, whereby the main body side ventilation target A is ventilated and sufficiently cooled, and The relatively hot air after passing through the main body side ventilation target A passes through the duct 33 and the duct 32 in order, reaches the fan 30, and is discharged to the outside through the exhaust duct 31.

Further, the apparatus main body 10 is provided with a main body side ventilation portion 41 connected to the fan 30 in parallel with the main body side ventilation target A.
Specifically, a main body side ventilation portion 41 formed as two openings is provided above a side surface (hereinafter referred to as a main body side mounting surface) on which the post-processing unit 20 of the apparatus main body 10 is mounted. The main body side ventilation portion 41 is connected to an opening 37 provided above the back surface of the apparatus main body 10 by a duct 39, and the opening 37 is similar to the openings 35 and 36 described above. And connected to the fan 30 via a duct 32.
That is, the air that has flowed into the apparatus main body 10 from the main body side ventilation portion 41 passes through the duct 39, the duct 33, and the duct 32 in order without passing through the main body side ventilation target A, reaches the fan 30, and is exhausted. It is discharged outside through the duct 31.

  On the other hand, the post-processing unit 20 is provided with a unit-side ventilation portion 43 that is connected to the main-body-side ventilation portion 41 when the post-processing unit 20 is attached to the apparatus main body 10. Specifically, a unit-side ventilation portion 43 formed as two openings is provided above a side surface (hereinafter referred to as a unit-side mounting surface) mounted on the apparatus main body 10 of the post-processing unit 20. The unit-side ventilation portion 43 is located at a position facing the main body-side ventilation portion 41 in the state where the post-processing unit is mounted. For example, the periphery of the unit-side ventilation portion 43 is sealed by the seal body 45 or the like, You will communicate.

Below the side surface of the post-processing unit 20 opposite to the unit-side mounting surface, a unit-side suction portion 49 is provided for air to flow into the unit-side ventilation target B in the post-processing unit 20 from the outside.
Therefore, the air flowing into the unit side ventilation target B from the unit side suction part 49 passes through the unit side ventilation target B, so that the unit side ventilation target B is ventilated and sufficiently cooled, and The relatively high-temperature air after passing through the unit-side ventilation object B efficiently flows into the apparatus main body 10 through the upper part in the post-processing unit 20, the unit-side ventilation part 43, and the main-body side ventilation part 41, and the main body Without passing through the ventilation target A, the air passes through the duct 39, the duct 33, and the duct 32 in order, reaches the fan 30, and is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust duct 31 without warming the inside of the apparatus main body 10. Will be.

  In the present embodiment, the entire interior of the post-processing unit 20 that is a part that requires cooling is configured to be ventilated as the unit-side ventilation target B. Naturally, the part to which the sheet S is conveyed, etc. In this way, a specific part may be set as the unit-side ventilation target B, and the unit-side ventilation target B may be configured to be concentrated and ventilated.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an attachment / detachment state detection unit 57 that detects the attachment / detachment state of the post-processing unit 20 with respect to the apparatus main body 10.
Specifically, the attachment / detachment state detection means 57 is configured by a switch element that is provided in the apparatus main body 10 and has an operating portion that protrudes toward the post-processing unit 20, and when this switch is operated in the post-processing unit mounted state, The attachment / detachment state of the post-processing unit 20 with respect to the apparatus main body 10 can be detected.
Note that this attachment / detachment state detection means 57 is not a switch element as described above, but detects, for example, the connection state of signal lines between the post-processing unit 20 and the apparatus main body 10 or the post-processing in the control unit of the apparatus main body 10. By recognizing that the operation control of the unit 20 is set to be performed, the attachment / detachment state of the post-processing unit 20 with respect to the apparatus main body 10 can be detected.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 detects the output of the fan 30 when the post-processing unit mounting state is detected by the attachment / detachment state detection unit 57 (that is, the air flow rate), and detects the post-processing unit detached state by the attachment / detachment state detection unit 57. Fan output setting means 58 is provided for setting the output larger than the output of the fan 30 at the time when the processing unit is installed. While both of B are sufficiently ventilated and cooled, in the post-processing unit detached state, the output of the fan 30 can be made as small as possible to save energy.
The fan output setting means 58 is a means that functions when a computer constituting the control unit of the apparatus main body 10 executes a predetermined program.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 closes the main body side ventilation portion 41 in a state where the post-processing unit 20 is detached from the apparatus main body 10, and the post-processing unit 20 further includes the apparatus main body 10. In the mounted state of the post-processing unit, an opening / closing mechanism 50 that opens the main body side ventilation portion 41 is provided, and a detailed configuration of the opening / closing mechanism 50 will be described with reference to FIGS.
4 is a partial perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the opening / closing mechanism 50, and FIG. 5 is an elevational view (a) and a side view (b) showing a state in which the opening / closing mechanism 50 closes the main body side ventilation portion 41. FIG. 6 is an elevation view (a) and a side view (b) showing a state in which the opening / closing mechanism 50 opens the main body side ventilation portion 41.

  The opening / closing mechanism 50 is provided as a swingable member in the main body side ventilation portion 41 so that the main body side ventilation portion 41 can be closed in the post-processing unit detached state, and the main body side ventilation portion in the post-processing unit detached state. A so-called louver structure is formed by arranging a plurality of damper members 51 composed of a plurality of blades biased so as to close the portion 41.

  Further, a tip portion with the swing shaft of the slat constituting the damper member 51 as a base end is attached to a bracket 52 provided inside the apparatus main body 10 at the center of the two openings constituting the main body side ventilation portion 41. The damper member 51 is connected in a freely rotatable manner, and the damper member 51 closes the main body side ventilation portion when the bracket 52 is displaced between a state in contact with the inner surface of the wall portion 16 of the apparatus main body 10 and a state in which it is separated. It is configured to be displaced to an open state.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the bracket 52 is urged by a spring member 53 provided below to bring the bracket 52 into contact with the inner surface of the wall portion 16, whereby the damper member 51 is The main body side ventilation portion 41 is biased to be closed.

  Further, a circular insertion port 54 is formed in the wall portion 16 of the apparatus body 10 at the position where the bracket 52 is provided. On the other hand, the post-processing unit 20 is in a state where the post-processing unit is mounted. An insertion rod 56 to be inserted into the insertion port 54 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the post-processing unit is mounted, the insertion rod 56 is inserted into the insertion port 54, so that the bracket 52 is against the urging force of the spring member 53 and the inner surface of the apparatus main body 10. The damper member 51 is displaced into a state in which the main body side ventilation portion 41 is opened.
That is, the bracket 52 and the insertion rod 56 are inserted into the main body by pressing the bracket 52 as the pressed portion of the damper member 51 with the insertion rod 56 as the pressing portion of the post-processing unit 20 in the post-processing unit mounted state. It can be said that the opening means opens the side ventilation portion 41.
In addition to the configuration of the insertion rod 56 and the bracket 52, the configuration of the opening means includes, for example, a push rod that protrudes toward the post-processing unit 20 on the bracket 52 as a pressed portion, and the outer wall of the post-processing unit 20 or the like. Other configurations such as a configuration in which the pressed portion is pressed by the pressing portion may be adopted.

  Therefore, by such an opening / closing mechanism 50, in the post-processing unit detached state, the damper member 51 can be urged by the spring member 53 to close the main body side ventilation portion 41, while the post-processing unit mounted state , The body side ventilation portion 41 is automatically opened by the opening means including the insertion rod 56 and the bracket 52, and the unit side ventilation object B can be ventilated.

  In addition, although the said opening-and-closing mechanism 50 was set as the structure which opens and closes the main body side ventilation part 41 automatically, you may make it the structure which opens and closes the main body side ventilation part 41 manually.

Further, referring to FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 100 does not provide the opening / closing mechanism 50, and the main body side ventilating portion 41 is used as a closing member that can close the main body side ventilating portion 41 in the post-processing unit detached state. A plug member 55 that is detachably provided and attached to the main body side ventilation portion 41 to close the main body side ventilation portion 41 may be provided. The detailed configuration of the plug member 55 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing a state in which the plug member 55 is attached to the main body side ventilation portion 41.

  The plug member 55 is configured to be attached to the main body side ventilation portion 41 from the outside of the apparatus main body 10 and close the main body side ventilation portion 41 in the post-processing unit detached state.

Furthermore, the width T of the plug member 55 is set to be larger than the width of the gap between the post-processing unit 20 and the apparatus main body 10 when the post-processing unit is mounted. A state in which the post-processing unit is attached in a state where it is attached to the ventilation unit 41 is prohibited.
Therefore, when the post-processing unit 20 is mounted on the apparatus main body 10, the plug member 55 is always removed from the main body side ventilation portion 41. When the post-processing unit is mounted, the plug member 55 is attached to the main body ventilation portion 41. The problem that the unit-side ventilation object B in the post-processing unit 20 cannot be ventilated while being closed is avoided.

Side sectional view showing schematic configuration and ventilation state of image forming apparatus Plan sectional view showing the ventilation status of the image forming apparatus Partial perspective view showing ventilation state of image forming apparatus Partial perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the opening and closing mechanism Elevated view (a) and side view (b) showing a state in which the opening and closing mechanism closes the main body side ventilation section Elevated view (a) and side view (b) showing a state in which the open / close mechanism opens the main body side ventilation section The fragmentary perspective view which shows the state which attached the plug member to the main body side ventilation part

Explanation of symbols

5: Connection mechanism 10: Device main body 20: Post-processing unit 30: Fan 31: Exhaust ducts 32, 33, 39: Ducts 35, 36, 37: Opening portion 41: Main body side ventilation portion 43: Unit side ventilation portion 47: Main body Side suction portion 49: Unit side suction portion 50: Opening / closing mechanism 51: Damper member 53: Spring member 54: Insert port 55: Plug member 56: Insertion rod 57: Attachment / detachment state detection means 58: Fan output setting means 100: Image forming apparatus A: Body side ventilation target B: Unit side ventilation target S: Seat

Claims (4)

An apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet; and a post-processing unit that is attached to the apparatus main body and performs post-processing of the sheet after image formation;
An image forming apparatus provided with a fan for ventilating a main body side ventilation object in the apparatus main body in the apparatus main body,
The apparatus main body includes a main body side suction portion for sucking fresh fresh air, and a main body side ventilation portion connected in parallel to the main body side ventilation target with respect to the fan,
A unit-side suction part that sucks fresh fresh air into the post-processing unit, and a unit that is connected to the main-body side ventilation part in a state in which the post-processing unit is attached to the apparatus main body. With a side ventilation section,
It said apparatus main body, the air you inhaled from the body-side intake portion is configured to ventilate the body side ventilation target in the apparatus main body,
The post-processing unit is configured to ventilate a unit-side ventilation target in the post-processing unit by air sucked from the unit-side suction unit and passing through the unit-side ventilation unit ,
The post-processing unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body,
In the post-processing unit detachment state in which the post-processing unit is detached from the apparatus main body, the main-unit-side ventilation portion is provided with a closing member that can be closed freely,
The closing member is a damper member that is swingably provided in the main body side ventilation portion, and is biased to close the main body side ventilation portion in the post-processing unit detached state,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an opening unit configured to open the main body side ventilation unit when the pressing unit of the post-processing unit presses the pressed portion of the damper member in the mounted state of the post-processing unit . An attachment / detachment state detecting means for detecting an attachment / detachment state of the post-processing unit to the apparatus main body;
The fan output when the attachment / detachment state detection means detects the post-processing unit attachment state is set larger than the fan output when the attachment / detachment state detection means detects the post-processing unit detachment state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a fan output setting unit. An apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet; and a post-processing unit that is attached to the apparatus main body and performs post-processing of the sheet after image formation;
An image forming apparatus provided with a fan for ventilating a main body side ventilation object in the apparatus main body in the apparatus main body,
The apparatus main body includes a main body side ventilation portion connected in parallel to the main body side ventilation target with respect to the fan,
The post-processing unit includes a unit-side ventilation section connected to the main-body-side ventilation section in a post-processing unit mounted state in which the post-processing unit is mounted to the apparatus main body.
The post-processing unit is configured to ventilate a unit-side ventilation target in the post-processing unit with air passing through the unit-side ventilation unit,
The post-processing unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body,
In the post-processing unit detachment state in which the post-processing unit is detached from the apparatus main body, the main-unit-side ventilation portion is provided with a closing member that can be closed freely,
The closing member is a damper member that is swingably provided in the main body side ventilation portion, and is biased to close the main body side ventilation portion in the post-processing unit detached state,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an opening unit configured to open the main body side ventilation unit when the pressing unit of the post-processing unit presses the pressed portion of the damper member in the mounted state of the post-processing unit. An attachment / detachment state detecting means for detecting an attachment / detachment state of the post-processing unit to the apparatus main body;
The fan output when the attachment / detachment state detection means detects the post-processing unit attachment state is set larger than the fan output when the attachment / detachment state detection means detects the post-processing unit detachment state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a fan output setting unit.

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