JP5006660B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an image reading apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus accommodated in a main body of an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses have been desired to save space in order to reduce installation space. Further, a low-cost / high-quality product is desired particularly in a color image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image.

  By the way, some image forming apparatuses are provided with an image reading apparatus, and more recently, there are those in which the image reading apparatus is accommodated in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  Here, the conventional image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads a document image by irradiating light onto the surface of the document placed on the platen glass. When reading an original image, the original image is read by moving the image reading unit in the sub-scanning direction while irradiating light from the light source to the surface of the original on the platen glass.

  By the way, when such a conventional image reading apparatus is housed in the image forming apparatus main body, a heat flame may be generated between the light source unit and the document surface due to heat generated from the light source unit. As a result, the image reading performance is lowered, and as a result, the image quality formed on the sheet is lowered.

  Therefore, conventionally, in order to improve image quality, for example, an image reading apparatus is provided with a dedicated duct and the image reading apparatus is cooled by flowing outside air through the dedicated duct (for example, see Patent Document 1). ). The image reading apparatus is cooled by the outside air in this way, so that the generation of a positive flame is suppressed, thereby improving the image reading accuracy and improving the image quality.

JP-A-8-163322

  However, in such a conventional image forming apparatus, since the image reading apparatus is cooled by the outside air only on one side parallel to the sub-scanning direction by a dedicated duct, the temperature on the cooling side and the non-cooling side (opposite side) is reduced. A difference occurs, and cooling unevenness occurs in the main scanning direction. In addition, when a fixing device having a heat source constituting the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus is disposed below the image reading device, the temperature of the image reading device rises due to the influence of heat from the fixing device. As a result of this temperature rise, the image reading performance is lowered and the image quality is lowered.

  Here, for example, a dedicated duct may be arranged on both sides parallel to the sub-scanning direction of the image reading apparatus to cool the image reading apparatus. However, in this case, a space for the dedicated duct is required, and accordingly, image formation is performed. The device body becomes larger.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and an image that can be cooled without increasing the size of the image reading apparatus housed in the apparatus main body and without causing uneven cooling. An object of the present invention is to provide a forming apparatus.

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit and an image reading device, wherein the image reading device is housed in the apparatus main body, and is provided in the apparatus main body to form an outer surface of the apparatus main body. A cover , a mounting member for mounting the image reading apparatus in the apparatus main body, a closed space formed by the image reading apparatus main body, and the outside air is sent into the closed space, and the image reading apparatus is cooled by the outside air. A first cooling unit, and a second cooling unit that cools the inside of the image reading device by sending outside air sent into the closed space by the first cooling unit into the inside of the image reading device. Is.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit and an image reading device, wherein the image reading device is housed in the device body, and is provided in the device body to form an outer surface of the device body. A closed space formed by the cover , an attachment member for mounting the image reading device in the device main body, and the image reading device main body and surrounding the image reading device, and external air is sent into the closed space , have a, a cooling unit that cools the image reading apparatus by the ambient air, forming outside air uptake hole in the image reading apparatus main body as with the closed space surrounding the image reading apparatus interior and the image reading device communicates In addition, an outside air blowing hole is formed in the image reading device main body so as to face the outside air intake hole, and the outside air sent into the closed space by the cooling unit is imaged. It is characterized in that cooling the image reading apparatus within the apparatus by feeding therein preparative.

  In the present invention, the closed space into which the outside air is sent is formed by the plate-like member that forms the outer surface of the apparatus main body, the attachment member, and the image reading apparatus main body, and the outside air sent into the closed space is put inside the image reading apparatus. Can be sent in. Thereby, the image reading apparatus accommodated in the apparatus main body can be cooled without increasing the size and without causing uneven cooling.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 50 denotes an image forming apparatus, and 51 denotes an image forming apparatus main body. Is arranged. Reference numeral 1 denotes a front cover that forms the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body 51, and reference numerals 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B denote first and second upper surface covers that form the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 51.

  2 is a view showing a state in which the first upper surface cover 1A is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 51, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2 and 3, reference numeral 3 denotes an attachment member for attaching the image reading apparatus 2 to the image forming apparatus main body 51, and 9 denotes a back cover that forms the back surface of the image forming apparatus main body 51. Reference numeral 19 denotes an exhaust heat duct that is provided below the image reading device 2 and exhausts heat from a fixing device (not shown) for fixing a toner image on the sheet to the outside when an image is formed on the sheet. is there.

  S is a closed space formed by the front cover 1, the upper cover 1A (see FIG. 1) and the rear cover 9, which are plate-like members forming at least the outer surface of the image forming apparatus main body 51, and the image reading apparatus main body 2A. is there. In the present embodiment, the closed space S is formed by the front cover 1, the upper cover 1A, the rear cover 9, and the image reading apparatus main body 2A, the attachment member 3, and the side surface of the heat exhaust duct 19. .

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a first cooling unit for sucking outside air and sending it into the closed space S to secure a straight air flow 11 by the hole 8 formed in the main body frame, and further cooling the image reading apparatus main body 2A. A suction fan. Reference numeral 13 denotes two blower fans which are second cooling units for sending the outside air sent into the closed space S into the image reading apparatus and cooling the inside of the image reading apparatus. The blower fan 13 is an image reading apparatus main body 2A. And the closed space S.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image reading apparatus main body 2A includes a high-illuminance lamp (not shown) such as a halogen lamp that irradiates light on a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). A first carriage 4 having a light source unit and a reflecting member such as a mirror is provided. Further, a second carriage (not shown) that guides reflected light from the document to a CCD (sensor) 5 through the first carriage 4 is provided.

  Then, when reading the image of the document placed on the platen glass, the first and second carriages are moved in the sub-scanning direction, and when moving, the surface of the document on the platen glass is moved. Light is emitted from the light source unit. The reflected light from the original is line-formed on the CCD via the first and second carriages, thereby reading the original image.

  In FIG. 4, 7 is an intake port formed in the back cover 9 for sending outside air to the closed space S by the suction fan 14, and 8 is a main body for making the outside air sent by the blower fan 13 into a linear air flow. It is a hole formed in the frame. Reference numeral 20 denotes an outside air intake hole formed on a side surface of the image reading apparatus main body 2A facing the blower fan 13, and 21 denotes an outside air blowing hole provided at a position facing the outside air intake hole 20 of the image reading apparatus main body 2A. Is an exhaust port formed in the back cover 9.

  By the way, as described above, when the light source unit is turned on, heat is generated from the light source unit and the original image is read. Therefore, when the first and second carriages are moved in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow A, the light source unit Heat is dissipated throughout the image reading apparatus. Also, heat is generated from the CCD 5, and the heat from the CCD 5 is dissipated from a heat sink (not shown) into the image reading apparatus.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the suction fan 14 and the blower fan 13 are driven so that the image reading accuracy of the image reading device 2 does not deteriorate due to such heat radiation from the light source unit and the heat radiating plate. The apparatus main body 2A is cooled.

  Next, the cooling operation of the image reading apparatus 2 by the suction fan 14 and the blower fan 13 will be described.

  First, after the image reading device 2 is driven, the suction fan 14 is driven at a predetermined timing. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, outside air is sent into the closed space S by the suction fan 14, and a linear air flow 11 is secured in the closed space S by the holes 8 opened in the main body frame.

  Further, when the two blower fans 13 are driven in this state, a part of the linear air flow 11 is generated by the blower fan 13, and the air flow 12 by the blower fan 13 passes through the outside air intake hole 20. It is sent into the image reading apparatus.

  The outside air sent by the blower fan 13 becomes an air flow 15 inside the image reading apparatus and hits the CCD 5, the light source part of the first carriage 4, etc., cools the CCD 5, the light source part, etc., and the CCD 5, the light source part, etc. The heat radiated from the heat is discharged out of the image reading apparatus. Thereby, the inside of the image reading apparatus can be cooled without unevenness.

  The outside air that has cooled the CCD 5, the light source unit and the like in this manner is discharged from the outside air blowing hole 21, and the exhaust air flow 16 is exhausted from the exhaust port 10 formed in the back cover 9 to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

  As described above, the closed space S is formed by the back cover 9, the front cover 1, the first top cover 1 </ b> A, the image reading apparatus main body 2 </ b> A, the attachment member 3, and the exhaust heat duct 19, thereby providing a dedicated duct. This eliminates the need for parts, thereby reducing the cost of parts and saving space.

  Further, by sending the outside air taken in from the closed space S into the image reading device, the entire image reading device can be cooled, and uneven cooling of the image reading device 2 can be reduced. Furthermore, by cooling the entire image reading apparatus with outside air, it is possible to reduce the influence of exhaust heat from the fixing unit.

  Furthermore, by applying the light to the light source unit that is a heat generation source of the image reading apparatus 2, it is possible to reduce the heat generated between the light source unit and the document surface. Thereby, the image reading accuracy of the image reading apparatus 2 can be improved, and the image quality formed on the sheet by the image forming apparatus 1 can be improved. If the CCD heat sink is arranged in the vicinity of the outside air intake hole 20, the CCD heat sink can be efficiently cooled by the outside air.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the closed space S is formed by the back cover 9, the front and first upper surface covers 1 and 1A, the image reading apparatus main body 2A, the attachment member 3, and the heat exhaust duct 19, and the closed space S. The outside air sent to the inside is sent into the image reading apparatus. Thereby, the image reading apparatus 2 accommodated in the image forming apparatus main body can be cooled without increasing the size and without causing uneven cooling.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and shows a state in which the top cover 1B covering the upper side of the image reading apparatus main body 2A is removed. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state where the top covers 1A and 1B of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment are removed. 5 and 6, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 4 described above indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  In FIG. 5, S ′ indicates a closed space. The closed space S ′ surrounds the image reading device main body 2A by the side surfaces of the front cover 1, the first and second upper surface covers 1A and 1B, the image reading device main body 2A, the attachment member 3, the rear cover 9 and the heat exhaust duct 19. It is formed as follows.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the closed space S ′ is configured by first to fourth closed spaces S1 to S4 that communicate with each other as shown in FIG. 6. The first closed space S1 includes the front cover 1, the first upper surface cover 1A, the image reading device main body 2A, the attachment member 3, and the rear cover 9, similarly to the first embodiment described above. And the side surface of the exhaust heat duct 19.

  The second closed space S2 is formed by the back cover 9, the second top cover 1B, the image reading apparatus main body 2A, and the attachment member 3. The third closed space S3 is formed by the second upper surface cover 1B, the image reading apparatus main body 2A, the attachment member 3, and the front cover 1.

  The fourth closed space S4 is formed by the second upper surface cover 1B, the image reading apparatus main body 2A, the attachment member 3, the front cover 1, and the rear cover 9. A suction fan 14 is provided in the fourth closed space S4.

  Reference numeral 20A denotes an outside air intake hole that communicates between the fourth closed space S4 and the inside of the image reading apparatus, and reference numeral 21A denotes an outside air discharge hole that communicates between the first closed space S1 and the inside of the image reading apparatus. In the present embodiment, the outside air intake hole 20A and the outside air discharge hole 21A constitute a second cooling unit that sends outside air into the image reading apparatus to cool the inside of the image reading apparatus main body.

  Here, if the outside air is sucked into the fourth closed space S4 by the suction fan 14 by configuring the closed space S ′ in this way, the outside air communicates with the fourth closed space S4 as the air flow 11. 3 flows through the closed spaces S2 and S3 to the first closed space S1. Thereafter, the air flow 11 becomes an exhaust air flow 16 and is exhausted from the exhaust port 10 formed in the back cover 9 to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

  Here, the outside air flows in the first to third closed spaces S1 to S3 as the air flow 11 as described above, and also flows in the first closed space S1 as the exhaust air flow 16, thereby causing the image reading apparatus main body 2A. Outside air flows around and the image reading apparatus main body 2A is cooled.

  When the outside air is sucked in by the suction fan 14, the outside air flows into the image reading device from the outside air intake hole 20A formed on the side surface of the image reading device facing the fourth closed space S4. The outside air that has flowed into the image reading apparatus in this way becomes an air flow 21 in the image reading apparatus, and can cool the heat dissipated from the CCD 5, the light source section of the first carriage 4 and the light source section evenly. it can.

  The outside air that has cooled the CCD 5, the light source unit, and the like in this manner is discharged from the outside air blowing hole 21 </ b> A to the first closed space S <b> 1, and the exhaust air flow 16 passes through the exhaust port 10 formed in the back cover 9. Exhausted outside.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image reading apparatus main body 2A is cooled by forming the closed space S 'so as to surround the image reading apparatus main body 2A. Further, the outside air sent into the closed space S ′ is sent to the inside of the image reading apparatus to cool the inside of the image reading apparatus main body by the second cooling part configured by the outside air intake hole 20A and the outside air discharge hole 21A. I have to.

  Thereby, the image reading apparatus 2 can be cooled without increasing the size and without causing uneven cooling. Further, in the present embodiment, the first carriage 4 is disposed in the vicinity of the outside air intake hole 20A, whereby the light source unit can be efficiently cooled.

1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where a first upper surface cover is removed from the image forming apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. The principal part enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state when first and second upper surface covers are removed from the image forming apparatus main body. The perspective view of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state when the first and second upper surface covers are removed from the image forming apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front cover 1A 1st upper surface cover 1B 2nd upper surface cover 2 Image reader 2A Image reader main body 3 Attachment member 4 1st carriage 5 CCD
9 Back cover 13 Blower fan 14 Suction fan 19 Exhaust heat ducts 20 and 20A Outside air intake holes 21 and 21A Outside air outlet holes 50 Image forming apparatus 51 Image forming apparatus main bodies S and S 'Closed space

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit and an image reading device, wherein the image reading device is housed in the apparatus main body,
A closed space formed by a cover provided in the apparatus main body and forming an outer surface of the apparatus main body, an attachment member for attaching the image reading apparatus in the apparatus main body, and the image reading apparatus main body;
A first cooling unit that sends outside air into the closed space and cools the image reading device with the outside air;
A second cooling unit for sending outside air sent into the closed space by the first cooling unit into the image reading device to cool the inside of the image reading device;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The second cooling unit is a blower fan that is disposed between the closed space and the image reading device, and sends outside air sent into the closed space into the image reading device. The image forming apparatus described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the closed space is formed so as to surround the image reading apparatus.   The second cooling unit includes an outside air intake hole formed in the image reading device main body so that the inside of the image reading device and the closed space surrounding the image reading device communicate with each other, and the outside air taking in the image reading device main body. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is constituted by an outside air blowing hole formed to face the hole. In an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit and an image reading device, wherein the image reading device is housed in the apparatus main body,
A cover provided in the apparatus main body and forming an outer surface of the apparatus main body, a mounting member for attaching the image reading apparatus in the apparatus main body, and the image reading apparatus main body, and surrounding the image reading apparatus. A closed space formed as follows,
The closed space fed with outside air, have a, a cooling unit that cools the image reading apparatus by the ambient air,
An outside air intake hole is formed in the image reading apparatus main body so that the inside of the image reading apparatus and the closed space surrounding the image reading apparatus communicate with each other, and an outside air blowout is opposed to the outside air intake hole in the image reading apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a hole is formed and the inside of the image reading apparatus is cooled by sending outside air sent into the closed space by the cooling unit into the image reading apparatus. Comprising a waste heat duct for discharging the heat of the image forming unit, an image forming apparatus according to a portion of the closed space to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that formed by the waste heat duct .

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