JP5372689B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus with a plurality of a cleaning means where working efficiency in maintenance of the cleaning means is improved. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: an internal cleaning device 201 that cleans internal air in the apparatus; and an external cleaning device 202 that cleans external air outside the apparatus. The internal cleaning device 201 and the external cleaning device 202 are horizontally arranged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine that includes an air purifier and performs image formation.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses having an image forming function using an electrophotographic method, such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine, are widely used. For example, an image forming apparatus as a printer prints an image on a recording sheet. Specifically, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner to form a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum to a recording sheet. The toner image on the recording paper is heated and pressurized to be fixed on the recording paper.

  In such an image forming apparatus, exhaust gas may be generated during an image forming operation on a recording sheet. This exhaust gas generates a strange odor, and includes longifolene generated from the recording paper or a gas emitting a toner odor. For this reason, the user of the image forming apparatus is uncomfortable.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus is an OA device indispensable for office processing as installed in most offices, and is also popular in homes and hospitals. Therefore, in an environment where the image forming apparatus is used, it is required to reduce off-flavors caused by the exhaust gas.

  In response to such demands, various proposals have heretofore been made in order to purify exhaust gas from the image forming apparatus. For example, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, a blower fan, a negative ion generator, a positively charged filter, and the like are accommodated in a duct, and these are provided inside the image forming apparatus. In such an image forming apparatus, air outside the apparatus is taken in from the inlet of the duct, and the taken-in air is discharged outside the apparatus after reducing harmful substances with a negative ion generator and a positively charged filter. It is supposed to be.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 describe a configuration in which gas generated in the image forming apparatus is circulated and purified inside without being discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

JP 2005-4144 A (published January 6, 2005) JP 2002-91270 A (published March 27, 2002) JP 9-80994 A (published March 28, 1997)

  The image forming apparatuses described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are any of an internal purifying apparatus that purifies air inside the image forming apparatus and an external purifying apparatus that purifies air outside the image forming apparatus. Only one of the purification devices is provided. For this reason, in the case where the above-described both purification devices are provided in the image forming apparatus, consideration is not given to a suitable positional relationship between the two purification devices in order to improve the maintenance work efficiency.

  For example, a purification device disposed in an image forming apparatus requires maintenance such as filter replacement and discharge needle cleaning. In this case, depending on the positional relationship between the external purification device and the internal purification device, there is a problem that the worker is forced to move around during the maintenance of both purification devices, resulting in a reduction in work efficiency.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a plurality of purification means, which can improve the work efficiency in maintenance of the purification means.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a first purifying unit that purifies the air inside the image forming apparatus, and a second purifying unit that purifies the air outside the image forming apparatus. The first purification means and the second purification means are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction.

  According to the above configuration, since the first purification means and the second purification means are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, for example, when performing maintenance of both purification means such as replacement of the filter, Maintenance can be performed at a fixed position without moving around the image forming apparatus. Thereby, the work efficiency of the maintenance of both purification means can be improved.

  In the image forming apparatus, the first purification unit and the second purification unit may be arranged on the back surface of the image forming apparatus.

  According to the above configuration, since the first purification unit and the second purification unit are arranged on the back surface of the image forming apparatus, when performing maintenance on both the purification units, the operator can use the back surface of the image forming apparatus. Maintenance can be performed at a fixed position opposite to. Thereby, the work efficiency of the maintenance of both purification means can be improved.

  In the image forming apparatus, the first purification unit and the second purification unit may share at least one component.

  According to the above configuration, since the first purification unit and the second purification unit share at least one component, the number of components is reduced, thereby enabling cost reduction and downsizing.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, the first purifying unit includes a first duct provided so that a suction port at one end and an air supply port at the other end communicate with a space in the apparatus, and the first duct. A first fan that is provided in the duct and sucks the air in the machine from the suction port into the first duct, and the second purifying means has a suction port at one end and an air supply at the other end. A second duct provided so that the opening communicates with a space outside the machine, and a second duct provided in the second duct for sucking air outside the machine from the suction port into the second duct. And the first fan and the second fan are arranged so that the rotation shafts are on the same axis, and the first fan and the second fan are arranged between them. Alternatively, it may be driven by a single motor.

  According to the above configuration, the first purification means and the second purification means share the motor for driving the respective fans, so the number of parts is reduced, thereby enabling cost reduction and downsizing. It is.

  In the above image forming apparatus, a space portion is formed in the body portion, and a paper discharge tray for storing paper discharged after printing is formed in the space portion, and the first purification unit and the second purification unit are formed. The means may be arranged on the back surface of the image forming apparatus at a position corresponding to the space portion.

  According to the above configuration, the image forming apparatus is a so-called in-cylinder discharge type in which a space portion is formed in the body portion, and a paper discharge tray that stores paper discharged after printing is formed in the space portion. . In such an image forming apparatus, it is effective in terms of the layout of the apparatus to dispose the first purification unit and the second purification unit on the back surface of the image forming apparatus at a position corresponding to the space portion. That is, in the in-cylinder discharge type, there are no parts such as various drive devices at the back position of the space portion, and the arrangement space of both the purifying means is not easily restricted, and the arrangement is easy. Further, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus due to the arrangement of both the purifying means.

  The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a sheet and fixes the toner image on the sheet, and suction for sending air around the image forming unit to the first purification unit. A duct may be provided inside, and the first purification unit may be disposed closer to the image forming unit than the second purification unit.

  According to the above configuration, the first purifying unit that purifies the air inside the image forming apparatus is disposed closer to the image forming unit than the second purifying unit that purifies the air outside the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the arrangement of the suction duct for sending the air around the image forming unit to the first purifying unit is facilitated, and the length of the suction duct can be shortened.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, the first duct includes a horizontal protrusion protruding in a horizontal direction from a housing of the image forming apparatus, an upward extension extending vertically upward from an end of the horizontal protrusion, A bent portion bent vertically downward from an end portion of the upward extending portion; a downward extending portion extending vertically downward from the end portion of the bent portion along the upward extending portion; and from the end portion of the downward extending portion. A front extending portion extending in the direction of the housing along the horizontal protrusion and reaching the housing is provided in this order from the suction port toward the air supply port, and the horizontal protrusion includes the A first fan is provided, and an ion generating element is provided on an outer surface of the upward extending portion, and ions generated by the ion generating element are released into the first duct at the upward extending portion at a position where the ion generating element is disposed. Opening to do It may be configured to have formed.

  According to the above configuration, an air flow from the suction port at one end to the air supply port at the other end is generated in the first duct by the action of the first fan. Due to this air flow, ions generated by the ion generating element are conveyed from the upward extending portion to the downward extending portion via the bent portion. In this case, since the direction of the air flow is changed by 180 degrees at the bent portion, mixing of the ions and the air flow is promoted at the bent portion. Therefore, purification of air by ions can be promoted at the bent portion.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, the first duct includes a horizontal protrusion protruding in a horizontal direction from a housing of the image forming apparatus, an upward extension extending vertically upward from an end of the horizontal protrusion, A bent portion bent vertically downward from an end portion of the upward extending portion; a downward extending portion extending vertically downward from the end portion of the bent portion along the upward extending portion; and from the end portion of the downward extending portion. A front extending portion extending in the direction of the housing along the horizontal protrusion and reaching the housing is provided in this order from the suction port toward the air supply port, and the horizontal protrusion includes the A first fan is provided, and the second duct is provided in a state of being buried in the apparatus with respect to the outer surface of the casing of the image forming apparatus, and extends vertically upward. The end of the extension and the communication port formed in the housing A horizontal projecting portion projecting horizontally from an end portion of the first upward extending portion, and a second upward extending portion extending vertically upward from an end portion of the horizontal projecting portion. It is good also as a structure with which the said 2nd fan is provided in the said horizontal direction protrusion part in preparation for this order toward the direction of the said air supply opening from an inlet.

  According to the above configuration, in the first duct, the first fan is provided in the horizontal protruding portion that protrudes in the horizontal direction from the housing of the image forming apparatus, and in the second duct, the second fan extends in the first upward direction. It is provided in a horizontal projecting portion that communicates with the end portion of the first portion through a communication port formed in the housing and projects in the horizontal direction from the end portion of the first upward extending portion. Therefore, it is easy to set the first fan and the second fan so that the rotation shafts are on the same axis, and to set both the fans with a single motor arranged between the fans. Can be done. In this case, in the second duct, the first upward extending portion connected to the horizontal protruding portion is provided in a state of being buried in the apparatus with respect to the outer surface of the casing of the image forming apparatus. The first upward extending portion for taking outside air from can be appropriately arranged.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, since the first purification means and the second purification means are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, when performing maintenance of both purification means, for example, replacement of the filter, the operator Thus, maintenance can be performed at a fixed position without moving around the image forming apparatus. Thereby, the work efficiency of the maintenance of both purification means can be improved.

1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the upper part of the image forming apparatus showing an arrangement state of an internal purification device and an external purification device provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 3A is a front view showing the internal purification device and the external purification device shown in FIG. 2 with the ducts removed (a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C). 3 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3 (a), and FIG. 3 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3 (a). It is sectional drawing. It is the perspective view seen from the back side of the image forming apparatus which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the internal purification apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and the external purification apparatus. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an arrangement portion of an internal purification device and an external purification device in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an arrangement state of each duct provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back of the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has an image forming function for a recording sheet, that is, a printing function. Further, an internal purification device that purifies the air inside the image forming apparatus and an external purification device that purifies the air outside the image forming apparatus are provided.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 prints an image of a document read by the document reading unit 102 or an image received from an external device on a recording sheet in color or single color.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a document conveying unit 101, a document reading unit 102, an image forming unit 103, and a paper feeding unit 104 from the top to the bottom.

  The document conveying unit 101 conveys the document set on the document setting tray 41 to the document reading position of the document reading unit 102. In this case, the document set on the document setting tray 41 is pulled out from the document setting tray 41 by the rotation of the document pickup roller 44. Next, the document passes between the suction roller 45 and the separation pad 46 and is separated one by one before being conveyed to the conveyance path 47. In the transport path 47, the leading edge of the document contacts the document registration roller 49 and is aligned in parallel with the document registration roller 49. Next, the original is conveyed by the original registration roller 49 and passes between the reading guide 51 and the reading glass 52 (original reading position). Thereafter, the document is conveyed by the conveyance roller 57 and discharged to the discharge tray 59 by the discharge roller 58.

  The document reading unit 102 reads an image of a document transported by the document transport unit 101. In this reading operation, when the document passes between the reading guide 51 and the reading glass 52, the light from the light source of the first scanning unit 53 is irradiated on the surface of the document through the reading glass 52. Reflected light from the document enters the first scanning unit 53 via the reading glass 52, is reflected by the mirrors of the first scanning unit 53 and the second scanning unit 54, and is guided to the imaging lens 55. Further, an image is formed on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 56 by the imaging lens 55. As a result, the CCD 56 reads the image of the document and outputs image data indicating the image of the document.

  The document reading unit 102 can read a document placed on the document table glass 61. The document conveying unit 101 is supported to be openable and closable on the rear surface side of the document reading unit 102. When the document conveying unit 101 is rotated upward and the document table glass 61 is opened, the document can be placed on the document table glass 61. The document transport unit 101 is closed after a document is placed on the document table glass 61. When reading an image of an original, the first scanning unit 53 and the second scanning unit 54 move in the sub-scanning direction, and the light from the light source of the first scanning unit 53 is irradiated on the original surface on the original platen glass 61. The The reflected light from the original is guided to the imaging lens 55 by the first scanning unit 53 and the second scanning unit 54, and is imaged on the CCD 56 by the imaging lens 55. At this time, the first scanning unit 53 and the second scanning unit 54 move while maintaining a predetermined speed relationship with each other. Therefore, in the reflected light, the first scanning is performed so that the relationship between the optical path length from the document surface to the first scanning unit 53 and the optical path length from the second scanning unit 54 to the CCD 56 via the imaging lens 55 does not change. The positional relationship between the portion 53 and the second scanning portion 54 is always maintained, and thereby the focus of the original image on the CCD 56 is always accurately maintained.

  The document image read in this way is input as image data to the laser exposure apparatus 1 of the image forming apparatus 100, and the image forming unit 103 prints an image corresponding to the image data on a recording sheet.

  The image forming unit 103 includes a laser exposure device 1, a developing device 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a charger 5, a cleaner device 4, an intermediate transfer belt device 8, a fixing device 12, a paper transport path S, and a paper discharge tray 15. ing.

  The image data handled in the image forming apparatus 100 uses data corresponding to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), or a single color (for example, black). This is in accordance with the monochrome image. Therefore, four developing devices 2, photosensitive drums 3, chargers 5, and cleaner devices 4 are provided to form four types of latent images corresponding to the respective colors, and black, cyan, magenta, and Four image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd are configured in association with yellow.

  The photosensitive drum 3 forms an electrostatic latent image, and carries a toner image obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image, and functions as an image image carrier.

  The charger 5 is a charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. In addition to a contact type roller type or brush type charger, a charger type charger is used. .

  The laser exposure apparatus 1 is a laser scanning unit (LSU) provided with a laser diode and a reflection mirror, and exposes the surface of a charged photosensitive drum 3 according to image data, and static electricity corresponding to the image data on the surface. An electrostatic latent image is formed.

  The developing device 2 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3 with (K, C, M, Y) toner. The cleaner device 4 removes and collects the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after the transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 7.

  The intermediate transfer belt device 8 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 3 and includes an intermediate transfer belt 7, an intermediate transfer belt driving roller 21, a driven roller 22, an intermediate transfer roller 6, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9.

  The intermediate transfer belt 7 is installed on the intermediate transfer belt drive roller 21, the intermediate transfer roller 6 and the driven roller 22, and is supported by these rollers to move around in the direction of arrow C. The transfer belt is formed in an endless belt shape using a film having a thickness of about 100 μm to 150 μm. The intermediate transfer belt 7 is provided so as to be in contact with the respective photosensitive drums 3, and the toner images on the surfaces of the respective photosensitive drums 3 are sequentially transferred in a superimposed manner. As a result, a color toner image (a toner image of each color) is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 7.

  The intermediate transfer roller 6 is rotatably supported in the vicinity of the intermediate transfer belt 7 and is pressed against the photosensitive drum 3 via the intermediate transfer belt 7. A transfer bias for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 7 is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 6. The intermediate transfer roller 6 is a roller whose base is a metal (for example, stainless steel) shaft having a diameter of 8 to 10 mm and whose surface is covered with a conductive elastic material (for example, EPDM, urethane foam, or the like). With this conductive elastic material, a high voltage can be uniformly applied to the recording paper.

  The transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 7 is performed by the intermediate transfer roller 6 that is in pressure contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 7. Therefore, a high voltage transfer bias (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 6 in order to transfer the toner image.

  As described above, in the intermediate transfer belt device 8, the toner images on the surfaces of the respective photosensitive drums 3 are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 7 to form a color toner image indicated by the image data. The stacked toner images of the respective colors are conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer device 11 as the intermediate transfer belt 7 moves, and are transferred onto the recording paper by the transfer roller 11a of the secondary transfer device 11 that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 7. Is transcribed.

  The intermediate transfer belt 7 and the transfer roller 11a of the secondary transfer device 11 are pressed against each other to form a nip region. Further, the transfer roller 11a of the secondary transfer device 11 has a voltage for transferring the toner image of each color on the intermediate transfer belt 7 onto a recording sheet (high polarity (+) opposite to the toner charge polarity (-)). Voltage) is applied. Further, in order to constantly obtain the nip region, either the transfer roller 11a of the secondary transfer device 11 or the intermediate transfer belt drive roller 21 is made of a hard material (metal or the like), and the other is a soft material such as an elastic roller. (Elastic rubber roller, foaming resin roller, etc.).

  In addition, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 7 may not be completely transferred onto the recording paper by the secondary transfer device 11, and the toner may remain on the intermediate transfer belt 7. Causes color mixing. Therefore, the residual toner is removed and collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 9 is provided with, for example, a cleaning blade as a cleaning member that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 7 to remove residual toner, and the intermediate transfer belt is driven by a driven roller 22 at a portion where the cleaning blade comes into contact. 7 The back side is supported.

  The paper feed unit 104 includes a paper feed tray 10. The paper feed tray 10 is provided in the lower part of the image forming apparatus 100. The paper feed tray 10 stores recording paper and supplies the recording paper to the image forming unit 103.

  The recording paper supplied from the paper feed tray 10 is sent to the paper discharge tray 15 via the secondary transfer device 11 and the fixing device 12 of the image forming unit 103 by the S-shaped paper conveyance path S. Along the paper transport path S, a paper pick-up roller 16, a paper registration roller 14, a fixing device 12, a transport roller for transporting the recording paper, and the like are arranged.

  The paper pick-up roller 16 is a calling roller that is provided at the end of the paper feed tray 10 and supplies recording paper from the paper feed tray 10 to the paper transport path S one by one. The conveyance rollers are small rollers for promoting and assisting conveyance of the recording paper, and a plurality of conveyance rollers are provided.

  The sheet registration roller 14 temporarily stops the recording sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding tray 10. The paper registration roller 14 aligns the leading edges of the recording paper. Further, the photosensitive drum 3 and the intermediate transfer belt 7 are arranged so that the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 7 is transferred onto the recording paper in the nip region between the intermediate transfer belt 7 and the transfer roller 11a of the secondary transfer device 11. The recording paper is conveyed in a timely manner in accordance with the rotation.

  For example, the paper registration roller 14 detects the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 7 in the nip area between the intermediate transfer belt 7 and the transfer roller 11a of the secondary transfer device 11 based on the detection output of a pre-registration detection switch (not shown). The recording paper is transported so that the leading edge is aligned with the leading edge of the image forming area of the recording paper.

  The fixing device 12 includes a heating roller 31 and a pressure roller 32. The heating roller 31 and the pressure roller 32 sandwich and convey the recording paper that has passed through the nip region between the intermediate transfer belt 7 and the transfer roller 11a of the secondary transfer device 11.

  The heating roller 31 is controlled so as to reach a predetermined fixing temperature based on the detection output of a temperature detector (not shown), and the toner transferred onto the recording paper by thermocompression bonding with the pressure roller 32. It has a function of fusing, mixing, and pressing an image to thermally fix the image on a recording sheet. The recording paper after the fixing of the toner images of the respective colors is discharged face down onto the paper discharge tray 15 by the transport roller.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is a so-called in-cylinder discharge type in which a space portion is formed in the body portion of the apparatus and the paper discharge tray 15 is formed in the space portion.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 having the above configuration includes an internal purification device (first purification means) 201 and an external purification device (first purification means) 202. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the upper portion of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, showing the arrangement state of the internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202.

  The internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202 include an ion generating element that generates ions and purifies the air by the ions. In the present embodiment, the internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202 are provided in the upper part of the back surface of the image forming apparatus 100, and are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the back surface. In the image forming apparatus 100, the back surface is a surface opposite to the surface (front surface) on which the operation panel 75 (see FIG. 1) is provided.

  FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the arrangement state of the internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202 more clearly. FIG. 4 is a perspective view seen from the back side of the image forming apparatus 100 showing the arrangement of the internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an arrangement portion of the internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202 in FIG.

  3A is a front view of the internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202 with the ducts removed (a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3B and a cross-sectional view in FIG. 3C). 3 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3 (a), and FIG. 3 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3 (a). is there.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the internal purification device 201 has a duct 211 (first duct). The duct 211 includes a rear projecting portion (horizontal projecting portion) 221, an upper extending portion 222, a bent portion 223, a lower extending portion 224, and a front extending portion 225 as portions that protrude from the back surface of the image forming apparatus 100. Yes. Further, the duct 211 has an inward extending portion 230, an inward protruding portion 231, and a downward extending portion 232 as portions located on the inner side from the rear housing portion 212.

  The rear projecting portion 221 extends horizontally rearward from the rear housing portion 212 that is the rear side portion of the housing of the image forming apparatus 100. The upward extending portion 222 extends vertically upward from the rear end portion of the rear protruding portion 221. The bent portion 223 is bent vertically downward along the upper extended portion 222 from the upper end portion of the upper extended portion 222. The downward extending portion 224 extends vertically downward along the upward extending portion 222 from the lower end portion of the bent portion 223. The forward extending portion 225 extends from the lower end portion of the downward extending portion 224 to the horizontal front along the rear protruding portion 221 and reaches the rear housing portion 212.

  Further, the inward extending portion 230 is connected to the front extending portion 225 and is extended inward in the machine. The inward protrusion 231 is connected to the rear protrusion 221 and protrudes inward in the machine. The downward extending portion 232 extends vertically downward from the inner end portion of the inward protruding portion 231.

  A communication port 226 for connecting the rear projecting portion 221 to the inner projecting portion 231 is formed at a connection portion of the rear projecting portion 221 of the duct 211 with the rear housing portion 212. Similarly, a communication port 227 for connecting the front extension portion 225 to the inward extension portion 230 is formed at a connection portion between the front extension portion 225 and the rear casing portion 212. An end on the inner side of the inward extending portion 230 serves as an air supply port 233 for supplying the purified air in the duct 211 into the machine.

  A filter 213 is provided on the inner surface of the rear housing portion 212 on the side of the inward protruding portion 231 in the communication port 226. The filter 213 captures foreign matters such as dust and dust contained in the air sucked into the duct 211 from inside the machine through the inside air suction port 226.

  In the duct 211, a fan (first fan) 214 is provided in the rear protruding portion 221, and an ion generating element 218 is provided at a position on the rear protruding portion 221 on the outer surface of the upper extending portion 222, and in the front extending portion 225. A turbulent flow generation member 216 is provided.

  The fan 214 sucks the air in the machine into the duct 211 and generates an air flow for supplying the air in the duct 211 from the air supply port 233 into the machine. The fan 214 has a substantially cylindrical appearance, with the axial direction serving as the center of rotation extending in the horizontal direction parallel to the outer surface of the rear casing 212.

  An opening 228 for discharging ions generated by the ion generating element 218 into the duct 211 is formed at the position where the ion generating element 218 is disposed in the upward extending portion 222. The ion generating element 218 is, for example, a negative ion generating element. As shown in FIG. 3A, the ion generating element 218 includes a negative ion generating portion 85a that generates negative ions. The amount of negative ions generated in the ion generating element 218 can be controlled by adjusting the voltage applied to the ion generating element 218.

  An outside air intake port 229 for taking outside air into the front extending portion 225 is formed in the lower wall portion of the front extending portion 225 at the position where the turbulent flow generating member 216 is disposed. In the present embodiment, the turbulent flow generation member 216 has a triangular prism shape extending in the horizontal direction in parallel with the outer surface of the back casing 212, and one of the three corners is opposite to the communication port 227. That is, it is arranged to face the upstream side in the air flow in the duct 211. In the forward extending portion 225, the outside air taken in from the outside air intake port 229 is mixed with the purified air in the duct 211. The air is made into a turbulent state by the turbulent flow generation member 216 and is supplied into the machine from the air supply port 233 through the communication port 227. Note that the turbulent flow generation member 216 may be omitted near the air supply port 233, particularly when there is no object that requires air purification, for example, a processing unit that generates a strange odor.

  Further, the fixing portion suction duct 301 is connected to the inward protruding portion 231 of the duct 211 by passing through the inward protruding portion 231.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (c), the external purification device 202 has a duct (a part of which is present on the inner side of the rear housing part 212 and the other part protrudes from the rear housing part 212). A second duct) 241. The duct 241 includes a first upward extending portion 251, a rear protruding portion (horizontal protruding portion) 252, and a second upward extending portion 253.

  The first upward extending portion 251 is present on the inner side of the rear casing portion 212, is provided in a state of being buried in the apparatus with respect to the outer surface of the rear casing portion 212, and extends vertically upward. The rear protruding portion 252 extends horizontally from the upper end of the first upward extending portion 251 to the image forming apparatus 100. The second upward extending portion 253 extends vertically upward from the rear end portion of the rear protruding portion 252. An upper end portion of the second upward extending portion 253 serves as an air supply port 256 for outside air purified by the external purification device 202.

  A duct suction port 254 is formed at a position of the rear housing portion 212 corresponding to the lower portion of the first upward extending portion 251 of the duct 241. Therefore, outside air can be taken into the first upward extending portion 251 through the duct suction port 254. In addition, a communication port 255 is formed at the position of the rear housing portion 212 corresponding to the upper portion of the first upward extending portion 251. The first upward extending portion 251 and the rear protruding portion 252 communicate with each other through the communication port 255.

  A filter 242 is provided on the inner surface of the back casing 212 at the communication port 255. This filter 242 is similar to the filter 213 of the internal purification device 201 and captures foreign matters such as dust and dust contained in the outside air sucked into the duct 241 through the duct suction port 254.

  The duct 241 is provided with a fan (second fan) 243 in the rear protruding portion 252, and an ion generating element 215 is provided at a position on the rear protruding portion 252 on the outer surface of the second upward extending portion 253. A turbulent flow generation member 244 is provided at the position of the upper end portion in the extending portion 253.

  The fan 243 sucks the air in the first upward extending portion 251, that is, the outside air that has passed through the filter 242, from the communication port 255 into the rear protruding portion 252, and further from the air supply port 256 of the second upward extending portion 253. Create an air flow to supply to Like the fan 214, the fan 243 has a substantially cylindrical appearance in which the axial direction serving as the center of rotation extends in the horizontal direction in parallel with the outer surface of the rear casing 212.

  In this embodiment, the fan 214 and the fan 243 have a common drive source. Specifically, the fans 214 and 243 are arranged so that the rotation axes exist on the same axis, and are driven by one motor 217 arranged between the fans 214 and 243.

  An opening 257 is formed at the arrangement position of the ion generating element 215 in the second upward extending portion 253, similarly to the duct 211 of the internal purification device 201. The ion generating element 215 is, for example, a plasma clasler ion (registered trademark) generating element (PCI generating element). As shown in FIG. 3A, the ion generation element 215 includes a pair of positive ion generation units 215a that generate positive ions and a pair of negative ion generation units 215b that generate negative ions. The amount of negative ions and positive ions generated in the ion generating element 215 can be controlled by adjusting the voltage applied to the ion generating element 215. Such an ion generating element 215 is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-58731 filed earlier by the applicant of the present invention.

  Similar to the turbulent flow generating member 216, the turbulent flow generating member 244 has a triangular prism shape extending in the horizontal direction in parallel with the outer surface of the rear housing portion 212, and one of the three corners is in the duct 241. It arrange | positions so that it may face upstream in the air flow, ie, a downward direction. In the duct 241, the air purified in the duct 241 is made into a turbulent state by the turbulent flow generation member 244, and is ejected from the air supply port 256 into the outside air.

  In addition, a plurality of suction ducts are provided inside the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement state of each duct provided inside the image forming apparatus 100 as viewed from the back side of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 6, a fixing unit suction duct 301 and a process unit suction duct 302 are provided.

  The fixing unit suction duct 301 is for taking in air sucked from the fixing device 12 into the duct 211 of the internal purification device 201. For this purpose, the fixing portion suction duct 301 is connected to the inwardly projecting portion 231 in the duct 211, the suction port 306 at one end is disposed above the fixing device 12, and the air supply port 307 at the other end is disposed inside. It is formed in the side protrusion 231.

  The process section suction duct 302 is for taking in air sucked from the four image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd into the duct 211 of the internal purification device 201. For this purpose, the process portion suction duct 302 is connected to the downward extending portion 232 in the duct 211, and the suction side end portions (suction ports) are arranged at the positions of the image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd.

  In FIG. 6, what is indicated by a mesh is an arrangement area of each drive unit. Specifically, there are a conveyance system drive unit placement region 303, a process unit drive unit placement region 304, and a toner replenishment drive unit placement region 305. The fixing unit suction duct 301 and the process unit suction duct 302 are arranged so as to avoid the transport system drive unit arrangement region 303, the process unit drive unit arrangement region 304, and the toner replenishment drive unit arrangement region 305.

  In the above configuration, in the internal purification device 201, when the fan 214 rotates, the air inside the image forming apparatus 100 is sucked into the duct 211. In this case, foreign matter such as dust or dust contained in the air or floating toner is captured by the filter 213 and removed. The air taken into the rearward projecting portion 221 of the duct 211 is sent from the rearward projecting portion 221 to the upward extending portion 222.

  In the upward extending portion 222, negative ions are emitted from the ion generating element 218 through the opening 228. Therefore, in the upward extending portion 222, the air sucked from inside the apparatus is purified by mixing with negative ions. Due to the purification action by the negative ions, the off-flavor in the air generated in the machine is removed.

  The air to which ions are applied as described above is returned from the air supply port 233 to the inside of the machine through the upward extending portion 222, the bent portion 223, the downward extending portion 224, the forward extending portion 225, and the inward extending portion 230.

  In the bent portion 223, the direction of the airflow is reversed by 180 degrees to promote mixing of air and ions. In addition, at the outside air intake port 229, the turbulent flow generation member 216 makes the air flow turbulent and further promotes mixing of air and ions. Thereby, the purification | cleaning effect | action of the air by an ion is further accelerated | stimulated. Air in the machine purified in the duct 211 is returned to the machine from the air supply port 233 in a state containing ions. Therefore, the air in the machine is purified by being taken into the duct 211 and is also purified by the air ejected from the duct 211. As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the internal purification device 201, so that the air in the apparatus can be purified and off-flavors can be removed.

  On the other hand, in the external purification device 202, when the fan 243 rotates, air outside the image forming apparatus 100 is sucked into the duct 241 from the duct suction port 254. The air sucked into the duct 241 is taken into the first upward extending portion 251 and sent to the rear protruding portion 252 through the communication port 255. In this case, foreign matter such as dust and dust contained in the air (in the outside air) is captured by the filter 242 and removed. The air taken into the rearward projecting portion 252 passes through the second upward extending portion 253 and is returned to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 through the air supply port 256.

  In the second upward extending portion 253, positive ions and negative ions are released from the ion generating element 215 through the opening 257. Therefore, in the second upward extending portion 253, air (outside air) sucked into the duct 241 is purified by mixing with positive ions and negative ions. The purifying action (sanitizing action) by the positive ions and the negative ions purifies the outside air around the image forming apparatus 100 and removes a bad odor such as tobacco odor.

  At the air supply port 256 of the second upward extending portion 253, the airflow is turbulent by the turbulent flow generating member 244, and the mixing of air and ions is promoted. Thereby, the purification | cleaning effect | action of the air by an ion is further accelerated | stimulated. The outside air purified in the duct 241 is returned to the outside from the air supply port 256 in a state containing ions. Therefore, outside air is purified by being taken into the duct 241 and is also purified by air ejected from the duct 241. As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the external purification device 202, so that air outside the apparatus around the image forming apparatus 100 can be purified and off-flavors can be removed.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202 are arranged in a state of being aligned horizontally on the back surface. Therefore, for example, when the internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202 are maintained such as replacement of the filters 213 and 242 and cleaning of the ion generation elements 215 and 218, the internal purification device 201 is maintained. When performing maintenance of the external purification device 202, the operator does not need to move the work position, and the maintenance work is facilitated.

  In particular, when the image forming apparatus 100 is a so-called in-cylinder discharge type in which a space portion is formed in the body portion of the apparatus and a paper discharge tray 15 is formed in the space portion as in the present embodiment, It is effective in terms of the layout of the apparatus to dispose the purification apparatus for external use 201 and the external purification apparatus 202 on the back surface of the image forming apparatus 100 at a position corresponding to the space portion. That is, in the in-cylinder discharge type, there are no parts such as various driving devices at the back position of the space portion, and the arrangement space of both the purification devices 201 and 202 is not easily limited, and the arrangement is easy. Further, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus 100 due to the arrangement of both the purification apparatuses 201 and 202.

  Further, in order to ensure the ease of maintenance work, the arrangement positions of the internal purification device 201 and the external purification device 202 may be the same as those of the image forming apparatus 100 as long as both are arranged in a horizontal direction. It is not limited to the back. For example, one of the two may be provided on the back surface of the image forming apparatus 100 and the other on the side surface adjacent to the back surface in a state where the two purification devices 201 and 202 are close to each other. Note that the close state means, for example, that the internal purification device 201 and the internal purification device 201 are arranged in a region within a range of ½ of the entire region of each surface from the boundary (corner) between the back surface and the side surface in the horizontal direction. The external purification device 202 is present.

  Further, in the arrangement of both the purification apparatuses 201 and 202, it is preferable that the internal purification apparatus 201 is disposed closer to the image forming unit 103 than the external purification apparatus 202, as shown in FIG. As described above, the image forming unit 103 includes the four image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, the fixing device 12 and the like, forms a toner image, transfers the toner image onto the sheet, and transfers the toner on the sheet. A processing unit that fixes an image on a sheet.

  By setting the positional relationship between the purification apparatuses 201 and 202 and the image forming unit 103 as described above, the image formation is formed inside the image forming apparatus 100 and connected to the duct 211 of the internal purification apparatus 201. The arrangement of the suction duct from the portion 103 is facilitated, and the length of the suction duct can be shortened.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 100, since both the purification apparatuses 201 and 202 share the motor 217, it is possible to reduce the component cost and the size of the apparatus. In addition, what kind of part should just be shared by both the purification apparatuses 201 and 202, and the part which can be shared is not limited to the motor 217.

  Further, in the duct 211 of the internal purification device 201, the fan 214 is provided in the rear protrusion 221, and in the duct 241 of the external purification device 202, the fan 243 is provided in the rear protrusion 252. Accordingly, the setting is made such that the fans 214 and 243 are arranged so that the rotation axes are on the same axis, and both the fans 214 and 243 are driven by one motor 217 arranged between the fans 214 and 243. Setting can be performed easily. In this case, in the duct 241 of the external purification device 202, a state in which the first upward extending portion 251 connected to the rearward projecting portion 252 and having the duct suction port 254 is buried in the machine with respect to the outer surface of the rear housing portion 212. Therefore, the first upward extending portion 251 for taking in outside air from the duct suction port 254 is appropriately arranged even in the setting where the fans 214 and 243 are arranged so that the rotation axes are on the same axis. It is possible.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Document conveying part 102 Document reading part 103 Image forming part 104 Paper feed part 201 Internal purification device (first purification means)
202 External purification device (second purification means)
212 Rear housing section 211 Duct (first duct)
213 Filter 214 fan (first fan)
215 Ion generating element 216 Turbulent flow generating member 218 Ion generating element 244 Turbulent flow generating member 254 Duct suction port 256 Air supply port 226 Communication port 227 Communication port 221 Rear protrusion (horizontal protrusion)
222 Upper extension part 223 Bending part 224 Downward extension part 225 Front extension part 241 Duct (second duct)
242 filter 243 fan (second fan)
251 First upward extending portion 252 Rear protruding portion (horizontal protruding portion)
253 Second upward extension

Claims (5)

A first purifying unit that purifies air inside the image forming apparatus; and a second purifying unit that purifies air outside the image forming apparatus. The first purifying unit and the second purifying unit include: Arranged horizontally ,
The first purification means and the second purification means share at least one component,
The first purifying means is provided in a first duct provided in such a manner that a suction port at one end and an air supply port at the other end communicate with a space in the machine, A first fan for sucking air in the machine from the suction port into the first duct;
The second purifying means is provided in the second duct, the second duct provided so that the suction port at one end and the air supply port at the other end communicate with the space outside the machine, A second fan for sucking outside air from the suction port into the second duct;
The first fan and the second fan are arranged so that the rotation shafts are on the same axis, and are driven by a single motor arranged between the two fans,
The first duct includes a horizontal protruding portion that protrudes horizontally from the housing of the image forming apparatus, an upward extending portion that extends vertically upward from an end portion of the horizontal protruding portion, and an end portion of the upward extending portion. A bent portion that is bent vertically downward, a lower extended portion that extends vertically downward from the end portion of the bent portion along the upper extended portion, and a horizontal protruding portion that extends from the end portion of the lower extended portion. A forward extending portion extending in the direction of the housing and reaching the housing is provided in this order from the suction port toward the air supply port,
The horizontal fan is provided with the first fan, an ion generating element is provided on the outer surface of the upward extending portion, and ions generated by the ion generating element are provided in the upward extending portion at the position where the ion generating element is disposed. An image forming apparatus, wherein an opening for discharging into the first duct is formed . A first purifying unit that purifies air inside the image forming apparatus; and a second purifying unit that purifies air outside the image forming apparatus. The first purifying unit and the second purifying unit include: Arranged horizontally,
The first purification means and the second purification means share at least one component ,
The first purifying means is provided in a first duct provided in such a manner that a suction port at one end and an air supply port at the other end communicate with a space in the machine, A first fan for sucking air in the machine from the suction port into the first duct;
The second purifying means is provided in the second duct, the second duct provided so that the suction port at one end and the air supply port at the other end communicate with the space outside the machine, A second fan for sucking outside air from the suction port into the second duct;
The first fan and the second fan are arranged so that the rotation shafts are on the same axis, and are driven by a single motor arranged between the two fans,
The first duct includes a horizontal protruding portion that protrudes horizontally from the housing of the image forming apparatus, an upward extending portion that extends vertically upward from an end portion of the horizontal protruding portion, and an end portion of the upward extending portion. A bent portion that is bent vertically downward, a lower extended portion that extends vertically downward from the end portion of the bent portion along the upper extended portion, and a horizontal protruding portion that extends from the end portion of the lower extended portion. A front extending portion extending in the direction of the housing and reaching the housing is provided in this order from the suction port toward the air supply port, and the first fan is provided in the horizontal protrusion.
The second duct is provided in a state of being buried in the apparatus with respect to the outer surface of the casing of the image forming apparatus, and extends vertically upward, an end of the first upward extension, A horizontal projecting portion that communicates through a communication port formed in the housing and projects in a horizontal direction from an end portion of the first upward extending portion, and a first projecting portion that extends vertically upward from an end portion of the horizontal projecting portion. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising two upwardly extending portions in this order from the suction port toward the air supply port, wherein the second fan is provided in the horizontal protruding portion. The first purifying unit and the second purification unit image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that arranged on the rear surface of the image forming apparatus. A space portion is formed in the body portion, and a paper discharge tray for storing paper discharged after printing is formed in the space portion,
The first purifying unit and the second purification unit, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is arranged on the rear of the image forming apparatus at a position corresponding to the space portion Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a sheet and fixes the toner image on the sheet, and suction for sending air around the image forming unit to the first purification unit. includes a use duct therein, said first cleaning means image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is disposed closer to the image forming unit than said second purification means .

Images