JP5521765B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus to which an electrophotographic system is applied, and to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a FAX (facsimile) regardless of color / monochrome. .

  Regardless of color / monochrome, as an image forming apparatus used for a copying machine, a printer, etc., there is an image forming apparatus that replenishes toner from a toner bottle to a developing device, develops it with the developing device, and forms an image on paper. . The image forming apparatus mainly includes an image forming unit and a paper transport unit. The image forming unit forms a toner image on the image carrier, and forms an image on the sheet by transferring and fixing the toner image on the sheet. The developing device develops the toner image on the image carrier by supplying toner onto the image carrier on which the latent image is formed. The paper transport unit takes out the paper one by one from the paper feed tray and sends it to the image forming unit, and transports the paper after the image formation to the paper discharge tray.

  In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, a system in which toner is fixed on a sheet by heat of a fixing device is generally used. There is a risk that problems such as solidification inside the toner bottle may occur. In particular, when the toner bottle is disposed near a fixing device that is a heat source or a substrate portion (power supply portion), the toner bottle is exposed to heat radiation and the temperature rises.

  Therefore, it is necessary to take measures (heat countermeasures) to prevent the temperature rise of the toner bottle due to the influence of heat generated from the fixing device and the substrate portion. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below disclose conventional techniques for preventing the temperature rise of a toner bottle.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-228561 discloses a cooling device configured to flow outside air used for cooling a writing device (print head) for writing on a photoreceptor toward a toner bottle. The cooling device includes an upper duct and a lower duct arranged so as to cover almost the entire upper and lower sides of the optical box arranged inside, and an upper duct and an outside duct for cooling the writing device. It includes an intake duct that is taken into the lower duct, and an exhaust port that allows the outside air of the lower duct used for cooling the writing device to flow between the toner bottle and the fixing device. In this cooling device, outside air used for cooling the writing device (print head) flows in a direction perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of the toner bottle and in the counter direction with respect to the rotation of the toner bottle.

  Patent Document 2 below discloses an image forming apparatus capable of preventing problems caused by heating a color material container. The image forming apparatus includes a control board assembly (a heat generating component) in which electric circuit boards are assembled, and a toner container provided on the lower side of the control board assembly. A cooling air passage is formed between the toner cartridge of each color in the toner containing portion and the control board assembly, and the temperature of the toner cartridge is prevented from rising by flowing air through the cooling air passage.

JP 2003-302892 A JP 2008-33052 A

  In recent years, development of toner that can be fixed at a low temperature is progressing for the purpose of power saving and the like. Toners that can be fixed at low temperatures are more susceptible to heat than normal toners. That is, the toner that can be fixed at a low temperature has a possibility that when the ambient temperature of the toner bottle reaches, for example, about 50 ° C., the fluidity is deteriorated and the toner solidifies inside. However, when the conventional image forming apparatus performs continuous printing, the temperature of the upper portion of the toner bottle may become high (for example, 50 ° C. or more). Therefore, there is a demand for further improving the cooling efficiency of the toner bottle from the current level.

  In order to improve the cooling efficiency of the toner bottle, it is necessary to prevent the temperature rise of the toner bottle due to the heat received from the fixing device and the substrate portion, and also to prevent the temperature rise of the toner bottle due to the heat received from the paper after fixing. .

  However, in the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the temperature rise of the toner bottle due to heat received from the paper after fixing cannot be prevented, and the cooling efficiency is low.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with high cooling efficiency.

An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention stores a developer to be replenished to a developing device, a storage portion extending in the front-rear direction of the image forming device, and a sheet that has passed through a fixing device that fixes the developer. A transport stacking section that transports or loads the air, and an air passage that is provided on the storage section between the storage section and the transport stacking section and that circulates air. A suction port provided to face the back side of the image forming apparatus at a lower position and an exhaust port provided to face the side of the image forming apparatus . The suction port floats in the developing device. The air passage does not suck in the developer that sucks the developer, and the air passage extends from the front side direction of the image forming apparatus to the side surface side so that the storage portion extends. Change to a direction perpendicular to the direction of , The cross-sectional area perpendicular air passages with respect to the air flow direction directed from the inlet port to the exhaust port is gradually increased as they become downstream.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a finisher unit that performs post-processing on the sheet on which the developer is fixed, and the transport stacking unit transports the sheet on which the developer is fixed to the finisher unit.

  Preferably, in the image forming apparatus, the transport stacking unit stacks the sheets discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a blower fan that blows air for cooling the fixing unit that fixes the developer supplied onto the paper from the developing device by heat, and the air passage is provided with the blower fan. Including vents.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature in the air passage, and the flow of air in the air passage is controlled based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit.

  According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus with high cooling efficiency can be provided.

1 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the air passage vicinity of FIG. 1 in detail. It is a perspective view which shows in detail the other structure of the air passage vicinity of FIG. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the control processing of the cooling of the air passage which a control part performs. FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a configuration in the vicinity of a toner bottle in an image forming apparatus in which no air passage is provided. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating the generation of heat when the paper after passing through the fixing unit is conveyed in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 6. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect of the image forming apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows typically the structure of the image forming apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a configuration in the vicinity of a toner bottle in an image forming apparatus in which no air passage is provided. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the generation of heat when sheets after passing through the fixing unit are stacked in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 10. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect of the image forming apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  [First Embodiment]

  FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment is an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), and includes image forming apparatus main body 2, finisher unit 3, scanner unit 4, air passage 5 (cooling means). ). The image forming apparatus main body 2 is a part for forming an image on a sheet (recording material), and is arranged at the lower right in FIG. The finisher unit 3 is a part that performs post-processing such as stapling, punching, or saddle stitching on a sheet on which an image is formed, and is disposed on the left side of the image forming apparatus main body 2. The scanner unit 4 is a part that executes a scanner function, and is disposed on the image forming apparatus main body 2. The finisher unit 3 and the scanner unit 4 are attached to the image forming apparatus main body 2 as an option.

  An image forming unit is disposed inside the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the image forming apparatus main body 2 has an in-body discharge configuration. The image forming unit includes a paper transport unit 10, a toner image forming unit 30, a fixing unit 40 (fixing unit), and a control unit 50. The toner image forming unit 30 uses a so-called tandem method to synthesize four color images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) YMCK as necessary, and color the paper. Form an image.

  The paper transport unit 10 includes a paper feed roller 101, a transport roller 102, a timing roller (registration roller) 103, and two paper discharge rollers 104a and 104b. Each of the paper feed roller 101, the transport roller 102, the timing roller 103, and the two paper discharge rollers 104a and 104b is referred to as an upstream side in the paper transport direction of the paper path R1 (the lower side in FIG. 1, hereinafter referred to as an upstream side). Are arranged in this order from the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction (upper side in FIG. 1, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the downstream side). A secondary transfer roller 307 and a fixing unit 40 are arranged between the timing roller 103 and the two paper discharge rollers 104a and 104b. The sheet passing path R1 is branched into two on the downstream side of the fixing unit 40, and paper discharge rollers 104a and 104b are respectively arranged in the branched sheet passing path R1.

  The paper loaded in the paper feed cassette 60 disposed at the lower part of the image forming apparatus 1 is fed from the paper feed cassette 60 one by one at the time of printing. Then, the sheet is conveyed to the secondary transfer roller 307 by the sheet feeding roller 101, the conveying roller 102, and the timing roller 103, and a toner image is formed. The paper on which the toner image is formed is fixed by the fixing unit 40 and is conveyed (discharged) from the main body discharge port 63 to the finisher unit 3 by the paper discharge roller 104a. An arrow E in FIG. 1 indicates the sheet conveyance direction until the sheet loaded in the sheet feeding cassette 60 is image-formed and discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 2. When image formation is performed on both sides of the paper, the paper on which the image is formed on one side is switched back by the paper discharge roller 104b and proceeds downward in the reverse path R2 in FIG. It is conveyed again to the fixing unit 40 and an image is formed on the other surface. In addition, the paper transport unit 10 may include rollers used for transporting paper other than these.

  The toner image forming unit 30 includes four-color toner bottles 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K (an example of a storage unit, which may hereinafter be collectively referred to as a toner bottle 301), a primary transfer roller 303, Intermediate transfer belt 305, secondary transfer roller 307, four sets of print units (imaging units) 310Y, 310M, 310C, 310K (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as print unit 310), and laser scan unit 320. Etc.

  The yellow toner bottle 301Y, the magenta toner bottle 301M, the cyan toner bottle 301C, and the black toner bottle 301K contain YMCK toners (developers). The toner bottles 301 </ b> Y, 301 </ b> M, 301 </ b> C, and 301 </ b> K are rotationally driven by respective drive motors (not shown), and replenish the toner stored therein to the developing device 350 of each print unit 310. The toner replenishing operation is performed when the toner in the developing device 350 is low.

  The intermediate transfer belt 305 has an annular shape and is stretched between the two rollers 306a and 306b. The intermediate transfer belt 305 rotates in conjunction with the paper transport unit 10. The secondary transfer roller 307 is disposed so as to face the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 305 that is in contact with the roller 306b. The interval between the secondary transfer roller 307 and the intermediate transfer belt 305 is adjusted by a pressure contact / separation mechanism (not shown). The sheet is conveyed while being sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 305 and the secondary transfer roller 307.

  The print unit 310 includes a photosensitive drum 311, a developing device 350, a cleaner, a charger, and the like. Here, the photosensitive drums 311 are the photosensitive drums 311Y, 311M, 311C, and 311K corresponding to the print units 310Y, 310M, 310C, and 310K, respectively. The developing devices 350 are developing devices 350Y, 350M, 350C, and 350K corresponding to the photosensitive drums 311Y, 311M, 311C, and 311K, respectively. The yellow print unit 310Y, the magenta print unit 310M, the cyan print unit 310C, and the black print unit 310K are arranged to form Y, M, C, and K images, respectively. The print unit 310 is juxtaposed directly below the intermediate transfer belt 305. The laser scan unit 320 is disposed on each photosensitive drum 311 so as to be able to scan with laser light.

  In the toner image forming unit 30, the laser scan unit 320 forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum 311 that is uniformly charged by the charger based on the image data for each color of YMCK. The developing device 350 forms (develops) a toner image on each photosensitive drum 311 by attaching (supplying) toner of each color onto each photosensitive drum 311 on which the latent image is formed. Each of the primary transfer rollers 303 transfers the toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 311 to the intermediate transfer belt 305, and on the intermediate transfer belt 305, mirror images of the toner images for four colors formed on the paper are formed. Form (primary transfer). Thereafter, the secondary transfer roller 307 to which a high voltage is applied transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 305 to the sheet, and forms a toner image on the sheet (secondary transfer).

  The fixing unit 40 includes a heating roller 401, a pressure roller 403, and an IH (Induction Heating) coil (an example of a heating unit) 405. The heating roller 401 is heated by the IH coil 405. The fixing unit 40 conveys the sheet on which the toner image is formed between the heating roller 401 and the pressure roller 403 and heats and presses the sheet. As a result, the fixing unit 40 melts the toner adhering to the paper with heat and fixes the toner on the paper to form an image on the paper.

  The air passage 5 is a passage for cooling the toner bottle 301 by circulating air, and is provided above the toner bottle 301 and between the toner bottle 301 and the relay conveyance unit 71. The configuration of the air passage 5 will be described later.

  The finisher unit 3 includes a finisher unit main body 70 (an example of a finisher unit) and a relay transfer unit 71 (an example of a transfer stacking unit). The finisher unit main body 70 is a part that performs post-processing on the paper on which the image is formed, and the relay conveyance unit 71 is a part that conveys the paper discharged from the main body discharge port 63 into the finisher unit main body 70. . The finisher unit body 70 includes a transport roller 73a, and the relay transport unit 71 includes transport rollers 73b to 73d. Each of the transport rollers 73a to 73d transports the paper to the paper discharge tray 75 along the paper path R3.

  The scanner unit 4 scans a document placed on a transparent document table with a contact image sensor and reads it as image data. The scanner unit 4 has an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and reads the image data by a contact image sensor while sequentially taking in a plurality of documents set on a document tray by the ADF. The read image data is converted into an application data format by the control unit 50 and stored in the HDD of the control unit 50, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the control unit 50 of the image forming apparatus 1 is a part that controls the finisher unit 3, the scanner unit 4, the paper transport unit 10, the toner image forming unit 30, the fixing unit 40, and the like. The control unit 50 includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 51, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 52, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 53, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 54, and a network controller 55.

  The HDD 51 stores data such as print data sent from the outside via the network controller 55 and image data read by the scanner unit 4.

  The CPU 52 controls the entire image forming apparatus such as a scan job, a copy job, and a print job. The CPU 52 reads data from the ROM 53 and RAM 54 and writes data to the ROM 53 and RAM 54 by performing predetermined processing. Further, the CPU 52 controls each of the fans 513 and 515 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor 511.

  The ROM 53 is, for example, a flash ROM (Flash Memory). The ROM 53 stores various programs for operating the image forming apparatus 1 including a program for document printing processing, and various fixed data. The ROM 53 may be non-rewritable.

  The RAM 54 is a main memory of the CPU 52. The RAM 54 is used for storing data necessary for the CPU 52 to execute the control program.

  The network controller 55 communicates with other external devices such as MFPs and PCs via a LAN or the like using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 52.

  [Configuration of air passage]

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing in detail the configuration in the vicinity of the air passage in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 3, air passage 5 includes an intake port 501 for sucking air and an exhaust port 503 for discharging air. For example, the air inlet 501 faces the back side of the image forming apparatus, and the air outlet 503 faces the right side of the image forming apparatus, for example. As shown by an arrow A in FIG. 3, the air sucked from the intake port 501 changes its flow direction from the front side direction to the right side direction (direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the toner bottle 301). 5 is exhausted from the exhaust port 503. In the upper part of the toner bottle 301, the cross-sectional area of the air passage 5 perpendicular to the air flow direction (direction indicated by the arrow A) gradually increases toward the downstream side.

  A fan 513 for sucking air outside the air passage 5 into the air passage 5 is provided near the intake port 501. Near the exhaust port 503, a fan 515 (an example of a blower fan) for discharging the air that has circulated through the air passage 5 is provided. The fan 515 cools the IH coil 405 (or the fixing unit 40) by blowing the air that has passed through the air passage 5 toward the IH coil 405 (or the fixing unit 40) through the exhaust port 503. The fan 515 may be provided inside the air passage 5 or outside the air passage 5. For example, a temperature detection sensor 511 for detecting the temperature of the air passage 5 is provided on the upper surface of the air passage 5. The number and arrangement of the temperature detection sensors 511 are arbitrary.

  The air passage in the present embodiment may have the following configuration in addition to the configuration shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing in detail another configuration in the vicinity of the air passage in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 4, air passage 5 is different from the air passage shown in FIG. 3 in that intake port 501 is connected to suction portion 517 (powder (toner) suction mechanism) that sucks toner. . The suction unit 517 is connected to each of the print units 310Y, 310M, 310C, and 310K on the back side of the apparatus, and sucks the toner floating in the developing device 350 of each of the print units 310Y, 310M, 310C, and 310K. The intake port 501 is provided with a filter 519 (powder (toner) filter) for collecting toner, and the air passage 5 passes through the filter 519 as shown by an arrow B in FIG. Aspirate air from. As a result, an exhaust flow for sucking the dust in the imaging unit is introduced into the air passage 5, and air (air) that has passed through the filter 519 flows into the air passage 5.

  In addition, since the structure of the air passage 5 other than the above is the same as that of the air passage shown in FIG. 3, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same member and the description is not repeated.

  [Control processing of air passage cooling]

  The control unit 50 (FIG. 1) controls the operation of the fans 513 and 515 based on the temperature of the air passage 5 detected using the temperature detection sensor 511, thereby cooling the air flowing through the air passage 5. You may control. Subsequently, the cooling control process of the air passage 5 executed by the control unit 50 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of the air passage cooling control process executed by the control unit.

  Referring to FIG. 5, when a print job using the image forming apparatus is started (YES in S1), control unit 50 rotates fans 513 and 515 to circulate air in air passage 5 (S3). As a result, the temperature of the air passage 5 is decreased, and heat from the sheet having heat passing through the sheet passing path R <b> 3 is prevented from being transmitted to the toner bottle 301. Further, the toner bottle 301 adjacent to the air passage 5 is cooled. Since it is presumed that the fixing unit 40 is operating while a print job is being performed, the fans 513 and 515 rotate to prevent the temperature of the toner bottle 301 from rising due to heat radiation from the paper after fixing. Continue to be. Subsequently, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the print job is finished (S5). When the print job is completed (YES in S5), the control unit 50 acquires the output signal of the temperature detection sensor 511 as a temperature (index value), and the temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined reference value (index value). Whether or not (S7). The reference value is arbitrary and is set, for example, in the vicinity of 40 ° C. If the temperature is equal to or lower than the reference value (YES in S7), the controller 50 stops the rotation of the fan (S9) and ends the process. On the other hand, if the temperature exceeds the reference value in step S7 (NO in S7), the toner bottle needs to be cooled. In this case, the control unit 50 continues to rotate the fan until the temperature becomes equal to or lower than the reference value, and continues cooling.

  [Effect of the embodiment]

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus having an in-body discharge configuration, and is connected through a relay that connects the main body discharge port 63 (main body discharge portion) and the finisher portion main body 70 (alignment processing portion). A paper path R3 and conveying rollers 73b to 73d (conveying means) are provided, and a toner bottle 301 (coloring material container) for each color for supplying a color material to the developing device 350 is provided below the paper passing path R3. An air passage 5 (air passage) by a cooling means is formed between 73b to 73d and the toner bottle 301.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent an increase in the temperature around the toner bottle due to heat radiation from the discharged paper after fixing. Further, cooling can be performed without providing a new cooling means, and an inexpensive configuration can be provided without increasing the size of the apparatus.

  FIG. 6 is a front view showing a configuration in the vicinity of the toner bottle in the image forming apparatus in which no air passage is provided. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the generation of heat when the sheet after passing through the fixing unit is conveyed in the image forming apparatus of FIG. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6 has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that no air passage is provided.

  Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, after the toner is fixed by fixing unit 40, the sheet is conveyed to finisher body 70 by relay conveyance unit 71. Since the sheet is heated when the toner is fixed by the fixing unit 40, heat is dissipated when the sheet is conveyed through the sheet passing path R3 after the toner is fixed. As a result, in the region RE that is the upper (peripheral) region of the toner bottle, there is a problem that the temperature rises due to heat from the paper.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 8, according to image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, as indicated by arrow A <b> 1 in FIG. 8, the air sucked from air inlet 501 is circulated into air passage 5 to relay and convey. By forming an air curtain between the unit 71 (horizontal conveyance unit) and the toner bottle 301, heat radiation from the paper can be blocked, and the temperature increase in the region RE can be suppressed. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the toner bottle 301 can be improved.

  In addition, the air flowing through the air passage 5 flows into the fan 515 through the toner bottle cooling and flows to the IH coil 405 as indicated by an arrow A2 in FIG. 8, so that the IH coil 405 can be cooled. Further, since the wind flowing into the air passage 5 can be discharged to the outside by the fan 515 different from the fan 513, the wind is not discharged to the front side of the main body, so that the user standing at the front of the operation panel does not feel uncomfortable.

  Furthermore, by detecting the temperature in the machine and performing control processing for cooling the air passage based on the detected temperature, the cooling can be continued until the temperature in the machine falls below a predetermined temperature (for example, 40 ° C.). it can.

  [Second Embodiment]

  FIG. 9 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 9, image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment is different from the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment in that it does not mainly include a finisher unit. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a paper discharge tray 61 (an example of a transport stacking unit, a stacking tray) provided on the top of the toner bottle 301. The sheet discharge tray 61 stacks each sheet discharged from the main body discharge port 63 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1. The air passage 5 is provided between the toner bottle 301 and the paper discharge tray 61.

  Since the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 other than the above is the same as the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Do not repeat.

  [Effect of the embodiment]

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus having an in-body discharge configuration, and includes a main body discharge port 63 and a discharge tray 61 on which discharged sheets are stacked. The toner bottle 301 of each color for supplying the color material to the developing device 350 is provided at the lower portion of the stacking tray), and an air passage 5 is formed between the paper discharge tray 61 and the toner bottle 301 by a cooling unit. It is what.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a configuration in the vicinity of the toner bottle in the image forming apparatus in which no air passage is provided. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the generation of heat when sheets after passing through the fixing unit are stacked in the image forming apparatus of FIG. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 10 has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 9 except that no air passage is provided.

  Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, after the toner is fixed by fixing unit 40, the sheet is discharged from main body discharge port 63 to discharge tray 61 by discharge roller 104a. Since the sheet is heated when the toner is fixed by the fixing unit 40, the sheet dissipates heat while being stacked on the sheet discharge tray 61. As a result, in the region RE that is the upper (peripheral) region of the toner bottle, there is a problem that the temperature rises due to heat radiation from the stacked paper S (stacked paper).

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 12, according to image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, as indicated by arrow A <b> 1 in FIG. 12, the air sucked from intake port 501 is circulated into air passage 5 to discharge paper. By configuring an air curtain between the tray 61 and the toner bottle 301, heat radiation from the paper can be blocked, and a temperature increase in the region RE can be suppressed. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the toner bottle 301 can be improved.

  [Others]

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the intake port of the air passage is connected to the suction portion and the exhaust port is connected to the IH coil has been described, but the connection destination of the intake port and the exhaust port is arbitrary. For example, the air inlet and outlet of the air passage may face the outside of the device, and the air passage may suck air outside the device and discharge the air outside the device.

  The above-described embodiments can be combined as appropriate. For example, the air passage cooling control process shown in FIG. 5 may be executed in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. In this case, even if the paper is still stacked on the paper discharge tray, it is possible to block the influence of heat radiation on the toner bottle.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus is an MFP having a scanner function, a facsimile function, a copying function, a printer function, a data communication function, and a server function has been described. In addition to the MFP, the apparatus may be a facsimile machine, a copier, a printer, or the like.

  The above-described embodiment is to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image forming apparatus main body 3 Finisher part 4 Scanner part 5 Air passage 10 Paper conveyance part 30 Toner image formation part 40 Fixing part 50 Control part 51 HDD
52 CPU
53 ROM
54 RAM
55 Network controller 60 Paper feed cassette 61 Paper discharge tray 63 Main body discharge port 70 Finisher main body 71 Relay transfer parts 73a to 73d, 102 Carry roller 75 Paper discharge tray 101 Paper feed roller 103 Timing rollers 104a, 104b Paper discharge rollers 301, 301Y , 301M, 301C, 301K Toner bottle 303 Primary transfer roller 305 Intermediate transfer belt 306a, 306b Roller 307 Secondary transfer roller 310, 310Y, 310M, 310C, 310K Print unit 311, 311Y, 311M, 311C, 311K Photosensitive drum 320 Laser Scan unit 350, 350Y, 350M, 350C, 350K Developer 401 Heating roller 403 Pressure roller 405 IH coil 501 Intake port 503 Exhaust port 511 Temperature detection sensor 513,515 Fan 517 Suction part 519 Filter R1, R3 Paper passing path R2 Reverse path RE area S Paper

Claims (5)

A storage unit that stores a developer for replenishment to the developing device and extends in the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus ;
A transport stacking section for transporting or stacking paper that has passed through a fixing device for fixing developer;
An air passage that is provided on the storage unit and between the storage unit and the transport stacking unit and that circulates air.
Said air passage, said conveying an intake port provided so as to face the back side of the image forming apparatus at a position below the stacking unit, the exhaust port provided so as to face the side surface side of the image forming apparatus Including
The air intake port does not perform air intake from a suction portion that sucks the developer floating in the developing device ,
The air passage changes a flow direction of the air sucked from the intake port from a front side direction of the image forming apparatus to a side direction and a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the storage unit extends. ,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that a cross-sectional area of an air passage perpendicular to a flow direction of air from the intake port toward the exhaust port at an upper portion of the storage portion gradually increases toward the downstream side. . A finisher unit that performs post-processing on the paper that has passed through the fixing device for fixing the developer;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport stacking unit transports the sheet on which the developer is fixed to the finisher unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport stacking unit stacks sheets discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus further includes a blower fan that blows air for cooling the fixing unit that fixes the developer supplied on the paper from the developing device by heat,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air passage includes an exhaust port provided with the blower fan. A temperature detector for detecting the temperature in the air passage;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein air flow in the air passage is controlled based on a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit.

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