JP5546375B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an air path for taking outside air into the inside by a fan.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer, a fan is generally used to cool a unit that generates heat, such as fixing means, a cartridge, and an optical system inside the apparatus. Specifically, the air outside the device is taken in through the intake louver provided in the exterior part by the fan arranged inside, and the air path is circulated inside and then discharged outside. Formed inside.

  In such an image forming apparatus, there is one in which the appearance quality is improved by installing an intake louver at a position where it is difficult for the user to visually recognize from the front side, and sufficient external air is taken into the apparatus ( Patent Document 1). FIG. 8A is a view of such a conventional image forming apparatus as viewed obliquely from below, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the air passage. As described above, the suction louver 103 is provided in the region of the handle portion 102 for placing a finger opened inside the apparatus of the sheet cassette on the bottom surface of the exterior 101 arranged on the upper part of the sheet cassette 100 that can be pulled out. Has been done. If this structure is used, since the louver 103 for intake is provided on the bottom surface of the exterior portion 101, it is not visually recognized by the user from the front side. Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the lower portion of the louver is sufficiently opened by the handle portion 102 of the sheet feeding cassette, so that the outside air can be easily taken into the fan 104 disposed inside.

JP2004-279747

  However, the position and size of the handle portion of the paper feed cassette are often determined by the design of the apparatus. FIG. 9A is a view of the conventional image forming apparatus as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view showing the air path of the conventional image forming apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, in the case of the paper feed cassette 100 having a design in which the top surface of the opening portion of the handle 102 is also opened, the air vent connected to the inside is an exterior arranged in the region of the handle portion 102. 101 is only the louver 103 on the bottom surface. For this reason, if the size of the handle is small, the size of the louver arranged in the region of the handle is also small. As a result, the opening amount of the louver becomes small with respect to the fan 104 arranged inside, and it becomes impossible to take in sufficient outside air inside, and it is difficult to cool the outside air by spreading it to all the units that generate heat inside the apparatus. Met. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of taking in sufficient outside air without deteriorating appearance quality.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a first paper feed cassette and a second paper feed cassette that are mounted on the apparatus main body so as to be able to be pulled out from the apparatus main body,
Has, wherein the first paper cassette, the handle portion having an opening formed taking in air is provided in the first sheet feeding cassette, the second sheet feeding cassette, the second sheet feeding handle portion having an opening formed taking in air is disposed in the cassette, from top to bottom, the image forming unit, the first paper feed cassette, the image forming apparatus are arranged in order of the second paper feed cassette , the image forming section, at a position opposite to the first sheet cassette, comprising a first image forming unit openings and the second image forming openings for taking in air into the image forming portion, before Symbol first sheet paper cassette, the position facing the second sheet cassette, comprising a first sheet feeding cassette opening for taking air into the first sheet feed cassette from said second sheet feeding cassette, the first paper feed in the cassette, the first paper feed cassette A first duct which communicates the opening and the first image forming portion opening of the handle portion, a second duct communicating with is provided with said second image forming unit opening and the first paper feed cassette opening, said first The duct and the second duct are not in communication with each other.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, sufficient outside air can be taken into the interior without deteriorating the appearance quality.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1A is a top perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2B is a lower perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an air path of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (A) is the upper perspective view of the image forming apparatus concerning Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 6B is a lower perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the outline of the air path of the image forming apparatus concerning Example 2 of this invention. (A) It is an upper perspective view of the image forming apparatus concerning Example 3 of this invention. FIG. 7B is a lower perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the outline of the air path of the image forming apparatus concerning Example 3 of this invention. FIG. 3A is a lower perspective view of a conventional image forming apparatus. (B) is sectional drawing which shows the air path of the conventional image forming apparatus. FIG. 2A is an upper perspective view of a conventional image forming apparatus. FIG. 2B is a lower perspective view of a conventional image forming apparatus. FIG. 2A is an upper perspective view of a conventional image forming apparatus. (B) is sectional drawing which shows the outline of the air path of the image forming apparatus concerning Example 2 of this invention.

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

<Example 1>
The configuration of the air path of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, as an order of description, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described first, and then the configuration of the air path will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a lower perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an air path of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 201 is roughly divided into an image forming unit and paper feeding cassettes 110 and 111 (FIG. 2) that are detachably mounted below the image forming unit. The image forming unit includes an image forming unit including a process cartridge 202, a photosensitive drum 203, a transfer roller 204 that transfers an image charged on the photosensitive drum 203 to the transfer sheet S, a cleaning unit for the photosensitive drum 203, and a charge eliminating device. Each means is arranged.

  The image forming unit forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum of the process cartridge 203. In synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the sheet S is sent out from the sheet storage cassette 213 provided in the paper feed cassettes 110 and 111 by the pickup roller 214. Next, the sheet is conveyed by the conveyance roller 215. Next, the registration roller pair 210 is temporarily stopped, and the timing is taken by the rotation of the registration roller pair 210 to be conveyed. Next, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 203 is transferred to the sheet S by a transfer roller 204 as transfer means. Next, the sheet S that has received the transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 203 is conveyed to the fixing unit 205. The fixing unit 205 includes a fixing rotator 206 having a built-in heater and a pressure roller 207 that presses and conveys the sheet S to the rotator 206 and fixes the sheet S to the sheet S. The sheet S is conveyed by the discharge roller 208 and discharged to the discharge unit 209.

  In the case of both sides, the latent image is transferred to the surface of the sheet S and thermally fixed, and then reversely conveyed, and the latent image is transferred to the back surface of the sheet S by the photosensitive drum 203 and thermally fixed. It is conveyed and discharged to the tray 209.

  The process cartridge 202 rotates a photosensitive drum 203 having a photosensitive layer and uniformly charges the surface thereof by applying a voltage to a charging roller as a charging unit. Next, a laser beam according to image information from the optical system 211 is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 203 through the exposure opening 212 to form a latent image. The latent image is developed by developing means using toner. In other words, the charging roller is provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 203 and charges the photosensitive drum 203. The developing unit supplies toner to the developing area of the photosensitive drum 203 to develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 203. By transferring the toner to the photosensitive drum 203 by this developing means, a toner image is formed and visualized. A voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image is applied to the transfer roller 204 to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 203 onto the sheet 105, and then the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 203 is removed by a cleaning unit. .

Next, the structure of the air path for taking in the outside air of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2A, the apparatus of the present invention includes two-stage drawerable paper feed cassettes 110 and 111 having a design in which the top surfaces of the openings of the handles 108 and 109 are also opened.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, a first intake louver (A) is provided in the handle portion opening area A of the uppermost sheet feeding cassette on the bottom surface of the exterior 101 disposed on the uppermost sheet feeding cassette 110 that can be pulled out. An image forming unit opening) 112 is provided. A second intake louver (image forming unit opening) 113 is provided outside the handle opening region B of the uppermost sheet cassette. As shown in FIG. 3, a ventilation duct 114 is provided in the uppermost sheet cassette 110 to connect the handle opening area C of the second sheet cassette and the second intake louver 113. .

  The fan 104 disposed inside the apparatus has a ventilation duct 114 and a second intake louver from the opening of the uppermost cassette handle 108 via the first intake louver 112 and further from the opening of the second cassette handle 109. The outside air can be taken into the inside via 113. The outside air taken in by the fan is distributed to units that mainly generate heat, such as the fixing unit 205, the cartridge 202, and the optical system 211, by a duct (not shown), and cools these units. In addition, it is possible to efficiently perform air supply for removing substances accumulated in the apparatus main body together with cooling by the air that has spread inside.

  As described above, by using the configuration of the present invention, the opening amount of the intake louver for taking the outside air into the inside can be made large regardless of the handle design. Therefore, the internal fan 104 can sufficiently take in the outside air, and the outside air can be distributed to all the units that generate heat, such as the fixing unit 205, the cartridge 202, and the optical system 211 inside the apparatus, and can be cooled. Furthermore, since the second intake louver 113 is also provided on the bottom surface of the exterior portion, it is not visually recognized by the user from the front side, and the appearance quality is not impaired.

<Example 2>
Next, the configuration of the second embodiment of the configuration of the air passage for taking in the outside air according to the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. In recent image forming apparatuses, further improvements in specifications such as enhancement of optional devices and an increase in conveyance speed have been achieved, and accordingly, the amount of heat generated by internal units has also increased. In order to solve this problem with the fan specifications and internal duct configuration, there is a problem that the size of the apparatus is increased. For this reason, in many cases, a plurality of fans are arranged in the vicinity of the units that generate heat, and the outside air is distributed to all the units that generate heat to cool the unit.

  FIG. 10A is a view of such a conventional image forming apparatus as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view showing an air path of such a conventional image forming apparatus. When a plurality of fans are arranged inside in this way, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the size of the louvers arranged in the region of the handle portion can be increased due to the large handle design. However, the destination of the outside air taken in from the opening of the handle 102 is concentrated in the direction of the fan 106 having the strongest suction force inside the apparatus, and the outside air may not sufficiently reach the fan 107 having the weak suction force. For this reason, it is difficult to sufficiently cool the unit 205 in the vicinity of the fan 107 having a weak suction force.

  FIG. 4A is an upper perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a lower perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an air path of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the apparatus of the present invention includes two-stage drawerable paper feed cassettes 117 and 118 having a design in which the top surfaces of the openings of the handles 115 and 116 are also opened. Yes. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, a first intake louver (not shown) is formed in the handle opening portion D of the uppermost sheet cassette on the bottom surface of the exterior 101 disposed on the uppermost uppermost sheet cassette 117 that can be pulled out. An image forming unit opening) 119 is provided. A second suction louver (image forming unit opening) 121 is provided at a location E connected to a fan (suction unit) 120 having a weak suction force outside the handle unit opening region of the uppermost sheet cassette. As shown in FIG. 5, the paper feed cassette 117 is provided with a ventilation duct 122 </ b> A that functions as a duct that connects the handle opening 115 and the first intake louver 119 using the concave shape of the handle. . A ventilation duct 122B that connects the handle opening area F of the second-stage sheet cassette and the second intake louver 121 is provided in the uppermost sheet cassette 117. The ventilation duct 122A and the ventilation duct 122B do not communicate with each other. For this reason, the outside air can be sufficiently taken into the fan 120 having a weak suction force from the opening of the handle 116 of the second-stage sheet feeding cassette. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the outside air from being concentrated in the direction of the fan 123 having a strong suction force and the outside air from being sufficiently distributed in the direction of the fan 120 having a low suction force.

  A fan (suction means) 123 having a strong suction force disposed in the vicinity of the cartridge 202 inside the apparatus can take outside air into the inside through the first intake louver 119 from the opening of the uppermost cassette handle 115. The outside air taken in by the fan is distributed to units that mainly generate heat, such as the cartridge 202 and the optical system 211, through a duct (not shown), and cools these units.

  A fan 120 having a low suction force disposed in the vicinity of the fixing unit 205 located away from the uppermost sheet feeding cassette handle 115 inside the apparatus is connected to the ventilation duct 122B and the second duct through the opening of the second cassette handle 116. Outside air can be taken into the inside via the intake louver 121. The outside air taken in by the fan is distributed to a unit that generates heat, such as the fixing unit 205, by a duct (not shown), and cools these units. In addition, it is possible to efficiently perform air supply for removing substances accumulated in the apparatus main body together with cooling by the air that has spread inside.

  As described above, since the second intake louver 121 is also provided on the bottom surface of the exterior portion as in the first embodiment, the appearance quality is deteriorated without being visually recognized by the user from the front side. There is nothing. In addition, even in an apparatus including a plurality of fans having different suction forces, the air paths through which each fan takes in the outside air are completely separated. The outside air can be sufficiently taken in from the opening. For this reason, the taken-in outside air is concentrated in the direction of the fan 123 having a strong suction force, so that the outside air is not sufficiently distributed in the direction of the fan 120 having a low suction force. Therefore, the fixing means 205 in the vicinity of the fan 120 having a weak suction force can be sufficiently cooled.

<Example 3>
Next, the structure in the third embodiment of the structure of the air passage for taking in the outside air according to the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 6A is an upper perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 6B is a lower perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an air path of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the apparatus of the present invention includes two or more drawerable paper feed cassettes 126 and 127 having a design in which the top surfaces of the handles 124 and 125 are closed. I have. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, a first region G is formed in a region G opposed to a handle portion opening region of the uppermost sheet cassette on the bottom surface of the exterior 101 disposed on the upper part of the uppermost sheet cassette 126 that can be pulled out. An intake louver 128 is provided. In addition, a second intake louver 129 is provided in a region H that is different from the region G and is connected to the fan 120 having a weak suction force, in a region H that faces the second ventilation duct 131 of the paper feed cassette 126. Yes. As shown in FIG. 7, the uppermost sheet feeding cassette 126 is provided with a first ventilation duct 130 that connects the opening of the handle 124 of the uppermost cassette and the first louver 128 for intake air. The uppermost paper feed cassette 126 has an opening (paper feed cassette opening) at a position facing the second intake louver 129 of the second paper feed cassette 127. The uppermost sheet cassette 126 is provided with a second ventilation duct 131 that connects the handle opening area I of the second sheet cassette to the sheet cassette opening. The second ventilation duct 131 does not intersect with the first ventilation duct 130 (not in communication with each other). The first ventilation duct 130 and the second ventilation duct 131 are not in communication with each other. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the outside air from being concentrated in the direction of the fan 123 having a strong suction force and the outside air from being sufficiently distributed in the direction of the fan 120 having a low suction force.

  The fan 123 having a strong suction force disposed in the vicinity of the cartridge 202 inside the apparatus can take outside air into the inside through the first ventilation duct 130 and the first intake louver 128 from the opening of the uppermost cassette handle 124. it can. The outside air taken in by the fan is distributed to units that mainly generate heat, such as the cartridge 202 and the optical system 211, through a duct (not shown), and cools these units.

  A fan 120 having a low suction force disposed in the vicinity of the fixing unit 205 located away from the uppermost sheet feeding cassette handle 124 inside the apparatus is connected to the second ventilation duct 131 and the opening of the second cassette handle 125. Outside air can be taken into the inside via the second intake louver 129. The outside air taken in by the fan is distributed to a unit that generates heat, such as the fixing unit 205, by a duct (not shown), and cools these units. In addition, it is possible to efficiently perform air supply for removing substances accumulated in the apparatus main body together with cooling by the air that has spread inside.

  By using the configuration of the present invention as described above, the second intake louver 121 is also provided on the bottom surface of the exterior portion similarly to the first embodiment, so that it is not visually recognized by the user from the front side. There is no loss of quality. In addition, even in an apparatus having a plurality of fans with different suction forces, the air passages through which each fan takes in the outside air are completely separated, and the fan 120 with a weak suction force is passed through the opening 125 of the second sheet cassette. The outside air can be taken in sufficiently. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the outside air from being concentrated in the direction of the fan 123 having a strong suction force and the outside air from being sufficiently distributed in the direction of the fan 120 having a low suction force. Therefore, the fixing means 205 in the vicinity of the fan 120 having a weak suction force can be sufficiently cooled.

108, 115, 124 Upper cassette handle 109, 116, 125 Second cassette handle 110, 117, 126 Upper cassette 111, 118, 127 Second cassette 112, 119, 128 Inlet louver 113 , 121 Second louver 114, 122A, 122B Ventilation duct 120 Fan with weak suction force of the second embodiment 123 Fan with strong suction force of the second embodiment 129 The suction force of the third embodiment Weak fan 130 First ventilation duct 131 Second ventilation duct 201 Image forming apparatus 213 Sheet storage cassette 214 Pickup roller 215 Conveying roller S Conveying paper A Opening area of handle of uppermost sheet feeding cassette B Handle of uppermost sheet feeding cassette Outside the opening area of the head C Opening area of the handle section of the second-stage paper cassette D Opening area of the handle of the uppermost paper feed cassette E Location connected to a fan having a weak suction force outside the opening of the uppermost paper feed cassette F Opening area of the handle of the second paper feeding cassette G Uppermost paper feed Cassette opening area overlapped area H Area connected to a fan having a weak suction force at a position different from the area G I Opening area of the handle section of the second-stage paper feeding cassette

Claims (3)

An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A first paper feed cassette and a second paper feed cassette mounted on the apparatus main body so that each can be pulled out from the apparatus main body;
Has, wherein the first paper cassette, the handle portion having an opening formed taking in air is provided in the first sheet feeding cassette, the second sheet feeding cassette, the second sheet feeding handle portion having an opening formed taking in air is disposed in the cassette, from top to bottom, the image forming unit, the first paper feed cassette, the image forming apparatus are arranged in order of the second paper feed cassette ,
The image forming section, at a position opposite to the first sheet cassette, comprising a first image forming unit openings and the second image forming openings for taking in air into the image forming portion,
Before Symbol first sheet feeding cassette is in a position facing the second sheet cassette, comprising a first sheet feeding cassette opening for taking air into the first sheet feed cassette from said second sheet feeding cassette,
Said first sheet feeding cassette, the first and opening of the handle portion of the paper feed cassette and the first duct for communicating the first image forming unit opening, the second image forming and the first paper feed cassette opening An image forming apparatus , comprising: a second duct that communicates with a portion opening; and the first duct and the second duct are not communicated with each other . The image forming unit includes a first suction means for sucking air through said first duct, to claim 1, characterized in Rukoto and a second suction means for sucking air through said second duct The image forming apparatus described. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first suction unit and the second suction unit have different suction forces.

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