JP5569179B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and facsimiles that form images on a recording material such as paper, cardboard, and envelopes using the required image recording method, the inside of the apparatus main body (inside the apparatus and inside the casing) In order to prevent the temperature from rising, there are some which control the temperature inside the apparatus body by providing cooling means such as a blower.

  Conventionally, for example, the following is known as an image forming apparatus provided with such a cooling unit.

  One is an image forming apparatus that includes temperature detection means for detecting the temperature inside the apparatus and controls the rotation speed of the cooling fan in accordance with the temperature inside the apparatus detected by the temperature detection means (Patent Document 1). This image forming apparatus is composed of a thermistor whose temperature detecting means is directly connected to a rotation speed control circuit incorporated in a cooling fan, and controls the rotation speed of the cooling fan by feeding back the detected temperature information. It is shown that there is.

  In addition, there is an image forming apparatus including a first temperature detecting unit that detects the temperature inside or around the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and a control unit that controls the driving operation of the cooling unit based on the first detected temperature ( Patent Document 2). The image forming apparatus further includes a second temperature unit that detects a temperature inside or outside the image forming apparatus, and the control unit is a cooling unit based on the first detected temperature and the second detected temperature. It is shown that the operation is controlled. In this case, the control means compares the first detected temperature with the first reference temperature, compares the second detected temperature with the second reference temperature, and operates the cooling means based on the comparison results. It has also been shown to control.

JP-A-11-272147 JP 2004-117732 A

  The present invention cools the interior of the housing after the mounting even when an optional device that is optionally mounted on and used at least one of the outside and inside of the image forming apparatus (the housing) is mounted. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can be appropriately cooled by means.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention (A1)
A housing in which an image forming device is installed;
Measuring means for measuring the temperature inside the housing;
Cooling means for cooling and suppressing temperature rise inside the housing;
Control means for controlling the operation of the cooling means based on a measured temperature and a temperature threshold measured by the measuring means;
Detecting means for detecting presence / absence of attachment of an optional device that is optionally attached to at least one of the outside and inside of the housing; and
The control means includes a plurality of temperature threshold values as the temperature threshold value in advance, and changes the temperature threshold value to a temperature threshold value different from an initial temperature threshold value according to detection information of the detection means. It controls the operation.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention (A2) is the image forming apparatus according to the above-described invention A1, wherein the optional device is configured to have the housing under the same conditions when the optional device is mounted compared to when the optional device is not mounted. This is a device that has the effect of increasing the speed of the internal temperature rise.

  In the image forming apparatus of the invention (A3), in the image forming apparatus of the invention A1 or A2, the control means sets the temperature threshold value to an initial setting temperature when the detection information is information indicating that an optional device is mounted. The temperature is changed to a temperature threshold lower than the threshold.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention (A4) is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the aforementioned inventions A1 to A3, wherein the detecting means is means for determining the presence and type of the arbitrary apparatus.

The image forming apparatus according to the invention (A5) is the image forming apparatus according to the invention A4, wherein the cooling means are arranged at different positions of the casing and controlled to operate individually. Consists of
The control means includes an individual temperature threshold prepared for each of the plurality of cooling means as the temperature threshold, and the type of the arbitrary device for determining the temperature threshold from detection information of the detection means In addition, some or all of the individual threshold values are changed to different temperature threshold values according to combination information to control the operations of the plurality of cooling means.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention (A6) is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the aforementioned inventions A1 to A5, wherein the control means measures a temperature measured by the measuring means and a preset abnormal temperature rise. Based on the threshold value, the operation of the device that forms the image is stopped and the forced cooling control for operating the cooling unit is executed.
In addition, a plurality of temperature thresholds are provided in advance as temperature thresholds at the time of the abnormal temperature rise, and the temperature threshold is different from the temperature threshold at the time of the abnormal temperature rise that is initially set according to the detection information of the detection unit The forced cooling control is executed by changing to a temperature threshold value when the temperature rises.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention (A7) is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the aforementioned inventions A1 to A6, wherein the optional device is a supply device that supplies a recording material to be formed with an image. It is at least one of a post-processing apparatus for processing a subsequent recording material into a required state and a filter member attached to a portion where air flows.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the invention A1, there is an arbitrary apparatus that is optionally mounted and used at least one of the outside and the inside of the casing constituting the image forming apparatus, as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided. Even when it is mounted, the inside of the housing after the mounting can be appropriately cooled by the cooling means.

  In the image forming apparatus of the invention A2, the housing after the mounting even when the optional device is mounted and the internal temperature of the housing is increased faster than the image forming apparatus according to the invention A2. It is possible to properly cool the inside of the housing by the cooling means, which is effective.

  In the image forming apparatus of the invention A3, the interior of the housing after the mounting is reliably cooled by the cooling means even when the optional device is mounted, as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided. Can do.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the invention A4, the inside of the housing can be further appropriately cooled by the cooling means in accordance with the type of the optional apparatus to be mounted, as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the invention A5, the interior of the housing is more appropriately provided by a part or all of the plurality of cooling means depending on the type and combination of optional devices to be mounted, as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided. Can be cooled.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the invention A6, the inside of the housing can be appropriately and forcibly cooled even when an optional device is attached, as compared with the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided. .

  In the image forming apparatus of the invention A7, even when at least one of a recording material supply device, a post-processing device, and a filter member is mounted as an optional device, compared to the case where the configuration of the invention is not provided. And the inside of the housing | casing after the mounting | wearing can be cooled appropriately with a cooling means.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged image forming unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a perspective conceptual diagram of the structure of a housing | casing and the installation state of an air blower. It is a plane conceptual diagram which shows the structure of a housing | casing and an air blower. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system in the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the temperature management inside a housing | casing (when not installing an optional product). FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when an optional product is mounted on the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a graph figure of the measurement data which shows progress conditions of the measurement temperature inside a case, and the measurement temperature of a development device, (a) shows the case where an optional product is not installed, and (b) shows the case where an optional product is installed. . It is a table | surface which shows an example of each threshold temperature set according to the presence or absence of installation of an optional article, and its kind. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the temperature management inside a housing | casing according to the presence or absence of mounting | wearing of an optional item. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the forced cooling inside a housing | casing according to the presence or absence of mounting | wearing of an optional item.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is configured as a color printer, for example, and uses an image recording method such as a known electrophotographic method or electrostatic recording method in the internal space of the housing 10. A plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 that form toner images developed with toner (colored powder or the like) as a developer based on input image information, and the toner images formed by the image forming apparatus 2 are held. Finally, an intermediate transfer device 3 for transferring to a recording paper 9 as a recording material, a paper feeding device 4 for accommodating and transporting a required recording paper to be supplied to the intermediate transfer device 3, and an intermediate transfer device 3 A fixing device 5 for fixing the toner image by passing the recording paper 9 on which the toner image is transferred is installed. A one-dot chain line with an arrow in the figure indicates a main conveyance path of the recording paper 9.

  The housing 10 is a structural portion formed by using a support member such as a support frame and a support plate that constitutes a skeleton part of the image forming apparatus 1, an exterior cover, and the like (the same applies to an optional housing described later). To do.) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the housing 10 has an upper space area 10 </ b> A in which the internal space serves as an image forming unit including the image forming device 2, the intermediate transfer device 3, the fixing device 5, A lower space area 10B serving as a paper portion, and a rear space area 10C serving as a drive / power supply unit disposed on the back surface (rear part) side of the upper space area 10A and the lower space area 10B. Each space area is in a state where a part thereof is blocked by the presence of a support plate or the like, but is open and connected in other parts. In the figure, reference numeral 19 denotes a caster, and reference numeral 90 denotes a floor on which the image forming apparatus 1 is installed.

  The image forming device 2 includes four image forming devices (2Y, 2M) that can form four color toner images exclusively for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (black: K). , 2C, 2K). The four image forming devices 2 (Y, M, C, and K) are arranged in a state of being arranged in series in the upper space area 10A of the housing 10. In addition, the image forming apparatuses 2 (Y, M, C, K) have a substantially common configuration as shown below.

  Each image forming device 2 (Y, M, C, K) includes a rotating photosensitive drum 21 as shown in FIG. 2 and the like, and the following devices are mainly disposed around the photosensitive drum 21. Is arranged. The main devices are a charging device 22 for charging the image holding surface (surface portion holding the toner image) of the photosensitive drum 21 to a required potential, and image information (signal) on the charged image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 21. The exposure device 23 that forms an electrostatic latent image having a potential difference (for each color) by irradiating light based on the image, and developing the electrostatic latent image with the corresponding color (Y, M, C, K) toner. A developing device 24 (Y, M, C, K) for forming a visible toner image, a primary transfer device 25 for transferring the toner image to the intermediate transfer device 3 (intermediate transfer belt thereof), and a post-transfer image And a cleaning device (not shown) that scrapes and removes deposits such as toner remaining on the image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 12.

  The photosensitive drum 21 is formed by forming an image holding surface having a photoconductive layer (photosensitive layer) made of a photosensitive material on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical or columnar substrate to be grounded. It receives power and rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow. The charging device 22 is arranged in a state where it is not in contact with or in contact with the image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 21 and is provided with a contact member such as a corona discharge type charging device or a charging roll to which a charging voltage is applied. The charging device of the mold. As the charging voltage, when the developing device 24 performs reverse development, a voltage having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner supplied from the developing device is applied.

  The exposure device 23 forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the charged image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with light configured according to image information input to the image forming apparatus 1. It is. As the exposure device 22, a scanning type device using optical components such as a semiconductor laser and a polygon mirror is used. In addition, for example, a light emitting diode and an optical component are used. A non-scanning exposure apparatus may be used. In the present embodiment, the exposure apparatus 22 is configured such that a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 are divided into two casings and a required number of lights are emitted from one casing. However, other than this, for example, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 are configured by individual casings, or are configured to be integrated into one casing to emit a necessary number of lights. Can also be used.

  The developing device 24 has a developer accommodating portion that accommodates a developer (for example, a two-component developer including a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier), and rotates the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion. It has a developing roll 24a that holds and conveys it to the developing region facing the photosensitive drum 21, and an agitating and conveying member 24b that conveys the developer contained therein to the developing roll 24a while rotating and stirring the developer. The developing device 24 is applied with a developing voltage composed of a direct current component in which an alternating current component is superimposed on the developing roll 24a, and the developing roll 24a and the agitating / conveying member 24b are rotated in a required direction. The toner of the developer is agitated by the agitating / conveying member 24b in the developer accommodating portion, and rubs against the carrier to be frictionally charged to a required polarity (in this embodiment, a negative polarity).

  The primary transfer device 25 is a contact-type transfer device including a primary transfer roll that rotates in contact with the image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 21 and is applied with a primary transfer voltage. In this primary transfer device, a DC component voltage (a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity) is applied to the primary transfer roll as a primary transfer voltage.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate transfer device 3 is positioned below the image forming devices 2 (Y, M, C, and K) arranged in series in the lower space area 10A of the housing. Arranged to exist. The intermediate transfer device 3 includes an intermediate transfer belt 31 that rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow while passing through a primary transfer position between the photosensitive drum 21 and the primary transfer device 25 (primary transfer roll). A plurality of support rolls 32 to 34 that are held in a desired state from the inner surface and are rotatably supported, and a secondary transfer roll 35 that rotates in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 31 supported by the support roll 34 with a predetermined pressure. And a belt cleaning device 36 that removes toner and the like remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 31 after passing through the secondary transfer roll 35.

  As the intermediate transfer belt 31, for example, a belt formed of an endless belt having a predetermined thickness using a material in which a resistance adjusting agent such as carbon is dispersed in a synthetic resin such as polyimide resin or polyamide resin is used. . The support roll 32 is configured as a drive roll, and the support roll 33 is configured as a tension applying roll. A secondary transfer voltage composed of a direct current component having the same polarity (or opposite polarity) as the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the support roll 34 at a required time. As the secondary transfer voltage, a DC component having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner may be applied to the secondary transfer roll 35.

  The sheet feeding device 4 is disposed so as to exist at a position below the intermediate transfer device 3 in the lower space area 10 </ b> B of the housing 10. The paper feeding device 4 is mounted so that it can be pulled out to the front side (side surface that the user faces when using it) of the housing 10, and accommodates a recording paper 9 of a desired size, type, etc. loaded in a loaded state. The main body 41 and the feeding device 42 that feeds the recording paper 9 from the paper container 41 one by one are mainly configured. In this embodiment, three box-like ones whose upper surfaces are opened are used as the sheet containers 41, and recording sheets 9 of different sizes and types are distributed and accommodated in each sheet container 41. A required recording sheet 9 can be selected and sent out from the stored sheet container 41.

  A plurality of transport rolls installed in a state of approaching one side surface of the housing 10 between the feeding device 42 in each paper container 41 of the paper feeding device 4 and the secondary transfer position of the image forming device 2. .., And a paper feed path 45 for paper feed made of a transport guide material or the like is provided. The transport roll pair 45e is configured as a feed roll pair having functions such as adjusting the transport timing and transport state of the recording paper 9. The recording paper 9 sent out from each paper container 41 of the paper feeding device 4 passes between the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the intermediate transfer device 3 and the secondary transfer roll 35 via a paper feeding path 45 for paper feeding. To the secondary transfer position. In addition, a paper introduction port 11 is provided on one side surface of the housing 10, and a conveyance roll that conveys the recording paper 9 supplied from the outside of the housing toward the feed roll pair 45 e through the paper introduction port. A paper feed path 47 for second paper feed composed of 46 and a transport guide material is disposed.

  The fixing device 5 is disposed in a space between one side of the secondary transfer device 3 and the paper feeding device 4 (uppermost paper container 41). The fixing device 5 rotates inside the housing 51 in the direction of the arrow and is heated by heating means so that the surface temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature, and the axial direction of the heating roll 52 is substantially the same. A pressurizing rotator 53 such as a roll type or a belt type that is driven and rotated in contact with a predetermined pressure in a line is installed. Between the secondary transfer position and the fixing device 5, a belt-type paper transport device 55 that transports the recording paper 9 to the fixing device 5 after the secondary transfer is disposed.

  A paper discharge port 12 is provided on the side surface of the housing 10 near the fixing device 5, and the recording paper 9 after the image is formed is discharged through the paper discharge port 12 and stored therein. The container 13 is attached in a state protruding from the housing 10. Further, between the fixing device 5 and the discharge container 13 (paper discharge port 12), a discharge paper transport path 57 configured by a pair of paper transport rolls 56, a transport guide material, and the like is provided. Further, a sheet conveyance path 58 for reversing the front and back surfaces that branches from the middle of the sheet conveyance path 57 and extends close to one side surface of the housing 10 is located at a position below the discharge sheet conveyance path 57. Is provided. The sheet conveyance path 58 for reversing the front and back surfaces is composed of a pair of sheet conveyance rolls 59a, 59b,... That can rotate forward and reverse, a conveyance guide material, a conveyance destination switching material, and the like.

  Basic image formation by the image forming apparatus 1 is performed as follows.

  First, in the image forming apparatus 1, a full color composed of toner images of four colors (Y, M, C, K) formed by using all the four image forming apparatuses 2 (Y, M, C, K). An operation pattern (full color mode) for forming an image and a single color image composed of one color toner image formed using one of the four image forming devices 2 (Y, M, C, K) An operation pattern (monochromatic mode) when forming is possible. The monochromatic mode in this embodiment is set as a monochrome mode for forming a monochrome image composed of a black (K) toner image.

  First, an image forming operation in the full color mode will be described.

  First, in the four image forming devices 2 (Y, M, C, K), each photosensitive drum 21 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and each charging device 22 sets the image holding surface of each photosensitive drum 21 to a required polarity ( In this embodiment, for example, a negative polarity) and a potential are charged. The exposure device 23 performs exposure based on the image signal decomposed into each color component (Y, M, C, K) with respect to the charged photosensitive drum 21, and the electrostatic latent of each color component constituted by a predetermined potential difference. Each image is formed. Each developing device 24 applies an electrostatic latent image of each color component formed on the photosensitive drum 21 to each color (Y, M, C, K) via a developing roll 25a charged to a predetermined polarity (minus polarity). Development is performed by supplying toner and electrostatically adhering it, thereby developing a toner image.

  Subsequently, at each primary transfer position of each image forming device 2 (Y, M, C, K), each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 is intermediately transferred by a transfer electric field formed by the primary transfer device 25. The primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the apparatus 3 in order and superimposed. In the intermediate transfer device 3, the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31 is transferred from the paper supply device 4 to the paper feed conveyance path 45 by a transfer electric field formed by the secondary transfer roll 35 at the secondary transfer position. Secondary transfer is performed collectively on the recording paper 9 conveyed via the transfer.

  After the secondary transfer is completed, the recording paper 9 is peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 31 and then transported by the transport device 55 and introduced into the fixing device 5. The fixing device 5 melts the toner forming the toner image by passing the contact portion between the heating roll 52 and the pressurizing rotator 53 through the contact portion between the heating roll 52 and the pressurizing rotating body 53 to melt the toner forming the toner image. To settle. The recording paper 9 after the fixing is completed is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the paper transport path 57 for discharge and is discharged to the discharge container 13 when only image formation on one side is performed. Be contained.

  As described above, a full color image formed by combining four color toner images is formed on one recording sheet 9.

  On the other hand, in the image forming operation in the single color (monochrome) mode, first, a black toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21 in the black (K) image forming device 2K among the four image forming devices, and then the full color mode. Similarly to the image forming operation at this time, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 21 is secondarily transferred to the recording paper 9 through the intermediate transfer device 3 and then fixed by the fixing device 5. Finally, the recording paper 9 after fixing is fixed. It is discharged and stored in the discharge container 13. As a result, a black and white image composed of a black toner image is formed on one recording sheet 9.

  In both the full-color mode and the single-color mode, the recording paper 9 is usually discharged and stored in the discharge container 13 with the surface on which the image is formed facing upward (face-up state). However, when the recording sheet 9 is turned upside down and discharged to the discharge container 13 with its image forming surface facing downward (face-down state), the recording sheet 9 after fixing is a sheet conveyance path 58 for reversing the front and back surfaces. After the sheet is fed and stopped, the conveyance roll pair 59b and the like are rotated in the reverse direction, and the discharge container 13 is passed through the discharge roll pair 56 and the discharge port 12 with the rear end of the sheet 9 at the head. Will be accommodated.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when the above-described image forming operation is executed frequently or continuously, the temperature inside the housing 10 rises mainly due to heat radiation from a heat source such as the fixing device 5. Therefore, management of the internal temperature of the housing 10 is performed. In order to perform this temperature management, in the image forming apparatus 1, a temperature sensor 15 that measures the temperature inside the housing 10, a blower 6 that cools (exhaust heat) and suppresses an increase in the temperature inside the housing 10, and Control means 16 for controlling the operation of the blower 6 based on the measurement information of the temperature sensor 15 is provided.

  Among them, one temperature sensor 15 is installed at a position on the back side of the magenta (M) image forming device 2M in the upper space area 10A of the casing. This position is located on the diagonally upper side of the fixing device 5 that generates the most heat in the upper space area 10A of the housing, and is one of the places where the temperature is likely to rise due to heat radiation from the fixing device 5. This is because it is assumed that there is. Further, the single temperature sensor is used for cost reduction and simplification of the control system.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the blower 6 includes an exhaust blower 61 attached to the bottom surface portion of the rear space area 10 </ b> C of the housing, and a first exhaust fan 62 attached to the front left side surface of the rear space area 10 </ b> C of the housing. And an intake fan 63 attached to the front right side surface of the upper space area 10A of the housing, and a second (fixing device) exhaust fan 64 attached to the rear right front surface of the rear space area 10C of the housing. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the exhaust blower 61 is connected to a collection duct 65 formed with intake ports 65 a to 65 d that face each other on the back side of each imaging device 2 (Y, M, C, K). Has been. As a result, the exhaust blower 61 sucks and collects air (hot air) on the back side of each image forming device 2 by the collecting duct 65 as indicated by the dotted line with an arrow, and finally collects the collected air. It discharges toward the installation floor of the image forming apparatus 1 from the bottom of the rear space area 10C of the body. The intake fan 63 takes air outside the housing 10 into the upper space area 10A, and the air reaches the image forming devices 2 (Y, M, C, K) as indicated by dotted arrows. I try to pass. The first exhaust fan 62 discharges hot air collected in the upper part of the rear space 10 </ b> C of the housing to the outside of the housing 10. The second exhaust fan 64 mainly collects hot air discharged from the fixing device 5 (via a collection duct (not shown)) and discharges it from the back side of the housing 10 to the outside. All of the exhaust blower 61, the first exhaust fan 62, the intake fan 63, and the second exhaust fan 64 described above exhibit the function of exhausting or sucking air by rotating the impeller by the rotational power of the motor.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the control means 16 controls the operation of the blower 6 (61 to 64) based on the measured temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 and a temperature threshold prepared in advance. Control of operation | movement of the air blower 6 is starting or stopping rotation of an impeller (motor), and changing the rotational speed. The control means 16 in this embodiment is configured as a blower drive control unit (control circuit) that operates in conjunction with the central control device 14 that collectively controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. However, the control means 16 may be configured as a control means independent of the central control device 14. The central controller 14 includes an arithmetic processing device, a storage device (ROM, RAM, etc.), an input / output device, and the like.

  The central controller 14 includes an image formation related information input unit (image information input unit, input operation unit, etc.) 17 to which image formation related information such as image information and image formation operation instruction information is input, and a temperature measurement unit (temperature sensor). ) 15 and the like are connected, and information necessary for the control operation is input. The central control unit 14 includes an image forming unit control unit 20 that controls the operation of an image forming unit including the image forming device 2, the intermediate transfer device 3, the fixing device 5, and the like, the paper feeding device 4 and each sheet. A paper transport unit control unit 40 that controls the operation of the paper transport unit configured by a transport path and the like, a blower drive control unit 16 and the like are connected to transmit control signals and the like necessary for control operations in each control unit. It is like that. In the central controller 14, a control program necessary for controlling each operation in the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in advance in the storage device (storage unit 14 a), and input information from the image formation related information input unit 17. In addition, a necessary control signal is generated by executing a control program in the arithmetic processing unit based on measurement information of the temperature sensor 15 and detection information of various sensors.

  The blower drive control unit 16 controls the operation of the blower 6 as follows.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6, the blower drive control unit 16 obtains information on the measured temperature T measured by the temperature sensor 15 (step: S10), and the measured temperature T is prepared in advance and the drive control unit 16 It is determined whether or not the temperature threshold Sx stored in the storage unit 16a is exceeded (S11).

  Here, the temperature threshold value Sx is set on the basis of the limit temperature of the product requiring cooling (for example, the developing device 24) that is easily affected by an increase in temperature. Further, the temperature threshold value Sx in this embodiment is set as dedicated temperature threshold values Sx1 to Sx4 for each of the exhaust blower 61, the first exhaust fan 62, the intake fan 63, and the second exhaust fan 64 constituting the blower 6. Incidentally, in the developing device 24, as the ambient temperature increases, a problem (so-called toner blocking) in which the developer (toner) contained in the developing device 24 aggregates due to the influence of heat tends to occur. .

  At this time, the blower 6 (61 to 64) determined that the measured temperature T does not exceed the temperature threshold Sx1 to Sx4 is controlled to rotate at a preset normal speed (normal speed) V1. (S12).

  In this case, any fan 6 whose measured temperature T does not exceed its own temperature threshold value Sx1 to S4 rotates at the normal speed V1. As a result, the internal space (mainly the upper space area 10A and the rear space area 10C) of the housing 10 is cooled (exhaust heat) by the airflow formed by the intake air and the exhaust air as exemplified by the dotted arrows, for a while. During this time, the internal temperature of the housing 10 is maintained at a temperature that does not exceed the temperature threshold value Sx. As a general rule, the rotation at the normal speed V1 is performed as long as a command that must be stopped is requested as long as the elapsed time from the determination (S10) does not exceed a predetermined set time t1 that is predetermined. (The same applies thereafter.) The process is continued, but if the elapsed time exceeds the set time t1, the process stops (S13). The set time t1 is set in consideration of, for example, the time required for sufficiently lowering the temperature of the raised object to be cooled. The set time t1 can also be set to the time from the start to the end of a series of requested image forming operations.

  On the other hand, the blower 6 (61-64) for which the measured temperature T is determined to have exceeded the temperature threshold Sx1-4 is rotationally driven at a high speed V2 (> V1) that is higher than the preset normal speed V1. (S14).

  In this case, all the blowers 6 whose measured temperature T exceeds their own temperature thresholds Sx1 to Sx4 rotate at high speed. As a result, a stronger (or faster) airflow is generated in the internal space of the housing 10 than when it is rotationally driven at the normal speed V1, and is strongly cooled (exhaust heat). A cooling operation is performed to lower the internal temperature of the casing 10 that exceeds a part or all of the casing 10 to a temperature that is equal to or lower than the temperature that exceeds the temperature threshold Sx. The rotation at the high speed V2 is continued in principle as long as the elapsed time from when the determination is made (S10) does not exceed the predetermined set time t2 determined in advance, but the elapsed time exceeds the set time t2. If it does, stop (S14). For example, the set time t2 is set in consideration of the same elements as in the case of the set time t1 described above. The set time t1 and the set time t2 are often set at different times, but may be the same time.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 1 can be used with optional large-capacity paper feeding device 102 and post-processing device 105 attached to the outside of the housing 10. It can be done.

  In addition to the paper feeding device 4 of the image forming apparatus 1, the large-capacity paper feeding device 102 uses the recording paper 9 or the like as an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus 1 to enable image formation on a larger number of recording papers 9. It has a function to supply separately. The large-capacity paper feeder 102 in this embodiment includes, for example, a large-capacity paper feeder 120 and a manual paper feeder 130.

  The large-capacity paper feeding unit 120 has a large-capacity paper container 122 that stacks and accommodates a large amount of recording paper 9 exceeding 100 sheets and moves up and down in the box-shaped casing 121 and the paper. The feeding device 123 that sequentially feeds one by one from the uppermost recording paper among the recording papers 9 stacked and accommodated in the container 122 and the recording paper 9 accommodated in the paper container 122 are heated to reduce the water content. A heating dryer 124 or the like is installed. On the side surface of the housing 121 on the side where the feeding device 123 is disposed, a passage port 125 through which the recording paper 9 to be fed is passed is provided.

  The manual paper feed unit 130 is attached to the upper portion of the housing 131 having a height substantially the same as the height of the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 and is attached to the outside in a state of projecting obliquely upward. A feeding device 133 that sequentially feeds one by one from the uppermost recording paper 9 among the recording papers 9 stacked and housed in the housing 132 at the lower end of the manual paper housing 132, and a large-capacity paper feeding unit The first conveyance path 134 that conveys the recording paper 9 delivered from 120 to the paper introduction port 11 of the image forming apparatus 1, and the recording paper 9 delivered from the manual paper storage body 132 to the paper introduction port 11 of the image forming apparatus 1. The second transport path 135 and the like are arranged. Each of the first conveyance path 134 and the second conveyance path 135 includes a plurality of conveyance roll pairs 134a and 135a, conveyance guide materials, and the like. On the side surface of the housing 131 on the side where the feeding device 133 is arranged, the recording paper 9 sent out from the passage port 136 through which the recording paper 9 passes or the feeding device 133 faces the passage port 125 of the paper feeding unit 120. A passage opening 137 is provided for allowing the air to pass through. A passage port 138 through which the recording paper 9 passes is provided opposite to the paper introduction port 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 on the side surface of the housing 131 on the side where the sending device 133 is disposed.

  The post-processing device 105 has a function of performing necessary post-processing (discharging / accommodating destination sorting processing, binding processing, punching processing, etc.) on the recording paper 9 after the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 1. is there. The post-processing device 105 in this embodiment includes, for example, a cooling processing unit 140 and a normal discharging or binding processing discharging unit 150 after the cooling processing. The post-processing device 105 is mounted after the discharge container 13 (FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 1 is removed.

  The cooling processing unit 140 normally discharges or binds the recording paper 9 discharged from the paper discharge port 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 into the inside of the case 141 that is substantially the same height as the height of the case 10 of the image forming apparatus 1. A conveying path 142 that conveys toward the processing discharge unit 150, and fans (blower fans) 143 and 144 that are arranged at positions apart above and below the conveying path 142 are installed. .

  The conveyance path 142 includes a plurality of conveyance roll pairs 142a and conveyance guide members 142b indicated by dotted lines. The blowers 143 and 144 are for cooling (air-cooling) the recording paper 9 that has become high temperature due to the heat fixing of the fixing device 5. In this embodiment, air is blown to the conveyance guide member 142 b of the conveyance path 142. Thus, the conveyance guide 142b is directly cooled, whereby the recording paper 9 passing through the conveyance path 142 is indirectly cooled. A passage port 145 through which the recording paper 9 passes (introduces) is provided opposite to the discharge port 12 on the side surface of the housing 141 facing the image forming apparatus 1. Further, a discharge port 146 for discharging the recording paper 9 after the cooling process is provided on the side surface of the housing 141 facing the normal discharge or binding process discharge unit 150.

  The normal discharge or binding processing discharge unit 150 stores post-processed recording paper 9 and a fixed storage position on one side surface of the casing 151 that is substantially the same height as the casing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1. Fixed discharge container 152 and a movable discharge container in which the post-processed recording paper 9 is stored and the storage position is obliquely moved down the side surface of the casing 151 in accordance with the storage amount of the paper. 153, a binding processor 154 that performs processing for binding a plurality of recording sheets 9, and a first conveyance path 155 that conveys the recording sheets 9 sent from the cooling processing unit 140 so as to be discharged to the fixed discharge container 152. And a second conveyance path 156 for branching in the middle of the first conveyance path 155 to carry the recording paper 9 into the binding processor 154 or to convey it to the movable discharge container 153, etc. Yes.

  On the side surface of the housing 151 that faces the cooling processing unit 140, there is provided a passage port 157 that passes (introduces) the recording paper 9 to face the discharge port 146 of the cooling processing unit 140. In addition, on the side surface portion of the housing 151 on the side where the discharge containers 152 and 153 are attached, the first discharge for discharging the recording paper 9 conveyed by the first conveyance path 155 to the fixed discharge container 152. An outlet 158 and a second discharge port 159 for discharging the recording paper 9 conveyed by the second conveyance path 156 to the movable discharge container 153 are provided. At a branch point between the first transport path 155 and the second transport path 156, a transport destination switching claw (not shown) that switches the transport destination of the recording paper 9 is disposed.

  When the large-capacity paper feeder 102 is mounted, the image forming apparatus 1 replaces or in addition to the paper feeder 4 in the casing 10 with the recording paper 9 for forming an image, and the large-capacity paper feeder It can be supplied from one or both of the large-capacity paper feeder 120 and the manual paper feeder 130. When the recording paper 9 supplied from the large-capacity paper feeding device 102 is carried into the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1, the recording paper 9 is directed to the secondary transfer position via the paper feeding path 47 for second paper feeding. Are transported. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can perform the image forming operation on a large number of recording sheets 9 continuously or intermittently.

In addition, when the post-processing device 105 is mounted, the image forming apparatus 1 first cools the recording paper 9 on which an image has been formed in the cooling processing unit 140 of the post-processing device 105 via the conveyance guide material 142b. can do. Then, the recording paper 9 which is the cooling process, in the normal discharge or stapled discharge portion 150 of the post-processing apparatus 105, as it is discharged to the discharge container 152 of the fixed mold by conveying the first conveying path 1 55 houses Te or, alternatively, discharge of the mobile of inactivity or binding process after performing binding processing by the binding processing machine 154 by conveying is fed into the first conveying path 1 55 to the second conveying path 1 56 The container 153 can be discharged and stored. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can perform necessary post-processing on the recording paper 5 after forming the image, or can store the recording paper 9 after forming the image in a desired discharge storage destination. Become.

  In addition to this, in the image forming apparatus 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, an optional odor removal filter 107 is connected in the exhaust blower 61 inside the housing 10 or between the blower 61 and the exhaust duct 65. It can be used by arbitrarily attaching to the part. When the odor removal filter 107 is mounted, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the odor removal filter 107 to remove air (hot air) exhausted from the exhaust blower 61 to the outside of the housing 10 and odor (component) contained therein. It becomes possible to discharge in a state of being reduced or eliminated by absorption, decomposition or the like.

  By the way, in this image forming apparatus 1, when the post-processing device 105, which is an optional product, is mounted and used, the following phenomenon occurs.

  That is, in the image forming apparatus 1, the speed at which the internal temperature of the housing 10 increases is faster than that when the post-processing apparatus 105 is not attached. For this reason, before the measured temperature T of the temperature sensor 15 reaches the temperature threshold value Sx, the temperature in the component parts (products to be cooled) that are particularly susceptible to adverse effects due to heat reaches the limit temperature.

  FIG. 8 shows the results of measuring the internal temperature of the housing 10 when the post-processing device 105 is not mounted (a) and when the post-processing device 105 is mounted (b). The thin solid line in the figure is the measured temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15, and the thick solid line is the temperature at the upper surface of the rear part of the cyan developing device 24 </ b> C measured by a thermocouple different from the temperature sensor 15. Temperature. In the temperature measurement at this time, in the same laboratory where the room temperature is 32 ° C., the image forming operation of the same image is continuously executed in the same manner in the image forming apparatus 1, and the post-processing apparatus 105 performs a collation process. This was performed under the condition where the process was executed. The limit temperature is a temperature at which toner blocking in the developing device 24 may start to occur. As shown in FIG. 8B, when an optional product (post-processing device 105) is mounted, the difference (the difference in measured temperature) between the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 and the temperature at the developing device 24C. ) Will occur. This difference increases substantially in proportion to the elapse of the drive time (run time) as compared to the case where the optional product is not mounted (FIG. 8a).

Here, as the factors that increase the internal temperature of the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 due to the mounting of the post-processing device 105, the following causes are assumed, for example. That is, when the sheet discharge port 12 of the casing 10 is closed from the outside of the casing 10 by the casing 141 in the cooling processing unit 140 of the post-processing apparatus 105, the heat released from the fixing device 5 is changed to the sheet. It cannot be directly discharged (exhaust heat) to the outside of the housing 10 through the discharge port 12, or is absorbed by the cooling guide 140 of the post-processing device 105 from the blowers 143 and 144 to absorb the heat of the conveyance guide member 142 b of the conveyance path 142. It is conceivable that the heated air has entered the housing 10 by the intake fan 63 of the image forming apparatus 1. After all, it is presumed that the main cause is that the state of gas flow (air flow) inside the housing 10 is different.

  Further, the temperature in the developing device 24 reaches the limit temperature before the measured temperature T of the temperature sensor 15 reaches the temperature threshold value Sx. Y, M, C, and K) are not dedicated to each one, but are only disposed in one of the developing devices 24M, and the installation position of the temperature sensor 15 is determined by the developing device 24. It is possible that the location is far away.

  Further, the phenomenon that occurs when the post-processing device 105 is mounted is different in degree even when the large-capacity paper feeding device 102 and the odor removal filter 107, which are other optional products, are mounted individually. It has also been confirmed that the same occurs. Also in this case, as a factor that the rising speed of the internal temperature of the housing 10 is accelerated by the mounting of the large-capacity paper feeding device 102, for example, the exhaust port of the first exhaust fan 62 is caused by the presence of the housing 131. It is conceivable that the recording paper 9 is closed from the outside, or the recording paper 9 heated by the heating dryer 124 in the large-capacity paper feeding unit 120 is carried into the housing 10 as it is. . Further, as a factor that the rising speed of the internal temperature of the housing 10 is accelerated by the attachment of the odor removal filter 107, for example, the exhaust efficiency (amount) of the exhaust blower 61 and the like due to the odor removal filter 107 becoming air resistance. Is considered to be reduced.

  Therefore, when the image forming apparatus 1 is used with at least one of the optional large-capacity paper feeding device 102, the post-processing device 105, and the odor removing filter 107 being used, the image forming device 1 has a housing 10 of the image forming device 1. Considering that the speed of the internal temperature rises faster than when the internal temperature is not attached, the internal temperature of the housing 10 is appropriately managed as follows.

  That is, in the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIGS. 5, 9, 10, etc., an optional product detection unit 18 that detects the presence / absence (type) of the optional product is provided, and control means (blower drive control unit) ) And a temperature threshold value Sy when the optional product is mounted in addition to the above-described initial temperature threshold value Sx as the temperature threshold value S serving as a control threshold value is previously stored in the recording unit 16a of the control means. Yes. The control unit (blower drive control unit) 16 changes the temperature threshold value S to a temperature threshold value Sy different from the initially set temperature threshold value Sx according to the detection information of the optional product detection unit 18, and then the operation of the blower 6. Is configured to control.

The optional product detection unit 18 is configured as follows. First, when the large-capacity paper feeding device 102 and the post-processing device 105 are attached, when the devices 102 and 105 are attached to the image forming apparatus 1, they are connected to the control device 14 and the power supply unit of the image forming apparatus 1. By connecting connection portions (not shown) for connection, information regarding the presence / absence and type of the devices 102 and 105 is recognized by the control device 14 (and the fan drive control portion 16). It has become. In addition, when the odor removal filter 107 is attached, the operator who attached the filter 107 inputs the filter 107 and the type of information from the operation input unit (not shown) in the image forming apparatus 1, thereby providing the filter. Information regarding whether or not 107 is attached and the type thereof is configured to be recognized by the control device 14 (and the blower drive control unit 16). Regarding the mounting of the odor removing filter 107, for example, a sensor capable of detecting the mounting and type of the filter 107 is installed, and the detection information of the sensor is recognized by the control device 14 (and the fan drive control unit 16). It may be configured as follows.

  For example, a temperature threshold value Sy when an optional product is mounted is prepared as shown in FIG. The temperature threshold value Sy is set based on the result of examining the situation in which the internal temperature of the housing 10 increases when an optional product is mounted in advance, as in the case of setting the initial temperature threshold value Sx. The temperature threshold value Sy shown in FIG. 9 is a setting example when the limit temperature is “48 ° C.”. Further, the initial temperature threshold value Sx and the temperature threshold value Sy when the optional product is mounted are stored in the storage unit 16 a (FIG. 5) of the blower drive control unit 16.

  In the column of presence / absence and type of optional items in FIG. 9, those marked with a circle are attached, and those not marked with a circle are not attached. Moreover, the threshold value described in the leftmost column in the temperature threshold value column in the drive control of the blower in FIG. 9 is the default temperature threshold value Sx, and the threshold values described in the columns other than the leftmost column are the temperature after the principle change. It becomes the threshold value Sy (however, some threshold values are the same as the initial temperature threshold values depending on the type and combination of the installed optional products. That is, only some of the four temperature threshold values S1 to S4 are used. Show different cases). In addition, a threshold value for which a numerical value after the decimal point is not described in the temperature threshold value column indicates that the numerical value after the decimal point is “0”, and the description is omitted.

  Thus, the blower drive control unit 16 configured in consideration of the circumstances when the optional product is mounted controls the operation of the blower 6 as follows.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10, the blower drive control unit 16 receives the detection information of the optional product detection unit 18 from the central control device 14, and determines whether there is mounting information of the optional product (S20). The optional product mounting information is information regarding whether or not an optional product is installed and the type of the installed optional product that has an effect of increasing the internal temperature of the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  At this time, if it is determined that there is no mounting information on the optional product, the temperature threshold value Sx (1 to 4) is applied without any change in the temperature threshold value as shown in FIG. Control based on this is executed. The control contents at this time are the contents shown as the flow of steps S21 to S26 in FIG. 10, which is the same as the contents shown as the flow of steps S10 to S15 in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there is mounting information for an optional product, a part or all of the initial temperature threshold value Sx is set as shown in FIG. 9 according to the content of the mounting information. (S27).

  For example, when the large-capacity paper feeder 102 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 9, the initial temperature threshold value Sx1 of the exhaust blower 61 is changed to a threshold temperature Sy1 of a slightly lower temperature, and the first exhaust fan 62 The initial temperature threshold value Sx2 is changed to a threshold temperature Sy2 that is a little lower temperature. In addition, when the post-processing device 105 is mounted, the initial temperature threshold value Sx3 of the intake fan 62 in addition to the exhaust blower 61 and the first exhaust fan 62 is changed to a threshold temperature Sy3 that is a little lower temperature. When the odor removal filter 107 is attached, only the default temperature threshold value Sx4 of the second exhaust fan 64 is changed to a threshold temperature Sy4 of a slightly lower temperature. Furthermore, when the large-capacity paper feeder 102 and the post-processing device 105 are mounted, the initial temperature thresholds Sx1 to Sx1 of the other fans (61 to 63) other than the second exhaust fan 64 are slightly lower. It is changed to Sy1-4. Furthermore, when the post-processing device 105 and the odor removing filter 107 are attached and when all of the large-capacity paper feeding device 102, the post-processing device 105 and the odor removing filter 107 are attached, in both cases, the initial setting is performed. All the threshold temperatures Sx1 to Sx4 are changed to different threshold temperatures Sy1 to Sy4.

  The threshold temperature Sy to be changed is actually mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 by changing the type and combination of actual optional products, and the change in the internal temperature of the housing 10 under the same conditions (environmental conditions and operating conditions). It is set after examining the situation and which blower 6 is rotated at a high speed at what internal temperature and appropriate and efficient cooling can be achieved.

  After changing the threshold temperature, the control contents (the contents shown as the flow of steps S10 to S15 in FIG. 6) are the same as when the default threshold temperature Sx is applied, except that the threshold temperature to be applied is different. is there.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the blower drive control unit 16 obtains information on the measured temperature T measured by the temperature sensor 15 (S31), and the measured temperature T is stored in the storage unit 16a of the drive control unit 16. It is determined whether or not the temperature threshold value Sy is exceeded (S32).

  At this time, the blower 6 (61 to 64) determined that the measured temperature T does not exceed the temperature threshold value Sy1 to Sy4 is controlled to rotate at a preset normal speed V1 (S33). The rotation drive at the normal speed V1 is continued in principle as long as the elapsed time from the determination (S32) does not exceed a predetermined set time t1 that is set in advance, but the elapsed time is set time t1. Is exceeded (S34).

  On the other hand, the blower 6 (61-64) for which the measured temperature T is determined to have exceeded the temperature threshold value Sy1-4 is controlled to be driven to rotate at a high speed V2 that is higher than the preset normal speed V1. (S35). The rotation drive at the normal speed V2 is continued in principle as long as the elapsed time from when the determination is made (S32) does not exceed a predetermined set time t2, which is set in advance, but the elapsed time is set time t2. Is exceeded (S36). Incidentally, the threshold temperature is set to be returned to the default threshold temperature Sx when the attached optional product is removed and used.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the initial threshold temperature Sx of the blower 6 (61 to 64) for which it is necessary to enhance the cooling effect early in accordance with the type and combination of optional products to be mounted in this way is lower than that. The threshold temperature Sy is changed.

Thereby, in the image forming apparatus 1, even when an optional product is mounted, the inside of the housing 10 after the mounting is appropriately applied by the blower 6 (part or all of 61 to 64) that is a cooling unit. As a result, an unnecessary increase in the internal temperature of the housing 10 can be suppressed. Further, only the threshold temperature required depending on the type and combination of optional accessories to be mounted is changed to make appropriate cooling, prevents increasing the rotational speed of the blower 6 at an earlier timing than necessary, this result can be reduced without causing an unnecessary increase in wasteful increase (worsening) and noise power.

  Further, in this image forming apparatus 1, in addition to temperature management by controlling the operation of the blower 6 by the blower drive control unit 16, as a countermeasure when the internal temperature of the housing 10 rises abnormally for some reason, FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the central control device 14 performs temperature management in which forced cooling is performed.

  In other words, the central control device 14 is prepared by storing the threshold temperature Q (at the time of abnormal temperature rise) in the forced cooling control in the storage unit 14a, and the measured temperature T and the threshold temperature Q of the temperature sensor 15 are prepared. On the basis of the image forming device 2, the intermediate transfer device 3 and the fixing device 5 constituting the image forming unit, and the operation of the paper feeding device 4 (including the conveyance path) are forcibly terminated and stopped, Control which performs forced cooling which operates blower 6 in that state is performed.

  Specifically, as shown in the lower left part of FIG. 11, the central controller 14 obtains information of the measured temperature T measured by the temperature sensor 15 (S41), and stores the measured temperature T in the storage unit 14a. It is judged (monitored) whether or not the initially set temperature threshold value Qx is exceeded (S42).

  At this time, when it is determined that the measured temperature T exceeds the temperature threshold value Qx, an operation stop control signal is transmitted to the image forming unit control unit 20 and the paper transport unit control unit 40, and the image forming unit of the image forming unit 2. The operation of the intermediate transfer device 3 and the fixing device 5 and the operation of the paper feeding device 4 (including the conveyance path) are forcibly terminated and stopped (S43). Then, a control signal is transmitted to the air blower drive control part 16, and the air blower 6 (all of 61-64) is rotationally driven at the high speed V2 (S44). This forced cooling operation is continued until the measured temperature T becomes lower than the temperature threshold value Qx (S45).

  Thereby, the situation where the internal temperature of the housing | casing 10 rises abnormally can be prevented. After the forced cooling operation is completed, the forced termination state of the operation of the image forming unit or the like is canceled, and the remaining image forming operations are performed unless there is another abnormality.

  Then, the image forming apparatus 1 considers the above-described circumstances related to the temperature rise when the optional product is mounted, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, when the central control device 14 is installed with the optional product. The threshold temperature Q in the forced cooling control is changed to a threshold temperature Qy different from the default threshold temperature Qx, and control based on the threshold temperature Qy is executed.

  The threshold temperature Qy to be changed is actually mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 by changing the type and combination of the actual optional products, and the change in the internal temperature of the housing 10 under the same conditions (environmental conditions and operating conditions). It is set after investigating the situation and what kind of internal temperature the fan 6 can be rapidly cooled by rotating at high speed.

  In this way, forced cooling in consideration of the circumstances when the optional product is mounted is performed as follows.

  First, as shown in FIG. 11, the central controller 14 receives the detection information of the option product detection unit 18 and determines whether there is installation information of the option product (S20). At this time, if it is determined that there is no mounting information on the optional product, the temperature threshold value Qx is applied without any change in the temperature threshold value as shown in FIG. 9, and control based on the temperature threshold value Qx is executed. The The control contents at this time are the contents shown in the flow of steps S41 to S45 in FIG. 11 as described above.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there is mounting information for an optional product, the initial temperature threshold Qx is changed to a temperature threshold Qy having a temperature lower than the temperature threshold Qx as shown in FIG. 9 according to the contents of the mounting information. (S46). After changing the threshold temperature, the control contents (the contents shown as the flow of steps S41 to S45 in FIG. 11) are the same as when the default threshold temperature Qx is applied, except that the threshold temperature to be applied is different. is there.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the central controller 14 obtains information on the measured temperature T measured by the temperature sensor 15 (S51), and sets the measured temperature T to the temperature threshold value Qy stored in the storage unit 14a. It is determined whether or not it exceeds (S52).

  At this time, when it is determined that the measured temperature T exceeds the temperature threshold Qy, the operations of the image forming device 2, the intermediate transfer device 3, and the fixing device 5 of the image forming unit and the operation of the paper feeding device 4 are forcibly stopped. (S53). Subsequently, the blower 6 (all of 61 to 64) is rotationally driven at a high speed V2 (S54). The forced cooling operation at this time is continued until the measured temperature T becomes lower than the temperature threshold value Qy (S55). Incidentally, the threshold temperature is set to be returned to the default threshold temperature Qx when the attached optional product is removed and used.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the initial threshold temperature Sx in the forced cooling control is changed to a lower threshold temperature Sy in accordance with the type and combination of the optional items to be mounted. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can execute appropriate forced cooling against an abnormal rise in the internal temperature of the housing 10 after the optional product is mounted, even when the optional product is mounted. As a result, it is possible to suppress an abnormal increase in the internal temperature of the housing 10 after the optional product is mounted.

[Other embodiments]
Threshold temperature S in the control of normal temperature management, as an option, speed increasing degree would have quickened affect device on the internal temperature of the housing 10 under the same conditions by its attachment (part) is mounted The threshold temperature Sy is changed from the default threshold temperature Sx as necessary, but is not changed when an optional product that does not affect the threshold temperature Sy is installed. The same applies to the threshold temperature Q in the forced cooling control.

  In the above-described embodiment, on the premise that both the threshold temperature S and the threshold temperature Q are mounted with optional products that have an effect of increasing the rate of increase of the internal temperature of the housing 10. The case where the threshold temperatures Sy and Qy are changed to lower temperatures than the default threshold temperatures Sx and Qx is illustrated. However, in the case where the optional product is an apparatus that has the effect of slowing the rate of increase in the internal temperature of the housing 10 when the optional product is mounted, the threshold temperature S and the threshold temperature may be used if necessary. You may comprise so that Q may be changed into threshold temperature Sy and Qy of temperature higher than the default threshold temperature Sx and Qx.

  Furthermore, even with the same type of optional product (for example, a post-processing device), the characteristics that increase the internal temperature of the housing 10 may be different depending on the actual configuration content. For this reason, as the threshold temperature Sy to be changed, an optional product of the same type that is suitable for the actual temperature rise is prepared individually, and the optional product that is the target of each threshold temperature Sy. It is necessary to configure the optional product detection unit 18 or the like so that it can be recognized.

  A plurality of temperature sensors 15 can be installed. Even in this case, for example, the number of installations may be smaller than the number of products to be cooled, or the installation position may be a position away from the products to be cooled. . As a cooling unit that cools and suppresses an increase in the internal temperature of the housing 10, another type of cooling unit may be applied instead of the blower 6 or in combination with the blower 6.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the intermediate transfer device 3 (intermediate transfer method) is applied to the image forming unit is exemplified as the image forming device, but the toner image formed by the image forming device 2 is recorded on the recording paper 9. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus may directly transfer to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus may be an image forming apparatus that forms a single color image. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the one that employs the electrophotographic method or the electrostatic recording method, and may employ another recording method (for example, an ink jet recording method, a thermal recording method, or the like).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Image forming apparatus (a part of apparatus which forms an image)
3 ... Intermediate transfer device (part of equipment for image formation)
5: Fixing device (part of equipment for forming image)
6 ... Blower (cooling means)
10 ... Case 14 ... Central control unit (part of control means)
16 ... Blower drive control unit (control means)
15 ... Temperature sensor (measuring means)
18 ... Optional product detection unit (detection means)
61. Exhaust blower (one of cooling means)
62 ... First exhaust fan (one of cooling means)
63 ... Intake fan (one of the cooling means)
64. Second exhaust fan (one of cooling means)
T ... Measured temperature Sx ... Default threshold temperature Sy ... Different threshold temperature Qx ... Default threshold temperature (threshold temperature when abnormal temperature rises)
Qy: Different threshold temperatures (different threshold temperatures when abnormal temperature rises)

Claims (5)

A housing in which an image forming device is installed;
Measuring means for measuring the temperature inside the housing;
A plurality of cooling means that are arranged at different positions of the casing and controlled to operate individually, and cool and suppress an increase in temperature inside the casing;
Control means for controlling the operation of the plurality of cooling means based on the measured temperature and temperature threshold measured by the measuring means;
Detecting means for detecting the presence and type of an arbitrary device that is optionally mounted on and used at least one of the outside and inside of the housing; and
The control means includes an individual temperature threshold prepared in advance corresponding to each of the plurality of cooling means as the temperature threshold, and the temperature threshold is determined from detection information of the detection means . An image forming apparatus, wherein the operation of the plurality of cooling units is controlled by changing a part or all of the individual threshold values to a temperature threshold value different from an initial temperature threshold value according to the type and combination information. .   The optional device is a device that has an effect of increasing the rate of increase of the internal temperature of the housing under the same condition when the optional device is mounted compared to when the optional device is not mounted. The image forming apparatus according to 1.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the temperature threshold value to a temperature threshold value lower than an initial temperature threshold value when the detection information is information indicating that an arbitrary device is attached. . The control means stops forced operation of the apparatus for forming the image and activates the cooling means on the basis of a measured temperature measured by the measuring means and a preset temperature threshold value when the abnormal temperature rises. Execute the control of
In addition, a plurality of temperature thresholds are provided in advance as temperature thresholds at the time of the abnormal temperature rise, and the temperature threshold is different from the temperature threshold at the time of the abnormal temperature rise that is initially set according to the detection information of the detection unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the forced cooling control is executed by changing to a temperature threshold value when the temperature rises . The optional device includes a supply device that supplies a recording material to be image-formed, a post-processing device that processes the recording material after the image is formed into a required state, and a filter member that is attached to a portion where air flows. the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 at least is one of.

Images