JP5792136B2 - Paper feeder for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feeding device of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a paper feeding device of an image forming apparatus that performs dehumidification of paper.

  Conventionally, when an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a multifunctional printer (MFP) is used in a high-humidity environment, the paper placed and stored in the paper feeding device absorbs moisture and is fed. There was a possibility of causing poor paper performance and poor image quality. For this reason, a method of dehumidifying by increasing the ambient temperature of the paper with a heater is used.

However, in such a method, there is a problem that there is a lot of waste in terms of power, for example, it is necessary to energize the heater at all times.
For this reason, with reference to Patent Document 1 regarding conventional paper dehumidification, a technique using a dehumidifying unit including a chemical dehumidifying agent is disclosed (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Technique 1).
Further, referring to Patent Document 2, there has been proposed one that uses a dehumidifying agent that can be heated and regenerated and heats a dehumidifying member to remove moisture that has been absorbed and regenerated (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Technology 2). .)
In the prior art 1 and the prior art 2, the hot air that is heated when the dehumidifying agent is regenerated and the moisture is absorbed is discharged outside the image forming apparatus.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-128748 JP 2006-119339 A

  However, in the prior art 1 and the prior art 2, hot air with high humidity is discharged around the image forming apparatus. As a result, there is a problem in that a person around the image forming apparatus is uncomfortable.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, and makes it a subject to eliminate the above-mentioned subject.

A sheet feeding device of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a warm air generating unit that introduces external air and warms the introduced air in a sheet feeding device including a sheet storing unit that stores stacked sheets. And the air passage through which the air heated by the hot air generating means flows, and the paper storage means and the air flow path are separated , and the paper storage means and the air flow path are separated , and high temperature / low humidity A sheet-like renewable dehumidifying agent from which moisture absorbed by contact with the air is released, cooling means for cooling the air discharged to the outside from the ventilation path, and the air by cooling the cooling means A water recovery container for recovering water condensed from the first air hole formed in the lower portion of the paper storage means and communicating between the paper storage means and one surface of the dehumidifying agent. In the upper part of the ventilation path The 2nd air hole which connects the said ventilation path and the other surface of the said dehumidifying agent is formed, and the said 1st air hole and the 2nd air hole are formed in a different position on both sides of the said dehumidifying agent The air that is not heated from the paper feed cassette does not directly enter the ventilation path during the reproduction, so that the warm hot air is not discharged to the outside of the machine, and there is no discomfort to the people around you. It is characterized by that.
In the sheet feeding device of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the intake port and the exhaust port of the ventilation path are disposed adjacent to each other, and function as the heating fin functioning as the hot air generation unit and the cooling unit. A Peltier element having a cooling fin is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet feeding device of an image forming apparatus that discharges wind that has been cooled and reduced in humidity when the dehumidifying agent is regenerated and does not cause discomfort to the people around.

1 is a schematic schematic sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a relationship among a paper feed cassette 421, a paper feed device 5, and a cooling water recovery unit 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a side view of moisture collection and dehumidification during reproduction by the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a flowchart of the dehumidification process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a sheet feeding device 15 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

<First Embodiment>
[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 1 and Paper Feeding Apparatus 5]
First, the configurations of the image forming apparatus 1 and the paper feeding device 5 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
An image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a copying machine or an MFP. Referring to FIG. 1, a document reading unit 2, a document feeding unit 3, a main body unit 4, a sheet feeding device 5, and an operation And a panel portion 6.
The document reading unit 2 is disposed on the top of the main body unit 4, and the document feeding unit 3 is disposed on the top of the document reading unit 2. The operation panel unit 6 is disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The document reading unit 2 includes a scanner 21, a platen glass 22, and a document reading slit 23. The scanner 21 includes an exposure lamp, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) imaging sensor, and the like, and is configured to be movable in the document transport direction by the document feeder 3. The platen glass 22 is an original table made of a transparent member such as glass. The document reading slit 23 has a slit formed in a direction orthogonal to the document transport direction by the document feeder 3.

When reading a document placed on the platen glass 22, the scanner 21 is moved to a position facing the platen glass 22 and reads the document while scanning the document placed on the platen glass 22 to obtain image data. The acquired image data is output to the main unit 4.
When reading the document conveyed by the document feeding unit 3, the scanner 21 is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 23, and the document is conveyed by the document feeding unit 3 through the document reading slit 23. The document is read in synchronization with the operation to acquire image data, and the acquired image data is output to the main body unit 4.

  The document feeding unit 3 includes a document placement unit 31, a document discharge unit 32, and a document transport mechanism 33. The originals placed on the original placement unit 31 are sequentially fed out one by one by the original conveyance mechanism 33, conveyed to a position facing the original reading slit 23, and then discharged to the original discharge unit 32. The document feeding unit 3 is configured to be retractable, and the upper surface of the platen glass 22 can be opened by lifting the document feeding unit 3 upward.

The main body 4 includes a recording unit 7 and also includes a paper feed roller 422, a paper transport path 43, a transport roller 44, and a discharge roller 45.
The paper feed roller 422, the transport roller 44, and the discharge roller 45 function as a transport unit. The paper feed roller 422 feeds paper from the paper feed cassette 421 to the paper transport path 43 one by one. The paper is transported by this transport unit. The sheet fed to the sheet conveyance path 43 by the sheet feeding roller 422 is conveyed to the recording unit 7 by the conveyance roller 44.
Then, the sheet on which recording is performed by the recording unit 7 is discharged from the discharge port 41 to the tray 46 by the discharge roller 45.

The operation panel unit 6 includes a display unit 61 such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, a button 62 including a numeric keypad, and the like.
The operation panel unit 6 detects an instruction from the user and transmits it to the control unit 8. The operation panel unit 6 can also detect dehumidification timer settings and the like.

The recording unit 7 includes a photosensitive drum 71, an exposure unit 72, an image forming unit 73, a transfer unit 74, and a fixing unit 75. The exposure unit 72 is an optical unit that includes a laser device, an LED array, a mirror, a lens, and the like. An electrostatic latent image is formed.
The image forming unit 73 is a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 71 using toner, and forms a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 71. The transfer unit 74 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 71 by the image forming unit 73 to a sheet. The fixing unit 75 performs recording by heating the sheet on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 74 and fixing the toner image on the sheet.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.
The document reading unit 2, document feeding unit 3, transport unit (feed roller 422, transport roller 44, discharge roller 45), sheet feeder 5, operation panel unit 6, and recording unit 7 are connected to the control unit 8. Connected and controlled by the control unit 8.
The control unit 8 is connected to a storage unit 9 (storage unit), an image processing unit 10 (image processing unit), and a counter unit 12 (time acquisition unit).

The paper feeding device 5 is a paper feeding mechanism in which a plurality of paper feeding cassettes 421 that store sheets of different sizes or orientations are arranged so as to be drawable. The paper feeding device 5 includes a dehumidifying unit 500 and a humidity sensor 510. The paper feeding device 5 functions as a paper storage container in which the paper is almost sealed from the outside air by storing the paper feeding cassette 421 in the paper feeding device 5.
The dehumidifying unit 500 is a reproducible dehumidifying mechanism that dehumidifies the paper in the paper feed cassette 421 and collects moisture obtained after a predetermined period. Details of the dehumidifying unit 500 will be described later.
The humidity sensor 510 is a sensor that can detect humidity based on a change in electrical resistance or the like, and can detect humidity in the paper feeding device 5 or the paper feeding cassette 421.
The paper feeding device 5 is also provided with a sensor that detects the drawer of the paper feeding cassette 421 and the placement at a predetermined position. In addition, the sheet feeding device 5 further includes an intake fan driving unit, a heater driving unit, and a control unit such as a microcomputer for controlling them.

The control unit 8 is information processing means such as a microcomputer provided with a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1.
The control unit 8 and the image processing unit 10 read out a control program stored in the ROM and develop the control program in the RAM, thereby controlling the entire apparatus according to predetermined instruction information input from the operation panel unit 6. I do.

The storage unit 9 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 9 stores various programs and data.
The storage unit 9 stores print data. The print data is image data acquired by reading a document by the document reading unit 2, print document data transmitted from a PC (not shown), various files such as FAX reception data, and the like.

  The image processing unit 10 is a control calculation part of a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The image processing unit 10 is a unit that performs predetermined image processing on image data, and performs, for example, image improvement processing such as enlargement / reduction processing, density adjustment, and gradation adjustment.

The counter unit 12 is a battery backup real-time timer or the like, and is used to operate the dehumidifying unit 500 of the sheet feeding device 5 under the control of the control unit 8.
The counter unit 12 includes a regeneration timer that counts (measures) the regeneration time of the dehumidifying unit 500 and a standby timer that counts a period during which the paper cassette 421 is dehumidified.

The image forming apparatus 1 may include a network connection unit such as a LAN board for connecting to a LAN or WAN.
Further, the control unit 8 and the image processing unit 10 may be integrally formed like a GPU built-in CPU or the like or a chip-on-module package.

[Detailed Configuration of Paper Feeding Device 5]
Next, the detailed configuration of the sheet feeding device 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 421. The paper feed cassette 421 is configured to be capable of being pulled out to store paper. In the paper feed cassette 421, for example, a slit-like air hole 425 for moisture absorption is opened on the surface on which the paper is placed.
FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the sheet feeding device 5. The paper feeding device 5 includes a paper storage unit 540 (paper storage unit) on which the paper feed cassette 421 is placed, and a dehumidifying unit 500 (dehumidification unit, dehumidification mechanism) below the paper storage unit 540. In the paper storage unit 540, air holes 505 (first air holes) are opened at positions corresponding to the air holes 425 of the paper feed cassette 421. The air hole 505 and the air hole 425 communicate one surface of the sheet-like dehumidifying agent 501 with the paper feed cassette 421. That is, the air hole 505 and the air hole 425 constitute a ventilation means between the dehumidifying agent 501 for dehumidifying the paper in the paper feed cassette 421.
Further, the housing of the paper feeding device 5 is provided with an air inlet 520 and an air outlet 525 for the ventilation path 504 used for the dehumidifying mechanism.
Note that the air hole 425 of the paper feed cassette 421 does not necessarily have to be opened at a position corresponding to the air hole 505 of the paper storage unit 540. In such a configuration, the paper feed cassette 421 and the air hole 505 of the paper storage unit 540 are communicated with each other via a duct or the like.

More specifically, the dehumidifying unit 500 includes a dehumidifying agent 501, a fan 502, a heater 503, a ventilation path 504, a cooling water recovery unit 50, and the like.
The dehumidifying agent 501 is a sheet-like renewable dehumidifying agent such as a nonwoven fabric containing zeolite or silica gel, a hygroscopic agent, or the like. The dehumidifying agent 501 is disposed between the air hole 505 and the ventilation path 504 of the paper storage unit 540 of the paper feeding device 5. For this reason, the dehumidifying agent 501 is fixed to the back side of the lower portion of the air hole 505 of the housing with a fastener or an adhesive (not shown) to separate the intake hole 520 and the ventilation path 504.
Even when the dehumidifying agent 501 reaches a saturated state where it cannot absorb any more moisture, the absorbed moisture is released by touching high-temperature / low-humidity air. As a result, the dehumidifying agent 501 recovers its dehumidifying function and is regenerated.
The dehumidifying agent 501 absorbs moisture contained in the air that has passed through the air holes 425 and 505 of the paper feed cassette 421 and dehumidifies the paper.
For example, the dehumidifying agent 501 is regenerated at a predetermined time counted by the counter unit 12 (FIG. 2) with reference to the time when the paper feed cassette 421 is replaced.

The fan 502 is an intake fan provided near the intake port 520 of the sheet feeding device 5. The fan 502 includes driving means such as a motor and wings for blowing air.
The fan 502 can acquire air from the air inlet 520 of the sheet feeding device 5 via the main body 4 and can acquire the air in the ventilation path 504.

The heater 503 is a nichrome wire or a ceramic heating element that generates warm air for regenerating the dehumidifying agent.
The heater 503 is provided in the vicinity of the intake fan 502, for example, and can warm the outside air from several degrees Celsius to several tens of degrees Celsius.
The fan 502 and the heater 503 function as hot air generation means.
It is also possible to use the heat generated by the heater of the recording unit 7 of the main body unit 4 as it is without providing the heater 503 separately. Further, the heater 503 and the humidity sensor 510 may be integrally formed.

The ventilation path 504 is a ventilation path on the lower surface of the dehumidifying agent 501 from the intake fan 502 to the cooling water recovery unit 50, that is, an air flow path.
In addition, a slit-like air hole 506 (second air hole) for regenerating the dehumidifying agent 501 is opened in the upper part of the ventilation path 504. As a result, the air hole 506 communicates with the other surface of the dehumidifying agent 501. That is, the ventilation path 504 constitutes a ventilation means for evaporating the moisture contained in the dehumidifying agent 501 and regenerating it.
The air hole 506, the air hole 425, and the air hole 505 are formed at different positions with the dehumidifying agent 501 interposed therebetween. That is, the air hole 506, the air hole 425, and the air hole 505 are opened at positions that do not face each other with the dehumidifying agent 501 interposed therebetween. This indicates that the air holes 506 and at least the air holes 505 are alternately opened so as not to overlap in the normal direction of each surface of the dehumidifying agent 501, for example. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the warm air flowing in the ventilation path 504 from being directly ejected toward the paper feed cassette 421. Conversely, the air flowing from the paper feed cassette 421 to the dehumidifying agent 501 is also prevented from being directly sucked into the ventilation path 504 from the air hole 506.

  Note that the air hole 505 may be provided with a non-woven fabric, a resin such as GORE-TEX (registered trademark), a sheet such as a mesh, and the like so as to prevent entry of dust and the like.

With reference to FIG. 3C, the heat radiation fin 551 (cooling means) and the moisture recovery tank 552 (moisture recovery container) disposed in the vicinity of the exhaust port 525 of the housing of the sheet feeding device 5 will be described. The heat dissipating fins 551 and the water recovery tank 552 constitute a cooling water recovery unit 50.
The heat radiation fin 551 is an aggregate of fins formed of a metal having good thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper. The heat dissipating fins 551 may be configured to come into contact with the casing of the paper feeding device 5 to release heat. Further, the heat dissipating fins 551 may collect fins having a corrugated shape instead of a straight line, increase the surface area, and cool the air more efficiently.
When the dehumidifying agent 501 is regenerated, the heat radiating fins 551 are contacted with warm air containing moisture evaporated from the dehumidifying agent 501.
Then, the water of the warm air that has been contacted is condensed and dropped below the heat dissipating fins 551. On the other hand, the hot air from which moisture has been collected by the heat dissipating fins 551 is thereafter discharged from the exhaust port 525 without contacting the dehumidifying agent 501.
The heat-dissipating fins 551 may be combined with heat transfer means such as a heat pipe, a heat lane, a bay bar chamber, a water / liquid cooling pipe, and a small cooler for cooling.

The moisture recovery tank 552 is a container in which moisture condensed by the heat radiation fins 551 is collected and stored.
When the warm air containing moisture is passed through the heat radiation fins 551 during regeneration, the moisture is converted into water droplets and stored in the moisture recovery tank 552.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the moist warm air from being discharged outside the image forming apparatus 1.

With reference to FIG. 4, the operation of the dehumidifying unit 500 of the sheet feeding device 5 will be described in more detail.
FIG. 4A shows a side view of the paper feeding device 5 on which the paper feeding cassette 421 is placed. Thick arrows indicate air flow.
When the dehumidifying capacity of the dehumidifying agent 501 decreases, the fan 502 rotates and air outside the paper feeding device 5 is introduced from the air inlet 520. The introduced air is heated by the heater 503, passes through the ventilation path 504, and is applied to the lower part of the dehumidifying agent 501. Thereby, moisture evaporates from the dehumidifying agent 501, and the dehumidifying agent 501 is regenerated.
Further, the humid hot air generated during the regeneration is cooled by the heat-dissipating fins 551 and discharged from the exhaust port 525 to the outside of the paper feeding device 5.
Further, water droplets generated when the humid hot air is cooled by the heat radiation fins 551 are collected in the moisture collection tank 552.

FIG.4 (b) is AA sectional drawing of Fig.4 (a). A thick arrow mainly indicates the flow of air from the paper feed cassette 421.
Air containing moisture in the sheet cassette 421 is absorbed by the dehumidifying agent 501 through the air holes 425 of the sheet cassette 421 and the air holes 505 of the sheet feeder 5.
Here, as shown in FIG. 4B, the air holes 506 are arranged at positions shifted with the air holes 425 and the air holes 505 and the dehumidifying agent 501 interposed therebetween. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the dehumidifying agent 501 is regenerated, the air containing moisture evaporated by the warm air is not ejected so much into the sheet feeding cassette 421 through the air holes 505 and 425. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the paper from getting wet during the reproduction.
Conversely, unheated air from the paper feed cassette 421 does not directly enter the ventilation path 504 during regeneration. For this reason, since only the warm air hits the dehumidifying agent 501, evaporation of moisture from the dehumidifying agent 501 can be promoted. That is, since the wind whose temperature is high and humidity is low in the heater 503 strikes the dehumidifying agent 501, the efficiency of regeneration is increased.

Instead of / in addition to the fan 502, the cooling water recovery unit 50 may be provided with an exhaust fan.
In this case, if the inside of the ventilation path 504 is controlled to be a negative pressure, the air hole 505 is pressurized so as to be sucked from the paper feed cassette 421. For this reason, air containing moisture at the time of regeneration can be substantially prevented from being ejected to the paper feed cassette 421 through the air hole 505 and the air hole 425.

[Dehumidification / Regeneration Process of Dehumidification Unit 500 by Image Forming Apparatus 1]
Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the dehumidification / regeneration process of the dehumidifying unit 500 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail for each step.
The dehumidifying / regenerating process of the dehumidifying unit 500 can be realized by the control unit 8 executing a program stored in the storage unit 9 using hardware resources based on various settings stored in the storage unit 9.

(Step S100)
First, the control unit 8 performs a reproduction start detection process.
When the paper cassette 421 is opened or closed, or when the power is turned on, the control unit 8 detects this as a signal for starting the regeneration of the dehumidifying agent 501.
Also, the control unit 8 detects this as a signal to start playback even when the standby timer of the counter unit 12 has elapsed a predetermined time.

(Step S101)
Next, the control unit 8 determines whether or not a reproduction start signal is detected.
If Yes, that is, if a signal to start playback is detected, the control unit 8 advances the process to step S104.
In the case of No, that is, when the signal for starting reproduction is not detected, the control unit 8 advances the process to step S102.

(Step S102)
Next, the control unit 8 performs a humidity measurement process.
The control unit 8 acquires the value of the humidity sensor 510 and measures the humidity in the paper feeding device 5 or the paper feeding cassette 421.
The humidity may be measured by obtaining an average value for a predetermined time.

(Step S103)
Next, the control unit 8 determines whether or not the measured humidity is higher than a predetermined humidity.
When the measured humidity is higher than a predetermined value of, for example, about 60%, the control unit 8 is not properly dehumidified with the dehumidifying agent 501, that is, the dehumidifying agent 501 is in a saturated state and needs to be regenerated. , Yes. On the other hand, if the measured humidity is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, it is determined as No because it is adjusted to an appropriate humidity by the dehumidifying agent 501 or does not require dehumidification.
In the case of Yes, the control part 8 advances a process to step S104.
In No, the control part 8 advances a process to step S108.

(Step S104)
When a dehumidification signal is detected or when the measured humidity is higher than a predetermined value, the control unit 8 performs a dehumidifying agent regeneration initialization process.
The control unit 8 once initializes all the processes of the sheet feeding device 5 and initializes the reproduction timer and the standby timer of the counter unit 12. Further, an initial operation such as checking each sensor of the sheet feeding device 5 is performed.

(Step S105)
Next, the control unit 8 performs a fan / heater driving process.
The control unit 8 starts regeneration of the dehumidifying agent 501. For this reason, the control unit 8 drives the fan 502 of the dehumidifying unit 500 and turns on the heater 503.

(Step S106)
Next, the control unit 8 performs a reproduction timer count process.
The control unit 8 sets the regeneration timer of the counter unit 12 to a predetermined time. As the predetermined time of the regeneration timer, the control unit 8 uses a sufficient time for regeneration of the dehumidifying agent 501. For example, when the dehumidifying agent 501 is silica gel, the control unit 8 uses about 30 minutes to several hours as the predetermined time of the regeneration timer. Further, the control unit 8 may calculate and set the predetermined time of the regeneration timer as a variable value based on the measured humidity.
The control unit 8 advances the process to step S107 after the elapse of a predetermined time of the regeneration timer.

(Step S107)
Next, the control unit 8 performs a fan / heater stop process.
When the regeneration timer of the counter unit 12 has elapsed for a predetermined time, the control unit 8 stops the fan 502 of the dehumidifying unit 500 and turns off the heater 503.
Thereby, the regeneration of the dehumidifying agent 501 is completed.

(Step S108)
When the measured humidity is equal to or lower than the predetermined value or when the regeneration of the dehumidifying agent 501 is finished, the control unit 8 performs a standby timer setting process.
When the dehumidifying agent regeneration operation ends, the control unit 8 sets the standby timer of the counter unit 12 to a predetermined time.
As the predetermined time of the standby timer, the control unit 8 uses a period until it is estimated that the dehumidifying agent 501 is saturated in a general office environment. For example, when the dehumidifying agent 501 is silica gel, the control unit 8 uses about several days as the predetermined time of the standby timer. Further, the control unit 8 may calculate and set a predetermined time of the standby timer from the measured humidity and the time when the paper feed cassette 421 is opened and closed.
Thereafter, the control unit 8 ends the operation of the dehumidifying unit 500.
Thus, the dehumidification / regeneration process of the dehumidifying unit 500 is completed.

With the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained.
The sheet feeding device 5 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention allows the hot air containing moisture generated when the dehumidifying agent 501 is regenerated to pass through the heat radiating fins 551. To form water droplets and recover the water in the water recovery tank 552. For this reason, the wind which cooled and the humidity became low is discharged | emitted. In addition, since the heat-dissipating fins 551 are arranged on the discharge port side, the paper feeding device 5 does not further release and absorb moisture from the dehumidifying agent 501 in the warm air after collecting the moisture.
This prevents the warm hot air from being discharged outside the image forming apparatus 1 and provides an effect of not causing discomfort to people around the image forming apparatus 1.
Further, the air holes 505 and the air holes 506 are arranged alternately with the dehumidifying agent 501 interposed therebetween. As a result, moisture is absorbed by the dehumidifying agent 501 from the paper feed cassette 421 through the air hole 505, and moisture is evaporated from the dehumidifying agent 501 through the air hole 506 during regeneration. That is, the air flow during absorption / evaporation is separate and does not come into direct contact. For this reason, the efficiency of moisture absorption and regeneration can be increased.
Further, by performing regeneration of the dehumidifying agent 501 of the image forming apparatus 1 only when necessary, power consumption can be suppressed as compared with the case where the heater 503 is always driven.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a paper feeding device 15 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the same reference numerals as those of the sheet feeding device 5 (FIGS. 3 and 4) according to the first embodiment indicate similar components.
In the sheet feeding device 15, the partition wall 530 creates a ventilation path through which air flows during regeneration, similar to the ventilation path 504 according to the first embodiment. On this basis, the sheet feeding device 15 has an intake port 520 and an exhaust port 525 arranged adjacent to each other.
Further, in the paper feeding device 15, a Peltier element 555 is used to generate hot air for regenerating the dehumidifying agent 501 and to cool the hot air and form water droplets during the regeneration.
When a current is applied to the Peltier element 555, one surface is heated by the Peltier effect, and the other surface is cooled.
In the example of FIG. 6, a heating fin 553 that is an aggregate of fins such as aluminum and copper is connected to the temperature rising side of the Peltier element 555, and hot air is used instead of the heater 503 according to the first embodiment. It functions as a generation means. In other words, the intake air is warmed by disposing the heating fins 553 downstream of the intake fan 502.
A cooling fin 554 that is an aggregate of fins such as aluminum and copper is connected to the cooling side of the Peltier element. The cooling fin 554 functions as a cooling unit by cooling the warm air regenerated from the dehumidifying agent, similarly to the heat dissipating fin 551 of the first embodiment. The water condensed by the cooling fins 554 is stored in the water recovery tank 552.
Note that the heat fins 553 and the cooling fins 554 may be combined with heat pipes, heat lanes, bayer chambers, and the like. Further, the heating fins 553 and the cooling fins 554 may be formed in a waveform or the like.

During reproduction, air flows as shown by the thick arrows in FIG.
First, the outside air acquired by the fan 502 from the air inlet 520 is heated by the heating fins 553. Then, the heated air evaporates the moisture in the dehumidifying agent 501, is cooled by the cooling fins 554, and is discharged from the exhaust port 525. At this time, the water condensed and formed into water droplets on the cooling fin 554 is recovered in the water recovery tank 552. Here, similarly to the paper feeding device 5 of the first embodiment, the air hole 505 of the paper storage unit 541 (paper storage unit) and the air hole 506 below the dehumidifying agent 501 sandwich the dehumidifying agent 501. Are shifted in the vertical direction of each surface. For this reason, the external air from the air hole 505 does not directly touch the dehumidifying agent 501 during regeneration. Therefore, dehumidification efficiency and regeneration efficiency can be increased.
In the second embodiment, the air hole 425 of the paper feed cassette 421 may be disposed at a position corresponding to the air hole 505 of the paper feed device 15.

With the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained.
The sheet feeding device 15 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention uses the Peltier element 555 to heat / cool air during reproduction.
Thereby, in addition to the advantages of the paper feeding device 5 according to the first embodiment, the Peltier element 555 serves as both the heater 503 and the cooling mechanism, so that the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. .

  Note that the configuration and operation of the above-described embodiment are examples, and it is needless to say that the configuration and operation can be appropriately changed and executed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Original reading part 3 Original feeding part 4 Main body part 5, 15 Paper feeder 6 Operation panel part 7 Recording part 8 Control part 9 Storage part 10 Image processing part 12 Counter part 21 Scanner 22 Platen glass 23 Original reading Slit 31 Document placement section 32 Document discharge section 33 Document transport mechanism 41 Discharge port 43 Paper transport path 44 Transport roller 45 Discharge roller 46 Tray 50 Cooling moisture collection section 61 Display section 62 Button 71 Photosensitive drum 72 Exposure section 73 Image formation section 74 Transfer section 75 Fixing section 421 Paper feed cassette 422 Paper feed rollers 425, 505, 506 Air hole 500 Dehumidifying section 501 Dehumidifying agent 502 Fan 503 Heater 504 Ventilation path 510 Humidity sensor 520 Inlet 525 Exhaust outlet 530 Partition walls 540, 541 Paper Housing 551 Heat Dissipation Fin 552 Moisture Recovery Tank 553 Heating Flow IN 554 Cooling fin 555 Peltier element

Claims (2)

In a paper feeding device having a paper storage means for storing stacked paper,
Hot air generating means for introducing external air and heating the introduced air;
A ventilation path through which the air heated by the warm air generating means flows;
Sheet-like reproduction that is disposed between the paper storage means and the ventilation path, separates the paper storage means and the ventilation path, and releases absorbed moisture when exposed to high-temperature / low-humidity air. Possible dehumidifiers,
Cooling means for cooling the air discharged to the outside from the ventilation path;
A moisture recovery container for recovering moisture condensed from the air by cooling of the cooling means ,
A first air hole is formed in the lower portion of the paper storage means to communicate the paper storage means and one surface of the dehumidifying agent.
In the upper part of the ventilation path, a second air hole is formed to communicate the ventilation path and the other surface of the dehumidifying agent,
The first air hole and the second air hole are formed at different positions across the dehumidifying agent,
It is characterized in that unheated air from the paper feed cassette does not directly enter the ventilation path at the time of reproduction, and does not discharge hot warm air outside the machine, and does not cause discomfort to people around. A sheet feeding device of the image forming apparatus. The inlet and outlet of the ventilation path are arranged adjacent to each other,
The sheet feeding device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a Peltier element having a heating fin functioning as the hot air generating unit and a cooling fin functioning as the cooling unit.

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