JP5884665B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a composite machine of these. In particular, the paper discharge unit that discharges the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is provided with a cooling air blowing device that blows cooling air to the recording medium to cool the recording medium, and the toner discharge to the paper discharge unit. In an image forming apparatus to which a conveyance unit that guides a recording medium on which an image is fixed to a post-processing apparatus is mounted, the recording medium on which a toner image is fixed can be appropriately cooled, and the conveyance unit is provided in a paper discharge unit. The recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is appropriately guided to the post-processing device through the conveyance unit without hindering the conveyance of the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed by the cooling air. It is characterized by a point.

  In an image forming apparatus including a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a composite machine of these, after a toner image is heated and fixed on a recording medium by a fixing device, the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed in this manner is placed in a paper discharge unit. In the case of paper discharge, since the temperature of the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is generally high, as shown in Patent Document 1, a cooling air blow is applied to the recording medium discharged to the paper discharge unit. Cooling air is blown from the attaching device to cool the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed.

  In recent years, a transport unit is provided in the paper discharge unit in order to perform post-processing such as stapling, punching, and folding on the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed as described above. Is used, and the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is guided from the paper discharge unit to the post-processing device through the transport unit.

  In the image forming apparatus in which the transport unit is attached to the paper discharge unit so that the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed as described above is guided from the paper discharge unit to the post-processing device, the recording with the toner image fixed thereon is performed. In cooling a recording medium by blowing cooling air from a cooling air blowing device on the medium, conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 2, a recording medium on which a toner image is fixed from a cooling air blowing device is used. The one that controls the cooling air to be blown is proposed.

  Here, in the one disclosed in Patent Document 2, a cooling air blowing device that blows cooling air to a recording medium on which a toner image is fixed is positioned upstream of a paper discharge roller that discharges the recording medium in the paper discharge direction. The amount of cooling air blown to the recording medium from the cooling air blowing device is controlled, and when the conveying unit is not mounted, the amount of cooling air blown to the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is reduced, or While the cooling air blowing is stopped, the amount of the cooling air blown onto the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is increased in a state where the transport unit is mounted, and the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is rapidly cooled. I am doing so.

  However, when the cooling air blowing device is provided at a position upstream of the paper discharge roller for discharging the recording medium in the paper discharge direction, the cooling air blow is performed before the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is guided to the paper discharge roller. There is a problem that cooling air is blown from the attaching device to the recording medium, the recording medium is not properly guided to the paper discharge roller, and the recording medium is clogged.

  In addition, when the conveying unit is not installed, if the amount of cooling air blown to the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is reduced or the blowing of the cooling air is stopped, the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is sufficient. No longer cools down. The recording medium on which the toner image is fixed as described above is sequentially discharged and stacked on the paper discharge unit in a state where the recording medium is not sufficiently cooled. In the image forming apparatus provided in the space between the image reading unit and the image reading device unit, the heat of the recording medium is not properly discharged to the outside, but the heat is accumulated in the paper discharge unit and discharged to the paper discharge unit. As a result, problems such as sticking of the stacked recording media occur.

  Also, when the transport unit is installed, if the amount of cooling air blown to the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is increased, the recording medium is not properly guided to the paper discharge roller and is also guided to the paper discharge roller. However, there is a problem that the recording medium is not properly guided from the paper discharge roller to the transport unit due to vibration of the recording medium due to the cooling air, and the recording medium is clogged.

JP 2008-134484 A JP 2006-138892 A

  According to the present invention, a discharge unit that discharges a recording medium on which a toner image is fixed is provided with a cooling air blowing device that blows cooling air to the recording medium to cool the recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problems in an image forming apparatus in which a conveyance unit that guides a recording medium on which a toner image is fixed to a post-processing apparatus.

  That is, according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus as described above, the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed can be appropriately cooled, and the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed on the paper discharge unit is post-processed. When the conveyance unit that guides the toner image is mounted, the conveyance of the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is not hindered by the cooling air, and the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is guided to the conveyance unit and passes through the conveyance unit. It is an object of the present invention to ensure that the recording medium is appropriately conveyed to the post-processing apparatus.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, a cooling air blowing device that cools the recording medium by blowing cooling air to the recording medium to a paper discharge unit that discharges the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is provided. In an image forming apparatus provided with a conveyance unit that guides a recording medium having a toner image fixed on the paper discharge unit to a post-processing device, cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium Cooling air adjusting means for adjusting the air flow rate in the vertical direction is provided, and when the conveying unit is attached to the paper discharge unit by the cooling air adjusting means, the above-mentioned condition is not compared with the state where the conveying unit is not attached. The amount of cooling air blown against the recording medium in the vertical direction was reduced.

  Here, in this image forming apparatus, when the cooling air is blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium, the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed causes the recording medium to discharge the recording medium to the paper discharge unit. Therefore, it is preferable that the cooling air is blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium at a position downstream of the paper discharge roller in the paper discharge direction.

  Further, when the cooling air is blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium, it is preferable to blow the cooling air from above the recording medium in order to prevent the recording medium from vibrating.

  In this image forming apparatus, when adjusting the vertical air volume of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium by the cooling air adjusting means, the cooling air blowing device applies to the recording medium. Change the air volume of the cooling air to be blown to adjust the vertical air volume of the cooling air blown against the recording medium, or change the direction of the cooling air blown against the recording medium from the cooling air blowing device. It is possible to adjust the air volume in the vertical direction of the cooling air blown against the air.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the cooling air is blown to the recording medium by the cooling air blowing device provided in the paper discharge unit for discharging the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed as described above. In the state where the cooling air adjusting means adjusts the vertical air volume of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium by the cooling air adjusting means, and the transport unit is mounted on the paper discharge unit, The amount of the cooling air blown to the recording medium in the vertical direction is smaller than that in the state where the transport unit is not mounted.

  As a result, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the transport unit is mounted on the paper discharge unit, the cooling air blowing force that blows from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium in the vertical direction becomes weak. It is suppressed that the recording medium vibrates in the paper discharge unit due to the cooling air, and the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is appropriately guided to the transport unit and appropriately transported to the post-processing apparatus through the transport unit. become.

  On the other hand, when the transport unit is not mounted on the paper discharge unit, the cooling air blowing force that blows from the cooling air blowing device in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium is strong, and the toner image is fixed by the cooling air. The recording medium is sufficiently cooled, and the recording medium is sufficiently cooled in this manner and sequentially discharged and stacked on the paper discharge unit. Even in the image forming apparatus provided in the space between the apparatus unit, heat is not accumulated in the sheet discharge unit, and the recording media discharged and stacked on the sheet discharge unit do not stick to each other.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a paper discharge unit is provided in a space between the image forming device unit and the image reading device unit in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a toner image is formed on a recording medium in the image forming apparatus unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a state in which a paper discharge unit between the image forming apparatus unit and the image reading apparatus unit is provided with a conveyance unit that guides the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed to the post-processing device. It is the shown schematic explanatory drawing. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a first example of a cooling air adjusting unit that adjusts an air flow rate in a vertical direction of cooling air blown from a cooling air blowing device to a recording medium is shown. FIG. 6 is a partial schematic explanatory view showing a state in which cooling air is blown to a recording medium on which a toner image is fixed through an opening at a lower portion of the cooling air blowing unit without a transport unit being attached. In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4, with the transport unit mounted on the paper discharge unit, the cooling air is blown to the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed through the opening at the bottom of the cooling air blowing unit. It is the partial schematic explanatory drawing which showed the state. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a second example of the cooling air adjusting unit that adjusts the air volume in the vertical direction of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium is shown. FIG. 6 is a partial schematic explanatory view showing a state in which cooling air is blown to a recording medium on which a toner image is fixed through an opening at a lower portion of the cooling air blowing unit in a state where a transport unit is not attached. In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6, with the transport unit attached to the paper discharge unit, the cooling air is blown to the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed through the opening at the bottom of the cooling air blowing unit. It is the partial schematic explanatory drawing which showed the state. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a third example of the cooling air adjusting unit that adjusts the air volume in the vertical direction of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium is shown. FIG. 6 is a partial schematic explanatory view showing a state in which cooling air is blown to a recording medium on which a toner image is fixed through an opening at a lower portion of the cooling air blowing unit without a transport unit being attached. In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 8, the cooling air is blown to the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed through the opening at the lower part of the cooling air blowing unit with the transport unit mounted on the paper discharge unit. It is the partial schematic explanatory drawing which showed the state. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a schematic explanatory view showing a state where guide ribs along a paper discharge direction of a recording medium are provided in an opening at a lower portion of the cooling air blowing unit. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a cooling air blowing member used in the fourth example of the cooling air adjusting means for adjusting the vertical air volume of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium is shown. FIG. In the fourth example of the cooling air adjusting means using the cooling air blowing member in FIG. 11, the toner image is projected from the blowing slit in the cooling air blowing member in a state in which the transport unit is not attached to the paper discharge unit. FIG. 6 is a partial schematic explanatory view showing a state in which cooling air is blown against the recording medium on which is fixed. In the fourth example of the cooling air adjusting means using the cooling air blowing member in FIG. 11, the toner image is discharged from the blowing slit in the cooling air blowing member in a state where the transport unit is mounted on the paper discharge unit. FIG. 4 is a partial schematic explanatory view showing a state in which cooling air is blown against a fixed recording medium.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to those shown in the following embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an image reading apparatus section 3 that reads an image provided with an automatic reading apparatus 3a on an image forming apparatus section 2 that forms a toner image on a recording medium. And a discharge section 4 for discharging the recording medium on which the toner image is formed is formed in a space between the image forming apparatus section 2 and the image reading apparatus section 3.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, as shown in FIG. 2, when forming a toner image on the recording medium S, the recording medium S stored in the paper feeding cassette 11 is fed by the paper feeding roller 12. The recording medium S thus fed is guided between the pair of registration rollers 13, and the registration rollers 13 send the recording medium S to the image forming unit 20 at an appropriate timing.

  In the image forming unit 20, an electrostatic latent image is obtained by performing exposure based on image information on the surface of the photosensitive member 21, the charging device 22 for charging the surface of the photosensitive member 21, and the charged surface of the photosensitive member 21. Four imaging cartridges 20A to 20D each including a latent image forming device 23 that forms a toner image and a developing device 24 that supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 21 to form a toner image. Provided.

  Here, in each developing device 24 in each of the imaging cartridges 20A to 20D, toners of different colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan are accommodated, and each photoconductor in each of the imaging cartridges 20A to 20D. The toner of the respective colors is supplied from the developing devices 24 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 21 to form the toner images of the respective colors on the surface of the photosensitive members 21. .

  Then, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the surfaces of the photoreceptors 21 in the imaging cartridges 20A to 20D in this way are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 25 that is rotationally driven, and on the intermediate transfer belt 25. A toner image in which toner images of various colors are combined is formed.

  Next, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 25 in this way is guided to the position of the transfer roller 26, while the recording medium S is moved between the intermediate transfer belt 25 and the transfer roller 26 by the registration roller 13. Thus, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 25 is transferred to the recording medium S.

  Then, the recording medium S on which the toner image is transferred in this way is guided to the fixing device 27, and the toner image is heated and fixed on the recording medium S by the fixing device 27, and then the toner image is heated and fixed in this way. The recording medium S is guided to the paper discharge roller 14, and the paper discharge roller 14 discharges the recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed to the paper discharge unit 4. Here, as described above, the recording medium S on which the toner image is heated and fixed by the fixing device 27 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 is at a high temperature.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the cooling air blowing device 30 supplies the cooling air to the recording medium S discharged from the paper discharge roller 14 to the paper discharge unit 4 as described above. By spraying, the recording medium S on which the toner image is heated and fixed and is at a high temperature is cooled.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when post-processing such as stapling, punching and folding is performed on the recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed as described above, FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the transport unit 5 is attached to the paper discharge unit 4, and the recording medium S discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 by the paper discharge roller 14 is guided to the post-processing device 6 through the transport unit 5. I am doing so.

  Here, in the cooling air blowing device 30 in the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the cooling air from the cooling fan 31 provided in the image forming apparatus section 2 is sent to the air duct. 32 is guided to a cooling air blowing unit 33 provided above the paper discharge roller 14 on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction from the paper discharge roller 14. Then, the cooling air is introduced into the cooling air blowing unit 33 through the inlet 33 a provided in the cooling air blowing unit 33, and the cooling air is discharged from the lower portion of the cooling air blowing unit 33 by the paper discharge roller 14 to the paper discharge unit. 4 is sprayed onto the recording medium S to be discharged.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the cooling air is blown from the cooling air blowing device 30 to the recording medium S discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 by the paper discharge roller 14 as described above. As the cooling air adjusting means for adjusting the vertical air volume of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device 30 to the recording medium S when the recording medium S on which the toner image is heated and fixed is cooled. An adjustment member 34 for adjusting the opening area of the introduction port 33a is provided.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the transport unit 5 is not attached to the paper discharge unit 4, the opening area of the introduction port 33 a is increased. The adjustment member 34 is moved to increase the amount of cooling air guided from the cooling fan 31 through the air duct 32 into the cooling air blowing unit 33 and discharged from the paper discharge roller 14 to the paper discharge unit 4. The amount of cooling air blown from the opening 33b below the cooling air blowing unit 33 to the recording medium S in the vertical direction is increased.

  In this manner, the recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed is sufficiently cooled by the cooling air, and is sequentially discharged and stacked on the paper discharge unit 4, and the image forming apparatus unit 2 and the image are stacked. Heat is not accumulated in the paper discharge unit 4 between the reader unit 3 and the recording media S discharged and stacked on the paper discharge unit 4 are not stuck together.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, in a state where the transport unit 5 is mounted on the paper discharge unit 4, the adjustment member 34 is moved so that the opening area of the introduction port 33a becomes small, and the cooling fan The amount of cooling air guided from 31 to the cooling air blowing unit 33 through the air duct 32 is reduced, and this cooling air blowing is applied to the recording medium S discharged from the paper discharge roller 14 to the paper discharge unit 4. The amount of cooling air blown from the opening 33b below the unit 33 is reduced in the vertical direction.

  In this way, the blowing force of the cooling air blown in the vertical direction against the recording medium S discharged from the paper discharge roller 14 to the paper discharge unit 4 and guided to the transport unit 5 is weakened. The recording medium S that is discharged and guided to the transport unit 5 is prevented from vibrating in the paper discharge unit 4 by the cooling air, and the recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed is appropriately transported in the transport unit 5. Thus, the post-processing device 6 is appropriately guided.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the cooling fan 31 as described above serves as the cooling air adjusting means for adjusting the vertical air volume of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device 30 to the recording medium S. Although the adjusting member 34 for adjusting the opening area of the inlet 33a for introducing the cooling air into the cooling air blowing unit 33 through the air duct 32 is provided, the cooling air blowing from the cooling air blowing device 30 to the recording medium S is provided. The cooling air adjusting means for adjusting the air volume in the vertical direction is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the air volume of the cooling air introduced from the inlet 33 a into the cooling air blowing unit 33 from the cooling fan 31 through the air duct 32 is made constant, while the recording medium S is used. As the cooling air adjusting means for adjusting the vertical air volume of the cooling air to be blown against the cooling air blowing unit 33, the cooling air is discharged from the paper discharge roller 14 to the paper discharge unit 4. A guide louver 35 for guiding the recording medium S can be provided so as to be rotatable in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium S, and the guide louver 35 can be rotated by a rotating device 35a. When the cooling air guided into the cooling air blowing unit 33 is blown onto the recording medium S discharged from the opening 33b below the cooling air blowing unit 33 through the guide louver 35 to the paper discharge unit 4, The rotating device 35a rotates the guide louver 35 so that the cooling air blown to the recording medium S is inclined in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium S or toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium S. You can be guided.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, when the transport unit 5 is not attached to the paper discharge unit 4, the guide louver 35 is rotated by the rotation device 35 a, and the guide louver 35 is moved to the recording medium S. Cooling air is blown in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium S discharged from the opening 33 b below the cooling air blowing unit 33 to the paper discharge unit 4 through the guide louver 35 so as to face downward perpendicular to the discharge direction. The amount of cooling air blown against the recording medium S in the vertical direction is increased.

  In this way, as in the case described above, the recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed is sufficiently cooled by the cooling air, and is sequentially discharged and stacked on the paper discharge unit 4. There is no possibility that heat is trapped in the paper discharge unit 4 between the image forming apparatus unit 2 and the image reading device unit 3 and the recording media S stacked on the paper discharge unit 4 are stuck together.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in a state where the transport unit 5 is mounted on the paper discharge unit 4, the guide louver 35 is rotated by the rotating device 35 a, and the guide louver 35 is discharged from the recording medium S. The cooling air is inclined toward the downstream side in the direction, and the cooling air is discharged through the guide louver 35 to the recording medium S discharged from the opening 33 b below the cooling air blowing unit 33 to the paper discharge unit 4. The air is blown so as to incline toward the downstream side in the paper direction so that the amount of cooling air blown against the recording medium S in the vertical direction is reduced.

  In this way, as in the case described above, the recording medium S discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 and guided to the transport unit 5 is suppressed from vibrating in the paper discharge unit 4 by this cooling air. The recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed is more appropriately conveyed by the conveying unit 5 by the cooling air blown toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium S, and is appropriately guided to the post-processing device 6. It comes to be.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a cooling fan 36 is provided in the cooling air blowing unit 33, and cooling air adjusting means for adjusting the vertical air volume of the cooling air blown against the recording medium S is provided. The cooling fan 36 provided in the cooling air blowing unit 33 can be rotated in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium S, and the cooling fan 36 can be rotated by a rotation device 36a. . When the cooling air from the cooling fan 36 is blown onto the recording medium S discharged from the opening 33b below the cooling air blowing unit 33 to the paper discharge unit 4, the cooling fan 36 is rotated by the rotating device 36a. The cooling air can be blown in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium S or in a direction inclined toward the downstream side of the recording medium S in the paper discharge direction.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 8, when the transport unit 5 is not attached to the paper discharge unit 4, the cooling fan 36 is rotated by the rotation device 36a to be orthogonal to the discharge direction of the recording medium S. The cooling air from the cooling fan 36 is blown in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium S discharged from the opening 33 b below the cooling air blowing unit 33 to the paper discharge unit 4. The amount of cooling air blown in the vertical direction is increased.

  In this way, as in the case described above, the recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed is sufficiently cooled by the cooling air, and is sequentially discharged and stacked on the paper discharge unit 4. There is no possibility that heat is trapped in the paper discharge unit 4 between the image forming apparatus unit 2 and the image reading device unit 3 and the recording media S stacked on the paper discharge unit 4 are stuck together.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, in a state where the transport unit 5 is mounted on the paper discharge unit 4, the cooling fan 36 is rotated by the rotation device 36 a, and the cooling fan 36 is discharged from the recording medium S. The recording medium S is inclined with respect to the recording medium S discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 from the opening 33b below the cooling air blowing unit 33 by inclining in the direction toward the downstream side. Are blown so as to incline toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction, so that the amount of cooling air blown against the recording medium S in the vertical direction is reduced.

  In this way, as in the case described above, the recording medium S discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 and guided to the transport unit 5 is suppressed from vibrating in the paper discharge unit 4 by this cooling air. The recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed is more appropriately conveyed by the conveying unit 5 by the cooling air blown toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium S, and is appropriately guided to the post-processing device 6. It comes to be.

  When the cooling air is blown from the lower part of the cooling air blowing unit 33 to the recording medium S discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 as described above, the cooling air blowing unit 33 is used as shown in FIG. If a guide rib 33c is provided in the lower opening 33b along the paper discharge direction of the recording medium S, the recording medium S discharged from the paper discharge roller 14 to the paper discharge unit 4 is erroneously placed in the cooling air blowing unit 33. When the transport unit 5 is attached to the paper discharge unit 4, the recording medium S is guided by the guide rib 33 b and appropriately transported in the transport unit 5. It becomes like this.

  In the above embodiment, the cooling air is blown from the opening 33 b below the cooling air blowing unit 33 to the recording medium S discharged from the paper discharge roller 14 to the paper discharge unit 4. The amount of cooling air that is blown onto the recording medium S from the opening 33b below the cooling air blowing unit 33 in the vertical direction is adjusted by various cooling air adjusting means. However, as shown in FIG. The cooling air blowing member 37 provided with blowing slits 37a along the width direction of the recording medium S to be used is used as shown in FIGS. At a position on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction and above the paper discharge roller 14, the recording medium S is provided so as to be rotatable in the paper discharge direction. The cooling air blowing member 37 is rotated by a rotating device 37b. It is also possible to so that.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12, in a state in which the transport unit 5 is not attached to the paper discharge unit 4, the cooling air blowing member 37 is directed downwardly perpendicular to the discharging direction of the recording medium S, and this cooling air blowing is performed. The cooling air is blown in the vertical direction from the discharge slit 37a of the member 37 to the recording medium S discharged from the paper discharge roller 14 to the paper discharge unit 4, and the vertical direction of the cooling air blown to the recording medium S To increase the airflow.

  In this way, as in each of the above cases, the recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed is sufficiently cooled by the cooling air, and is sequentially discharged and stacked on the paper discharge unit 4. Thus, heat does not accumulate in the paper discharge section 4 between the image forming apparatus section 2 and the image reading apparatus section 3, and the recording media S discharged and stacked on the paper discharge section 4 do not stick to each other. .

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, in a state in which the transport unit 5 is mounted on the paper discharge unit 4, the cooling air blowing member 37 is moved in the direction toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium S by the rotating device 37b. The cooling air is rotated so as to be inclined, and the cooling air is blown from the blowing slit 37a of the cooling air blowing member 37 toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium S with respect to the recording medium S discharged to the paper discharge unit 4. So that the cooling air blown against the recording medium S in the vertical direction is reduced.

  In this way, as in each of the above cases, the recording medium S discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 and guided to the transport unit 5 is suppressed from vibrating in the paper discharge unit 4 due to this cooling air. At the same time, the recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed is more appropriately conveyed by the conveying unit 5 by the cooling air blown toward the downstream side in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium S, and is appropriately supplied to the post-processing device 6. Be guided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image forming apparatus part 3 Image reader part, 3a Automatic reader 4 Discharge part 5 Conveyance unit 6 Post-processing apparatus 11 Paper feed cassette 12 Paper feed roller 13 Registration roller 14 Paper discharge roller 20 Image formation part, 20A -20D Imaging cartridge, 21 Photoconductor, 22 Charging device, 23 Latent image forming device, 24 Developing device, 25 Intermediate transfer belt, 26 Transfer roller, 27 Fixing device 30 Cooling air blowing device 31 Cooling fan 32 Blower duct 33 Cooling air blowing Unit 33a Inlet port 33b Opening portion 33c Guide rib 34 Adjustment member 35 Guide louver 35a Rotating device 36 Cooling fan 36a Rotating device 36 Cooling air blowing member 37a Blowing slit 37b Rotating device S Recording medium

Claims (5)

  The paper discharge unit for discharging the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed is provided with a cooling air blowing device for blowing the cooling air to the recording medium to cool the recording medium, and the toner image is supplied to the paper discharge unit. In an image forming apparatus to which a conveyance unit that guides a fixed recording medium to a post-processing device is mounted, cooling air adjusting means for adjusting a vertical air volume of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium. The amount of cooling air blown in the vertical direction of the cooling air blown against the recording medium in the state in which the transport unit is mounted on the paper discharge unit is greater than that in the state in which the transport unit is not mounted. An image forming apparatus characterized in that   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a paper discharge roller for discharging a recording medium on which a toner image is fixed is provided in the paper discharge unit, and the discharge roller is provided at a position downstream of the paper discharge direction. An image forming apparatus, wherein cooling air is blown from the cooling air blowing device to a recording medium.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling air blowing device blows cooling air from above the recording medium.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling air adjusting unit changes an air volume of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium. An image forming apparatus characterized by adjusting a vertical air volume of cooling air to be blown against the air.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling air adjusting unit changes a wind direction of the cooling air blown from the cooling air blowing device to the recording medium, thereby changing the recording medium. An image forming apparatus characterized by adjusting a vertical air volume of cooling air to be blown against the air.

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