JP6069177B2 - Foreign material collection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foreign matter collecting apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, foreign matter collecting devices for collecting foreign matters such as toner existing in the air are known. In this foreign matter collecting device, air is circulated in the duct using a fan, whereby foreign matters in the air are collected by a filter disposed in the duct. In this kind of foreign material collecting apparatus, various techniques have been proposed so far in order to prevent the collection efficiency from being lowered due to clogging of the filter.

  For example, in the foreign material collection apparatus shown in Patent Document 1, the processing surface of the filter is divided into a plurality of parts, and the air flow direction in each divided part is set in the reverse direction. And in this foreign material collection apparatus, when operation time passes predetermined time, the position of each division | segmentation part is changed mutually by rotating a filter. As a result, the direction of the air passing through each divided part is reversed before and after the rotation of the filter, so that it is possible to collect foreign matters using the surface opposite to the used surface in each divided part. it can.

JP-A-6-190238

  However, in the foreign matter collecting apparatus shown in Patent Document 1, even if the filter is rotated and the positions of the divided portions are interchanged with each other, one surface of each divided portion is a used surface. The collection efficiency of foreign matters is lower than when not in use. Also, after the filter is rotated, the air flow direction in each divided portion is reversed compared with that before the rotation, so that the toner once collected on the filter is scattered again by this reverse air flow. There is.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this point, The place made into the objective is to provide the foreign material collection apparatus which can maintain the collection efficiency of a foreign material high over a long period of time.

  The foreign material collection device according to the present invention is a device for collecting foreign materials in the air that circulates in the air passage.

And a filter coupling body having a shaft member and first and second filters fixed at different rotational phases with respect to the shaft member, wherein each of the first and second filters has an axial center of the shaft member. By rotating around, it is configured to be movable between a foreign matter collecting position that obstructs the cross section of the air passage and a retreat position that is retracted from the air passage. The second filter is configured to be located at the retracted position in the state where the foreign matter is collected, and the amount of foreign matter collected by the first filter is determined while the first filter is located in the foreign matter collection position. When the amount exceeds the fixed amount, the first filter is moved from the foreign matter collecting position by rotating around the axis of the shaft member by the wind pressure acting on the first filter . And the second filter is moved from the retracted position to the foreign matter collecting position, and the first and second filters are located entirely outside the air passage at the retracted position. The first and second filters are configured to block the entire cross section of the air passage at the foreign substance collecting position, and the air passage includes an upstream air passage extending linearly, A downstream air passage extending linearly at an angle of 90 ° with respect to the upstream air passage, and a connecting air passage connecting the upstream air passage and the downstream air passage, the connecting air passage being , When viewed from the axial direction of the shaft member, the fan has a fan shape with a central angle of 90 ° centered on the shaft member, and the radius of the fan shape is the shaft member side of the first and second filters. The edge on the opposite side of the The foreign matter collecting position of the first filter is an upstream end of the connection air passage, and the amount of the foreign matter collected by the first filter exceeds the predetermined amount. A position restricting mechanism for restricting the position of the first filter to the foreign matter collecting position, and after the first filter is retracted from the foreign matter collecting position to the retracted position, the shaft member is rotated in the reverse direction so that the first filter A reverse rotation prevention mechanism for preventing the foreign matter from being returned from the retracted position to the foreign matter collecting position, and the position regulating mechanism is arranged in front of the first filter in the rotational direction until the amount of the foreign matter collected exceeds the predetermined amount. A position restricting body that includes an inclined surface that abuts the edge of the side opposite to the shaft member side and restricts the position of the first filter to a foreign substance collecting position; and the position restricting body passes through the first filter. Vs area A first urging spring that urges radially inward, and when the collected amount of the foreign matter is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, the opposite edge of the first filter that receives wind pressure is By pressing the inclined surface of the position restricting body, the first urging spring is compressed and the position restricting body moves radially outward of the passage region of the first filter to restrict the position of the first filter. The reverse rotation prevention mechanism is configured to be released at an edge opposite to the shaft member side on the front side surface in the rotation direction of the first filter immediately before the first filter is retracted to the retracted position. A reverse rotation prevention body including an inclined surface arranged to contact, and a second biasing spring that biases the reverse rotation prevention body radially inward of the passage region of the first filter, The above in the first filter When the opposite edge passes through the inclined surface of the reverse rotation preventing body, the edge presses the inclined surface of the reverse rotation preventing body, whereby the second biasing spring is compressed and the reverse rotation prevention is achieved. While the body moves radially outward from the passage region of the first filter, the second biasing spring is restored after the opposite end edge of the first filter passes through the anti-rotation body. By extending by force, the reverse rotation prevention body is configured to prevent the first filter from rotating reversely by moving to a position facing the rear side surface in the rotation direction of the first filter .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the foreign material collection apparatus which can maintain the collection efficiency of a foreign material high over a long period of time is provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus provided with a foreign matter collecting apparatus according to a reference embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the foreign matter collecting apparatus. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the foreign matter collecting apparatus. Figure 4 is a 3 corresponds diagram showing a reference embodiment. Figure 5 is a 3 equivalent diagram of an embodiment. Figure 6 is a diagram 2 corresponds diagram showing a reference embodiment.

"Reference-type state"
-Overall configuration-
FIG. 1 shows a laser printer 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) provided with a foreign matter collecting apparatus 100 according to a reference embodiment. The printer 1 has an apparatus main body 60 having an image forming unit 20. A paper feed unit 10 is provided in the lower part of the apparatus main body 60, and a paper discharge unit 50 is formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 60. A plurality of transport roller pairs 11 to 13 that sandwich and transport the paper P are disposed in the paper transport path from the paper supply unit 10 to the paper discharge unit 50. In the following description, “left side” and “right side” mean the left side and right side of FIG. 1, respectively, and “front side” and “rear side” are the front side and the back side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. Means side.

  The paper feed unit 10 includes a paper feed cassette 10a in which sheet-like paper P is accommodated, and a pickup roller 10b for taking out the paper P in the paper feed cassette 10a and sending it out of the cassette. . The paper P sent out of the cassette from the paper feed cassette 10 a is supplied to the image forming unit 20 through the transport roller pair 11.

  The image forming unit 20 includes a photosensitive drum 21, a charger 23, an exposure device 25, a developing device 27, a transfer device 29, and a fixing device 40. At the time of image formation, first, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is charged by the charger 23, and thereafter, original image data (for example, image data of the original image received from the external terminal) is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by the exposure device 25. ) Is applied. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is developed as a toner image by the developing device 27. As a result, a toner image is formed (carried) on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. This toner image is transferred onto the paper P supplied from the paper supply unit 10 by the transfer device 29. The sheet P after the toner image is transferred is supplied to the fixing unit 40 by the rotation of the transfer roller in the transfer unit 29.

  In the fixing device 40, the toner image is fixed on the paper P by heating and pressurizing the paper P supplied from the transfer device 29 between the fixing roller 40 a and the pressure roller 40 b. Then, the sheet P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 40 is sent out to the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction by both rollers 40a and 40b. The paper P sent out from the fixing device 40 is discharged to the paper discharge unit 50 through a plurality of conveying roller pairs 12 and 13.

-Details of foreign matter collection device-
The foreign matter collecting apparatus 100 is disposed on the upper right side of the image forming unit 20 in the apparatus main body 60. The foreign matter collecting device 100 is a device for collecting foreign matter such as toner scattered from the developing device 27, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the foreign matter collecting apparatus 100 includes a duct 101, a blower fan 102, a filter connector 103, a position regulation mechanism 104, and a reverse rotation prevention mechanism 105.

  The duct 101 extends in the vertical direction, and its horizontal cross section has a rectangular shape. The blower fan 102 is provided at the lower end in the duct 101. When the blower fan 102 is operated, an air flow from the lower side to the upper side is formed in the duct 101. The filter coupling body 103 is provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the duct 101.

  This filter coupling body 103 is rotatably attached to the left side wall portion 101 a of the duct 101. The filter coupling body 103 includes a first filter 103a, a second filter 103b, and a shaft member 103f. A first storage recess 101f and a second storage recess 101g are formed in the left wall portion 101a of the duct 101. The first and second storage recesses 101f and 101g are continuously connected in the vertical direction. The first and second storage recesses 101f are configured to store the first and second filters 103a and 103b, respectively. The shaft member 103f is disposed at the boundary between the housing recesses 101f and 101g. The shaft member 103f is disposed so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported by the front side and the rear side wall of the duct 101, respectively.

The first and second filters 103a and 103b have a rectangular plate shape as a whole. Both filters 103a and 103b collect foreign matters such as toner contained in the air when the air flows in the thickness direction. Both filters 103a are formed in a mesh shape that permits air flow while blocking toner particle flow. Both the filters 103a and 103b are fixed to the shaft member 103f in a rotating door shape. Both filters 103a and 103b are fixed at different rotational phases with respect to the shaft member 103f. In this reference embodiment, both filters 103a and 103b are fixed with a phase interval of 90 ° in the circumferential direction with respect to the shaft member 103f. Each of the filters 103a and 103b has a foreign matter collecting position for blocking the cross section of the air passage 101k in the duct 101 and a retreat position for retreating from the air passage 101k. Both filters 103a and 103b are configured to be movable between the foreign matter collecting position and the retracted position as the shaft member 103f rotates.

In this reference embodiment, both filters 103a and 103b are configured to block the entire cross section of the air passage 101k at the respective foreign matter collecting positions. Further, both the filters 103a and 103b are configured so that the whole is located outside the air passage 101k at the respective retracted positions. The left side view of FIG. 3 shows a state where the first filter 103a is in the foreign matter collecting position and the second filter 103b is in the retracted position, and the right side view of FIG. 3 shows that the first filter 103a is in the retracted position and The 2 filter 103b has shown the state which exists in a foreign material collection position.

  The position restricting mechanism 104 mainly has a function of restricting the movement in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. The position restricting mechanism 104 includes a position restricting body 104a having a triangular prism shape, and a compression spring 104b that supports the position restricting body 104a so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The position restricting body 104a restricts the position of the filter coupling body 103 by protruding from the right side wall portion 101b of the duct 101 into the air passage 101k.

  The reverse rotation prevention mechanism 105 includes a triangular prism-shaped rotation prevention body 105a and a compression spring 105b that supports the rotation prevention body 105a so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The rotation preventing body 105a is provided at a position adjacent to the first storage recess 101f in the duct 101. The anti-rotation body 105a is located on the right side and below the upper end position of the first storage recess 101f.

  The operation of the foreign matter collecting apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the first filter 103a is in the foreign matter collecting position. At this time, the second filter 103b is in the retracted position. When the blower fan 102 is operated in this state, an air flow from the lower side to the upper side is formed in the air passage 101k of the duct 101. As a result, foreign matter such as toner contained in the air is collected by the first filter 103a. Here, the filter connector 103 tries to rotate in the counterclockwise direction (in the direction of the black arrow) in FIG. 3 due to the wind pressure acting on the first filter 103a, but for a while after the start of the operation of the blower fan 102, The rotation is regulated by the position regulating body 104a. However, if the amount of collected foreign matter (deposition amount) of the first filter 103a exceeds a predetermined amount, the wind pressure acting on the first filter 103a exceeds a predetermined value, so that the position restricting body 104a is compressed by the first filter 103a. It is pushed to the outer side (right side) of the duct 101 against the urging force of 104b. As a result, the filter coupling body 103 starts to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3, and the first filter 103a comes into contact with the reverse rotation prevention body 105a. The reverse rotation preventing body 105a is pushed upward by the first filter 103a against the urging force of the compression spring 105b. As a result, the filter coupling body 103 further rotates, and the first filter 103a is housed in the first housing recess 101f (see the right side of FIG. 3). Thus, as the filter coupling body 103 rotates and the first filter 103a moves from the foreign matter collecting position to the retracted position, the second filter 103b moves from the retracted position (position stored in the second storage recess 101g) to the foreign matter. Move to the collection position. Therefore, the toner can be collected by the new second filter 103b without clogging instead of the first filter 103a with severe clogging in which the amount of foreign matter collected exceeds a predetermined amount. Therefore, the toner collection efficiency can be kept high over a long period of time.

  In addition, since the filter coupling body 103 is configured to rotate using wind pressure acting on the first filter 103a, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the filter coupling body 103 is driven by a motor or the like. it can.

  Further, once the first filter 103a is stored in the first storage recess 101f, the rotation of the filter coupling body 103 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 is restricted by the reverse rotation preventing body 105a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the used first filter 103a, which is heavily clogged, from returning to the air path 101k again.

In the reference embodiment, the first filter 103a is configured such that the entire first filter 103a is located outside the air passage 101k at the retracted position.

  According to this, it is possible to prevent foreign matters such as toner collected by the used first filter 103a from scattering in the air passage 101k.

Moreover, in the said reference form, the 2nd filter 103b is comprised so that the whole cross section of the said air path 101k may be interrupted | blocked in the foreign material collection position.

  According to this, the foreign matter collection efficiency of the second filter 103b that appears instead of the first filter 103a can be increased as much as possible.

<Embodiment>
In the above reference embodiment, an example in which the foreign matter collecting device 100 is arranged in the linear air passage 101k is shown. However, in the embodiment, the foreign matter collecting device 100 is arranged in a substantially L-shaped flow path as shown in FIG.

<< Other embodiments >>
The present invention may be configured as follows.
That is, in the above embodiment, the filter coupling body 103 has two filters 103a and 103b. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, four filters 103a to 103d are provided as shown in FIG. You may have. That is, in this example, the filter connector 103 includes a third filter 103c and a fourth filter 103d in addition to the first and second filters 103a and 103b. The four filters 103a to 103d are fixed at 90 ° intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the shaft member 103f. When one of the four filters 103a to 103d is in the foreign matter collecting position, the other three filters are located in the retracted position (accommodated in the accommodating recess 101h). Specifically, when the amount of foreign matter collected by the first filter 103a exceeds a predetermined amount, the filter coupling body 103 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 4, and the second filter 103b moves to the foreign matter collecting position. When the amount of foreign matter collected by the second filter 103b exceeds a predetermined amount, the filter coupled body 103 rotates in the same direction, the third filter 103c moves to the foreign matter collecting position, and the foreign matter collected by the third filter 103c. When the amount exceeds the predetermined amount, the filter coupling body 103 rotates in the same direction, and the fourth filter 103d moves to the foreign matter collecting position. Therefore, the toner collection efficiency can be maintained high over a long period (doubled period) compared to the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the toner is exemplified as an example of the foreign matter. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, paper powder. What is necessary is just to set the roughness of each filter 103a, 103b according to the kind of foreign material made into collection object.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the example which applied the foreign material collection apparatus 100 to the printer 1 was shown as an example, it is not restricted to this, It is with respect to what kind of apparatus or environment where a foreign material exists in the air. Applicable.

  Further, the present invention includes a configuration in which any of the above-described embodiments are appropriately combined.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for a foreign matter collecting apparatus.

100 Foreign material collecting device 101k Air passage 103 Filter coupling body 103a First filter 103b Second filter 103f Shaft member
104 Position restriction mechanism
104a Position restriction body
104b First biasing spring 105 Reverse rotation prevention mechanism
105a Reverse rotation prevention body
105b Second biasing spring

Claims (1)

A foreign matter collecting device for collecting foreign matter in the air circulating in the air passage,
A filter assembly having a shaft member and first and second filters fixed at different rotational phases to the shaft member;
Each of the first and second filters is movable between a foreign matter collecting position that blocks a cross section of the air passage and a retreat position that is retracted from the air passage when the shaft member rotates about its axis. Is composed of
The filter coupling body is configured such that the second filter is located at the retracted position when the first filter is at the foreign matter collecting position, and the first filter is located at the foreign matter collecting position. When the amount of foreign matter collected by the first filter exceeds a predetermined amount, the first filter is rotated around the axis of the shaft member by the wind pressure acting on the first filter, so that the first filter is moved to the foreign matter collecting position. And the second filter is moved from the retracted position to the foreign matter collecting position.
The first and second filters are configured so that the entirety of the first and second filters is located outside the air passage at the retracted position,
The first and second filters are configured to block the entire cross section of the air passage at the foreign matter collecting position,
The air path includes an upstream air path that extends linearly, a downstream air path that extends linearly at an angle of 90 ° with respect to the upstream air path, and the upstream and downstream air paths. And a connection air passage for connecting
The connection air passage has a fan shape with a central angle of 90 ° centered on the shaft member when viewed from the axial direction of the shaft member, and the radius of the fan shape is determined by the first and second filters. The edge on the opposite side to the shaft member side is sized so as to be close to the inner wall surface of the air passage, and the foreign matter collecting position of the first filter is the upstream end of the connection air passage,
A position restricting mechanism for restricting the position of the first filter to the foreign matter collecting position until the amount of the foreign matter collected by the first filter exceeds the predetermined amount;
A reverse rotation preventing mechanism for preventing the first filter from rotating backward from the retracted position to the foreign material collecting position after the first filter is retracted from the foreign material collecting position to the retracted position;
The position restricting mechanism is in contact with an edge of the front side surface in the rotation direction of the first filter opposite to the shaft member side until the collected amount of the foreign matter exceeds the predetermined amount. A position restricting body that includes an inclined surface that restricts the position of the position to the foreign material collecting position, and a first biasing spring that biases the position restricting body radially inward with respect to the passage region of the first filter. When the collected amount of the foreign matter is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, the opposite edge of the first filter that receives the wind pressure presses the inclined surface of the position restricting body, thereby causing the first biasing spring. Is compressed, and the position restricting body is moved radially outside the passage region of the first filter to release the position restriction of the first filter,
The reverse rotation prevention mechanism is disposed so as to abut on an edge of the front side surface in the rotation direction of the first filter opposite to the shaft member side immediately before the first filter is retracted to the retracted position. A reverse rotation preventive body including an inclined surface; and a second biasing spring that biases the reverse rotation preventive body radially inward of the passage region of the first filter. When the side edge passes through the inclined surface of the reverse rotation preventing body, the edge presses the inclined surface of the reverse rotation preventing body, whereby the second biasing spring is compressed and the reverse rotation preventing body is compressed. Is moved radially outward from the passage region of the first filter, and after the opposite edge of the first filter passes through the anti-rotation body, the second biasing spring is restored. The above-mentioned reverse rotation preventing body is extended by Said first filter moved to a position facing the rear side surface of the rotation direction of the first filter is configured to prevent reverse rotation, the foreign matter collecting unit.

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