JP6600958B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus, for example, in order to suppress an increase in temperature in the apparatus due to heat discharged from a fixing apparatus that fixes a toner image on a recording material, an airflow generation unit such as a fan that generates an airflow may be provided in the apparatus. .
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus including an intake fan and an exhaust fan that generate an airflow for cooling a fixing unit.

JP 2001-312200 A

Incidentally, toner used for image formation in the image forming apparatus contains volatile components such as wax. When the toner image on the recording material is heated by the fixing unit, a volatile organic compound (VOC) may be generated due to volatilization of wax or the like contained in the toner. The volatile organic compound generated by the fixing unit is transported by the airflow generated by the airflow generating unit and then captured by a filter or the like. For example, when the particle size of the volatile organic compound is excessively small, the filter Then, the volatile organic compound may be discharged outside the image forming apparatus without being completely captured.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the discharge amount of a volatile organic compound from an image forming apparatus as compared with the case where the flow area of the airflow generated by the airflow generating means is not restricted.

The invention according to claim 1 comprises a fixing member heated and rotated by a heating means, and a pressure member that forms a fixing pressure part through which the recording material passes between the fixing member. A fixing unit that heats the recording material on which the toner image is formed and fixes the toner image on the recording material, and a suction unit that is adjacent to the fixing unit and sucks air from outside the apparatus main body to the outside of the apparatus main body. The airflow generating means for generating the airflow toward the discharge section for discharging the airflow, and the flow area of the airflow generated by the airflow generating means is changed depending on the traveling direction of the airflow, thereby colliding the volatile organic compound contained in the airflow. The air flow generating means generates an air flow that is adjacent to the fixing means in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the fixing member and that travels along the rotation axis direction, The flow path restriction part Provided to serial fixing means adjacent to the intersecting direction, the flow area of the air flow traveling along the rotation axis direction, characterized by narrow as it goes to the discharging portion from said suction portion An image forming apparatus.
Invention, the flow path restricting portion, an image according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a suction member for adsorbing volatile organic compounds contained in the air flow generated by said air flow generating means according to claim 2 Forming device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing member that is heated and rotated by a heating means, and a pressure member that forms a fixing pressure portion through which a recording material passes between the fixing member. A fixing unit that heats the recording material on which the toner image is formed and fixes the toner image on the recording material, and a suction unit that is adjacent to the fixing unit and sucks air from outside the apparatus main body to the outside of the apparatus main body. The airflow generating means for generating the airflow toward the discharge section for discharging the airflow, and the flow area of the airflow generated by the airflow generating means is changed depending on the traveling direction of the airflow, thereby colliding the volatile organic compound contained in the airflow. The air flow generating means generates an air flow that is adjacent to the fixing means in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the fixing member and that travels along the rotation axis direction, The flow path restriction part It is provided adjacent to the fixing means in the intersecting direction, and the flow area of the airflow traveling along the rotation axis direction is changed according to the traveling direction of the airflow, and the airflow generated by the airflow generation means is disturbed. An image forming apparatus that generates a flow.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing member that is heated and rotated by a heating means and a pressure member that forms a fixing pressure portion through which a recording material passes between the fixing member, A fixing unit that heats the recording material on which the toner image is formed and fixes the toner image on the recording material, and a suction unit that is adjacent to the fixing unit and sucks air from outside the apparatus main body to the outside of the apparatus main body. The airflow generating means for generating the airflow toward the discharge section for discharging the airflow, and the flow area of the airflow generated by the airflow generating means is changed depending on the traveling direction of the airflow, thereby colliding the volatile organic compound contained in the airflow. The air flow generating means generates an air flow that is adjacent to the fixing means in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the fixing member and that travels along the rotation axis direction, The flow path regulation part A plurality of protrusions that are provided adjacent to the fixing unit in the intersecting direction and protrude toward the flow path of the airflow generated by the airflow generation unit, and proceed along the rotation axis direction. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the flow path area of the airflow is changed depending on a traveling direction of the airflow.
The invention according to claim 5 includes a fixing member heated and rotated by a heating means, and a pressure member that forms a fixing pressure portion through which the recording material passes between the fixing member. A fixing unit that heats the recording material on which the toner image is formed and fixes the toner image on the recording material, and a suction unit that is adjacent to the fixing unit and sucks air from outside the apparatus main body to the outside of the apparatus main body. The airflow generating means for generating the airflow toward the discharge section for discharging the airflow, and the flow area of the airflow generated by the airflow generating means is changed depending on the traveling direction of the airflow, thereby colliding the volatile organic compound contained in the airflow. A flow path regulating unit that causes the recording medium to generate another air flow that travels in the recording material conveyance direction toward another discharge unit that discharges air from the fixing unit to the outside of the apparatus main body. And the airflow The generating unit generates an air flow that is adjacent to the fixing unit in a direction intersecting with the rotation axis direction of the fixing member and travels along the rotation axis direction. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the flow path area of the airflow provided adjacent to the intersecting direction and traveling along the rotation axis direction is changed according to the traveling direction of the airflow.

According to the first , third, fourth , and fifth aspects of the present invention, the amount of volatile organic compounds discharged from the image forming apparatus is reduced compared to the case where the flow area of the airflow generated by the airflow generating means is not regulated. Can be reduced.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the amount of volatile organic compounds discharged from the image forming apparatus can be reduced as compared with the case where no adsorbing member is provided .

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. It is the figure which showed schematic structure of the ventilation mechanism of this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed schematic structure of the ventilation mechanism of this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed schematic structure of the ventilation mechanism of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the result of having measured the number of the volatile organic compounds discharged | emitted from an image forming apparatus. It is the figure which showed the ventilation mechanism provided with the airflow control member to which a 2nd structural example is applied. It is the figure which showed the ventilation mechanism provided with the airflow control member to which a 3rd structural example is applied. It is the figure which showed the ventilation mechanism provided with the airflow control member to which the 4th structural example is applied.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a single-color printer, and controls the operation of the image forming unit 10 that forms an image corresponding to image data and the entire image forming apparatus 1, and a personal computer (PC) (not shown). And a control unit 5 that is connected to an external device such as an image reading device or the like and performs image processing on image data received from the external device.
The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a paper supply unit 40 that supplies the paper P to the image forming unit 10 and a paper stacking unit 50 that stacks the paper P on which an image is formed.
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a sheet conveyance path YR through which a sheet is conveyed from the sheet supply unit 40 to a sheet stacking unit 50 via a transfer unit Tp and a fixing device 20 described later. ing.

  The paper supply unit 40 according to the present embodiment includes a paper storage unit 41, a drawing roll 43, and a winding mechanism 45. The paper storage unit 41 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an opening in the upper portion, and stores a plurality of papers P therein. The pull-in roll 43 sends out the upper sheet P of the plurality of sheets P stored in the sheet storage unit 41 toward the winding mechanism 45. The winding mechanism 45 rolls the sheets P sent out by the pulling roll 43 one by one and sends them out toward the image forming unit 10.

  The image forming unit 10 of the present embodiment includes a photosensitive layer on the surface, a photosensitive drum 11 that forms an electrostatic latent image and holds a toner image, and a charger that charges the photosensitive drum 11 at a predetermined potential. 13. An exposure device 14 for exposing the photosensitive drum 11 charged by the charger 13 based on image data, a developing device 15 for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11, and a photosensitive drum after transfer. 11 is provided with a cleaning device 16 for cleaning the surface of 11.

Further, the image forming unit 10 forms a transfer unit Tp between the image forming unit 10 and the photosensitive drum 11, and transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 11 to the paper P. A fixing device 20 is provided as an example of fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred onto the paper P.
The fixing device 20 includes a fixing roll 21 as an example of a fixing member, and a pressure roll 22 as an example of a pressure member that is provided to face the fixing roll 21 and forms a fixing nip N between the fixing roll 21. And. In the fixing device 20, the fixing roll 21 is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heater (not shown), and heat and pressure are applied to the toner image on the paper P conveyed to the fixing nip portion N. A toner image is fixed on P.

Furthermore, the image forming unit 10 is provided with a registration roll (registration roll) 51.
The registration roll 51 temporarily stops the conveyance of the sheet P in a state where the rotation is stopped, and rotates the sheet P at a predetermined timing, thereby supplying the sheet P to the transfer unit Tp while adjusting the registration. .

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a blower mechanism 100 that exhausts heat from the fixing device 20 or blows air to cool the paper P heated by the fixing device 20. The configuration of the blower mechanism 100 will be described in detail later.

Next, an image forming process performed in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
First, it is formed by a PC or the like, subjected to image processing by the control unit 5, and output to the exposure device 14. The exposure device 14 that has acquired the image data selectively exposes the photosensitive drum 11 charged by the charger 13 based on the acquired image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed by the developing device 15 as, for example, a black (K) toner image.

On the other hand, in the paper supply unit 40, the drawing roll 43 rotates in synchronization with the image formation timing, and the paper P is supplied from the paper storage unit 41. Then, the sheets P that are rolled up one by one by the rolling mechanism 45 are conveyed to the registration roll 51 and are temporarily stopped. Thereafter, the registration roll 51 rotates in accordance with the rotation timing of the photosensitive drum 11, and the paper P is supplied to the transfer portion Tp. Then, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred onto the paper P in the transfer portion Tp. Thereafter, the sheet P on which the toner image is transferred undergoes a fixing process in the fixing device 20 and is then discharged to the sheet stacking unit 50.
In this way, the image forming process in the image forming apparatus 1 is repeatedly executed for the number of printed sheets.

(Explanation of blower mechanism)
Then, the structure of the ventilation mechanism 100 is demonstrated. 2-4 is the figure which showed schematic structure of the ventilation mechanism 100 of this Embodiment. 2 is an enlarged view of the fixing device 20 and the air blowing mechanism 100 in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 viewed from the III direction, and FIG. 4 is a view of FIG. 3 viewed from the IV direction. .
In the following description, the axial direction of the fixing roll 21 in the fixing device 20 and the direction from the front side to the rear side of the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1) is the X direction, and the fixing nip portion of the fixing device 20 The transport direction of the paper P in N is defined as the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction (in this example, the direction from the vertically downward direction to the upward direction) is defined as the Z direction.

  The air blowing mechanism 100 according to the present embodiment opens toward the upstream side (front side) in the X direction of the image forming apparatus 1, and a suction port 101 as an example of a suction unit that sucks air from the outside of the image forming apparatus 1; A first discharge port 102 as an example of a discharge unit that opens toward the downstream side (rear side) in the X direction of the image forming apparatus 1 and sucks air sucked through the suction port 101 toward a duct 150 described later; The image forming apparatus 1 includes a second discharge port 103 that opens toward the downstream side in the Y direction of the image forming apparatus 1 and discharges air sucked through the suction port 101 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1.

  Further, the air blowing mechanism 100 is connected to the first discharge port 102, and the air discharged from the first discharge port 102 is exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 through the discharge port 151 opened toward the downstream side in the X direction. A duct 150 for discharging is provided. A filter 152 is attached to the discharge port 151 of the duct 150 to adsorb volatile organic compounds contained in the airflow discharged from the discharge port 151 and prevent them from being discharged outside the image forming apparatus 1. Yes. As the filter 152, for example, a nonwoven fabric that can adsorb volatile organic compounds is used.

Further, the air blowing mechanism 100 is attached to the suction port 101, and is attached to the intake fan 110 that sucks air from the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 and the discharge port 151 of the duct 150, and from the suction port 101 to the discharge port 151 of the duct 150. A first exhaust fan 120 that generates a flowing air flow and a second exhaust fan 130 that is attached to the second discharge port 103 and generates an air flow from the suction port 101 to the second discharge port 103 are provided.
In the present embodiment, the intake air fan 110 and the first exhaust fan 120 constitute an airflow generating means.

Further, the air blowing mechanism 100 of the present embodiment includes an air flow regulating member 200 as an example of a flow path regulating unit that regulates the traveling direction of the air flow from the suction port 101 toward the first discharge port 102.
In the air blowing mechanism 100, a flow path unit 300 serving as a path for airflow generated by the intake fan 110, the first exhaust fan 120, and the second exhaust fan 130 is provided in a space between the fixing device 20 and the paper stacking unit 50. Is formed.

In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when image formation is started in the image forming unit 10, the intake fan 110, the first exhaust fan 120, and the second exhaust fan 130 are rotated by a driving unit (not shown). Is done.
Accordingly, air is sucked into the image forming apparatus 1 from the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 through the suction port 101.

  The air sucked through the suction port 101 by the rotation of the intake fan 110 moves toward the downstream side in the X direction by the rotation of the first exhaust fan 120, and passes through the first discharge port 102. Then, it is discharged from the discharge port 151 of the duct 150 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1. In other words, in the blower mechanism 100, the first airflow S flowing through the flow path unit 300 along the X direction is generated by the rotation of the intake fan 110 and the first exhaust fan 120. Although the details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the traveling direction of the first airflow S is regulated by the airflow regulating member 200.

  In addition, the air sucked through the suction port 101 by the rotation of the intake fan 110 moves toward the downstream side in the Y direction by the rotation of the second exhaust fan 130, and the second discharge port 103. Is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1. In other words, in the blower mechanism 100, the second airflow T that flows through the flow path unit 300 along the Y direction is generated by the rotation of the intake fan 110 and the second exhaust fan 130.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the exhaust heat released from the fixing device 20 is converted into the first air flow S and the second air flow T in the flow path unit 300 adjacent to the fixing device 20. It is guided and discharged out of the image forming apparatus 1 through the discharge port 151 or the second discharge port 103 of the duct 150. Thereby, the temperature rise in the image forming apparatus 1 is suppressed, and the occurrence of problems associated with the temperature rise in the image forming apparatus 1 is suppressed.

Incidentally, the toner used in the image forming apparatus 1 is usually configured to include a volatile component such as wax. As described above, the toner image formed on the paper P is fixed by heat and pressure in the fixing device 20. At this time, a volatile component such as wax contained in the toner is volatilized by heat applied by the fixing device 20. Then, the volatilized wax or the like becomes a volatile organic compound and is discharged from the fixing device 20, and is guided by the above-described first air stream S or the like, and may be discharged outside the image forming apparatus 1.
For example, a volatile organic compound having a particle size of 0.1 μm or less is not easily captured by the filter 152 provided in the duct 150, and is easily discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 from the discharge port 151 or the like.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 with high productivity (the number of images formed per unit time), it is necessary to increase the fixing temperature in the fixing device 20 in order to suppress a decrease in toner image fixing performance. In this case, since the amount of heat given to the toner image on the recording material increases, the volatilization amount of the wax from the toner increases and the discharge amount of the volatile organic compound tends to increase.
When a large amount of volatile organic compounds due to wax or the like is discharged from the image forming apparatus 1, the surrounding environment of the image forming apparatus 1 may be contaminated or odor may be generated.

(First configuration example of airflow restriction member)
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the air blowing mechanism 100, the air flow restriction member 200 restricts the traveling direction of the first air flow S, thereby reducing the discharge amount of the volatile organic compound from the image forming apparatus 1. ing. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG. 4 described above.
The air flow regulating member 200 is formed of a plate-like member that is attached to the housing (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1 in the flow path unit 300. As shown in FIG. 4, the airflow restriction member 200 is attached in a state of being inclined toward the upstream side in the Z direction from the upstream side in the X direction toward the downstream side in the X direction. As a result, in the blower mechanism 100 of the present embodiment, the air flow restriction member 200 causes the cross-sectional area (flow channel area) along the YZ plane of the flow channel unit 300 to move from the upstream side in the X direction toward the downstream side in the X direction. It is narrower.

As a result, the density of the volatile organic compound discharged from the fixing device 20 and guided through the flow path unit 300 by the first airflow S increases as it goes from the upstream side in the X direction toward the downstream side in the X direction. A plurality of volatile organic compounds easily collide with each other on the downstream side in the X direction of the flow path portion 300 where the density of the volatile organic compounds in the first airflow S is high.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of small-diameter volatile organic compounds m adhere to each other due to collision, and one particle size is larger than each volatile organic compound m before collision. It becomes the volatile organic compound M.

A plurality of volatile organic compounds collide to form one volatile organic compound, so that the number of volatile organic compounds discharged from the flow path unit 300 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 through the duct 150 is reduced. Reduced. In addition, when a plurality of volatile organic compounds collide and become a volatile organic compound having a larger particle size than before the collision, when the first airflow S is discharged from the outlet 151 of the duct 150, Volatile organic compounds are easily adsorbed by the filter 152.
Thereby, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the volatilization discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 compared to the case where the air flow restriction member 200 that restricts the first air flow S is not provided in the blower mechanism 100. The amount of the organic compound is reduced.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a result of measuring the number of volatile organic compounds discharged from the image forming apparatus 1. In FIG. 5, as the blower mechanism 100 having the airflow restriction member 200, the blower mechanism 100 in which the cross-sectional area on the first discharge port 102 side of the flow path unit 300 is ½ of the cross-sectional area on the suction port 101 side. The case where it is used is shown. Moreover, as the conventional ventilation mechanism 100 which does not have the airflow control member 200, the airflow control member 200 is not provided, but the cross-sectional area of the 1st discharge port 102 side and the suction port 101 side of the flow-path part 300 is equal. The case where the ventilation mechanism 100 is used is shown.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the air blowing mechanism 100 according to the present embodiment having the air flow restriction member 200 is used, image formation is performed as compared with the case where the air blowing mechanism 100 not having the air flow restriction member 200 is used. It is confirmed that the number of volatile organic compounds discharged from the apparatus 1 is reduced.
As described above, by providing the air flow regulating member 200, a collision of a plurality of volatile organic compounds occurs in the flow path portion 300, and a plurality of volatile organic compounds adhere to one volatile organic compound. It is thought that it originates in becoming.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in the air blowing mechanism 100, the air flow restriction member 200 moves along the axial direction (Y direction) of the fixing roll 21, and the movement in the flow path unit 300 as compared with the second air flow T. The first air flow S having a long distance is regulated. Thereby, compared with the case where the 2nd airflow T is controlled by airflow control member 200, for example, the distance which the volatile organic compound guided to the 1st airflow S collides in channel part 300 may be lengthened. And volatile organic compounds are more likely to collide. Thereby, compared with the case where this structure is not employ | adopted, the discharge | emission amount of the volatile organic compound from the image forming apparatus 1 is reduced more.

(Second configuration example of airflow restriction member)
Then, the 2nd structural example of the airflow control member 200 is demonstrated. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the air blowing mechanism 100 including the airflow restriction member 200 to which the second configuration example is applied. In addition, about the structure similar to the 1st structural example mentioned above, the same code | symbol is used and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted here.
As shown in FIG. 6, the airflow restriction member 200 of the second configuration example is attached in a state of being inclined toward the upstream side in the Z direction from the upstream side in the X direction toward the downstream side in the X direction, as in the first configuration example. ing. As a result, in the blower mechanism 100 of the present embodiment, the air flow restriction member 200 causes the cross-sectional area (flow channel area) along the YZ plane of the flow channel unit 300 to move from the upstream side in the X direction toward the downstream side in the X direction. It is getting smaller.

  As a result, similar to the first configuration example, a plurality of volatile organic compounds collide with each other on the downstream side in the X direction of the flow path unit 300, and the particle diameter is larger than each volatile organic compound before the collision. It becomes one volatile organic compound. As a result, the number of volatile organic compounds discharged from the flow path unit 300 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 via the duct 150 is reduced, and the first air flow S is discharged from the discharge port 151 of the duct 150. In this case, the volatile organic compound is easily adsorbed by the filter 152.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the air flow regulating member 200 of the second configuration example is provided with a volatile organic compound adsorbing member 210 as an example of an adsorbing member made of a nonwoven fabric or the like on the surface facing the flow path portion 300. ing. In the second configuration example, the volatile organic compound guided by the first airflow S is adsorbed by the volatile organic compound adsorbing member 210, so that the volatile organic compound adsorbing member 210 is not provided. Thus, the amount of the volatile organic compound discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 is reduced.

(The 3rd structural example of an airflow control member)
Then, the 3rd structural example of the airflow control member 200 is demonstrated. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the air blowing mechanism 100 including the airflow restriction member 200 to which the third configuration example is applied. In addition, about the structure similar to the 1st structural example mentioned above, the same code | symbol is used and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted here.
As shown in FIG. 7, the air flow restriction member 200 of the third configuration example has a stepped shape in which the flow channel area of the flow channel unit 300 gradually decreases from the upstream side in the X direction toward the downstream side in the X direction. It has a shape. In other words, the air flow restriction member 200 of the third configuration example includes a first plate-like portion 201 extending along the XY plane, and a second plate-like shape extending along the YZ plane from the X-direction downstream end of the first plate-like portion 201. The portions 202 are alternately connected.

Thereby, in the third configuration example, the first airflow S sucked into the flow path portion 300 from the suction port 101 is guided in the X direction by the first plate-like portion 201 of the airflow restriction member 200 and the second plate By colliding with the shape portion 202, a turbulent flow Sr is generated as shown in FIG.
And since the turbulent flow Sr arises in the flow path part 300, the volatile organic compounds in the 1st airflow S collide more easily. As a result, the number of volatile organic compounds discharged from the flow path unit 300 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 via the duct 150 is reduced, and the first airflow S is discharged from the discharge port 151 of the duct 150. In this case, the volatile organic compound is easily adsorbed by the filter 152.

(Fourth configuration example of airflow restriction member)
Then, the 4th structural example of the airflow control member 200 is demonstrated. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the blower mechanism 100 including the airflow restriction member 200 to which the fourth configuration example is applied. In addition, about the structure similar to the 1st structural example mentioned above, the same code | symbol is used and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted here.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the airflow restriction member 200 of the fourth configuration example includes a plurality of protrusions 220 that protrude toward the downstream side in the Z direction.

As a result, in the fourth configuration example, the first air flow S sucked into the flow path unit 300 from the suction port 101 collides with the protrusion 220, thereby generating a turbulent flow Sr as shown in FIG.
And since the turbulent flow Sr arises in the flow-path part 300, the volatile organic compound in the 1st airflow S collides more easily like the 3rd structural example. As a result, the number of volatile organic compounds discharged from the flow path unit 300 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 via the duct 150 is reduced, and the first airflow S is discharged from the discharge port 151 of the duct 150. In this case, the volatile organic compound is easily adsorbed by the filter 152.

  Here, in the fourth configuration example shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion 220 is provided on the airflow regulating member 200 that is inclined toward the Z direction upstream side from the X direction upstream side toward the X direction downstream side. However, for example, the protrusion 220 may be provided on the airflow regulating member 200 that is parallel to the XY plane (not inclined in the Z direction). Even in such a case, the flow path area along the YZ plane of the flow path section 300 changes as it goes from the upstream side in the X direction toward the downstream side in the X direction. Then, similarly to the example shown in FIG. 8, the first air flow S sucked into the flow passage unit 300 from the suction port 101 collides with the protrusion 220, thereby generating a turbulent flow S, and a plurality of volatile organic compounds. They collide with each other.

  Further, the volatile organic compound adsorbing member 210 (see FIG. 5) in the airflow restriction member 200 of the second configuration example may be further provided to the airflow restriction member 200 shown in the third configuration example and the fourth configuration example. . In this case, the volatile organic compound is easily brought into contact with the volatile organic compound adsorbing member 210 due to the turbulent flow Sr, and the adsorption amount of the volatile organic compound to the volatile organic compound adsorbing member 210 is increased. As a result, the amount of volatile organic compounds discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 is reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Image forming part, 20 ... Fixing device, 21 ... Fixing roll, 22 ... Pressure roll, 100 ... Blower mechanism, 101 ... Suction port, 102 ... 1st discharge port, 103 ... 2nd discharge 110, suction fan, 120 ... first exhaust fan, 130 ... second exhaust fan, 150 ... duct, 151 ... discharge port, 152 ... filter, 200 ... air flow regulating member, 210 ... volatile organic compound adsorbing member, 220 …protrusion

Claims (5)

A recording material having a fixing member heated and rotated by a heating means and a pressure member forming a fixing pressure member through which the recording material passes between the fixing member, and a toner image formed on the fixing pressure member Fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material by heating
An airflow generating unit that generates an airflow that is adjacent to the fixing unit and that flows from a suction unit that sucks air from the outside of the apparatus main body to a discharge unit that discharges air to the outside of the apparatus main body;
The flow path area of the air flow generated by the air flow generating means is changed depending on the traveling direction of the air flow, and includes a flow path regulating unit that collides with a volatile organic compound contained in the air flow,
The air flow generation unit generates an air flow that is adjacent to the fixing unit in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the fixing member and travels along the rotation axis direction,
The flow path restriction unit is provided adjacent to the fixing unit in the intersecting direction, and the flow path area of the airflow traveling along the rotation axis direction is moved from the suction unit to the discharge unit. An image forming apparatus that is narrowed . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path regulation unit includes an adsorbing member that adsorbs a volatile organic compound contained in the airflow generated by the airflow generating unit. A recording material having a fixing member heated and rotated by a heating means and a pressure member forming a fixing pressure member through which the recording material passes between the fixing member, and a toner image formed on the fixing pressure member Fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material by heating
An airflow generating unit that generates an airflow that is adjacent to the fixing unit and that flows from a suction unit that sucks air from the outside of the apparatus main body to a discharge unit that discharges air to the outside of the apparatus main body;
The flow path area of the air flow generated by the air flow generating means is changed depending on the traveling direction of the air flow, and includes a flow path regulating unit that collides with a volatile organic compound contained in the air flow,
The air flow generation unit generates an air flow that is adjacent to the fixing unit in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the fixing member and travels along the rotation axis direction,
The flow path restricting unit is provided adjacent to the fixing unit in the intersecting direction, and changes the flow path area of the air flow traveling along the rotation axis direction according to the traveling direction of the air flow, and the air flow generation unit An image forming apparatus that generates a turbulent flow in the airflow generated by the process. A recording material having a fixing member heated and rotated by a heating means and a pressure member forming a fixing pressure member through which the recording material passes between the fixing member, and a toner image formed on the fixing pressure member Fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material by heating
An airflow generating unit that generates an airflow that is adjacent to the fixing unit and that flows from a suction unit that sucks air from the outside of the apparatus main body to a discharge unit that discharges air to the outside of the apparatus main body;
The flow path area of the air flow generated by the air flow generating means is changed depending on the traveling direction of the air flow, and includes a flow path regulating unit that collides with a volatile organic compound contained in the air flow,
The air flow generation unit generates an air flow that is adjacent to the fixing unit in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the fixing member and travels along the rotation axis direction,
The flow path restricting portion is provided adjacent to the fixing unit in the intersecting direction, and has a plurality of protrusions protruding toward the flow path of the air flow generated by the air flow generating unit, and the rotation An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the flow path area of the airflow traveling along the axial direction is changed according to the traveling direction of the airflow. A recording material having a fixing member heated and rotated by a heating means and a pressure member forming a fixing pressure member through which the recording material passes between the fixing member, and a toner image formed on the fixing pressure member Fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material by heating
An airflow generating unit that generates an airflow that is adjacent to the fixing unit and that flows from a suction unit that sucks air from the outside of the apparatus main body to a discharge unit that discharges air to the outside of the apparatus main body;
By changing the flow area of the air flow generated by the air flow generating means according to the traveling direction of the air flow, a flow path regulating unit that collides with a volatile organic compound contained in the air flow , and
Other airflow generating means for generating another airflow that travels in the conveyance direction of the recording material from the fixing means to another discharge section that discharges air to the outside of the apparatus main body. ,
The air flow generation unit generates an air flow that is adjacent to the fixing unit in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the fixing member and travels along the rotation axis direction,
The flow path restriction unit is provided adjacent to the fixing unit in the intersecting direction, and changes the flow path area of the air flow traveling along the rotation axis direction according to the traveling direction of the air flow. Image forming apparatus.

Images