JP6805971B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus .

In the image forming apparatus, a fixing portion is provided to fix the toner image on the paper (for example, Patent Document 1).

The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an image forming portion for forming an image on a recording material and a fixing device for fixing the image on the recording material. The image forming apparatus covers the fixing device, the first duct for passing the air heated by the fixing device, the first duct, the second duct for passing the cooling air introduced from the outside, and the first duct and the second duct. It is characterized by having an exhaust fan for discharging the air that has passed through the air.

JP-A-2009-014895

It is known that various substances are discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is operated. Examples of various substances include volatile organic compounds (hereinafter abbreviated as VOC) generated from the periphery of the fixing portion, and ultrafine particles having a particle size of less than 100 nm (ULTRAfine Particles: hereinafter, UFP). (Abbreviated as) and so on. The air heated by the fixing portion flows in the duct in a state containing VOC and UFP, and is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

It is preferable to capture the VOCs and UFPs in the image forming apparatus in order to prevent the VOCs and UFPs generated from the periphery of the fixing portion from being discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus. In order to capture VOCs and UFPs in the image forming apparatus, it is conceivable to cool the discharged air and attach it to the wall surface of the duct to capture the VOCs and UFPs. Here, if the cooling effect cannot be sufficiently obtained, VOC and UFP cannot be efficiently captured. It is difficult to deal with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently capturing VOCs and UFPs and efficiently cooling the inside of a duct.

In one aspect of the invention, the image forming apparatus forms an image on paper. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing portion, a duct, an exhaust fan, a first pipe, a first fan, a second pipe, a second fan, and a control unit. Be prepared. The image forming unit forms a toner image and transfers it to paper. The fixing unit fixes the toner image transferred by the image forming unit to the paper. The duct is provided with an opening on one side around the fixing portion, and the opening on the other side reaches the outside of the image forming apparatus. The exhaust fan is provided in the duct and rotates to exhaust the air around the fixing portion. The first pipe is provided in the duct, the opening on one side is provided on the downstream side in the exhaust direction of the exhaust fan, and the opening on the other side reaches the outside of the image forming apparatus. The first fan can flow air through the first pipe in the exhaust direction or in a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the forward and reverse rotations. The second pipe is provided separately from the first pipe, and the opening on one side is provided on the downstream side in the exhaust direction of the exhaust fan, and the opening on the other side reaches the outside of the image forming apparatus. The second fan can flow air through the second pipe in the exhaust direction or a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the forward and reverse rotations. The control unit controls the second fan to flow air in the exhaust direction, controls the first fan to flow air in the direction opposite to the exhaust direction, and controls the first fan and the first fan at a predetermined timing. It is controlled to switch the forward and reverse of the rotation of the second fan.

In another aspect of the invention, the duct has a tubular shape and exhausts air near the opening on one side. The duct includes a first pipe, a first fan, a second pipe, a second fan, and a control unit. In the first pipe, an opening on one side is provided in the duct, and an opening on the other side reaches the outside of the duct. The first fan can flow air through the first pipe in the exhaust direction of the duct or in a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the rotation forward and reverse. The second pipe is provided separately from the first pipe, and an opening on one side is provided in the duct, and an opening on the other side reaches the outside of the duct. The second fan can flow air through the second pipe in the exhaust direction or a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the forward and reverse rotations. The control unit controls the second fan to flow air in the exhaust direction, controls the first fan to flow air in the direction opposite to the exhaust direction, and controls the first fan and the first fan at a predetermined timing. It is controlled to switch the forward and reverse of the rotation of the second fan.

According to such an image forming apparatus, a first pipe and a second pipe are provided in the duct. When the outside air is taken in using the first pipe, the air around the fixing portion exhausted by the exhaust fan is cooled by the taken-in outside air on the downstream side in the exhaust direction in the duct. Then, the air around the fixing portion is cooled to some extent. As the air is cooled, VOCs and UFPs contained in the air around the fixing portion adhere to the wall surface of the duct or the second pipe and are captured. The air around the fixing portion is cooled to some extent on the downstream side in the exhaust direction in the duct, but is not completely cooled. Therefore, if the air around the fixing portion is exhausted for a long time by using the second pipe, the second pipe may become excessively hot. Therefore, by switching the forward and reverse rotation of the second fan at a predetermined timing and sucking the outside air into the second pipe, it is possible to prevent the second pipe from being cooled and becoming excessively hot. .. Further, when the forward and reverse rotations of the first fan are switched at the same timing and the air around the fixing portion is exhausted to the first pipe, the VOC and UFP contained in the air adhere to the wall surface of the first pipe. , Captured. Therefore, VOCs and UFPs can be efficiently captured and the inside of the duct can be efficiently cooled.

According to such a duct, when attached to an image forming apparatus, VOC and UFP can be efficiently captured and the inside of the duct can be efficiently cooled.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multifunction device when the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is applied to the multifunction device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the duct. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section when the 1st pipe and the 2nd pipe are cut in the direction perpendicular to the exhaust direction. It is a flowchart which shows the process flow at the time of switching the operation of the 1st fan and the 2nd fan when a predetermined time is exceeded. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which switched the operation of the 1st fan and the 2nd fan. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 1st modification of the 1st pipe and the 2nd pipe. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 2nd modification of the 1st pipe and the 2nd pipe.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multifunction device when the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is adapted to the multifunction device.

With reference to FIG. 1, the multifunction device 11 includes a multifunction device control unit 12, an operation unit 13, an image forming unit 15, a paper feed cassette 18, a paper transport unit 20, a fixing unit 22, and a network interface unit. A 23, a hard disk 32, and a duct 40 are provided.

The multifunction device control unit 12 controls the entire multifunction device 11. The multifunction device control unit 12 is composed of a CPU and the like, and includes a main storage memory 31 as a storage unit for temporarily storing data. The operation unit 13 includes a display screen 21 as a display unit. The display screen 21 displays information. The display screen 21 has a touch panel function of a liquid crystal, and the image formation conditions and the like can be input from the display screen 21 by pressing with a user's finger or the like, and the function can be selected. The hard disk 32 as a storage unit stores data related to image formation. The paper transport unit 20 includes a plurality of transport rollers 33, and transports the paper set in the paper feed cassette 18 to the image forming unit 15. The image forming unit 15 forms an image on the paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette 18.

The image forming unit 15 includes a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor and a developing unit as a developing device. By supplying toner from the developing unit to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor, a toner image is formed on the photoconductor. The toner image formed on the photoconductor is transferred to the paper. The paper on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 22 by the paper conveying unit 20. The fixing portion 22 includes a fixing belt 22a and a fixing roll 22b. The fixing belt 22a has a sheet-like shape and is processed into a cylindrical shape. The fixing belt 22a has a laminated structure including a base material layer made of metal, synthetic resin or the like, an elastic layer made of silicone rubber or the like, and a coating layer made of synthetic resin or the like. The fixing roll 22b has a cylindrical shape. The fixing roll 22b is a metal cylinder or a cylinder whose outer peripheral surface is covered with a layer made of synthetic resin or the like. The paper on which the toner image is transferred passes between the fixing belt 22a and the fixing roll 22b and is thermocompression bonded. The surface on which the toner image of the paper is transferred comes into contact with the fixing belt 22a, and the toner image is thermocompression bonded to the paper. Then, the toner image is fixed on the paper. Then, the paper on which the toner image is fixed is ejected to an ejection tray (not shown).

The multifunction device 11 serves as a printer by forming an image in the image forming unit 15 and printing it on paper using the image data transmitted from the computers 25a and 25b connected to the network 24 through the network interface unit 23. Operate.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the duct 40. In FIG. 2, the direction of the arrow indicating the X direction is the same as the paper transport direction. The duct 40 is provided in the main body device of the multifunction device 11. With reference to FIG. 2, the duct 40 is arranged around the fixing portion 22. By doing so, the air around the fixing portion 22 can be exhausted to the outside of the multifunction device 11. The duct 40 has a hollow tubular shape. One end of the duct 40 is arranged around the anchoring portion 22. The other end of the duct 40 is arranged so as to reach the outside of the multifunction device 11. The duct 40 is arranged on the side opposite to the fixing roll 22b when viewed from the fixing belt 22a. The duct 40 is arranged above the fixing portion 22. The opening 40a at one end of the duct 40 is provided around the fixing portion 22. The opening 40a at one end of the duct 40 is provided above the fixing belt 22a. The opening 40b at the other end of the duct 40 is formed so as to reach the outside of the multifunction device 11. The duct 40 has an L-shaped bent shape.

With reference to FIG. 2, the duct 40 includes an exhaust fan 43. The exhaust fan 43 is arranged in the duct 40. The exhaust fan 43 is arranged between the opening 40a at one end of the duct 40 and the opening 40b at the other end of the duct 40. The exhaust fan 43 rotates so as to exhaust the air around the fixing portion 22. The exhaust fan 43 rotates at a predetermined rotation speed to suck and discharge air. The exhaust fan 43 sucks the air around the fixing portion 22 in the direction of the arrow indicating the Y direction and discharges the air in the direction of the arrow indicating the Y direction. The exhaust direction of the exhaust fan 43 is the direction of the arrow indicating the Y direction in FIG. The air sucked and discharged by the exhaust fan 43 flows from the upstream side 40c in the exhaust direction toward the downstream side 40d in the exhaust direction. The duct 40 has an L-shaped shape that is partially bent in the exhaust direction of the exhaust fan 43.

The duct 40 includes a first pipe 41, a first fan 46, a second pipe 42, and a second fan 47. The first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42 have a hollow tubular shape. One end of the first pipe 41 in the longitudinal direction is arranged on the exhaust fan 43 downstream side 40d in the exhaust direction. The other end of the first pipe 41 in the longitudinal direction is arranged so as to reach the outside of the multifunction device 11. The opening 41a at one end of the first pipe 41 is formed on the downstream side 40d of the exhaust fan 43 in the exhaust direction. The opening 41b at the other end of the first pipe 41 is formed so as to reach the outside of the multifunction device 11. The first pipe 41 is arranged so as to come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the duct 40. The first fan 46 can flow air through the first pipe 41 in the exhaust direction or in a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the forward and reverse rotations. The first fan 46 rotates at a predetermined rotation speed. In FIG. 2, the exhaust direction of the exhaust fan 43 is the direction of the arrow indicating the X direction. The first fan 46 includes a fan 46a and a fan 46b. The fans 46a and 46b may rotate at the same rotation speed or may rotate at different rotation speeds. The fan 46a is arranged at one end of the first pipe 41. The fan 46a is arranged so as to cover the opening 41a of the first pipe 41. The fan 46b is arranged at the other end of the first pipe 41. The fan 46b is arranged so as to cover the opening 41b of the first pipe 41. The fans 46a and 46b may include a filter that adsorbs VOC and UFP.

One end of the second pipe 42 in the longitudinal direction is arranged on the exhaust fan 43 downstream side 40d in the exhaust direction. The other end of the second pipe 42 in the longitudinal direction is arranged so as to reach the outside of the multifunction device 11. The opening 42a at one end of the second pipe 42 is formed on the downstream side 40d of the exhaust fan 43 in the exhaust direction. The opening 42b at the other end of the second pipe 42 is formed so as to reach the outside of the multifunction device 11. The second pipe 42 is arranged so as to come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the duct 40. The second pipe 42 is arranged so as to be adjacent to the first pipe 41. The second pipe 42 is arranged so as to come into contact with the first pipe 41. In the present embodiment, the second pipe 42 and the first pipe 41 are connected so as to come into contact with each other from one end in the longitudinal direction to the other end. By doing so, when the air flows so as to take in the outside air in the first pipe 41 and the air flows so as to exhaust the air around the fixing portion 22 in the second pipe 42, the second pipe 42 Air can be cooled in the pipe 42, and VOC and UFP can be attached to the wall surface of the second pipe 42 and captured.

The second fan 47 can flow air through the second pipe 42 in the exhaust direction or in a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the forward and reverse rotations. The second fan 47 rotates at a predetermined rotation speed. The second fan 47 includes a fan 47a and a fan 47b. The fans 47a and 47b may rotate at the same rotation speed or may rotate at different rotation speeds. The fan 47a is arranged at one end of the second pipe 42. The fan 47a is arranged so as to cover the opening 42a of the second pipe 42. The fan 47b is arranged at the other end of the second pipe 42. The fan 47b is arranged so as to cover the opening 42b of the second pipe 42. The fans 47a and 47b may include a filter that adsorbs VOC and UFP.

With reference to FIG. 2, when air flows through the first pipe 41 in a direction opposite to the exhaust direction and outside air is taken in, the air around the fixing portion 22 exhausted by the exhaust fan 43 is a duct. It mixes with the outside air at 40d on the downstream side in the exhaust direction in 40. Therefore, the air around the fixing portion 22 is cooled by the intake outside air at the downstream side 40d in the exhaust direction in the duct 40. The VOC and UFP contained in the air around the fixing portion 22 adhere to the wall surface in the duct 40 and are captured by cooling the air.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section when the first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42 are cut in a direction perpendicular to the exhaust direction. With reference to FIG. 3, the first pipe 41 has a rectangular shape when viewed in a plane from a direction opposite to the exhaust direction. Similarly, the second pipe 42 has a rectangular shape when viewed in a plane from the exhaust direction. In FIG. 3, the first pipe 41 is arranged so as to contact the upper part in the Y direction with respect to the second pipe 42. The first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42 may be arranged coaxially. The first pipe 41 may be arranged so as to cover the second pipe 42.

Next, the configuration of the multifunction device control unit 12 provided in the multifunction device 11 will be described. With reference to FIG. 1, the multifunction device control unit 12 includes a control unit 121, a first detection unit 122, and a second detection unit 123. The control unit 121 controls the second fan 47 so that air flows in the exhaust direction, controls the first fan 46 so that air flows in the direction opposite to the exhaust direction, and first at a predetermined timing. The rotation of the fan 46 and the second fan 47 is controlled to be switched between forward and reverse. The first detection unit 122 detects the ventilation time of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47. The second detection unit 123 detects the temperature of the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42. These configurations will be described in detail later.

Next, a case where the ventilation time of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 is detected and the operation of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 is switched when the predetermined time is exceeded will be described. FIG. 4 shows a processing flow when the ventilation time of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 is detected and the operation of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 is switched when the predetermined time is exceeded. It is a flowchart.

With reference to FIG. 4, first, the toner image transferred to the paper is fixed to the paper by the fixing unit 22 (in FIG. 4, step S11, hereinafter, “step” is omitted). Next, the control unit 121 operates the rotation of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47. The second fan 47 is rotated so as to allow air to flow in the exhaust direction. Further, the first fan 46 is rotated so as to allow air to flow in a direction opposite to the exhaust direction (S12).

With reference to FIG. 2, the second fan 47 is rotated so as to allow air to flow in the exhaust direction, and the air flows so as to exhaust the air around the fixing portion 22 in the second pipe 42. The first fan 46 is rotated so as to allow air to flow in the direction opposite to the exhaust direction, and the air flows so as to take in the outside air in the first pipe 41.

Next, the first detection unit 122 detects the ventilation time of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 (S13). The detected ventilation time is temporarily stored in the main memory. If the ventilation time exceeds a predetermined time (YES in S13), the rotation of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 is switched between forward and reverse (S14). Here, the predetermined time is, for example, about 2 minutes to 5 minutes.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the operations of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 are switched. With reference to FIG. 5, the first fan 46 is rotated so as to allow air to flow in the exhaust direction, and the air flows so as to exhaust the air around the fixing portion 22 in the first pipe 41. The second fan 47 is rotated so as to allow air to flow in the direction opposite to the exhaust direction, and the air flows so as to take in the outside air in the second pipe 42.

Next, the ventilation time temporarily stored in the main storage memory 31 is reset to zero (S15). Then, it is determined whether or not the fixing to the paper by the fixing unit 22 is completed (S16). When the fixing to the paper by the fixing unit 22 is completed (YES in S16), the control unit 121 stops the rotation of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47.

Here, according to such a multifunction device 11, the first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42 are provided in the duct 40. When the outside air is taken in by using the first pipe 41, the air around the fixing portion 22 exhausted by the exhaust fan 43 is cooled by the taken-in outside air in the duct 40 on the downstream side 40d in the exhaust direction. Will be done. Then, the air around the fixing portion 22 will be cooled to some extent. As the air is cooled, the VOCs and UFPs contained in the air around the fixing portion 22 adhere to the wall surface of the duct 40 and the second pipe 42 and are captured. The air around the fixing portion 22 is cooled to some extent on the downstream side 40d in the exhaust direction in the duct 40, but is not completely cooled. Therefore, if the air around the fixing portion 22 is exhausted for a long time by using the second pipe 42, the second pipe 42 may become excessively hot. Therefore, by switching the forward and reverse rotations of the second fan 47 at a predetermined timing and sucking the outside air into the second pipe 42, the second pipe 42 is cooled and prevented from becoming excessively hot. be able to. Further, when the rotation of the first fan 46 is switched between forward and reverse at the same timing and the air around the fixing portion 22 is exhausted to the first pipe 41, the VOC and UFP contained in the air are transferred to the first pipe 41. It adheres to the wall surface and is captured. Therefore, VOCs and UFPs can be efficiently captured, and the inside of the duct 40 can be efficiently cooled.

In S13, if the ventilation time of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 does not exceed a predetermined time (NO in S13), the ventilation time of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 is repeatedly detected. Will be done.

In S13, the second detection unit 123 may detect the temperature of the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42. If the temperature of the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42 exceeds a predetermined temperature (YES in S13), the operations of the first fan 46 and the second fan 47 may be switched. Good (S14).

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a first modification of the first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42. With reference to FIG. 6, the first pipe 51 and the second pipe 52 are arranged so as to be in contact with each other. An opening S for communicating the first pipe 51 and the second pipe 52 is formed in a part of the first pipe 51 and the second pipe 52. The valve 48 is arranged so as to cover the opening S. The valve 48 has a plate-like shape. The valve 48 includes a rotating shaft 49. The valve 48 is configured to rotate by a rotating shaft 49. By rotating the valve 48, the opening condition of the opening S is adjusted. In the first pipe 51, when air flows so as to take in outside air, and in the second pipe 52, air flows so as to exhaust the air around the fixing portion 22, the valve 48 rotates and the opening S opens. Then, the air flowing through the second pipe 52 flows into the first pipe 51. The air that has flowed into the first pipe 51 is cooled by the outside air. Therefore, the air flowing through the second pipe 52 can be cooled more efficiently. As a result, VOCs and UFPs can be captured more efficiently.

In S13, the second detection unit 123 detects the temperatures of the inner peripheral surfaces of the first pipe and the second pipe, and the temperatures of the inner peripheral surfaces of the first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42 are set. If the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature (YES in S13), the valve 48 may be opened by the control unit 121 to adjust the opening state of the opening S. Further, the valve 48 may rotate based on the temperature of the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42 to adjust the opening state of the opening S.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a second modification of the first pipe 41 and the second pipe 42. With reference to FIG. 7, the first pipe 61 and the second pipe 62 have a spiral shape. In addition, at least one of the first pipe 61 and the second pipe 62 may have a spiral shape. The first pipe 61 and the second pipe 62 are arranged so as to be intertwined. The first pipe 61 and the second pipe 62 are arranged so as to be twisted. The first pipe 61 and the second pipe 62 have a double helix shape. By doing so, the first pipe 61 or the second pipe 62 can be efficiently cooled.

The duct 40 and the exhaust fan 43, the first pipe 41, the second pipe 42, the first fan 46, and the second fan 47 provided in the duct 40 are detachable from the multifunction device 11. .. Further, the duct 40 is controlled by the multifunction device control unit 12 of the multifunction device 11, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the duct 40 may include a control unit and be controlled by the control unit. In this case, it may be configured as follows. The duct has a tubular shape and exhausts air near the opening on one side. The duct includes a first pipe, a first fan, a second pipe, a second fan, and a control unit. In the first pipe, an opening on one side is provided in the duct, and an opening on the other side reaches the outside of the duct. The first fan can flow air through the first pipe in the exhaust direction of the duct or in a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the rotation forward and reverse. The second pipe is provided separately from the first pipe, and an opening on one side is provided in the duct, and an opening on the other side reaches the outside of the duct. The second fan can flow air through the second pipe in the exhaust direction or a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the forward and reverse rotations. The control unit controls the second fan to flow air in the exhaust direction, controls the first fan to flow air in the direction opposite to the exhaust direction, and controls the first fan and the first fan at a predetermined timing. It is controlled to switch the forward and reverse of the rotation of the second fan.

It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed here are exemplary in all respects and are not restrictive in any way. The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is particularly effectively used when it is required to efficiently remove VOCs and UFPs and efficiently cool the inside of the duct.

11 Combined machine, 12 Combined machine control unit, 121 Control unit, 122 1st detection unit, 123 2nd detection unit, 13 Operation unit, 15 Image forming unit, 18 Paper feed cassette, 20 Paper transport unit, 21 Display screen, 22 Fixing part, 22a fixing belt, 22b fixing roll, 23 network interface part, 24 network, 25a, 25b computer, 31 main memory, 32 hard disk, 33 transport roller, 40 duct, 40a, 40b opening, 40c upstream side in the exhaust direction, 40d Downstream side in the exhaust direction, 41 1st pipe, 41a, 41b opening, 42 2nd pipe, 42a, 42b opening, 43 exhaust fan, 46 1st fan, 46a, 46b fan, 47 2nd fan, 47a , 47b fan, 48 valves, 49 rotating shaft, 51 first pipe, 52 second pipe, 61 first pipe, 62 second pipe, S opening.

Claims (8)

An image forming device that forms an image on paper.
An image forming unit that forms a toner image and transfers it to the paper,
A fixing portion for fixing the toner image transferred by the image forming portion to the paper, and a fixing portion.
A duct in which an opening on one side is provided around the fixing portion and the opening on the other side reaches the outside of the image forming apparatus.
An exhaust fan provided in the duct and exhausting air around the fixing portion by rotation,
A first pipe provided in the duct, one side of which is provided downstream of the exhaust fan in the exhaust direction, and the other side of which is provided to the outside of the image forming apparatus.
A first fan capable of flowing air through the first pipe in the exhaust direction or a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the forward and reverse of rotation.
A second pipe that is provided separately from the first pipe, one side of which is provided on the downstream side of the exhaust fan in the exhaust direction, and the other side of which reaches the outside of the image forming apparatus.
A second fan capable of flowing air through the second pipe in the exhaust direction or a direction opposite to the exhaust direction by switching the forward and reverse of rotation.
The second fan is controlled to flow air in the exhaust direction, the first fan is controlled to flow air in a direction opposite to the exhaust direction, and the first fan is controlled to flow in a predetermined timing. An image forming apparatus comprising the control unit for controlling the forward and reverse rotation of the second fan. Further, a first detection unit for detecting the ventilation time of the first fan and the second fan is provided.
The control unit controls to switch between forward and reverse rotations of the first fan and the second fan when the ventilation time detected by the first detection unit exceeds a predetermined time. The image forming apparatus according to 1. Further, a second detection unit for detecting the temperature of the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe and the second pipe is provided.
The control unit controls to switch between forward and reverse rotation of the first fan and the second fan when the temperature detected by the second detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature. The image forming apparatus according to. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first pipe and the second pipe are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other. The first pipe and the second pipe are arranged so as to be in contact with each other, and an opening for communicating the first pipe and the second pipe with a part of the first pipe and the second pipe. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a valve for adjusting the opening state of the opening is provided. Further, a second detection unit for detecting the temperature of the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe and the second pipe is provided.
The fifth aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit controls to open the valve and adjust the opening state of the opening when the temperature detected by the second detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature. Image forming device. Claims 1 to 6 wherein at least one of the first pipe and the second pipe has a spiral shape, and the first pipe and the second pipe are arranged so as to be intertwined. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. Claims 1 to claim that at least one of the first pipe and the second pipe has a spiral shape, and the first pipe and the second pipe are arranged so as to be twisted. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 7.

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