JPH04322720A - Ozone filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To mitigate an unpleasant feeling of the hand in exchanging ozone filters and to avoid the deterioration of printing by providing an ozone filter holding member freely detachably with respect to the upper cabinet of the device. CONSTITUTION:When ozone filters 6 are exchanged, the filter is pulled up almost vertically by holding the top board 5a of an ozone filter cover 5, and the cover 5 is drawn out of the upper cabinet 2 along with the exhausted filter 6 through the hole 2a of the cabinet. The cover 5 is moved above the dump for the exhausted filter 6 by holding the top board 5a while keeping the top board 5a almost horizontally, the top board 5a is then inclined, and hence the exhausted filter 6 is slid out from between the holding plates 5b and 5b and dropped into the dump. A fresh ozone filter 6 is snapped into the space formed by the top board 5a and holding plates 5b and 5b, the cover 5 is inserted into the upper cabinet 2 from the hole 2a, and the filters 6 are exchanged.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ozone filter for reducing ozone generated during operation in an apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus using a charged image.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art As an apparatus in which the above-mentioned ozone filter is installed, an electrophotographic apparatus such as a laser printer, which is equipped with a discharge section that generates ozone, is known. 4, the main body 21 is divided almost horizontally into an upper cabinet 22 and a lower cabinet 23, and the upper cabinet 22 rotates with respect to the lower cabinet 23 around its lower end, and the interior of the main body 21 It is installed to open. Therefore, maintenance of the transfer drum (not shown) installed inside the upper cabinet 22, troubleshooting of paper jams, etc. in the paper feed mechanism (not shown) installed inside the lower cabinet 23, etc. is easily possible.

Further, in order to charge the rotating drum, a discharge section (not shown) is installed adjacent to the rotating drum, and harmful ozone is generated from the discharge section during operation. Therefore, conventionally, an ozone filter 24 that reduces ozone in the passing air is detachably attached to the inside of the lower cabinet 23 near the discharge section (not shown) in order to efficiently reduce ozone. There is.

[0004] Next, a procedure for replacing an old ozone filter 24 that has deteriorated in function after being used for a predetermined period of time and needs to be replaced will be described. First, open the upper cabinet 22 by rotating it relative to the lower cabinet 23, then put your hand inside the opened main body 21 and take out the old ozone filter 24 from the inside of the lower cabinet 23, and then remove the new ozone filter 24 from the inside of the lower cabinet 23. Place filter 24 in lower cabinet 2
3. Replacement is completed by inserting it into the predetermined position on the inside part.

[0005]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above configuration, when replacing the old ozone filter 24, the user
Since the main body 21 is opened and the ozone filter 24 is taken out by hand, dirt such as paper powder and toner from the ozone filter 24 adheres to the hands, making the hands dirty and uncomfortable. A user who is inexperienced with maintenance operations such as replacing the filter 24 may accidentally touch a mechanism such as a transfer drum installed in the main body 21 when replacing the ozone filter 24, and contaminate the surface of the mechanism. , the contaminated mechanism causes a problem of deterioration of print quality.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the ozone filter of the present invention is an ozone filter that reduces ozone generated in a device such as a laser printer, and the ozone filter is detachably held. The device is characterized in that the holding member is detachably provided to the exterior body of the device.

[0007]

[Operation] With the above configuration, the ozone filter can be inserted into the device from the exterior body of the device, so when replacing a dirty old ozone filter with a new one, the device can There is no need to open the inside of the device, and there is no need to accidentally touch the internal mechanisms of the device, such as the surface of the rotating drum.Also, if you hold the holding member that holds the old ozone filter in your hand, you can remove the dirty old ozone. By being able to dispose of the filter without having to touch it directly, the amount of dirt on your hands that conventionally occurs when replacing an ozone filter is reduced.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. As a device in which an ozone filter for reducing ozone is installed, an electrophotographic device including a discharge section that generates ozone, such as a laser printer, is known. A rectangular parallelepiped-shaped main body 1 is divided almost horizontally into an upper cabinet (exterior body) 2 and a lower cabinet 3, and the upper cabinet 2 rotates relative to the lower cabinet 3 around the lower end of one of the upper cabinets. It is attached to the lower cabinet 3 so that the main body 1 can be opened. Therefore, maintenance of the transfer drum etc. installed inside the upper cabinet 2 and lower cabinet 3
This makes it easy to perform maintenance such as troubleshooting paper jams in the internal paper feed mechanism and replacing parts.

A paper ejection tray 4 is formed on the upper surface of the upper cabinet 2, from which paper after printing is ejected. In addition, an ozone filter cover (holding member) 5 is removably attached to the upper cabinet 2 in the vicinity of a discharge part (not shown) that generates ozone, and the ozone filter cover 5 holds the ozone filter cover 5. In order for the ozone filter to operate most efficiently, the mounting position of the ozone filter cover 5 is determined so that the ozone filter blocks the air path of the ventilation fan that ventilates the inside of the main body 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ozone filter cover 5 consists of a substantially rectangular top plate 5a and a pair of substantially rectangular holding plates 5b, each of which is attached to the top plate 5a. They are respectively attached so as to face each other substantially parallel to each other and extend substantially perpendicularly from both ends in the longitudinal direction.

Therefore, a top plate hole 2a into which the top plate 5a fits is formed on the upper surface of the upper cabinet 2, and an ozone filter cover 5 is provided inside the upper cabinet 2.
A space is provided so that the holding plates 5b, 5b and an ozone filter 6, which will be described later, can be inserted when the ozone filter cover 5 is inserted, and the ozone filter cover 5 is prevented from wobbling by engaging the holding plates 5b, 5b. An engaging portion (not shown) is formed.

Further, each holding plate 5b has a locking part 5 whose tip end is bent inward and locks an ozone filter 6, which will be described later, to prevent it from falling.
c is formed, and therefore, the holding plate 5b is formed to have a substantially L-shaped cross section. Note that the materials of the ozone filter cover 5 and the main body 21 include heat resistance, workability,
A synthetic resin with excellent durability is used.

On the other hand, the aforementioned ozone filter 6 is a porous filter molded into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that fits into the top plate 5a and the respective holding plates 5b and 5b of the ozone filter cover 5, and ozone is stored inside the ozone filter 6. It is equipped with catalytic ozone removal materials such as finely powdered platinum that decomposes into oxygen. As a result, ozone contained in the air that has passed through the ozone filter 6 is decomposed, and the ozone content of the air that has passed is reduced. As a result, the amount of ozone inside the laser printer is reduced, and the amount of ozone in the air discharged to the outside of the laser printer is reduced, thereby reducing the amount of ozone harmful to the human body leaking to the outside.

[0014] To replace the ozone filter 6 as described above,
First, the top plate 5a of the ozone filter cover 5 that holds the dirty old ozone filter 6 that needs to be replaced.
, and pull it up almost vertically, as shown in Figure 3.
The ozone filter cover 5 and the old ozone filter 6 are taken out from the upper cabinet 2 through the top plate hole 2a.

Next, while keeping the top plate 5a substantially horizontal, the ozone filter cover 5 is moved by holding the top plate 5a to above the place where the old ozone filter 6 is disposed of. Thereafter, when the top plate 5a is tilted, the old ozone filter 6 inside the ozone filter cover 5 slides out from between the holding plates 5b, 5b, slides to a disposal site, and is discarded.

Next, a new ozone filter 6 is installed on the top plate 5a and each holding plate 5 of the ozone filter cover 5.
After fitting between b and 5b, the ozone filter cover 5 is inserted into the upper cabinet 2 through the top plate hole 2a, and the replacement of the ozone filter 6 is completed.

As described above, in the configuration of the above embodiment, when replacing the dirty old ozone filter 6 that needs to be replaced with a new ozone filter, the old ozone filter 6 is replaced with a new ozone filter.
By holding the top plate 5a of the ozone filter cover 5 that holds the ozone filter 6, the old ozone filter 6 can be disposed of without touching the old ozone filter 6 directly. This reduces the amount of dirt on your hands when replacing a dirty old ozone filter 6 compared to the conventional method of holding it directly and disposing of it. Therefore, the conventional discomfort of getting your hands dirty during replacement is reduced.

Furthermore, when replacing the ozone filter 6,
Since there is no need to open the main body and replace it by hand as in the past, the printing quality of the laser printer can be improved by touching the mechanism inside the main body 1, for example, the rotating drum, and staining the surface of the rotating drum. The conventional problem of deterioration of the power source is avoided with the above configuration.

[0019] In the above embodiment, a laser printer was used as the device equipped with an ozone filter, but
A device equipped with a discharge part etc. as a mechanism for generating ozone,
For example, the present invention can also be applied to copying machines.

[0020]

Effects of the Invention As described above, in the ozone filter of the present invention, the holding member that removably holds the ozone filter that reduces ozone generated in a device such as a laser printer is attached to the exterior body of the device. It has a removable structure.

Therefore, when replacing a dirty old ozone filter that needs to be replaced, there is no need to put your hands inside the device, unlike in the past where you had to put your hands inside the device. This eliminates the possibility of deteriorating printing quality due to accidentally soiling the surface of the rotating drum with your hands, and also allows you to hold the ozone filter, unlike in the past, where you had to hold the ozone filter by hand to take it out and replace it. If you hold the holding member in your hand and take it out, you can take out and dispose of the old, dirty ozone filter without touching it, which reduces the chance of getting your hands dirty.

[0022] Therefore, by replacing the ozone filter, it is possible to reduce the unpleasant feeling of getting one's hands dirty, which conventionally occurs, and at the same time, it has the effect of avoiding deterioration in printing quality, which is likely to occur conventionally.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of essential parts of a laser printer equipped with an ozone filter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the laser printer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main parts of the laser printer showing how the ozone filter is replaced.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional laser printer equipped with an ozone filter in an open state.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Main body (device) 2 Upper cabinet (exterior body) 5 Ozone filter cover (holding member) 6
ozone filter

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An ozone filter for reducing ozone generated in a device such as a laser printer, wherein a holding member for detachably holding the ozone filter is provided to be detachably attached to an exterior body of the device. An ozone filter characterized by: