JPH05241384A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently cool a toner recovering box in a saved space and in addition, to miniaturize a device by providing handle parts with tapered through- holes at both sides of a process cartridge. CONSTITUTION:When a fan 3 is driven, outside air is allowed into the device from an air supply hole 5, flows into the space S between the process cartridge 1 and the fixing unit 2 via the tapered through-hole 7a of the second handle part 7, and is sucked by a fan 3 to advance towards the first handle part 6. Then, the air is sent out via the through-hole 6a of the first handle part 6 and an exhaust hole 4. Here, the toner recovering box part 1a is cooled by the air caused to pass the bottom of the toner recovering part 1a of the process cartridge 1 by the fan 3. The through-holes 6a and 7a serve as the handles for the process cartridge 1 and are provided below the process cartridge 1 in such a manner that they project in the direction of the fixing unit 2, and it is therefore unnecessary to increase the size in the direction of the width.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive drum portion for transferring a toner image onto a recording medium, and a fixing device for thermally fixing the transferred toner image on the recording medium through a fixed space. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having a toner recovery box portion for accumulating and recovering the residual toner on the photosensitive drum that is installed is detachably provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, handles are formed on both sides of a process cartridge which is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus so as to facilitate the work of attachment and detachment.

Further, in such an image forming apparatus, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum is accumulated in the toner collecting box, and when the toner collecting box is full or at a predetermined time, The toner collection box is replaced or the toner inside is discharged.

The toner recovery box is generally provided as a process cartridge formed integrally with the photoconductor, and the toner recovery box portion of the process cartridge is often arranged above the fixing device. ..

By the way, when the toner recovery box is disposed above the fixing device, the powder toner in the toner recovery box is melted by the heat generated by the thermal fixing device and cooled after the apparatus is stopped, It may become a lump. If this lump occurs in the vicinity of the residual toner inlet of the toner recovery unit, the recoverable capacity of the toner recovery box unit may decrease, and the toner recovery box unit may be closed.

In order to prevent this, the following method has been adopted. Separate the toner collection box from the fixing device, which is the heat source. A fan is provided on one side of the image forming apparatus, and air is introduced from the outside of the image forming apparatus into the space between the toner collecting box section and the fixing device to cool the toner collecting section.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned configuration has the following problems. A large dead space is generated between the toner collection box and the fixing device, and the size of the entire apparatus increases. The flow rate of the introduced air is slow and the cooling efficiency is poor.

Further, the handles provided on both sides of the process cartridge have a problem that the size in the width direction of the apparatus is enlarged and the apparatus becomes large in size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently cooling the toner recovery box portion in a space-saving manner, and further miniaturizing the apparatus. Especially.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, which solves the above problems, a photosensitive drum portion for transferring a toner image onto a recording medium, and the toner image transferred on the recording medium are thermally fixed. Arranged over a fixed space on the fixing device,
In an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having a toner collecting box portion for accumulating the collected residual toner on the photosensitive drum is detachably provided, one side portion of the image forming apparatus faces the space. A fan provided in such a manner, an air supply hole provided on the other side of the image forming apparatus so as to face the space, and from one side of a lower surface of the toner recovery box section of the process cartridge. The first handle portion projects toward the fixing device, faces the fan, and has a substantially tapered through hole whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the inside.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the process cartridge projects from the other side of the lower surface of the toner recovery box portion toward the fixing device and faces the air supply hole. However, the second handle part is provided with a substantially tapered through hole whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the inside.

[0012]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the fan is driven, the air outside the apparatus is drawn into the inside of the apparatus through the air supply hole, and is fixed to the toner recovery box section of the process cartridge through the second handle section. After passing through the space between the container and the container, it is discharged to the outside of the device by the fan through the first handle part.

When the air outside the apparatus passes through the space between the toner recovery box and the fixing device, the bottom surface of the toner recovery box is cooled.

Further, the first handle portion is used as a handle when handling the process cartridge.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of claim 2,
The second handle portion is also used as a handle when handling the process cartridge.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a principle diagram illustrating the principle configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

First, the principle configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photoconductor drum portion that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and that transfers a toner image onto a recording medium, and a fixing device 2 that thermally fixes the transferred toner image on the recording medium. It is arranged through a certain space S,
A process cartridge having a toner collection box portion 1a for accumulating the collected residual toner on the photosensitive drum.

A fan 3 is provided near one side of the image forming apparatus so as to face the space S, and an exhaust hole 4 facing the fan 3 is provided at the side of the image forming apparatus. There is. In addition, a space S is provided on the other side of the image forming apparatus.
The air supply hole 5 is provided so as to face the.

On one side of the lower surface of the toner recovery box portion 1a of the process cartridge 1, a substantially taper shape is projected toward the fixing device 2, faces the fan 3, and the cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the inside. First through hole 6a is formed
Is provided with a handle portion 6. On the other side of the lower surface of the toner recovery box portion 1a of the process cartridge 1, a substantially taper shape that protrudes toward the fixing device 2, faces the air supply hole 5, and has a cross-sectional area that gradually decreases toward the inside. A second handle portion 7 having a through hole 7a is provided.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the fan 3 is driven, air outside the device is introduced into the device through the air supply hole 5, and the tapered through hole 7a of the second handle portion 7 is formed.
It enters the space S between the process cartridge 1 and the fixing device 2 via, is pulled by the fan 3, and advances toward the first handle portion 6. Then, the through hole 6a of the first handle portion 6,
It is discharged to the outside of the device through the exhaust hole 4.

According to the above construction, the fan 3 cools the toner collecting section 1a by the air passing through the bottom surface of the toner collecting section 1a of the process cartridge 1 to prevent the temperature inside the toner collecting box section 1b from rising.

Further, the through holes 6a and 7a of the first and second handle portions 6 and 7 serve as handles of the process cartridge 1, and these handle portions 6 and 7 are provided on the lower surface of the process cartridge 1 as a fixing device. Since it is provided so as to project in two directions, the size of the apparatus can be reduced without enlarging the dimension of the process cartridge in the width direction.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is a color printer. In this color printer, 11 is a laser writing system unit for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 12 using a laser. Photoconductor drum 1
2, a developing device (yellow) 13 and a developing device (magenta)
Four developing units 14, 14, a developing unit (cyan) 15 and a developing unit (black) 16 are provided. 17 is these developing devices 13-
16 is a toner replenishing device that supplies toner of each color to 16. 1
8 is a cassette in which a plurality of recording media (cut sheets) are placed, 19 is a recording medium taken out from the cassette 18,
It is the first paper feed roller that feeds the paper feed roller 20. Reference numeral 21 denotes a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 12 to the recording medium fed from the second paper feed roller 20 at a predetermined timing. A fixing device 22 thermally fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording medium. In the process cartridge 23 of the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum 12, the cleaning blade 24 for scraping off the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 12, and the corona discharge on the photosensitive drum 12 are applied to the photosensitive drum 12 so that the toner is evenly distributed. Band electrode 2 that gives electric charge
5. A toner collection box portion 26, etc., which is disposed in the fixing device 22 via a certain space S and stores the residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 24, is integrally formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the color printer of this embodiment, a fan 32 is provided on one side, and an exhaust hole facing the fan 32 is further provided on the side of the image forming apparatus. 34 are provided. Further, on the other side of the image forming apparatus, the air supply hole 3 is provided so as to face the space S.
5 are provided.

On one side of the lower surface of the toner recovery box portion 26 of the process cartridge 23, a substantially tapered shape is formed which projects toward the fixing device 22, faces the fan 32, and the cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the inside. Is provided with a first handle portion 36 having a through hole 36a. Further, on the other side portion of the lower surface of the toner recovery box portion 26 of the process cartridge 23, a protrusion for the fixing device 22 is provided, and an air supply hole 35
And a second handle portion 37 having a substantially tapered through hole 37a whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the inside.
Is provided.

Next, the operation of the color printer having the above structure will be described. The recording medium placed on the cassette 18 is taken out from the first paper feed roller 19 and transferred to the second paper feed roller 20. On the other hand, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 12 by the laser writing system unit 11, and then toner images of respective colors are formed by the developing devices 13 to 16. Then, the recording medium is conveyed to the transfer unit 21 by the second paper feed roller 20, and the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 12 to the recording medium here. The recording medium on which the image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 22, where the toner image is thermally fixed on the recording medium and discharged to the outside of the apparatus.

On the other hand, the fan 32 is always driven when the color printer is powered on. When the fan 32 is driven, the air outside the device is supplied with the air supply holes 35.
Is guided to the inside of the apparatus, enters the space S between the process cartridge 22 and the fixing device 222 via the tapered through hole 37a of the second handle portion 37, is pulled by the fan 32, and is pulled by the first handle portion. Proceed in 36 directions. Then, it is discharged to the outside of the apparatus through the through hole 36a of the first handle portion 36 and the exhaust hole 34.

According to the above construction, the toner collecting section 26 is cooled by the air passing through the bottom surface of the toner collecting section 26 of the process cartridge 23 by the fan 32,
A rise in temperature inside the toner recovery box section 26 is prevented.

Therefore, a space may be narrowed between the toner recovery box portion and the fixing device. Further, since the air is introduced into the space S through the tapered through hole 37a, the flow velocity is increased and the cooling efficiency is improved.

Further, the first and second handle parts 36, 37.
Through holes 36a and 37a of the process cartridge 23
Further, since the handle portions 36 and 37 are provided on the lower surface of the process cartridge 23 so as to project toward the fixing device 22, the process cartridge 2
The device can be downsized without enlarging the dimension of 3 in the width direction.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus has been described as an example of a color printer, but it may be a monochrome printer or a copy machine. There is no end.

Further, although the handle is provided with the first and second handle portions 36 and 37 on both sides of the process cartridge 23,
Even with only the first handle portion 36 (tapered through hole 36a), the flow velocity of air can be increased.
The second handle 37 is not necessarily required in the space S because a finger or the like can be sufficiently inserted.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the handle portion having the tapered through hole is provided on the side surface of the process cartridge, so that the toner recovery box portion can be efficiently cooled in a small space. Therefore, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus that can be downsized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram illustrating a principle configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 23 Process cartridge 1a, 12 Photoreceptor drum section 1b, 26 Toner collection box section 2, 22 Fixing device 3, 32 Fan 6, 36 First handle section 6a, 7a, 36a, 37a Through hole 7 37 Second Handle part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive drum portion for transferring a toner image onto a recording medium, and a fixing device for thermally fixing the transferred toner image on the recording medium are disposed through a fixed space and recovered. In an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having a toner collection box section for accumulating residual toner on the photosensitive drum is detachably provided, the image forming apparatus is provided on one side of the image forming apparatus so as to face the space. Fan, an air supply hole provided on the other side of the image forming apparatus so as to face the space, and the fixing device from one side of the lower surface of the toner recovery box of the process cartridge. A first handle portion that protrudes in a direction, faces the fan, and has a substantially tapered through hole whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the inside. That the image forming apparatus. 2. A substantially taper that projects toward the fixing device from the other side of the lower surface of the toner recovery box of the process cartridge, faces the air supply hole, and has a cross-sectional area that gradually decreases toward the inside. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second handle portion having a circular through hole.