JPH06303359A - Cooler for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stop a half rate carriage at the switching position of an air duct in the state not operating a scanner by using the cooler for cooling the scanner as a cooling means for a control substrate or the like and using the half rate carriage as the switching means of the air duct. CONSTITUTION:A scanner 10 is arranged at the upper part of an image forming device 1 corresponding to a platen 2, and an original set on the platen is scanned and outputted as digital information. On the other hand, a mechanism is constituted for stopping a half rate carriage 15 at the position of an opening 23 of the air duct of the cooler in the state of not using the scanner, and air to be sent from a fan 21 of the cooler 20 is passed through the part of the control substrate 5 and exhausted from an exhaust 29. In the state of not cooling the scanner, only the stop position of the half rate carriage is set, and a cooling operation to the control substrate can be strongly provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine in which air blown from a cooling device for cooling a scanning device is used for cooling other devices. The present invention relates to a cooling device for an image forming apparatus that automatically switches a blowing path to another member to be cooled when the operation of the scanning device is stopped by using one fan.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, an image of a document set on a platen is read by a scanning device which scans while moving along the lower surface of the platen, and the read image information is read. A means for writing on an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum is used. In the general electrophotographic copying machine, the above-mentioned scanning device uses a system in which a mechanism for directly irradiating scanning information of an original document onto a photosensitive drum is used. In a device such as a digital electrophotographic copying machine, scanning information of an original is input to photoelectric conversion means such as a CCD, and image information obtained as digital information is transmitted to a writing device that outputs laser light. , The method of writing on the photosensitive drum is used.

The image forming apparatus such as the electrophotographic copying machine is provided with a cooling device for cooling the scanning device and the platen in response to the heating of the platen by the heat of the lamp of the scanning device. For example, JP-A-3-105
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 366, etc., one cooling unit is arranged for the scanning unit to cool the platen and the scanning device, and at the same time, a photosensitive drum, a fixing device, and a developing device arranged inside the main body of the copying machine. For devices such as the device, another cooling device is provided so that the cooling and exhausting operations for each component can be performed in good condition.

On the other hand, in a digital type electrophotographic copying machine or the like, image information obtained by scanning a document is disclosed as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-336856.
A mechanism for outputting as a digital signal is provided. In the digital electrophotographic copying machine, a heat radiating member such as a CCD is arranged in the air-blowing area of the cooling device for cooling the scanning device, and a mechanism for cooling the heat radiating member is configured. In addition, a stop position is set for the lamp that performs the heating action, and the carriage that holds the lamp at that specific position is stopped so that the cooling action can be performed and the cooling is performed between the operations of scanning the document. It is designed so that the effect can be exhibited in a good condition.

[0005]

In the conventional electrophotographic copying machine as described above, for example, in the case of configuring a digital apparatus, the number of electric parts that need to be cooled becomes large, and the electric components such as those are required to be cooled. It is often required to provide cooling means for the parts as well. For example, a digital color copying machine or the like is provided with a means for temporarily storing the image information obtained by the scanning device in a memory and creating a plurality of identical recording papers, so that the number of times of scanning by the scanning device can be reduced. Is being done. However,
Since the control board constituting the control device and the memory has a relatively large heat generation amount, it is required to separately arrange a cooling system for the control board.

Further, when the digital electrophotographic copying machine is to be constructed as a small-sized device, the members such as the control board are arranged in an arbitrary empty space of the copying machine body. Therefore, a separate cooling device is arranged for these heat radiation components.
However, as described above, when the cooling device for the control board or the like is arranged, if the fan of the cooling device and the air passage are provided separately from the cooling devices for the other devices, the number of fans increases, and Since a duct or the like that is bent in a complicated manner is arranged, there arises a problem that the structure of the apparatus becomes complicated. Further, using a large number of fans or the like has a problem that the power consumption of the apparatus increases, which may be an obstacle in downsizing the copying machine. Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-63068, one cooling device is arranged for the scanning device and the writing device using LED light emission. Can be considered. However, in the cooling device of the conventional example,
Providing the cooling switching means for the two heat sources requires disposing the switching device and the control means separately, which has an effect on the manufacturing cost of the apparatus.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problems of the conventional copying machine as described above, and makes it possible to cool two heat sources by using one fan and to use a scanning device. By stopping the constituent members at a specific position, it is possible to switch the ventilation path,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device capable of efficiently performing a cooling action with a simple mechanism.

[0008]

The present invention provides a means for scanning an image of an original set on a platen, a means for writing information on an image carrier using information from the scanning device, and an electrophotographic system. A means for forming a toner image on an image carrier by using it, and a function of sending out a sheet from a sheet feeding section, transferring the image to the sheet, fixing the sheet on which the toner image is transferred through a fixing device, and discharging as a recording sheet. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including. In the present invention, the cooling device for cooling the scanning device and the platen is configured to cool the other members to be cooled by using the air passage switching means, and it is necessary to cool the scanning device. In a state where it is not, an air passage to another member to be cooled is formed, and means for blowing a part of the cooling air blown from the fan to the other member to be cooled is provided. Further, in the present invention, the moving member of the scanning device arranged corresponding to the platen is provided with a means for setting a stop position in a state where cooling action is not required, and one of the moving members of the scanning device is provided. The section can be configured as a member corresponding to the air passage of the cooling device corresponding to the scanning device, and a mechanism for guiding the cooling air sent from the fan toward another member to be cooled can be configured.

As described above, the cooling means for the control board is attached to the cooling device provided corresponding to the scanning device, and one of the carriages constituting the scanning device is connected to the air passages of the two cooled devices. By configuring a means for stopping the switching unit of (1), the configuration of the air blowing switching mechanism can be simplified. Further, in the present invention, the control means is configured to perform the action of cooling the control substrate while the operation of the scanning device is stopped, and one carriage of the scanning device is stopped at a specific position. Since only the control mechanism is configured, the mechanism of the device can be simplified. Further, in the present invention, since the number of fans is not increased, the generation of noise is reduced, the power consumption is not increased, and the cooling action for the control board arranged at an arbitrary position is maintained in a good state. It can be carried out.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A cooling device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The example shown in FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 configured as a digital copying machine. A platen 2 for setting a document is arranged on an upper part of the apparatus main body. A scanning device 10 is provided below the. Further, a photoconductor drum 6 is disposed below the scanning device via a space formed by the partition frames 3 and 4, and a writing device 7 for writing an image on the photoconductor drum 6 is provided. Are arranged. Although a mechanism for forming a toner image using an electrophotographic method is arranged on the photoconductor drum 6, the image forming mechanism and the mechanism for carrying and fixing the paper are omitted. There is. The photoconductor drum and the writing device 7
In contrast, a partition member 8 or the like is provided to form a mechanism in which the cooling air of the upper device does not flow, and these image forming members are separately provided as in the case of a conventional electrophotographic copying machine or the like. The cooling mechanism is arranged.

The scanning device 10 is provided with a lamp 12,
A full-rate carriage 11 that reciprocates along the lower surface of the platen, a half-rate carriage 15 that follows the movement of the carriage 11 and travels a half distance, and a lens 17 that forms the scanning light of the document on the CCD 18. Composed of. The full rate carriage 11 is reciprocally moved according to the length of the original document, irradiates the original document with the light of the lamp 12, and reflects the light toward the half rate carriage 15 via the mirror m1. Further, the half rate carriage 15 is provided with two mirrors m2 and m3,
The reflected light of the original is imaged on the CCD 18 via the lens 17. The light output to the CCD is output as a digital signal to a memory that stores image information.

In the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention, the fan 21 is arranged between the scanning device and the image recording portion, and the cooling device 20 for the scanning device 10 and other cooled devices is arranged. In the cooling device 20, a louver 26 and a filter 27 are provided at an intake port 25 arranged on one side of the device main body, and air from which dust and the like in the air is removed through the filter is sucked by a fan 21. The fan 21
The clean air sent from the air is sent from the opening 23 provided in the lower frame 3 of the scanning device toward the scanning device 10 via the air guide 22, and in the upper space, the air flow AF1.
And is discharged from the exhaust port 28. Then, the platen 2 and each component of the scanning device, especially the lamp 12 acting as a heat source, and the platen strongly heated by the lamp are cooled.

A part of the cooling air sent out to the opening 23 is also supplied to the lower space through the gap between the air guide 22 and the opening to form an air flow AF2 for cooling the control board 5. Then, the gas is discharged from the exhaust port 29. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1, most of the airflow supplied from the fan 21 performs cooling action for the scanning device and the platen while the scanning device 10 scans the image of the document. It is used, and only part of the air is used for cooling the control board 5 and the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the two air flows AF1 and AF2 has two exhaust ports 28,
From 29, air having a volume of Q1 and Q2 is discharged. The ratio of the amount of exhausted air Q1 to Q2 is Q1 >> Q2, and most of the air delivered by the fan 21 is used for cooling the scanning device.

As shown in FIG. 1, while the scanning device scans an image on a document, the air sent by the fan 21 cools the platen and the scanning device, but it is a digital electronic device. In a photocopier,
It is often the case that a plurality of recording sheets are created using information obtained by scanning one document. In addition, the scanning device is not operated for a relatively long period of time while the recording paper is being created after scanning one original. Therefore, in the present invention, in order to stop the scanning device while the scanning device reads a document and creates a recording sheet, one of the members constituting the scanning device is provided as shown in FIG. The stop position X for stopping and holding is set.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the stop position X is set to the position of the opening 23, and the half rate carriage 15 is stopped above the opening among the members constituting the scanning device. The lower frame 16 of the carriage 15 closes the opening 23. Further, since the flange members 24 arranged to project on both sides of the opening 23 are arranged at positions where the lower frame 16 slides when the half rate carriage 15 reciprocates, the flange members are It is constructed by using a material such as plastic having abrasion resistance. And
As shown in FIG. 2, the half rate carriage 1
5 is stopped and held corresponding to the stop position X, the opening 2
3, the lower frame of the half rate carriage is closed, so that the cooling air sent from the fan 21 flows as an air flow AF3 in the lower space, and the air flow of the air volume Q3 is exhausted from the exhaust port 29.

The amount Q3 of air exhausted from the exhaust port is
The amount of air sucked by the fan 21 is substantially the same as the amount Q, and the air flow AF3 can strongly exert the cooling action on the control board 5. Therefore, 1
When a plurality of sheets of recording paper are created using information obtained by scanning one original, the amount of heat output from the memory or control device is increased, and the heat is discharged from the control board. Heat can be removed by a large amount of cooling air. Further, in the example shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the case where the control board is arranged below the scanning device has been described as an example, but in the present invention, the apparatus such as the control board may be arranged at an arbitrary position. You can For example, even when the control board is arranged on the rear side of the apparatus main body, at the position where the half rate carriage is stopped, the air passage for the scanning device is closed and a mechanism for guiding the air toward the control board is configured. Thus, the air sent out from the fan can be effectively used.

As described above, in the case of the conventional device, even if a duct or the like is separately arranged for the control board when the mechanism for switching the air circulation path to the control board by the half rate carriage is constructed, The same cooling action as can be performed. Further, as shown in the embodiment of the present invention, when the cooling mechanism for the control board is arranged, the control board may be a board constituting a control device of an electrophotographic copying machine, a memory, or any other A substrate provided with circuit means may be arranged.

[0018]

Since the cooling device for the image forming apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, cooling means for the control board is attached to the cooling device provided corresponding to the scanning device, By configuring a means for stopping one of the carriages configuring the scanning device at the switching part of the air passages of the two cooled devices, the configuration of the air blowing switching mechanism can be simplified. Further, in the present invention, the control means is configured to perform the action of cooling the control substrate while the operation of the scanning device is stopped, and one carriage of the scanning device is stopped at a specific position. Since only the control mechanism is configured, the mechanism of the device can be simplified. Further, in the present invention, since the number of fans is not increased, the generation of noise is reduced, the power consumption is not increased, and the cooling action for the control board arranged at an arbitrary position is maintained in a good state. It can be carried out.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a cooling device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the cooling action on the scanning device is interrupted.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus, 2 platen, 5 control board, 6 photoconductor drum, 7 writing device, 1
0 scanning device, 11 full rate carriage, 1
5 half-rate carriage, 20 cooling device,
21 fan, 22 air guide, 23 opening, 25 intake port, 28/29 exhaust port.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A means for scanning an image of a document set on a platen, a means for writing on an image carrier using information from the scanning device, and a toner image formed on the image carrier using an electrophotographic method. In the image forming apparatus, the scanning device is configured to output the sheet from the sheet feeding unit, transfer the image to the sheet, fix the sheet on which the toner image is transferred through the fixing device, and discharge the recording sheet. The cooling device for cooling the platen and the platen is configured to perform the cooling action of the other cooled member by using the air passage switching means, and the cooling action for the scanning device is not required. A cooling device for an image forming apparatus, comprising means for forming an air passage to a cooling member and for blowing a part of cooling air blown from a fan toward another member to be cooled. 2. A moving member of a scanning device arranged corresponding to the platen is not required to be cooled,
A means for setting a stop position is provided, a part of the moving member of the scanning device is configured as a member corresponding to an air passage of a cooling device corresponding to the scanning device, and cooling air sent from a fan is cooled to other cooled objects. The cooling device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device guides the member.