JPH0667503A - Exhauster in image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the deformation of ducts or an exhaust box, etc., resulting from thermal expansion and to prevent gas containing ozone from being sent out of the device, in a ventilator which is attached to a frame in an image forming device and used for sending out air containing ozone, heat, dust, etc., generated in the image forming device. CONSTITUTION:The ventilator is fixed to the frame 10 in the image forming device by the ducts 2 and 3 or fixing supports 7 and 12 in the exhaust box 4, and movable supports 8 and 9. The fixing supports 7 and 12 fix the ducts 2 and 3 or a part of the exhaust box 4 to the frame 10. The movable supports 8 and 9 are joined to the frame 10 so that the ducts 2 and 3 or the exhaust box 4 is allowed to be displaced in the direction of the line connecting the movable supports 8 and 9 and the fixing supports 7 and 12. Additionally, by sticking a sheet-like sealing member between the ozone filter 5 and the ducts 2 and 3 or the exhaust box 4, a leakage of ozone is prevented even if the ducts 2 and 3 are deformed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exhaust device which is used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser printer and discharges heat, water vapor, ozone or the like generated inside the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of exhaust devices conventionally used in image forming apparatuses.
Some have a duct communicating with the vicinity of a place where heat or ozone is generated in the image forming apparatus, an ozone filter for removing ozone contained in exhaust gas, and a fan for exhaust gas.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an exhaust device of the type described above, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-105366. The exhaust device 101 includes a first duct 102 for mainly discharging heat, a second duct 103 for discharging a gas containing ozone, and ozone in the gas introduced from the second duct 103. Ozone filter 105 for removing air, a fan 106 for exhausting to the outside of the apparatus, an ozone filter 105 and a fan 106
And an exhaust box 104 that accommodates
The bolts 107, 10 are attached to the frame 110 of the image forming apparatus.
It is fixedly supported by 8,109.

The first duct 102 is an opening 1 leading to an intake port provided mainly for a portion where heat needs to be discharged.
It is connected to 10a. In addition, the second duct 10
3 is configured to guide intake air to an exhaust box 104 through an opening 110b from an intake port provided in the vicinity of a discharge device that generates ozone. The ozone filter 105 and the fan 106 are housed in an exhaust box 104, and the inside of the exhaust box 104 is partitioned by a partition plate 111 so that only the gas containing ozone sucked through the second duct 103 is guided to the ozone filter 105. It is designed so that it can be eaten.
The gas from which ozone has been removed by the ozone filter 105 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the fan 106 together with the gas guided by the first duct 102.

[0005]

However, the conventional exhaust system as described above may have the following problems. If the duct for exhaust becomes longer and is fixedly supported by the frame at multiple points including the vicinity of both ends, the duct member will expand due to the heat inside the device, but the expansion and contraction near the both ends will be restricted, and the duct or exhaust The box is deformed or distorted. Depending on the mode of this distortion, a gap may be formed at the joint between the partition plate and the other member in the exhaust box. The partition plate separates the intake air containing ozone and the intake air mainly for discharging heat, but when a gap is created at the joint, the ozone-containing gas leaks from this gap and leads to the filter without ozone. It will be mixed with unnecessary gas and will be discharged outside the device without passing through the ozone filter. For example, in the exhaust device of the type shown in FIG. 6, a gap is created between the partition plate 111 and the frame 110 or between the partition plate 111 and the ozone filter 105 as shown in FIG. The gas containing ozone is mixed with other gas without passing through the ozone filter 105, and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the fan 106.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and prevents the gas containing ozone from being discharged to the outside of the apparatus even when the duct, the exhaust box, etc. are expanded by heat. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an exhaust device in an image forming apparatus that can prevent this.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is mounted on a frame in an image forming apparatus, and ozone, heat, dust, etc. generated in the image forming apparatus are generated. An exhaust device for exhausting gas containing, including a duct that guides intake air from the vicinity of a portion where exhaust is necessary, a fan that exhausts the gas guided by the duct to the outside of the device, and ozone in exhaust gas In an image forming apparatus exhaust device having an ozone filter that does, and an exhaust box that houses the fan and the ozone filter, a fixed support portion that fixes a part of the duct or the exhaust box to the frame, the duct or the It is assumed that the other part of the exhaust box has a movable joint portion that is joined to the frame in a stretchable manner with respect to the fixed support portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus exhaust device according to the first aspect, the movable joint portion directs the duct or the exhaust box toward the fixed support portion or in the fixed support portion. It is assumed to have a spring member that biases in the opposite direction.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is an exhaust device which is attached to a frame in the image forming apparatus and which exhausts gas containing ozone, heat, dust and the like generated in the image forming apparatus. A duct that guides intake air from the vicinity of the area where exhaust is required, a fan that discharges the gas guided by the duct to the outside of the device, an ozone filter that removes ozone in the exhaust, and the fan and the ozone filter In the image forming apparatus exhaust device having the exhaust box, a sheet-like sealing member is attached to a joint portion between the ozone filter and the duct or the exhaust box.

In the structure of the invention described in claim 1, a structure using a bolt is used as the fixed supporting portion as long as it can fix a part of the duct or the exhaust box without relative displacement with the frame. It can be appropriately selected from a structure using rivets and the like. Further, the movable joint portion is joined to the frame so that the duct or the exhaust box does not constrain the expansion or contraction of the duct or the exhaust box even if the length between the fixed support portion and the movable support portion changes. However, a method of providing an opening in the frame and engaging a slidable locking projection can be adopted.

In the structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, the spring member of the movable joint portion urges the duct or the exhaust box to vibrate the duct or easily cause relative displacement with the frame. The shape, size, etc. can be arbitrarily selected as long as they can be prevented.

In the invention described in claim 3, it is desirable that the sheet-shaped sealing member is formed by molding a synthetic resin such as acrylic into a sheet, but other materials can be used instead. The part to be attached is the whole or part of the part where the ozone filter is in contact with the duct or the exhaust box and it is necessary to prevent leakage of air. The method of applying can be selected as appropriate, such as a method using an adhesive or a method using a double-sided tape.

[0013]

In the exhaust device for an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, only a part of the duct or the exhaust box is fixedly supported by the frame, and the other part is extendable with respect to the fixedly supported part. Since it is joined so that even if the duct etc. expands due to high temperature exhaust etc., the movably joined part can absorb the amount of deformation due to expansion and restrain the expansion of the duct and exhaust box. Distortion does not occur. Therefore, there is no gap between the duct or the exhaust box and the frame, between the partition wall and the frame, between the partition wall and the ozone filter, etc., and leakage of gas containing ozone can be prevented. it can.

In the image forming apparatus exhaust device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the movable joint portion has the spring member for urging the duct or the exhaust box toward the fixed support portion or in the opposite direction. The urging force prevents the duct or the like from being constrained, so that the duct or the like is prevented from vibrating at the movable joint or loosely rattling with respect to the frame.

In the exhaust device in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the sheet-like sealing member is attached to the joint between the ozone filter and the duct or the exhaust box, it is possible to remove the exhaust gas at high temperature. Even if the duct or exhaust box expands and is distorted due to the restriction of this amount of expansion at the joint with the frame, creating a gap in the periphery of the ozone filter, the airtightness will be improved by the attached sheet-shaped seal member. Is retained and leakage of exhaust gas containing ozone is prevented.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an exhaust device in an image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1, and is an example in which the present invention is applied to the same type as the exhaust device shown in FIG. 6 as a conventional example. is there. In this figure, (a) is a side view and (b) is
The figure is a bottom view, the figure (c) is an enlarged view of the portion A shown in the figure (a), and the figure (d) is a diagram showing a state when the exhaust device is similarly attached to the portion A.

The image forming apparatus exhaust system 1 includes a first duct 2 for mainly discharging heat, a second duct 3 for mainly discharging a gas containing ozone, and a second duct. It has an ozone filter 5 for removing ozone in the introduced gas and a fan 6 for discharging exhaust gas to the outside of the apparatus. The ozone filter 5 and the fan 6 are housed in an exhaust box 4. Further, the exhaust device 1 is attached to a frame 10 of the image forming apparatus by a bolt 12 and two locking projections 8 and 9.

The inside of the exhaust box 4 is partitioned by a partition plate 11, and the exhaust gas guided from the second duct 3 passes through the ozone filter 5 and is then mixed with the exhaust gas guided from the first duct 2 to form an apparatus. It is designed to be discharged outside. The bolt 12 is a support piece 7 attached to the second duct.
Together with this, it constitutes a fixed support portion, and this support piece 7 is fastened and fixed to the frame 10. The frame 10 is provided with a screw hole that is screwed into the bolt 12.

The locking projections 8 and 9 are respectively provided in the exhaust box 4 and
Alternatively, one end is fixed to the first duct 2 and is formed by a plate-like member bent in a U shape so as to sandwich the frame 10 as shown in FIG. This locking projection is inserted into a locking hole 10a provided in the frame 10 as shown in FIG. 3D, and then the locking projection is inserted into the frame 10 [direction of arrow C in FIG. ] To lock it.

In such an exhaust device 1, hot exhaust gas is guided to the exhaust box 4 through the first duct 2. For this reason, the temperatures of the first duct 2 and the exhaust box 4 rise, and the members constituting each expand. However, the exhaust device 1 is attached to the frame 10 by the bolts 12 and the locking projections 8 and 9, and only the portion fastened with the bolts 12 is fixed to the frame 10, and the locking projections 8 and 9 are fixed. Can move in the direction of arrow D shown in FIG. Therefore, the expansion of the duct or the like due to the temperature rise is allowed without being restricted, and the duct and the exhaust box are not distorted. Therefore, no gap is created between the partition plate 11 and the frame 10, between the partition plate 11 and the ozone filter 5, and the like, and the gas containing ozone can be prevented from leaking out.

2A and 2B are views showing an exhaust device in an image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 2. FIG. 2A is a side view and FIG. 2B is a view in FIG. It is an enlarged view of B part shown. This exhaust device has a movable joint portion using a spring member instead of the locking projection 9 of the exhaust device shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a leaf spring 31 bent in a wave shape is fixed to the frame 30 by a support bolt 32, and a locking projection 29 provided at the tip of the first duct 22 has a leaf spring. The fixed support portion is fixed in a state of being locked at the tip of 31 and forcibly moving the first duct in the direction of the fixed support portion (direction of arrow E) to deform the leaf spring 31. Therefore, the first duct 22 in the attached state is urged by the leaf spring 31 in the direction opposite to the fixed support portion. In addition, the leaf spring 31 is provided at the upper end 22 of the first duct.
The shape is such that the locking projection 29 is biased toward the frame 30 in the state where a is in contact with the frame 30. The main body of the first duct 22, the second duct 23, the exhaust box 2
4, ozone filter 25, fan 26, support piece 27,
The locking projection 28 is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG.

In such an exhaust device 21, the tip of the duct is urged by the leaf spring 31 so as to be joined to the frame 30, so that the tip of the duct vibrates or the frame 30.
There is no rattling.

3A and 3B are views showing an exhaust device in an image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 3, wherein FIG. 3A is a side view and FIG. 3B is a view in FIG. The cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I shown in FIG. 4C is the cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. In this exhaust device 41, an elastic seal member 54 made of a soft urethane resin is attached to the entire circumference of the side surface of the ozone filter 45 as shown in FIG. Further, the sheet-shaped seal member 5 is provided at the joint between the ozone filter 45 and the partition plate 51 so as to extend over both sides.
2 is attached.

The sheet-shaped sealing member 52 is made of an acrylic resin in a sheet shape, and is attached with a double-sided adhesive tape 55 as shown in FIG. 5, and one end is bent to provide a portion 52a which is not adhered. . This portion is provided so that the sheet-shaped seal portion 52 can be gripped and easily peeled when the sheet-shaped seal portion 52 is renewed or reattached. Reference numeral 53 is a seal member provided to prevent air leakage between the partition plate 51 and the frame 50. A first duct 42, a second duct 43, which are other configurations of the exhaust device 41,
The exhaust box 44, the ozone filter 45, the fan 46, the support piece 47, and the locking projections 48 and 49 are the same as those used in the exhaust device shown in FIG.

In such an exhaust device 41, the partition plate 51
Since the sheet-shaped sealing member 52 is attached to the joint between the ozone filter 45 and the ozone filter 45, the airtightness of the joint is maintained even if distortion occurs due to restraint of the temperature expansion of the duct or the exhaust box. It is maintained and the leakage of exhaust containing ozone is prevented.

[0027]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus exhaust device according to the first aspect of the present invention, only a part of the duct or exhaust box is fixedly supported by the frame, and the other part is fixedly supported. Since it is joined to the part so that it can be expanded and contracted, distortion of the duct or exhaust box due to restraint of temperature expansion does not occur, and even if there is a temperature rise due to high temperature exhaust, ozone is not generated. It is possible to provide an exhaust device that does not leak the contained gas.

In the exhaust device in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the movable joint portion has a spring member for urging the duct or the exhaust box toward the fixed support portion or in the opposite direction. Therefore, it is possible to provide an exhaust device in which the duct or the like does not vibrate at the movable joint portion when it is attached to the frame of the image forming apparatus, and does not rattle against the frame.

In the exhaust device for an image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the sheet-like sealing member is attached to the joint between the ozone filter and the duct or the exhaust box, the duct is exposed to high temperature exhaust gas. Or the exhaust box expands,
The airtightness can be maintained even if distortion occurs due to the restraint of the amount of expansion at the joint with the frame, and an exhaust device that does not leak gas containing ozone can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an exhaust device in an image forming apparatus, which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1, and FIG.
FIG. 6B is a bottom view, FIG. 7C is an enlarged view of part A shown in FIG. 2A, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an exhaust device in an image forming apparatus, which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 2, and FIG.
FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the B portion shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an exhaust device in an image forming apparatus, which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 3, (a) is a side view,
(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I shown in (a),
FIG. 7C is a sectional view taken along line II-II.

4 is a schematic perspective view showing an ozone filter used in the embodiment shown in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a sheet-shaped seal member used in the embodiment shown in FIG.

6A and 6B are views showing an example of an exhaust device which has been conventionally used in an image forming apparatus, in which FIG. 6A is a top view and FIG.
The figure is a side view, the figure (c) is a bottom view, and the figure (d) is (a)-
FIG. 3C is a sectional view taken along the line III-III shown in the figure.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a problem in a conventional exhaust device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,21,41 Exhaust device 2,22,42 First duct 3,23,43 Second duct 4,24,44 Exhaust box 5,25,45 Ozone filter 6,26,46 Fan 7,27,47 Support piece 8, 28, 48 First locking projection 9, 29, 49 Second locking projection 10, 30, 50 Frame 11, 51 Partition plate 12
Bolt 31 Spring member 32
Support bolt 52 Sheet-shaped seal member 54 Elastic seal member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An exhaust device, which is attached to a frame in an image forming apparatus, for exhausting a gas containing ozone, heat, dust, etc. generated in the image forming apparatus, and from a vicinity of a portion where exhaust is necessary. Image forming apparatus having a duct for guiding the intake of air, a fan for discharging the gas guided by the duct to the outside of the apparatus, an ozone filter for removing ozone in the exhaust gas, and an exhaust box containing the fan and the ozone filter In the internal exhaust device, a fixed support portion that fixes a part of the duct or the exhaust box to the frame, and another portion of the duct or the exhaust box that is telescopically joined to the fixed support portion with the frame. An exhaust device in the image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus exhaust device according to claim 1, wherein the movable joint portion urges a portion forming the duct or the exhaust box toward the fixed support portion or in a direction opposite thereto. An exhaust device in an image forming apparatus, comprising: 3. An exhaust device, which is attached to a frame in an image forming apparatus, for exhausting a gas containing ozone, heat, dust, etc. generated in the image forming apparatus, the exhaust apparatus being located near a portion where exhaust is necessary. Image forming apparatus having a duct for guiding the intake of air, a fan for discharging the gas guided by the duct to the outside of the apparatus, an ozone filter for removing ozone in the exhaust gas, and an exhaust box containing the fan and the ozone filter In the internal exhaust device, a sheet-shaped seal member is attached to a joint portion between the ozone filter and the duct or the exhaust box, and the internal exhaust device is an internal exhaust device.