JPH10171316A - Electrophotographic recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability in the case of exchanging an ozone filter element and to prevent the ozone filter element from being damaged at the exchanging time by using the whole of the ozone filter element itself as a renewal part without special treatment. SOLUTION: A filter housing part 22 is provided in a ventilation path connecting the exhaust port of an exhaust fan 5 with the exhaust part 1a of an outside housing 1, and an loading/unloading port opening in an loading/ unloading direction is formed at the upper end of the housing part 22. In a state where the ozone filter element 3 is loaded in the housing part 22, a member for loading/unloading 23 is interposed between the inner surface of the housing part 22 and the outer surface of the ozone filter element 3 and bent in a recessed state, and its grasping part 23a is extended to the outside from the housing part 22 and its fixed part 23b is fixed in the vicinity of the entrance part of the housing part 22. A user pulls the grasping part 23a to extend from the housing part 22 upward or outward with respect to the filter element 3, whereby the filter element 3 is unloaded from the housing part 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic recording apparatus for forming a toner image on a photosensitive member based on an electrophotographic process and transferring the toner image to a transfer material such as recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic recording apparatus is applied to a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a printer, and the like, and forms an image based on a known electrophotographic process. Some of such electrophotographic recording apparatuses include a charging charger for uniformly charging a photoconductor and a transfer charger for transferring a toner image formed on the photoconductor to recording paper, and include a charging charger and a transfer charger. In many cases, a strocolon or trocolon type, that is, a type in which a photoreceptor is charged by corona discharge or an electrostatic force acts on a toner image is used.

As described above, a charging charger and a transfer charger that generate corona discharge during image formation (hereinafter, simply referred to as a charger inclusive of a charging charger and a transfer charger) generate ozone together with corona discharge. Ozone has a high chemical reactivity such as corrosiveness, and if it remains in a high concentration for a long time inside the device housing, it may cause deterioration of the photoconductor or shorten the useful life of each component of the device. .
For this reason, the electrophotographic recording apparatus is generally provided with a discharge fan for discharging air inside the apparatus casing to the outside of the apparatus during operation of the apparatus, thereby preventing high-concentration ozone from staying. However, in recent years, there has been a demand for a clean working environment such as an office, so that it is necessary to remove ozone inside the apparatus housing and discharge the cleaned air outside the apparatus. For this reason, an ozone filter made of activated carbon or the like is arranged in the airflow path of the airflow generated by the discharge fan, and after the ozone is removed or decomposed from the airflow by the discharge fan by the ozone filter, the ozone filter is discharged outside the machine. Is done.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a ventilation path in a conventional electrophotographic recording apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the filter cartridge shown in FIG. Reference numeral 1 denotes an exterior housing for accommodating a photoconductor, a charging charger, a transfer charger, and the like, not shown. Reference numeral 2 denotes a filter cartridge, which is an ozone filter 3 formed into a required shape such as a plate shape or a block shape.
And a support member 4 wound around the entire outer surface of the ozone filter 3.

[0005] Reference numeral 5 denotes an exhaust fan arranged inside the exterior housing 1. The exterior casing 1 is provided with an exhaust portion 1a having a large number of ventilation holes. Inside the exterior casing 1, a ventilation path communicating with the exhaust portion 1a is provided with a filter cartridge 2 and a filter cartridge 2. And a discharge fan 5. The discharge fan 5 is supported by a frame unit 7 integrally formed with the exterior housing 1, and allows the air inside the exterior housing 1 to be opened on the intake side.
(Intake port) and exhaust from the exhaust side opening (exhaust port). Between the exhaust port of the exhaust fan 5 and the back surface of the exhaust unit 1a, a filter storage unit 6 having an open upper end is provided as a part of the frame unit 7, and the filter storage unit 6 includes the filter cartridge 2 Is removably inserted to support the filter cartridge 2 at a predetermined position. Filter cartridge 2 supported by filter housing 6
Exposes the ventilation surfaces (front and rear) of the ozone filter 3 into the ventilation path.

[0006] Here, the ozone filter 3 is usually provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, the filter material formed in a thin plate shape has a laminated structure, so that a specific direction is
(Separation direction in the laminating direction or sliding direction between layers) is extremely weak. When a force in such a direction is applied, the film is easily torn, so that ozone cannot be removed normally and the ozone filter 3 needs to be replaced. It becomes difficult. Therefore, the support member 4 is wound around the entire outer surface of the ozone filter 3 to prevent the ozone filter 3 from being damaged. The support member 4 is manufactured by molding a resin or the like, and the holding portion 4a protrudes from the upper surface thereof. Even when the filter cartridge 2 is inserted into the filter storage section 6, the grip section 4 a protrudes upward from the filter storage section 6 so that the user can hold the filter cartridge 2.
, The filter cartridge 2 can be easily replaced.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing other examples of the filter cartridge and the ozone filter, respectively. The filter cartridge 8 shown in FIG. 6 reinforces the ozone filter 3 by winding a tape-shaped support member 9 around the entire outer surface of the ozone filter 3. It is formed on the upper surface. Although the filter cartridge 8 uses the tape-shaped support member 9, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the filter cartridge 2 using the molded support member 4 shown in FIG. In addition, since the support member 9 itself has low rigidity, the reinforcing property for the ozone filter 3 is weak. Further, the ozone filter 10 shown in FIG. 7 has a filter material block laminated in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the both sides of a filter material block laminated in a vertical direction on both sides of the filter material block. Since they are reinforced with each other, sufficient strength can be imparted to the ozone filter 10 itself, so that a support member for reinforcing the ozone filter 10 is not required, and the ozone filter 10 alone can be replaced with the filter housing 6. Become.

[0008] The ozone filters 3 and 10 described above need to be replaced at regular intervals because the removal / decomposition ability for ozone decreases as the use time increases.

[0009]

However, the filter cartridge 2 shown in FIG. 4 requires the support member 4 manufactured by molding, and in order to improve the workability at the time of replacement, the support member 4 is required. Since the gripper 4a must be formed, the unit cost increases, and the running cost of the apparatus also increases.

The filter cartridge 8 shown in FIG.
Although the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the filter cartridge 2, the reinforcement of the ozone filter 3 by the support member 9 is not sufficient. There is a possibility that the filter 3 may be damaged and the original function may not be exhibited.

On the other hand, the ozone filter 10 shown in FIG.
Since it is necessary to manufacture various types of filter blocks and to attach them, the manufacturing cost is high, and since there is no grip portion that can be gripped by a user at the time of replacement, workability at the time of replacement is not good. There is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by using an ozone filter alone as a replacement part without special processing, to provide good workability when replacing the ozone filter, and to provide an ozone filter. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic recording apparatus in which damage to a recording medium is prevented.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic recording apparatus, comprising: a charging charger for generating ozone together with corona discharge during image formation; An electrophotograph provided with at least one of the chargers and having an exhaust fan for discharging air inside the outer casing to the outside of the machine and an ozone filter for removing / decomposing ozone from an airflow generated by the exhaust fan inside the outer casing. In the recording apparatus, an insertion / removal port is provided in an air passage connecting an exhaust port of the exhaust fan and an exhaust unit of the exterior housing, and has an insertion / removal opening that is opened at one end in the insertion / removal direction. A filter storage portion that supports the ozone filter and exposes a ventilation surface of the filter into the ventilation path; and a filter storage portion in which the ozone filter is inserted, It is sandwiched between the side surface and the outer surface of the ozone filter and bent into a concave shape, one end of which extends outward from the insertion / removal opening, and the other end is fixed near the entrance of the insertion / removal opening. And a strip-shaped withdrawal member.

According to the electrophotographic recording apparatus of the first aspect, when replacing the ozone filter with a new one, the gripping portion of the removal member extending from the filter storage portion is gripped. By pulling the withdrawal member upward or outward with respect to the ozone filter, the withdrawal member slides on the inner surface of the filter housing and the outer surface of the ozone filter, and the ozone filter is moved into the filter housing. The ozone filter can be easily discharged from the filter storage portion because the ozone filter is discharged to the outside.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are perspective views each showing a main part of an electrophotographic recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state before an ozone filter 3 is inserted into the apparatus, and FIG. Each of the figures shows a state in which the ozone filter 3 is inserted inside the device. FIG.
Members corresponding to the members described with reference to FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. 21 is the exterior housing 1
A frame portion that is configured to be attachable / removable to and supports the discharge fan 5, and the frame portion 21 is provided with a filter storage portion 22 having an open upper end. 2, the ozone filter 3 alone is removably inserted between the exhaust port of the exhaust fan 5 and the back surface of the exhaust portion 1a in a state where the frame portion 21 is attached to the exterior housing 1. You. 23 is formed in a shape such that the length is sufficiently long with respect to the width such as a band shape or a string shape,
And a detachable member having flexibility.
Reference numeral 23 denotes a state in which the ozone filter 3 is inserted into the filter housing 22 and is bent between the inner surface of the filter housing 22 and the outer surface of the ozone filter 3 so as to be concavely bent.
One end portion formed as the grip portion 23a is extended outside through the insertion / removal opening of the filter storage portion 22, and the fixing portion 23a
The other end formed as b is fixed near the entrance of the insertion / removal opening by screwing or the like.

Next, an operation of inserting / removing the ozone filter 3 into / from the filter storage section 22 in the electrophotographic recording apparatus configured as described above will be described. First, the frame part
After attaching the 21 to the exterior housing 1, the ozone filter 3 having a laminated structure is inserted into the filter housing 22. On this occasion,
The removal member 23 is sandwiched between the inner surface of the filter housing 22 and the outer surface of the ozone filter 3 as described above,
The grip 23a is extended from the filter storage 22 to the outside.
The ozone filter 3 inserted into the filter storage section 22 in this manner is supported between the exhaust port of the exhaust fan 5 and the back surface of the exhaust section 1a of the exterior housing 1, and has its ventilation surfaces (front and rear surfaces). It is exposed in a ventilation path connecting the exhaust port of the exhaust fan 5 and the exhaust part 1a. When the discharge fan 5 is operated in this state, the wind pressure from the discharge fan 5 acts and the ozone filter 3 comes into close contact with the back surface of the exhaust unit 1a, so that the ozone filter 3 is prevented from moving from the inside of the filter storage unit 22. FIG. 1 shows a case where the ozone filter 3 is inserted into the filter storage section 22 in a state in which the filter materials are vertically stacked, but the stacking direction of the filter materials is particularly limited to the vertical direction. However, it may be in other directions.

When it is time to replace the ozone filter 3 with a new one, and when replacing the ozone filter 3 with a new one, the user grips the holding portion 23a extending from the filter storage portion 22 and removes the ozone filter 3 from the filter housing 22. By pulling the member 23 upward or outward with respect to the ozone filter 3, the withdrawal member 23 slides on the inner surface of the filter housing 22 and the outer surface of the ozone filter 3, and at this time, The tension generated in the use member 23 is converted into a force for discharging the ozone filter 3 from the filter housing 22. As a result, the ozone filter 3 is discharged from the filter storage unit 22 to the outside. Therefore, the user pulls the removal member 23 to easily discharge the entire or most of the ozone filter 3 from the filter storage unit 22. The ozone filter 3 discharged from the filter housing 22 can be grasped and easily taken out of the apparatus.

As described above, according to the electrophotographic recording apparatus of the present embodiment, when replacing the ozone filter 3 with a new one, the grip portion 23a extending from the filter storage portion 22 is gripped, By pulling the removal member 23 upward or outward with respect to the ozone filter 3, the removal member 23 slides on the inner surface of the filter storage part 22 and the outer surface of the ozone filter 3, and the ozone filter 3 Since the ozone filter 3 is discharged from the filter storage section 22 to the outside, the ozone filter 3 can be easily discharged from the filter storage section 22, and the ozone filter 3 discharged from the filter storage section 22 can be easily grasped by the device. Can be taken out. As a result, the ozone filter 3 alone can be used as a replacement part without special processing, so that the running cost of the apparatus is significantly reduced as compared with the case where the conventional filter cartridge 2 or the like is used. In addition, the workability when replacing the ozone filter can be improved, and the ozone filter 3 can be prevented from being damaged by the replacement work.

[0019]

As described above, according to the electrophotographic recording apparatus of the first aspect, the gripping portion of the pull-out member extending from the filter storage portion is pulled in a predetermined direction to remove the pull-out member. Since the ozone filter is discharged from the filter storage unit to the outside by the member, the ozone filter can be easily discharged from the filter storage unit, and the user can easily grasp the ozone filter discharged from the filter storage unit by grasping the ozone filter. It can be taken out of the device. As a result, since the ozone filter alone can be used as a replacement part, the running cost of the apparatus can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where a conventional filter cartridge or the like is used. Workability can be improved, and the ozone filter can be prevented from being damaged by the replacement work.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of an electrophotographic recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the electrophotographic recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of an air passage in a conventional electrophotographic recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the filter cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ozone filter shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional filter cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional ozone filter.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Exterior housing, 1a ... Exhaust part, 3 ... Ozone filter, 5 ... Discharge fan, 21 ... Frame part, 22 ... Filter storage part, 23 ... Removal member, 23a ... Grip part, 23b ... Fixed part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] At least one of a charging charger and a transfer charger for generating ozone together with corona discharge at the time of image formation is disposed inside an outer casing of the apparatus, and a discharge fan for discharging air inside the outer casing to the outside of the apparatus. And an electrophotographic recording apparatus including an ozone filter that removes / decomposes ozone from an airflow generated by a discharge fan inside an exterior housing, wherein ventilation is provided by connecting an exhaust port of the exhaust fan and an exhaust portion of the exterior housing. A filter storage portion that is provided in the passage and has an insertion / removal opening that is opened at one end in the insertion / removal direction, and that supports the ozone filter inserted from the insertion / removal opening and exposes a ventilation surface of the filter to the ventilation passage; When the ozone filter is inserted, it is sandwiched between the inner surface of the filter housing and the outer surface of the ozone filter and bent into a concave shape. An electrophotographic recording device, comprising: a belt-like member extending from the insertion / removal opening to the outside, and a belt-shaped removal / removal member having the other end fixed near an entrance of the insertion / removal opening.