JPH11183833A - Cooling device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the cooling device of an image forming device capable of noiselessly and efficiently cooling a cover for a writing optical system and preventing the occurrence of troubles such as the layout limitation, cost up of a device body in an image forming device provided with the writing optical system including a polygon motor in its inside. SOLUTION: In the image forming device provided with the writing unit 1 including the polygon motor 4 and a casing for storing the motor 4, a cover part 3 covering at least covering the motor 4 out of the casing is constituted of a metallic material. When an air guiding member 11 or the like is arranged opposite to the upper surface of the cover, an air duct 10 is formed between the upper surface of the cover and the member 11 or the like, an aperture part formed on the downstream side of the duct 10 is arranged opposite or close to another heat generation source and a fan 15 is arranged on an upstream side aperture part to form an air flow in the duct 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine, a printer,
The present invention relates to an improvement in a cooling device that can be used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, particularly in a printer having a laser optical system as a means for writing on a photoreceptor, the speed of copying (printing) operation is strongly required to be increased. In addition, it is necessary to increase the rotation speed of a polygon motor used for a laser optical system. When the rotation speed of the polygon motor is increased, the temperature of the polygon motor rises remarkably, and the heat causes the peripheral parts to be deteriorated or deformed, or the polygon motor itself to malfunction. In order to solve this problem, a means for cooling the polygon motor is often added. As a conventional example of such a cooling means, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-105881 discloses that a cover for covering a polygon motor is made of metal to enhance a heat radiation effect, and cooling is performed by further providing a fan and blowing air. Techniques are disclosed. However, simply arranging the fan near the polygon motor does not make clear the flow path of the air discharged from the fan, and in order to perform efficient cooling, various types of air that take into account the relationship with peripheral components are used. Should be devised. For example, if there are other parts near the cover that covers the polygon motor, the space (blowing path) near the cover is complicated, or when the space is smaller than the area of the exhaust surface of the fan. It is expected that the air discharged from the fan circulates around the fan before reaching the cover, or flows to a place with low pressure. When such a situation occurs, not only the cooling efficiency is deteriorated but also noise may be caused. In addition, considering the addition of a cooling fan just for cooling the polygon motor, there is an advantage that the cooling capacity is exhibited, but it is a negative factor considering the cost, space inside the machine, restrictions on layout, etc. .

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and in an image forming apparatus provided with a writing optical system having a built-in polygon motor, a cover of the writing optical system can be efficiently provided without noise. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling device for an image forming apparatus which can not only be cooled but also does not cause problems such as a limitation on the layout of the apparatus main body and an increase in cost. Furthermore, by one fan, not only the writing optical system but also other heat generating components,
The purpose is to allow the unit to be cooled efficiently.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object,
According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus provided with a writing unit including a polygon motor and a casing accommodating the polygon motor, at least a cover portion of the casing which covers the polygon motor is made of metal, By forming a blower guide member facing the air blower, a blower passage is formed between the upper surface of the cover and the blower guide member, and an opening on the downstream side of the blower passage is opposed to or close to another heat source. It is characterized in that a fan is arranged in the opening on the upstream side of the passage to form an air flow in the air passage. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that an opening on the downstream side of the air passage is directed between the fixing device as the heat source and the image forming process unit. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the air blown from the fan and discharged through the blowing path passes between the upper surface of the cover of the casing of the writing unit and then reaches between the fixing device and the image forming process unit. It is characterized by having comprised in.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing some components of a writing unit (writing optical system), and FIG.
FIG. 2 is an exploded configuration view of the cooling device of the present invention, and FIG. Write unit 1 shown in FIG.
Is a casing comprising a housing 2 and a cover 3,
In addition to the polygon motor 4 housed in the housing 2,
A lens, a mirror (not shown), a component for fixing them in a housing, and the like are accommodated. At this time, if the cover 3 is made of metal, the thermal conductivity is improved, and a good heat radiation effect can be obtained. FIGS. 1B and 1C show a duct (blowing passage) 10 between a cover 3 that covers the polygon motor 4 and an upper surface of the cover that is fixed to the upper surface of the cover 3.
Are shown, and the fan 15 is shown. The air guide member 11 is fixed to the cover 3 or another component, but is not necessarily required.
You do not need to be in contact with Except for the upstream and downstream openings, the air passage 10 is a closed space.
Further, the direction of the air blowing guide by the air blowing path 10 can be arbitrarily selected. As shown in the completed views of FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), a fan 15 is attached to one opening side of the air passage 10 formed as described above and air is caused to flow from the cover 3, The generated hot air quickly moves away from the writing unit, thereby preventing the temperature of the writing unit from rising. Also, due to the presence of obstacles such as peripheral parts, even in a narrow space or a complicated space, the air passage 1
By forming an arbitrary ventilation space on the cover with 0, air can be smoothly guided in a certain direction, and efficient cooling can be realized.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a writing unit (polygon motor) is operated by one fan.
An example of a configuration for suppressing a rise in temperature of a plurality of components and units other than the above will be described. That is, FIG. 3 shows an example in which the air supply path by the air supply path 10 formed by the air supply guide member 11 provided on the upper surface of the cover 3 of the writing unit 1 is further extended between the fixing unit 21 and the image forming unit 22. Is shown. Here, a second blowing guide member 20 (blowing path 20 a) is connected to the discharging end of the blowing guide member 11, and the discharging end of the second blowing guide member 20 is connected between the fixing device 21 and the image forming unit 22. It is facing. In this manner, the air used for cooling the polygon motor 4 can be guided to another heat source or a place where the air is desired to flow. In addition, it is also possible to provide a ventilation path (blowing guide member) that branches into a plurality of parts, and to flow air to a plurality of locations. In this case, in particular, the space between the fixing device and the image forming process unit has a higher temperature than the vicinity of the cover of the polygon motor. Therefore, when the fixing device 21 is arranged on the upstream side of the airflow, contrary to FIG. The cooling effect of the polygon motor is lost. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, by adopting a configuration in which air is discharged to the fixing device side with the vicinity of the writing unit 1 as the upstream side, it is possible to increase the cooling efficiency for both.

[0007]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a writing optical system having a built-in polygon motor, the cover of the writing optical system can be efficiently cooled without noise. In addition, it is possible to prevent problems such as a limitation on the layout of the apparatus body and an increase in cost. Further, not only the writing optical system but also other heat-generating components and units can be efficiently cooled by one fan. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least a cover portion of the casing for housing the polygon motor that covers the polygon motor is made of metal, and the air guide member is disposed opposite to the upper surface of the cover, so that the cover upper surface and the air guide member are arranged. And an opening on the downstream side of the air passage is opposed to or close to another heat source, and a fan is arranged in the opening on the upstream side of the air passage to form air in the air passage. As a result, not only the cover of the writing optical system can be efficiently cooled without noise, but also problems such as a limitation on the layout of the apparatus main body and an increase in cost can be prevented. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an opening on the downstream side of the air passage is provided between the fixing device as the heat source and the image forming process unit. The air blown and discharged through the air passage passes through the upper surface of the cover of the casing of the writing unit, and then reaches between the fixing device and the image forming process unit. For this reason, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, it is possible to achieve an effect that not only the writing optical system but also other heat generating components and units can be efficiently cooled by one fan.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A is a schematic diagram showing some components of a writing unit (writing optical system), FIG. 1B is an exploded configuration diagram of a cooling device of the present invention, and FIG.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a perspective view and a sectional view showing a completed state of the writing unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view of another embodiment provided with a second air guide member.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 writing unit, 2 housing, 3 cover,
4 Polygon motor, 10 duct (blowing path), 11
Blower guide member, 15 fan, 20 second blower guide member, 21 fixing device, 22 image forming unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus provided with a writing unit including a polygon motor and a casing accommodating the polygon motor, wherein at least a cover portion of the casing which covers the polygon motor is made of metal, A ventilation path is formed between the upper surface of the cover and the ventilation guide member by opposing the ventilation guide member, and an opening on the downstream side of the ventilation path is opposed to or close to another heat source. A cooling device for an image forming apparatus, wherein a fan is disposed in an opening on an upstream side to form a flow of air in an air passage. 2. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an opening on the downstream side of the air passage is located between the fixing device as the heat source and the image forming process unit. apparatus. 3. A configuration in which air blown from the fan and discharged through the blowing path passes between an upper surface of a cover of a casing of the writing unit and then reaches between the fixing device and the image forming process unit. 3. The cooling device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein