JPH11311935A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the image forming device which achieves noise reduction and power saving without decreasing heat-release efficiency. SOLUTION: When a recording process in a recording part 15 is finished, a power-source fan 22a, disposed on a sidewall composing a housing for a facsimile device 1, that is, further outside than the middle in the facsimile device 1, is rotated at a low speed. Conversely when the recording process is not resumed by a specific time (for example, 25 [minutes]) elapses after the recording process, the rotation of a fixing-unit fan 15a, disposed on the middle side in the facsimile device 1, and the rotation of the power-source fan 22a are stopped. Therefore, without decreasing the heat-release efficiency, the noise reduction and power saving can be achieved.

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 for forming an image using an electrophotographic method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an image forming apparatus, a method of recording an image on a recording sheet by using an electrophotographic method has been frequently used. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus generally includes a charger for uniformly charging the surface of a photoconductor, an exposure device for irradiating light to the surface of the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image, A developing device for forming a toner image by attaching toner supplied from a toner case, a transfer device for transferring the toner image to recording paper, and a heat fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image to recording paper are provided. .

In the meantime, since the electrophotographic image forming apparatus employs a method in which a toner image transferred to a recording sheet is fixed by heating and pressing, the amount of heat generated from a heat fixing device is particularly low. Extremely large. In addition, the amount of heat generated from a power supply unit that supplies a high voltage (for example, -1.2 [kV]) to the charger cannot be ignored. For this reason, usually, a cooling fan is provided on a wall surface of a housing that accommodates the above-described devices and the like,
Cooling the inside of the housing.

[0004]

However, in order to cool the inside of the housing and improve the heat radiation efficiency, it is preferable to always rotate the cooling fan at full speed, but on the other hand, the noise generated by the cooling fan is reduced. There's a problem. In addition, there is also a problem that power consumption increases when the cooling fan is constantly rotated at full speed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of achieving quietness and power saving without lowering heat radiation efficiency. Is to provide.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of cooling means for cooling the inside of the apparatus, a recording means for recording an image on recording paper,
After the end of the recording process in the recording means, a control means for controlling the cooling means provided at the outer side of the plurality of cooling means at a low speed is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the control unit stops all of the plurality of cooling units after a predetermined time has elapsed after the end of the recording process in the recording unit. Let it.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the cooling means controlled at a low speed after the end of the recording process cools the power supply unit. The cooling means cools the recording means.

In the embodiments of the invention described below, the "image forming apparatus" described in the claims or the means for solving the problems corresponds to the facsimile apparatus 1, and the "cooling means" similarly includes the fixing means. The “recording unit” corresponds to the recording unit 15, and the “control unit” also corresponds to the MPU 11, R
It corresponds to the OM 12 and the RAM 13.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is embodied in a facsimile machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 1
Are MPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, reading unit 1
4, a recording unit 15, an operation unit 16, a display unit 17, an image memory 18, a codec 19, a modem 20, an NCU 21, and a power supply unit 22, and the units 11 to 22 are connected to each other via a bus 23. .

The MPU 11 controls each part of the facsimile machine 1. The ROM 12 stores a program for controlling the facsimile machine 1. RAM 13
Temporarily stores various information on the facsimile machine 1.

The reading unit 14 reads image data on a document and outputs black and white binary image data. The recording unit 15 is composed of an electrophotographic printer, and records received image data or image data of a document read by the reading unit 14 on recording paper in a recording operation or a copying operation of received image data. Further, the recording unit 15 is provided with a fixing device fan 15a for cooling a heating / fixing device described later. In addition to this heating fixing device, the recording unit 1
Details of 5 will be described later.

The operation unit 16 is a numeric keypad (including the * and # keys) for inputting a telephone number or the like, a registration of abbreviated numbers, abbreviated keys for transmitting from the abbreviated numbers, and an operation for reading a document. Start key, "Communication (FA
X) Communication for setting "operation" or "copy" operation /
A copy key and various operation keys such as an image quality setting key for setting image quality at reading to “standard”, “high image quality”, and “ultra high image quality” are provided. Display unit 1 such as LCD
Reference numeral 7 displays various information indicating the operation state of the facsimile machine 1 and the like.

An image memory 18 temporarily stores received image data and image data read by the reading unit 14, binarized, and compression-encoded by the codec 19. The codec 19 encodes the image data read by the reading unit 14 for transmission according to the MH, MR, MMR method, or the like. The codec 19 decodes the received image data.

The modem 20 complies with ITU-T Recommendation T.30. 30 based on a facsimile transmission control procedure according to V.30. 1
7, V. 27ter, V.A. Modulation and demodulation of transmission / reception data in accordance with any one of E.29 and the like. The NCU 21 has a function of controlling connection with the telephone line L and detecting transmission and reception of a dial signal corresponding to the telephone number of the other party. The power supply unit 22 supplies all power for operating each unit of the facsimile machine 1. Further, the power supply unit 22 includes a power supply fan 22a for cooling itself.

Next, a specific configuration of the recording section 15 will be described in detail according to a recording process. As shown in FIG. 2, a photoconductor drum 30 as a photoconductor is rotatably supported on a shaft, and a photoconductive film 31 is formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof.

The charger 40 is constituted by a brush roller on which a conductive brush is implanted.
1 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential. Exposure unit 50 is an LED
The photoconductive film 3 of the photosensitive drum 30 which is constituted by an array 51
1 is irradiated with light to form an electrostatic latent image.

The developing unit 60 includes a toner case 61 for storing toner, a supply roller 62 disposed below the toner case 61 and supplied with a predetermined voltage, the supply roller 62 and the photosensitive drum 30. And a developing roller 63 that is disposed at the lower end opening of the toner case 61 and is supplied with a predetermined voltage. The toner conveyed from the toner case 61 and supplied with a predetermined potential by the supply roller 62 and the developing roller 63 changes the applied potential and the potential of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 30. Is selectively attached to the same electrostatic latent image. A toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 30 by the toner attached to the electrostatic latent image.

A stirring body 64 is rotatably supported in the toner case 61. By the rotation of the stirring body 64, the toner in the toner case 61 is constantly stirred, and the toner is maintained at a uniform density.

The recording paper cassette 70 stores recording paper 71 of a predetermined size in a stacked state. Half Moon Roller 74
Sends out the uppermost recording paper 71 stored in the recording paper cassette 70 one by one. Then, the sent recording paper 71 is transported toward the photosensitive drum 30. Note that a dashed line P indicates a transfer path of the recording paper 71.

The transfer unit 90 is provided below the photosensitive drum 30, and is controlled to a predetermined potential. Then, the transfer device 90
Transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 30 onto the recording paper 71 based on the difference between the predetermined potential and the potential of the toner image.

The memory removing brush 91 is made of a conductive brush, and disturbs the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 30 after the transfer, so that the toner is uniformly dispersed on the photosensitive drum 30.
The heat fixing device 100 includes a heating roller 101 and a pressure roller 102, and is disposed on the recording paper sending side of the photosensitive drum 30. Inside the heating roller 101,
Lamp 1 for maintaining heat fixing unit 100 at a predetermined temperature
01a (for example, a halogen lamp) is built in. The heat fixing device 100 is configured such that the recording paper 71
The toner image on the recording paper 71 is heated and fixed based on the toner image being sent between the pressure roller 01 and the pressure roller 102.

In the present embodiment, the above-described series of processes of charging the photosensitive drum 30, exposing, developing, transferring to the recording paper 71, and heating and fixing is one unit of the recording process. .

FIG. 3 schematically shows a planar structure of the facsimile apparatus 1 including the recording unit 15. As shown in FIG.
Further, a fixing device fan 15a for cooling 00 is provided. One end of the duct 111 is connected to the fixing device fan 15a, and the other end is connected to a discharge port 112 formed in the side wall 1a constituting the housing of the facsimile machine 1. On the other hand, the power supply fan 22a is located near the power supply unit 22 and is a side wall 1a that constitutes the housing of the facsimile machine 1.
Is attached to the discharge port 113 provided in the. The fixing device fan 15a and the power supply fan 22a
The rotation speed is controlled by the voltage supplied from 2.

Next, the operation of the fixing device fan 15a and the power supply fan 22a will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this flowchart, operations other than the user are executed under the control of the MPU 11 based on a program stored in the ROM 12.

In S11, it is determined whether or not the recording process in the recording section 15 has been completed. If the recording process has been completed, the process proceeds to S13. On the other hand, if the recording process has not been completed, the process proceeds to S12.

In S12, since the recording process in the recording section 15 is continued, a predetermined voltage (for example, 24 [V]) is supplied from the power supply section 22 to the fixing device fan 15a and the power supply fan 22a, and the fixing device Fan 1
5a and the power supply fan 22a are rotated at full speed. That is, the fixing unit fan 15a and the power supply fan 22a rotate at full speed until one unit of the recording process is completed.

On the other hand, in S13 after the recording process is completed, the voltage supplied from the power supply unit 22 to the power supply fan 22a drops to a predetermined voltage (for example, 17 [V]), and the power supply fan 22a is rotated at a low speed. You.

After the low-speed control of the power supply fan 22a, a predetermined time (for example, 25 minutes) is set in S14.
Until elapses, it is determined whether or not the recording process has been restarted based on the operation of the operation unit 16 by the user, facsimile reception, or the like. If the recording process is restarted before the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to S11. On the other hand, if the recording process has not been restarted before the elapse of the predetermined time, the process proceeds to S15.

In S15, the power supply from the power supply unit 22 to the fixing device fan 15a and the power supply fan 22a is stopped, and the fixing device fan 15a and the power supply fan 22a are stopped.
The rotation of a is stopped.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. (1) When the recording process in the recording unit 15 is completed,
The power supply fan 22a disposed on the side wall 1a constituting the housing of the facsimile machine 1, in other words, disposed outside the center of the facsimile machine 1 is rotated at a low speed.
That is, after the recording process is completed, power supply from the power supply unit 22 to the charger 40, the supply roller 62, the developing roller 63, the transfer unit 90, and the like is stopped, and the photosensitive drum 3
The charging of 0 is also stopped. Further, the formation of the electrostatic latent image by the exposure device 50 is also stopped. That is, since the amount of heat generated from the power supply unit 22 is also small, the power supply fan 22a is rotated at a low speed. Therefore, quietness and power saving can be achieved without lowering the heat radiation efficiency.

(2) If the recording process is not restarted until a predetermined time (for example, 25 minutes) has elapsed since the end of the recording process, the fixing device fan 15a provided in the facsimile apparatus 1 And the power supply fan 2
The rotation of 2a is stopped. Therefore, the heat fixing device 100
The fixing device fan 15a is rotated at full speed only during the heating and fixing of the recording paper 71, in other words, only while the amount of heat generated from the heating and fixing device 100 is large. In other words, if the recording process is not restarted by the elapse of the predetermined time from the end of the recording process, the heating-fixing unit 100 and the power supply unit 22 are also cooled to a predetermined temperature or less. The use fan 22a is stopped. Therefore, without lowering the heat dissipation efficiency
Silence and power saving can be further achieved.

(3) The recording unit 1 in the facsimile machine 1
5, a fixing device fan 15 a is disposed in the vicinity of the heat fixing device 100 that generates the largest amount of heat, and the heat fixing device 1 is disposed outside the facsimile apparatus 1 using the duct 111.
It emits heat from 00. For this reason, noise generated from the fixing device fan 15a that is rotated the longest is suppressed. Therefore, silence can be further improved.

Further, before the heat generated from the heat fixing unit 100 is diffused into the facsimile machine 1, the heat can be discharged out of the facsimile machine 1. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently cool the heat fixing unit 100 having the largest heat generation in the facsimile apparatus 1, particularly, among the units constituting the recording unit 15.

(4) The power supply fan 22a disposed on the side wall 1a constituting the housing of the facsimile machine 1 is rotated at a low speed at the same time as the end of the recording process in order to prioritize silence. On the other hand, the fixing device fan 15a disposed inside the facsimile apparatus 1 is stopped together with the power supply fan 22a after a lapse of a predetermined time from the end of the recording process in order to give priority to cooling. Therefore, silence can be further improved.

(5) The recording unit 15, especially the heat fixing unit 100
Fixing device fan 15a for cooling the
And a power supply fan 22a for cooling the power supply. Therefore, the fixing device fan 15a and the power supply fan 22a can be controlled separately. Accordingly, the fixing device fan 15a and the power supply fan 22a can be individually controlled according to the operation state of the recording unit 15 and the temperature in the facsimile machine 1.

The present embodiment can be embodied with the following modifications. In the above embodiment, 2 is used to cool the inside of the device.
Although one fan, that is, the fixing device fan 15a and the power supply fan 22a are provided in the apparatus, three or more fans may be provided in the apparatus. Even in the case of such a configuration, at least one of the fans disposed on the outer side is rotated at a low speed at the same time as the end of the recording process by giving priority to silence, so that the effect according to the embodiment can be obtained. Can be.

A recording paper sensor (not shown) for detecting the passage of the recording paper 71 is provided on the sending side of the heat fixing unit 100, and the end of the recording process is determined based on a detection signal from the recording paper sensor. The configuration may be such that:

A silencing member (eg, glass wool) having a silencing effect may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the duct 111.
By doing so, silence can be further improved. Further, technical ideas other than the claims grasped from the embodiment will be described below together with their effects.

[1] The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein heat generated in the apparatus is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by using a transporting means from a cooling means disposed at a more central side in the apparatus. .

In the above embodiment, [1]
The “transporting means” described in (1) corresponds to the duct 111. With this configuration, the noise generated from the cooling unit is muted when passing through the conveying unit. Therefore, quietness can be further reduced.

[2] The image forming apparatus according to [3] or [1], wherein a muffling member is attached to the conveying means. With this configuration, silence can be further reduced.

[0044]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, quietness and power saving can be achieved without lowering the heat radiation efficiency.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the effects described above, quietness and power saving can be further achieved without lowering the heat radiation efficiency. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects described in the first or second aspect, the cooling means can be individually controlled according to the operation state of the recording means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a recording unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a planar structure of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a fixing device fan and a power supply fan.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Facsimile machine as an image forming apparatus, 1a ... Side wall which comprises a housing, 11 ... MPU which comprises a control means,
12: ROM constituting control means, 13: RAM constituting control means, 15: recording section as recording means, 15a
... Fusing unit fan as cooling means, 22 ... Power supply unit, 2
2a: power supply fan as cooling means, 30: photosensitive drum constituting recording means, 40: charging device constituting recording means, 50: exposure device constituting recording means, 63: developing device constituting recording means Reference numeral 90 denotes a transfer unit that constitutes the recording unit, and 100 denotes a heat fixing unit that constitutes the recording unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] A plurality of cooling means for cooling the inside of the apparatus, a recording means for recording an image on a recording sheet, and a plurality of cooling means provided after the recording process in the recording means is completed. And a control unit for controlling the cooling unit at a low speed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops all of the plurality of cooling units after a predetermined time elapses after the end of the recording process in the recording unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the recording process is completed, the cooling unit controlled at a low speed cools the power supply unit, and the other cooling unit controls the recording unit. An image forming apparatus for cooling.