JPS6244682A - Blast mechanism used for picture forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus δ that employs an electrophotographic development method such as a copying machine, printer, facsimile, etc. The present invention relates to an air blowing mechanism for an image forming apparatus that cools various parts and exhausts heat.

"Prior art and its problems" In this type of image forming apparatus, air supply and exhaust means constituted by an axial fan, a propeller fan, and other ventilation mechanisms are arranged facing the opening windows on the apparatus frame side. In addition to removing waste heat from the heating fuser and drive system, as well as ozone and dust generated inside the device, it also cools the optical system and other parts, thereby preventing errors in various parts due to heat propagation from the heating fuser, etc. The system is designed to ensure that clear images are always obtained by preventing fogging of the various mirrors and lenses that make up the optical system. Since they are provided separately, a number of drive motors corresponding to the number of fans are required, and as a result, the wiring and control system tend to become complicated.

In addition, providing a number of drive motors corresponding to the number of fans would go against the demands for downsizing and weight reduction of the device. Special measures and members are required for the same number of motors, and as a result, the design and internal configuration of the device become complicated, leading to an increase in costs.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to propose an image forming apparatus configured such that air supply and exhaust within the apparatus can be performed by a single motor, thereby solving the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art at once. It's true.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In order to achieve the above technical problems, the present invention provides an air blowing mechanism that cools and exhausts heat from various parts incorporated in an image forming apparatus, for example as shown in FIG. A single drive motor! A plurality of airflow guide casings 5.6 are arranged in series along the fan rotation axis 4 direction around the air supply and exhaust axial flow fans 2, 3 connected to the air supply and exhaust air fans 2, 3, which rotate in the same rotational direction, respectively, - In the axial flow fan 2 shown in FIG. The configuration is such that the airflows A and B are sent out in different directions, and the airflow A guided from the casing 5 of -
We propose an air blowing mechanism configured so that the air flow B guided from the other casing 6 is sent to the outside of the device OUT, and the air flow B guided from another casing 6 is sent to the inside of the device IN.

The axial fan may be formed by a single axial fan extending in the axial direction, or may be formed by a plurality of axial fans each having a length corresponding to each of the casings 5 and 6, as shown in the drawings. It is also possible to form the fans 2 and 3 by connecting them in series along the axial direction of the negative drive motor 1.

Further, the arrangement direction of the ventilation mechanism can be freely selected depending on the configuration of the device. For example, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ventilation mechanism is arranged vertically and horizontally on the downstream side of the transfer paper transport path, In the figure, they are arranged horizontally parallel to the transfer paper conveyance path.

In any of the above cases, as a preferred embodiment, the suction side opening 5a of the exhaust casing 5, which is arranged to guide the airflow A to the outside of the apparatus, is connected to the heating fixing device. It is best to place them nearby.

"Operation" According to this technical means, since the one or more axial fans 2, 3 are configured to be driven by a single drive motor, the wiring and control system can be simplified, and the device can be made smaller. In addition to being able to achieve weight reduction, only one special device is required to eliminate the heat and noise generated by the drive motor, which simplifies the design and internal configuration of the device. Leads to cost reduction.

Furthermore, according to the present technical means, while air supply and exhaust can be performed using the single drive motor 1, by variously changing the shape of the air flow guide casing 5, 6, the air supply casing 6 side can be The arrangement position of the air supply port 6b and the exhaust port 5b on the exhaust casing 5 side can be freely set according to the function of each device, and each casing 5, 6 can be divided in the axial direction. Because of this arrangement, there is no risk that the cooling air once supplied into the equipment will be exhausted before it circulates inside the equipment, and smooth air supply and exhaust can be performed. It is possible to efficiently cool various internal parts and exhaust heat.

Further, according to the present invention, since the axial fans 2 and 3 connected to the single drive motor 1 and the plurality of casings 5 and 6 are arranged in series in the axial direction, these can be combined into one body. For example, the blower unit can be configured separately from the image forming device, and if necessary, both can be assembled externally, reducing assembly and manufacturing costs. Connect.

"Embodiments" Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this example are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, but are merely illustrative examples. It's nothing more than that.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine. First, the general structure of the copying machine will be briefly explained.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a document moving table disposed on the top surface of the apparatus, and is configured to be able to reciprocate along the transfer paper conveyance direction. Reference numeral 12 denotes a photosensitive drum rotatably disposed approximately in the center of the apparatus, and around it are an exposure optical system 13, a developing device 14, and a transfer plate 15.
, a cleaner 16, a charger 17, and other peripheral devices.A paper feed cassette 18, a paper feed roller 18, a registration roller 20, a conveyance belt 21, and a heat fixing device are installed on both sides of the transfer device 15 in order along the transfer paper conveyance direction. 22 and a paper discharge tray 23 are provided, and a copying operation based on a known electrophotographic developing method is performed.

Further, an opening window section 24 is formed on the side wall of the apparatus on the exit side of the heating fixing device 22, and a blowing mechanism 30 is disposed along the opening window section 24.

As described above, the blower mechanism 30 includes a pair of axial fans 32.3 connected in series in the axial direction to a single drive motor 31.
3 and the axial fan 32, 33)
casings 35 and 38 for exhaust and air supply, and the insert 1 is disposed so that the rotating shaft 32a of the mechanism 30 is perpendicular to the axis of the photoreceptor drum 12 and the transfer paper conveyance direction, respectively.

The air blowing mechanism 30 connects a drive motor 31, an air supply casing 36, and an exhaust casing 35 in series from the upper stage, and the suction side port 3 of the exhaust casing 35.
5a is located near the heating fixing device 22, and the air supply casing 3
No. 6 outlet ports 38b are arranged facing the exposure optical system 13, and as a result, the cooling air supplied from the outlet ports 38b passes through various lenses and mirrors of the exposure optical system 13, and the cloudy air is removed. It circulates around the photoreceptor drum 12 while being prevented from causing damage, cooling the various devices, and conveys ozone and dust generated around the photoreceptor drum 12 to reach the upper part of the heat fixing device 22. While exhausting the heat generated in the drive system (not shown), the exhaust casing 35
It can be discharged to the outside from the suction side port 35a. ' Note that a guide plate 25 extending horizontally is installed at the lower end of the air supply casing 35, and divides the air flows A and B on the air supply side and the exhaust side into upper and lower parts, and smoothly flows the air flows A, B, and so on. The structure is such that B is sucked in and exhausted.

Further, in the electrophotographic copying machine, the upper main body and the lower main body may be configured to be separable, and in such a case, the rotating shafts 3 of the lower axial fan 32 and the upper axial fan 33
2a, couplings and the like are connected, and the upper axial fan 33 and its casing 36 are fixed on the upper main body side, and the lower axial fan 32 and its casing 35 are fixed on the lower main body side, and the two are separated. It can also be configured to be openable.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer based on an electrophotographic development method, and the differences from the previous embodiment will be mainly explained.

Reference numeral 40 denotes an optical scanning unit that writes an electrostatic latent image corresponding to input information on the generatrix of the photoreceptor drum 2;
A semiconductor laser (not shown), a polygon mirror 42, and various other deflection mirrors are disposed within the mirror. Note that 43 is a synchronous motor that rotates the polygon mirror 42 in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 12.

Since the optical scanning unit h40 extends horizontally from above the photoconductor drum 12 to above the heating fixing device 22, the heated air of the heating fixing device 22 is transmitted to the optical scanning unit h40.
40 and the synchronous motor 43 in the unit 40
rotation errors and semiconductor laser oscillation errors may occur.

For this purpose, an air blowing mechanism 50 is disposed on the side wall of the apparatus between the heat fixing device 22 and the unit 40 in parallel with the axis of the photoreceptor drum 12, and an air supply casing 56 is placed on the back side in the figure, and an air exhaust casing 56 is placed on the front side. A casing 55 for each is provided.

Further, the air outlet 5 (1b is connected to the unit via the duct 44) of the air supply casing 56 is located above the air supply port 40, and the suction side port 55a of the exhaust casing 55 is connected to a heat shield for thermally insulating the optical scanning unit 40. Heating fixing device 2 below the shielding plate 45
Each is placed near the two.

As a result, the heat generated by the heat fixing device 22 is discharged to the outside along the heat shielding plate 45 without being propagated to the optical scanning unit 40 (in the direction of the arrow shown by the broken line). Since external cooling air is introduced into the upper spatial position (in the direction of the arrow shown by the solid line), the temperature inside the optical scanning unit 40 can always be maintained at a constant temperature.

Note that 52 and 53 in the figure are axial fans.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of main parts of an electrophotographic copying machine according to another embodiment, and the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly explained. ,
A registration roller 20, a photosensitive drum 12 having a charger 17, etc. on its outer periphery, a conveyor belt 21, a heat fixing device 22, a paper ejection tray 23, etc. are arranged at predetermined positions, and the shafts of these various members are arranged at predetermined positions. A blower mechanism 60 is disposed on the side facing the surface parallel to the transfer paper conveyance direction.

The air blowing mechanism 80 includes a drive motor 61, an exhaust casing 65, and an air supply casing 66 arranged in series from the downstream side, and includes a suction side opening eS of the exhaust casing B5.
The outlet 66b of the useless casing 6B is disposed facing the population side of the photosensitive drum 12, and as a result, the outlet 66b of the useless casing 6B is disposed facing the heating fuser 22, and the outlet 66b of the waste casing 6B is disposed facing the photosensitive drum 12. The cooled air is transferred to the photoreceptor drum 1.
The various members around the photoreceptor drum 12 are cooled while passing through an exposure optical system 13 (not shown) from the second population side. Furthermore, the airflow reverses itself while conveying ozone and dust generated around the photoreceptor drum 12, and moves in the opposite direction along the periphery of the heating fixing device 22, discharging the heat generated by the heating fixing device 22. , suction side port 65a of exhaust casing 65
More is discharged to the outside.

In this case, by installing an ozone filter 46 on the front surface of the suction side chamber 65a, ozone can be efficiently removed.

In addition, 62 and 63 in the figure are axial fans.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the present invention, the axial fan, which supplies or exhausts air through the guidance of the casing, is configured to be driven by a single drive motor, which simplifies the wiring and control system. In addition to making it possible to reduce the size and weight of the device, the design and configuration of various members disposed around the blower mechanism are simplified, leading to cost reduction.

Further, according to the present invention, the cooling air supplied into the device can be freely set for the cooling air supply port and the exhaust heat air exhaust port while driving by the single motor. It is possible to smoothly supply and exhaust air without worrying that it will be exhausted before it circulates inside the device, and it is also possible to efficiently cool and exhaust heat from various parts in the device from the most preferable position in the device. It has various effects such as

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a blowing mechanism for explaining the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing another embodiment to which the invention is applied, and FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view showing the main part configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine according to another embodiment. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In an air blowing mechanism that cools and exhausts heat from various parts incorporated in an image forming apparatus, a fan rotating mechanism is used to rotate the fan around one or more axial fans connected to a single drive motor. A plurality of airflow guiding casings are arranged in series along the axial direction, and the airflow guided into each of the casings is configured to be sent out in different directions, and the airflow guided from the one casing is directed to the device. 2) A suction side of one casing arranged to guide the airflow outside the device and into the device. The air blowing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the opening is arranged near the heating fixing device.