JP2002108178A - Multifunctional image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifunctional image forming apparatus which suppresses discharge of moisture from a recording material ejection hole to prevent dew condensation on a document reader. SOLUTION: A picture reader B is freely attachably and detachably arranged above an image forming device main body A which is provided with a cooling fan 26, a recording paper inverting part 22 which is placed on a downstream of a fixing device 6 and inverts recording paper ejected from the fixing device 6 to lead it to a recording paper ejection hole, and a recording paper ejection tray 9 provided on the upper face. In the multifunctional image forming apparatus constituted in this manner, a louver (air exhaust port) is provided at the back of the image forming apparatus body A, and an air path connecting the louver and the cooling fan 26 is formed, and the recording paper inverting part 22 is arranged on the way of this air path, and air in the air path is made to flow in a direction different from the recording paper carrying direction from the fixing device 6 to the recording paper ejection hole.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multifunction image forming apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, a copying machine with a facsimile function, and a printer with a facsimile function. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a facsimile apparatus is a multifunctional image forming apparatus generally having a copying function in addition to a normal image information transmitting / receiving function. An image forming means for forming an image and a document reading means arranged substantially above a recording paper discharge portion of the image forming means are integrally formed.

On the other hand, recently, for example, digitalization of a copying machine has been promoted, and a movement for providing a plurality of functions to a single-function copying machine, which has been merely copying up to now, is spreading.
This is possible, for example, by connecting a personal computer to a copier so that data can be copied and copied by the personal computer, or image information can be automatically transmitted and received as a facsimile machine just by placing a document (document) on the copier. It is a movement to make it possible.

Further, since both facsimile machines and copiers which use plain paper have the same development system, they are integrated so that one unit works for two units to save space. The machine is attracting attention. The multifunction machine and the above-described facsimile apparatus (that is, an image forming unit and a document reading unit, which have a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a printer function, and a facsimile function) FIG. 7 shows a typical conventional example of a conventional image forming apparatus which is detachable.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional multi-function image forming apparatus. In the illustrated multi-function image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus main body A is provided with a sheet feeding cassette 33, a middle plate 34, and a sheet feeding roller 35. Recording material feeding device. And
The recording paper loaded on the paper feed cassette 33 is fed to the paper feed roller 3.
The sheet is picked up one by one from the uppermost one by 5 and fed to the image forming unit by the conveying roller 36 and the conveying roller 37.

The image forming section has a photosensitive drum (image forming means) 40 as an image bearing member.
A latent image is formed on the upper side by exposure to a laser beam based on image information in an electrophotographic system, and the latent image is developed by a developing unit with toner as a developer to be visualized as a toner image. The image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 40 to the recording paper by the transfer roller 41.

The recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing unit 42, where the toner image is heated and fixed on the recording paper, and the recording paper on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged. The paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray 44 by a paper roller 43 or the like.

On the other hand, a document reading device B is detachably mounted on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body A, and a document entrance 46 and a document exit 47 are provided above and below the document reading device B, respectively. .

The document (sheet material) is set on the document feed tray 38 in the same direction as the document transport direction, with the image surface facing upward (face up). The originals on the original feed tray 38 are conveyed to the original reading section one by one by the pickup roller 48 from the top one. The document reading device B receives power from the image forming apparatus main body A.

Incidentally, an exterior member 49 is provided between the image forming apparatus main body A and the image reading apparatus B, and an enclosure is formed by the exterior member 49 even when the image reading apparatus B is not provided. The image reading device B is provided with a contact image sensor 45, and the image on the document is photoelectrically read by the contact image sensor 45. The document from which the document image has been read is discharged face-down to the document discharge tray 39 of the document reading device B.

[0011]

As described above, in the multifunctional image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 7 in which the image reading apparatus B is detachable, the recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 42, and The fixing device 42 heats and fixes the toner image on the recording paper. Thereafter, the recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 44 by the paper discharge rollers 43 and the like. Water vapor is generated from the recording paper during the heat fixing, and the generated water vapor passes through a reversing unit 50 on the downstream side of the fixing device 42 and passes through the louver portion on the back side of the image forming apparatus main body A and the recording paper discharge port. It is discharged outside.

The image reading apparatus B is an image forming apparatus main body A.
In the case where it is not on the upper surface, no problem occurs because water vapor is discharged into the air from the louver on the back side of the reversing unit 50, the louver formed on the upper surface side, and the recording paper discharge port.

Thus, the water vapor discharged from the recording paper discharge port adheres to the bottom surface of the document reading device B installed on the upper surface side of the image forming apparatus main body A and forms dew. Since the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A is loaded immediately below the bottom surface of the condensed document reading device B, the condensed water vapor drops and wets the loaded recording paper. Problems arise.

Further, the water vapor discharged from the recording paper discharge port of the main body A of the image forming apparatus enters the document reading device B, and causes a problem that the document is wet because the pickup roller 48 is wet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object a multifunctional image capable of suppressing the discharge of water vapor from a recording paper discharge opening to prevent dew condensation on a document reading apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a forming apparatus.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a cooling fan; and a recording sheet which is positioned downstream of the fixing unit and is discharged from the fixing unit. A multi-function image forming apparatus having an image reading apparatus detachably disposed above an image forming apparatus main body having a reversing section for guiding to a discharge port and a recording paper discharge tray provided on an upper surface; An air outlet is provided on the back surface, an air passage connecting the air outlet and the cooling fan is formed, and the reversing portion is arranged in the middle of the air passage, and air in the air passage is recorded from the fixing device to the recording device. The recording paper is fed in a direction different from the recording paper conveyance direction toward the paper discharge port.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the cooling fan is arranged in an optical scanner provided in a lower part of the recording paper discharge tray of the image forming apparatus main body. A space is formed above the upper cover of the fixing device of the main body, and a louver portion is formed on the back portion of the image forming apparatus main body. Thus, one air path is formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the cooling fan is disposed below the fixing device of the image forming apparatus main body, and a louver portion is formed on a back surface of the image forming apparatus main body. A space for connecting the cooling fan and the reversing section is formed on the back side of the fixing device of the image forming apparatus main body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the cooling fan is disposed in the image reading device, and a louver portion is formed at a position below the cooling fan on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body. It is characterized by having done.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect of the invention, the cooling fan is inclined obliquely rearward to blow air toward the reversing portion.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, a wall is formed at an inlet of the cooling fan.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the outside air sucked from the cooling fan flows into the reversing portion through the air passage, and the flow of the air is different from the recording paper conveyance direction from the fixing device to the recording paper discharge port. Since the direction is different, the water vapor generated when the recording paper passes through the fixing device is discharged out of the apparatus from an air discharge port provided on the back of the image forming apparatus main body, and the water vapor discharged from the recording paper discharge port is discharged. As a result, dew condensation on the image reading device is prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the outside air sucked by the cooling fan cools the optical scanner and further flows through the upper surface of the fixing device to the reversing portion located downstream of the fixing device. At this time, the flow of air is different from the conveying direction of the recording paper conveyed to the recording paper discharge tray located above the optical scanner unit, and thus the air flows from the louver unit formed on the rear surface of the image forming apparatus main body. Water vapor generated from the recording paper heated by the fixing device at this time is also discharged out of the apparatus from the louver portion. As a result, the water vapor discharged from the recording paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body decreases. Dew condensation on the image reading device is prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the water vapor generated from the recording paper heated by the fixing device is discharged from the reversing section through the space and the cooling fan to the outside of the apparatus, the recording of the image forming apparatus main body is performed. The amount of water vapor discharged from the paper discharge port is reduced, so that dew condensation on the image reading device is prevented.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the water vapor discharged from the fixing device is discharged from the louver portion through the air passage of the image reading device to the outside of the device by the cooling fan. The amount of water vapor discharged from the paper discharge port is reduced, so that dew condensation on the image reading device is prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, more outside air can be supplied from the cooling fan to the reversing section.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the water vapor discharged from the reversing section and the fixing device can be discharged outside the apparatus through the cooling fan without leaking to other parts.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a multi-function image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which a part of the multi-function image forming apparatus is cut away.

In the multi-function image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the recording paper stacked on the paper feed tray 1 of the image forming apparatus main body A is changed from the uppermost one by the paper feed roller 2 to one.
Each sheet is picked up, and the conveying roller 3 and the conveying roller 4
And the toner image formed by the image forming unit 5 was transferred to the image forming unit 5. Then, the recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is subjected to fixing of the toner image by the fixing device 6, and then is discharged by the discharge roller 7 and the discharge roller 8 to the discharge tray 9.
Is discharged to

On the other hand, the image reading apparatus B is arranged on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body A, and the original (sheet material) is placed on the original feeding tray arranged substantially in parallel with the discharge tray 9 of the image forming apparatus main body A. The image is set upward (face-up) on the tray 12, and the uppermost one is set by the paper feed roller 13.
The sheets are picked up one by one and sent to the document reading unit by the feed roller 14 and the feed roller 15. Then, the document is photoelectrically read by a contact image sensor 16 in a document reading section, and is transported by a transport roller 17 and a transport roller 1.
8, the sheet is sent to the sheet discharge section. Thereafter, the manuscript is approximately U
The direction of travel is changed along the letter-shaped paper conveyance path,
The paper is discharged downward (face down) to a document discharge tray 21 arranged substantially parallel to the paper discharge tray 9 of the image forming apparatus main body A by the paper discharge roller 9 and the paper discharge roller 20.

In this embodiment, a cooling fan 26 is provided on the side of the main body A of the image forming apparatus in order to suppress a rise in temperature inside the apparatus, and the cooling fan 26 is driven in a direction to take in outside air. You. An optical scanner 27 is fixed to a frame member 28 in an upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body A, and an end of the frame member 28 is located near an upper portion of the fixing device 6. A space 25 is formed between the upper cover 24 of the fixing device 6 and the paper discharge tray 9.

The recording paper reversing unit 2 is located downstream of the fixing unit 6.
2 is provided, and a louver (not shown) is provided in the main body rear exterior portion 23, and an air passage from the cooling fan 26 to the louver is formed.

The outside air sucked from the cooling fan 26 is supplied to the frame member 28 and the upper cover 24 of the fixing device 6.
The air flows into the recording paper reversing section 22 located downstream of the fixing device 6 via the upper space 25, and the flow of the air is opposite to the recording paper conveyance direction from the fixing device 6 to the recording paper discharge port. Therefore, the water vapor generated when the recording paper passes through the fixing device 6 is discharged out of the apparatus from a louver provided on the back surface of the image forming apparatus main body A, and the water vapor discharged from the recording paper discharge port is reduced. Dew condensation on the reading device B is prevented. As a result, water condensed on the bottom surface of the image reading device B drops and wets the recording paper stacked on the paper output tray 9, or water vapor enters the image reading device B and the pickup roller 13.
There is no problem such as the document getting wet due to wetting.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the cooling fan 26 is mounted on the side of the image forming apparatus main body A in parallel to the paper transport direction. By inclining in the direction of the fixing device 6, the outside air can easily flow through the air path, and the above-mentioned effect is further enhanced.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-function image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Omitted.

In this embodiment, a cooling fan 29 is provided on the rear surface of the image forming apparatus main body A, and the cooling fan 29 discharges air inside the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus. A wall 30 is provided at the entrance of the cooling fan 29, and the wall 30 is connected to the recording paper reversing unit 2 disposed downstream of the fixing device 6.
2 and the space are connected to form an air path.

In this embodiment, the water vapor generated from the recording paper heated by the fixing device 6 is discharged from the recording paper reversing section 22 through the space and the cooling fan 29 to the outside of the apparatus. The amount of water vapor discharged from the recording paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body A is reduced, so that dew condensation on the image reading apparatus B is prevented.

<Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-function image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the multi-function image forming apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the multi-function image forming apparatus. In the figure, the same elements as those shown in FIG.
A description of them will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the cooling fan 31 is provided on the side surface of the image reading apparatus B, and the louver 32 is provided on the exterior part 23 on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body A. Here, the louver 3 above the recording paper reversing unit 22 shown in FIG.
The cooling fan 31 and the cooling fan 31 are connected by an air path as shown in FIGS.

In the present embodiment, the water vapor discharged from the fixing device 6 is discharged from the louver 32 through the air passage of the image reading device B to the outside of the apparatus by the cooling fan 31. The amount of water vapor discharged from the recording paper discharge port of the apparatus main body A is reduced, so that dew condensation on the image reading apparatus B is prevented.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the cooling fan and the recording paper discharged from the fixing device located downstream of the fixing device are inverted and guided to the recording paper discharge port. In a multifunction image forming apparatus having an image reading apparatus detachably disposed above an image forming apparatus main body having a reversing section and a recording paper discharge tray provided on an upper surface, air is discharged to the back of the image forming apparatus main body. An outlet is provided, an air passage connecting the air outlet and the cooling fan is formed, and the reversing portion is disposed in the middle of the air passage, and air in the air passage is transferred from the fixing device to the recording paper outlet. The air flow sucked from the cooling fan flows in a direction different from the recording paper conveyance direction from the fixing device to the recording paper discharge port. The water vapor generated when passing is Is discharged outside from the air discharge port provided on the back of the forming apparatus main body, the effect of water vapor is discharged from the paper exit is prevented condensation into to the image reading device decreases is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-function image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the multifunction image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-function image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a multifunctional image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a multi-function image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a multi-function image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a conventional multifunctional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A Image forming apparatus main body B Image reading device 6 Fixing device 9 Paper discharge tray (recording paper discharge tray) 22 Recording paper reversing unit (reversing unit) 24 Top cover 26 Cooling fan 27 Optical scanner 29 Cooling fan 30 Wall 31 Cooling fan 32 Louver (air outlet)

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus includes: a cooling fan; a reversing unit positioned downstream of the fixing device for reversing recording paper discharged from the fixing device to guide the recording paper to a recording paper discharge port; and a recording paper discharge tray provided on an upper surface. In a multifunctional image forming apparatus in which an image reading device is detachably arranged above an image forming apparatus main body, an air outlet is provided on a back surface of the image forming apparatus main body, and the air outlet is connected to the cooling fan. Forming an air path, arranging the reversing portion in the middle of the air path, and allowing air in the air path to flow in a direction different from the recording paper conveyance direction from the fixing device to the recording paper discharge port. Characteristic multifunctional image forming apparatus. 2. The cooling fan according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fan is disposed in an optical scanner provided in a lower side of a recording paper discharge tray of the image forming apparatus main body, and a space is formed above a top cover of a fixing device of the image forming apparatus main body. Wherein a louver portion is formed on the back surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a single air path is formed by the cooling fan, the space above the upper cover of the fixing device, and the reversing portion and the louver portion. Item 1
The multifunctional image forming apparatus as described in the above. 3. The cooling fan is disposed below the fixing device of the image forming apparatus main body, a louver portion is formed on the back of the image forming apparatus main body, and the cooling fan is provided on the rear side of the fixing device of the image forming apparatus main body. The multifunctional image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a space connecting the fan and the reversing unit is formed. 4. The multifunctional image according to claim 1, wherein said cooling fan is disposed in said image reading device, and a louver portion is formed at a position below said cooling fan on an upper surface portion of the image forming apparatus main body. Forming equipment. 5. The multifunctional image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cooling fan is inclined obliquely rearward to blow air toward the reversing portion. 6. A multifunctional image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a wall is formed at an entrance of said cooling fan.