JP2010030759A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device having improved reliability by selecting blowing conditions adequate to the given condition of paper to suppress double feed or no feed of the paper. <P>SOLUTION: Surrounding air warmed by a fixing device 1 is passed through a duct 3 by a fan 4 and blown from an exhaust hole 5 provided in a paper feeder 2 toward bunched paper P to bring paper handling effects. An operation part 6 is provided on the upper part of a device body 20 for inputting information of the paper P stored in the paper feeder 2. A temperature and humidity sensor 7 is provided around the fixing device 1 for monitoring a temperature and humidity around the fixing device 1. A temperature and humidity sensor 8 is provided inside the paper feeder 2 for monitoring a temperature and humidity around the bunched paper P. Information obtained by the sensors is processed to select a more effective air intake configuration, namely, an air intake passage for the opening/closing operation of a shut-off valve 9 formed of a heat insulating material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and a complex machine of these.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a technique for preventing double feeding by blowing air heated by a heater to a sheet bundle loaded on a sheet feeding apparatus is known.

  For example, according to the air blowing method represented by Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the temperature of the air sprayed on the sheet bundle in the sheet feeding device can be reduced by providing a dedicated heater in the duct. Warm, get an efficient whispering effect and prevent double feeding.

Japanese Patent No. 3781581 JP 2005-330079

  However, the air heating method using a dedicated heater increases the energy consumption, and there is a concern that the amount of carbon dioxide emissions will increase due to the addition of a heat source.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the double feeding and improving the reliability of the apparatus by efficiently sucking out the fixing exhaust heat and using it for paper sheeting. The purpose is to do.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a sheet feeding device for feeding air while blowing air to a bundle of sheets and feeding the sheet. An intake path switching means for selectively switching between a first intake path for sucking in air and a second intake path for directly taking in outside air, and an operation unit capable of inputting paper information, which are input by the operation unit. The air intake path switching means controls air intake by selectively switching the air intake path according to the information.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a temperature / humidity sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the fixing device, and air intake is controlled by temperature / humidity information around the sheet feeding device. And

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, a temperature / humidity sensor is arranged in the paper feeding device, and air is sucked based on temperature / humidity information in the paper feeding device. It is characterized by controlling.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the air to be blown onto the paper is heated using the exhaust heat of the fixing device and is used for paper spreading.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the air to be blown onto the paper is warmed using an ascending air current at the upper part of the fixing device and used for paper spreading. .

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the sheet feeding device is disposed above the fixing device in order to efficiently warm the air. To do.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the air is heated through a heat conductive member in contact with the fixing device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a highly reliable image forming apparatus that suppresses double feeding and non-feeding by selecting a blowing condition suitable for a given sheet state.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming apparatus that is an object of the present invention. In this apparatus, the ambient air heated by the fixing device 1 passes through the duct 3 by the fan 4 and is blown toward the sheet bundle P from the exhaust hole 5 provided in the sheet feeding device 2. Provides a paper-making effect.

  An operation unit 6 having operable means such as an operation panel is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 20 so that information on the paper P stored in the paper feeding apparatus 2 can be input. . Further, a temperature / humidity sensor 7 is provided around the fixing device 1 to monitor the temperature / humidity around the fixing device 1, and a temperature / humidity sensor 8 is also provided in the paper feeding device 2. The temperature and humidity around the sheet bundle P can be monitored. The information obtained by these sensors is suitable for a control device (not shown: a computer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc.) provided in the apparatus main body 20, but any control device can be adopted as long as the information obtained by the sensors can be processed. Information is collected, and a more effective form of air intake, in other words, an intake path is selected, and opening / closing of the shut-off valve 9 made of a heat insulating material or the like is operated.

  For example, coated paper typified by art paper or coated paper has high adhesion, and is highly likely to be fed from the paper feeding device 2. Therefore, when such a sheet is selected by the operation unit 6, the air heated by the fixing device 1 is blown onto the sheet P in the sheet feeding device 2 to reduce the risk of double feeding.

  However, when the control device determines from the detection information from the temperature / humidity sensor 7 that the heated air around the fixing device 1 is in a high humidity state, the paper-rolling effect may be reduced or negative. Therefore, when such a case is considered, as shown in FIG. 2, the shut-off valve 9 that can be swung by the action of a power source such as a motor, a solenoid, or a bimetal is provided with the fixing device 1 and the duct 3. It is also possible to select so as to avoid the humid air around the fixing device 1 and take in the outside air by closing the intake port.

  When the humidity of the air around the fixing device 1 becomes low enough again, the shut-off valve 9 closes the outside air hole and instructs the heated air around the fixing device 1 to be conveyed to the feeding device 2. be able to. Further, when it is determined that the temperature and humidity of the sheet bundle P in the feeding device 2 monitored by the temperature / humidity sensor 8 is sufficiently good, the operation of the fan 4 is stopped to blow air. You can choose to quit.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, if the fan 4 is arranged on the upper part of the fixing device 1, efficient intake can be performed using the rising airflow. Further, by disposing the paper feeding device 2 on the upper portion of the fixing device 1, the route of the duct 3 can be simplified, and heat loss due to the length of the route can be minimized, so that it is more effective. Paper making can be realized.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, when the air in the vicinity of the fixing device 1 cannot be directly taken in due to the layout of the device, the heat conducting member 10 connected to the fixing device 1 is disposed so as to pass through the duct 3 to By disposing the heat dissipating part 11 having a good air permeability such as a mesh on the conductive member 10 or a honeycomb inside the duct 3, the surrounding warm air is fed into the sheet feeding device 2 by the fan 4. Can be transported.

  That is, if the air blown to the paper P in the paper feeding device 2 is heated by using the fixing waste heat, excessive energy consumption and carbon dioxide are reduced, and double feeding and non-paper feeding are suppressed. It becomes a highly reliable device. In addition, by switching the intake method, it is possible to create an optimum environment according to various conditions, so that it becomes a more reliable device that suppresses double feeding and non-feeding. In addition, if paper conditions are input from the operation unit to select a blowing condition suitable for a given paper state, a highly reliable apparatus that suppresses double feeding and non-paper feeding can be obtained. Further, since the temperature of the atmosphere can be detected by having the temperature / humidity sensor 7 in the vicinity of the fixing device 1, the air blow from the fixing device 1 can be shut off when it is not suitable for paper blowing, and double feed And can improve reliability by suppressing non-feeding.

  Further, since the temperature / humidity sensor 8 is provided in the paper feeding device 2, by monitoring the temperature / humidity in the paper feeding device 2, it is possible to select an air blowing condition according to the paper storage environment. It is possible to provide a highly reliable device that suppresses the above. Furthermore, if an overheating method using an updraft is used, heat loss in the air can be minimized, the air can be warmed efficiently, and reliability can be improved while suppressing double feeding and non-feeding. Furthermore, by disposing the paper feeding device 2 on the upper part of the fixing device 1, it is possible to efficiently heat the air without requiring a complicated air flow path, so that the double feeding and the non-paper feeding are suppressed, and the reliability is reduced. It becomes a high device.

  Furthermore, since the heated air is blown through the heat conducting member 10, even if it is in a layout incapable of direct intake from the fixing device 1, an independent heater is not required, so that excessive energy consumption and carbon dioxide are reduced. In addition, it is possible to provide a highly reliable apparatus that suppresses double feeding and non-feeding.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus that is an object of the present invention. Conceptual diagram of the state where the air inlet is closed with the device of FIG. Conceptual diagram showing an example in which a fan is arranged at the top of the fixing device Conceptual diagram showing an example in which the heat conducting member connected to the fixing device is arranged to pass through the duct

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Fixing device 2: Paper feeding device 3: Duct 4: Fan 5: Exhaust hole 6: Operation part 7: Temperature / humidity sensor 8: Temperature / humidity sensor 9: Shut-off valve 10: Heat conduction member 20: Apparatus main body P: Paper bundle

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus having a paper feeding device for feeding air while blowing air on a bundle of paper,
An intake path switching means for selectively switching between a first intake path for taking in air around the fixing device and a second intake path for directly taking in outside air; and an operation unit capable of inputting paper information;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intake path switching means controls air intake by selectively switching an air intake path in accordance with information input from the operation unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a temperature / humidity sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the fixing device, and air intake is controlled based on temperature / humidity information around the sheet feeding device. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a temperature / humidity sensor is provided in the paper feeding device, and air intake is controlled based on temperature / humidity information in the paper feeding device. Forming equipment. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air blown onto the sheet is heated using the exhaust heat of the fixing device and is used for sheet spreading. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air blown onto the sheet is warmed by using an ascending air current above the fixing device and used for sheet spreading. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is disposed above the fixing device in order to efficiently warm the air. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein air is heated through a heat conductive member in contact with the fixing device.