JPH052158U - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To prevent heating of a cleaning device due to radiant heat or the like radiated from a fixing device in an image forming apparatus, and solve troubles due to melting of toner in the cleaning apparatus. In an image forming apparatus in which at least a cleaning device is provided around the image carrier, and these are integrated into a unit, and the unit is detachable in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the attachment / detachment of the unit is guided. And a second partition member formed to cover a housing wall of the cleaning device of the unit on the fixing device side, a second partition member arranged to face the first partition member, and the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising a fan provided inside the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a toner image is formed on an image carrier by an electrophotographic method, is transferred onto a transfer material, and is then thermally fixed by a fixing device to obtain an image. In particular, the above process by radiant heat from a fixing device in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine or a facsimile, in which an exchangeable process unit including an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and at least a cleaning device can be inserted and removed. Regarding the heat insulation mechanism for the unit.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In general, an image carrier (for example, a photoconductor drum) is rotatably supported inside the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a charging device, an exposure unit, a developing device, a transfer device, a separating unit, a cleaning device and the like are provided around the image carrier. It is arranged. Further, a paper feeding unit for feeding the transfer paper one by one from the paper feeding cassette is provided between the developing device and the transfer device.

On the other hand, on the downstream side of the transfer device, there is provided a transport path for transporting the transferred transfer paper to the discharge tray via the fixing device.

Further, since the fixing device has a high temperature and adversely affects the image carrier and the like, an electric fan is provided at the air outlet, and the air discharged from the electric fan forcibly cools the fixing device and the space around it. (Kaisho 56-117252, etc.).

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The wall of the casing of the cleaning device in the image forming apparatus, which faces the fixing device, is heated by the radiant heat of the fixing device, and the waste toner contained in the cleaning device is melted by this heat. When the toner adhering to the tip of the blade in the cleaning device is melted, the tip of the blade and the surface of the photosensitive drum that is pressed against the blade are damaged. In addition, other members in the cleaning device, for example, a discharging roller and a discharging wire near the photoconductor drum, and a thin plate member that is lightly pressed against the photoconductor drum to collect the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor drum and send it to the toner conveying screw. And the like, and the fluidity of the waste toner is reduced to reduce the waste toner collection and toner recycling effects.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent the functional deterioration and damage of each member and the photosensitive drum due to the toner melting in the cleaning device.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention which achieves the above object has at least a cleaning device around the image carrier, and these are integrated into a unit, and the unit is provided in the main body of the image forming device. In a detachable image forming apparatus, a first partition member formed so as to guide attachment / detachment of the unit and cover a casing wall of the cleaning device of the unit on the fixing device side, and the first partition member. And a fan provided inside the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[0008]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings of an electrophotographic copying machine.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention. A platen glass 11 on which an original to be copied is placed is fixedly provided on the upper portion of the copying machine main body 1. A scanning optical system 10 is arranged inside the platen glass 11. The scanning optical system 10 includes a first scanning mirror unit composed of a light source 12, a reflector 13 and a mirror 14, a second scanning mirror unit composed of mirrors 15A and 15B, a lens 16 and a variable magnification composed of mirrors 17A and 17B. It is composed of a mirror unit and a fixed mirror 18, and scans and exposes an original image to form an image on a photosensitive drum 21 that rotates in synchronization.

The image forming unit of the apparatus includes the photoconductor drum 21, and each process such as a charger 22, a developing device 23, a cleaning device 24, a charge erasing lamp 25, and the like which are arranged so as to face the peripheral surface thereof. The image forming unit 20 is composed of members and is housed in an integral case.

On the side of the image forming unit 20 in contact with the casing of the cleaning device 24, a first partition member 3 formed so as to cover a casing wall facing a fixing device 34 described later is arranged. The first partition member 3 also serves as a guide for inserting the image forming unit 20 into the main body. Further, an insertion guide 2 is provided on the opposite side.

In addition to the removable image forming unit 20, the image forming unit includes a transfer unit 31, a separator 32, a photographing and imaging unit of the scanning optical system 10, and the like.

The paper feeding device 40 that feeds the transfer paper P toward the transfer device 31 includes a paper feeding cassette 41, a feeding roller 42, a double feeding prevention roller 43, an intermediate paper feeding roller 44, a registration roller 45, and a registration roller 45. It consists of a guide plate.

Further, a transport belt 33, a fixing device 34, discharge rollers 35 and 36, and a discharge tray 37 are disposed on the downstream side of the transfer sheet P after separation.

Above the conveyor belt 33, a second partition member 4 is fixed to the copying machine main body 1 so as to face the first partition member 3 and to maintain a predetermined space therebetween. The first partition member 3 and the second partition member 4 block radiant heat from the fixing device 34 and form a duct inlet 5 for sucking air in the copying machine main body.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a boundary wall between the copying machine main body 1 and the scanning optical system 10. An electric fan 7 is arranged below the end of the boundary wall 6. Therefore, the in-machine air sucked from the duct inlet portion 5 by the electric fan 7 is lifted up substantially vertically in the direction of the arrow in the copying machine, then passes along the substantially horizontal boundary wall 6, and the fan 7 exhausts the air. Is released from the aircraft.

It is also possible to provide an opening or a fan at a part of the second partition member 4 to radiate the radiant heat radiated from the fixing device 34 and to discharge the hot air flow. The fan 7 may be driven by a fan motor having an integral structure, but may be driven by another motor.

[0018]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, a duct is formed by the first partition member that also serves as a guide member for inserting and removing the image forming unit and the second partition member that is arranged opposite to the first partition member to form a duct. By discharging the air inside the machine, the cleaning device is not heated by receiving the radiant heat directly from the fixing device, and the heated air inside the machine is discharged to the outside by the exhaust air flow.

As a result, the waste toner contained in the cleaning device is not melted by the radiant heat of the fixing device, and the toner collecting member such as the blade in the cleaning device is not damaged or the collecting function is deteriorated. It also eliminates the waste toner discharge failure. Further, there is no damage due to fusion of waste toner on the image carrier. Furthermore, in a copying machine that performs toner recycling, the problem that toner cannot be reused due to toner melting is solved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copier main body 2 Guide member (insertion guide) 3 First partition member 4 Second partition member 5 Duct entrance 6 Boundary wall 7 Electric fan 10 Scanning optical system 20 Image forming unit 21 Photosensitive drum 22 Charger 23 Developing device 24 Cleaning device 33 Conveyor belt 34 Fixing device

Claims (1)

[Claims for utility model registration] 1. An image in which at least a cleaning device is provided around the image carrier and these are integrated into a unit, and the unit is detachably mountable in the main body of the image forming apparatus. In the forming device, while guiding the attachment and detachment of the unit,
A first partition member formed so as to cover a casing wall of the cleaning device of the unit on the fixing device side; a second partition member arranged to face the first partition member; and inside the main body of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising: a fan provided in the.