Filter, collector, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to a filter, a collector, and an image forming apparatus. The filter has a collection member having a pleat that collects particles by allowing wind to pass therethrough, and a holding body that holds an end portion of an extension direction of the pleat and is formed with a wind leakage portion that leaks wind flowing along the pleat.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a filter, a collector, and an image forming apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the past, in order to reduce the amount of discharge of fine particles generated in an image forming apparatus or the like to the outside of the device, a collector that collects fine particles by causing discharge gas to pass through a filter has been proposed.

[0003] For example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-049189, an image forming apparatus that drives a rectifying plate provided on the upstream side of a filter in accordance with a value related to the amount of generation of fine particles is disclosed.

[0004] Further, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-208718, an image forming apparatus in which a filter surface is inclined so that the direction of an air flow generated by an air discharge unit has a prescribed angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the filter surface, and a point on the filter projected from the center of an air discharge port of the air discharge unit in the direction of the air flow is closer to the air discharge unit side than the center of the filter is disclosed.

[0005] However, in an image forming apparatus or the like, for example, in a case where the distance between a fan that feeds air to a filter and a duct and the filter is shortened, only a part of the area of the filter contributes to collection, and the collection efficiency can sometimes decrease. This situation is not limited to occurring in a case where the distance between the fan, the duct, and the filter is shortened, but also occurs due to the device structure such as the shape of the duct and the like. SUMMARY

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a filter, a collector, and an image forming apparatus in which the collection efficiency is higher compared to a case where wind flowing along a pleat is blocked by a holding body.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a filter including: a collection member having a pleat that collects particles by causing wind to pass therethrough; and a holding body that holds an end portion of an extension direction of the pleat and is formed with a wind leakage portion that leaks wind flowing along the pleat.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a long side direction of the collection member is oriented in the extension direction.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a width of a short side direction of the collection member coincides with a width of an air supply port from which the wind is supplied.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the holding body holds both ends of the extension direction, and the wind leakage portions are formed at the both ends, respectively.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the collecting member receives wind at a central portion in the elongated direction, and the opening sizes of the air leakage portions at the two ends of the holding member are uniform.

[0012] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the collecting member receives wind inclined to one side in the elongated direction, and the opening size of the air leakage portion on the side to which the wind is inclined is smaller than that of the air leakage portion on the other side opposite to the one side.

[0013] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the holding member holds both ends in the elongated direction, and the air leakage portion is formed on one side of the two ends.

[0014] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the collecting member receives wind from a position deviated to the side opposite to the one side.

[0015] According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, the air leakage portion is a hole formed in the holding member.

[0016] According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, the air leakage portion is a notch provided in the holding member.

[0017] According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a collector including: a collecting member having a pleat that collects particles by allowing wind to pass therethrough; a holding member that holds an end portion in an elongated direction of the pleat and is provided with an air leakage portion that allows wind flowing along the pleat to leak; and a circulation chamber into which the wind leaked from the air leakage portion flows, the circulation chamber circulating the wind to an upstream side of the wind with respect to the collecting member.

[0018] According to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, as the holding member, there is provided a holding member that holds both ends in the elongated direction and is provided with the air leakage portion on each of the two ends, and the collector is provided with the circulation chamber on both sides in the elongated direction.

[0019] According to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, as the holding member, there is provided a holding member that holds both ends in the elongated direction and is provided with the air leakage portion on one side of the two ends, and the collector is provided with the circulation chamber on the one side.

[0020] According to a 14th aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image forming section that generates air containing particles in association with image formation; and a collector that collects the particles, the collector including: a collection member that has a pleat and collects the particles by allowing the air to pass through; a holding body that holds an end portion of an extension direction of the pleat and has a leak portion that allows the air flowing along the pleat to leak; and a circulation chamber into which the air leaked from the leak portion flows, the circulation chamber circulating the air toward an upstream side of the air with respect to the collection member.

[0021] (EFFECTS)

[0022] According to the 1st, 11th, and 14th aspects, the collection efficiency is higher than when the air flowing along the pleat is blocked by the holding body.

[0023] According to the 2nd aspect, the area of the collection member is effectively flexibly used compared to when the short side direction is oriented in the extension direction.

[0024] According to the 3rd aspect, the area of the collection member is effectively flexibly used compared to when the widths are inconsistent.

[0025] According to the 4th aspect, the collection efficiency is higher than when the air is biased to one side.

[0026] According to the 5th aspect, the collection efficiency is higher than when the air and the opening size are uneven.

[0027] According to the 6th aspect, the amount of air toward both ends is uniform compared to when the opening size is uniform.

[0028] According to the 7th aspect, the collection efficiency is improved even when there is space only on one side.

[0029] According to the 8th aspect, the collection efficiency is higher than when the air is biased to the one side.

[0030] According to the 9th aspect, the strength is higher than the notch.

[0031] According to the 10th aspect, it is easy to form compared to a hole.

[0032] According to the collector of the 12th aspect, the collection efficiency is higher than when the air is biased to one side.

[0033] According to the collector of the 13th aspect, the collection efficiency is improved even when there is space only on one side. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] Figure 1 is a schematic configuration view of a printer corresponding to one embodiment of an image forming apparatus.

[0035] Figure 2 Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a comparative example of a collector.

[0036] Figure 3 Fig. 2 is a graph showing a relationship between a wind speed and a collection efficiency.

[0037] Figure 4 Fig. 3 is an appearance view of a particle remover according to the present embodiment.

[0038] Figure 5 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the particle remover according to the present embodiment.

[0039] Figure 6 Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a collection function of particles in the particle remover according to the present embodiment.

[0040] Figure 7 Fig. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between a particle diameter of particles and a collection efficiency.

[0041] Figure 8 Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a quadrangular vent hole as another example of an air leakage portion.

[0042] Figure 9 Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an elliptical vent hole as still another example of the air leakage portion.

[0043] Figure 10 Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a notch as still another example of the air leakage portion.

[0044] Figure 11 Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a particle remover according to a second embodiment.

[0045] Figure 12 Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a particle remover according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0047] Figure 1 Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer according to one embodiment of an image forming apparatus.

[0048] Figure 1 The printer 1 shown is a so-called tandem type color printer.

[0049] The printer 1 has a paper tray 10 that stacks and accommodates paper P that is one kind of recording material of a recorded image, and four image engines 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K that form toner images of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) colors, respectively, in an electrophotographic manner.

[0050] The toner images of the four colors formed by the four image engines 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K respectively are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 71 in a manner of overlapping each other to form a color toner image. The color toner image is transferred to the paper P by the transfer roller 72. The paper P is taken out of the paper tray 10 by various conveyance rollers 44 and is conveyed to the transfer roller 72 along the conveyance path R.

[0051] The printer 1 has a fuser 80 that fixes the color toner image to the paper P by heat and pressure when the paper P on which the color toner image is transferred is conveyed along the conveyance path R.

[0052] The printer 1 has a conveyance roller 46 that conveys the paper P on which the color toner image is fixed to the outside of the printer 1. The printer 1 has a stack tray 30 on the upper surface of the housing, and the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller 46 is stacked on the stack tray 30.

[0053] The printer 1 has a particle remover 60 that collects and removes suspended particles such as ultrafine particles (UFP) contained in the exhaust air discharged after cooling the fuser 80 from the exhaust air. The particle remover 60 corresponds to one embodiment of the collector of the present disclosure. Further, the printer 1 has a control section 20 that controls the operation of the entire printer 1.

[0054] The four image engines 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K, the intermediate transfer belt 71, the transfer roller 72, and the fuser 80 are combined together to correspond to one example of the image forming section of the present disclosure.

[0055] Figure 2 is a drawing showing a comparative example of a collector.

[0056] Figure 2 The particle remover 5 of the comparative example shown has a fan 51 that sends the cooling air that has passed through the fuser 80 as exhaust air to be discharged to the outside of the housing of the printer 1, a filter 52 that collects particles contained in the exhaust air, and a duct 53 that guides the exhaust air from the fan 51 to the filter 52. The fan 51 is incorporated in the flow inlet 53a of the duct 53, and the filter 52 is incorporated in the flow outlet 53b of the duct 53.

[0057] The filter 52 is larger in size than the fan 51, and a wind tunnel portion 53c for extending the travel path of the exhaust air discharged from the fan 51 to contact the filter 52 is provided in the duct 53. The travel path of the exhaust air is extended, and thus the wind speed of the exhaust air when passing through the filter 52 is reduced, and the collection efficiency of the particles is improved.

[0058] Figure 3is a graph showing the relationship between the wind speed and the collection efficiency.

[0059] Figure 3 The horizontal axis of the graph indicates the wind speed of the exhaust air passing through the filter 52, and the vertical axis indicates the collection efficiency of the filter 52 with respect to the particles.

[0060] As shown in Figure 3 , the graph is a curve that inclines to the right and downward, and the higher the wind speed, the lower the collection efficiency.

[0061] In the comparative example shown in Figure 2 , when the length (i.e., the distance in the direction in which the exhaust air flows) D of the wind tunnel portion 53c is shortened in conjunction with the downsizing of the printer 1 and the like, the range r in which the exhaust air passes through the filter 52 is reduced, and the exhaust air is concentrated to a portion of the filter 52. As a result, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3 , the wind speed of the exhaust air passing through the filter 52 increases, and the collection efficiency of the particles decreases.

[0062] Therefore, in the particle remover 60 of the present embodiment, a configuration that achieves a high collection efficiency even if the distance from the flow inlet to the filter is short is adopted.

[0063] Figure 4 and Figure 5 is a diagram showing the particle remover of the present embodiment, Figure 4 is an appearance view of the particle remover, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration.

[0064] The particle remover 60 of the present embodiment has a fan 61 that sends the cooling air that has passed through the fuser 80 as exhaust air to be discharged outside the housing of the printer 1, a filter 62 that collects the particles contained in the exhaust air, and a duct 63 that guides the exhaust air from the fan 61 to the filter 62. The duct 63 is provided with a flow inlet 63a through which the exhaust air flows in, and a flow outlet 63b through which the exhaust air flows out. The fan 61 is incorporated at the flow inlet 63a of the duct 63, and the filter 62 is incorporated at the flow outlet 63b of the duct 63. However, in the collector of the present disclosure, the fan is not essential, and for example, it can be a member that is provided at a portion where the exhaust air flows out and that causes the exhaust air to flow into the collector naturally by the force that the exhaust air has.

[0065] The filter 62 incorporated in the particle remover 60 is a consumable, and in Figure 4As can be seen, one end of the filter 62 is detachable from the particle remover 60. The filter 62 includes: a collecting member 62a with pleated flaps, in other words, pleats to increase the collecting area; and a frame member 62b that surrounds the four sides of the collecting member 62a to retain the edge of the collecting member 62a, thereby maintaining the strength of the filter 62. Furthermore, as an example, a triangular vent 62c is formed in the frame member 62b at the portion that retains the short side of the collecting member 62a. The vent 62c corresponds to an example of the air leakage portion described in this disclosure.

[0066] In the duct 63, a wind tunnel section 63c is provided from the fan 61 to the filter 62, and at both ends of the filter 62 in the long side direction, a circulation chamber 63d is provided, which is connected to the ventilation holes 62c and the wind tunnel section 63c of the filter 62. In the short side direction of the filter 62, the size of the filter 62 and the collecting component 62a is the same as the size of the inlet 63a, so that the exhaust air flows from the inlet 63a to the collecting component 62a without expanding or narrowing.

[0067] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the particle collection function of the particle remover in this embodiment.

[0068] The exhaust air flowing into the particle remover 60 via the fan 61 flows along the folds of the collection member 62a towards both ends of the long side (left-right direction in the figure) of the filter 62 when it contacts the collection member 62a towards the filter 62. In this embodiment, a ventilation hole 62c is formed in the frame member 62b (see reference). Figure 5 Therefore, the frame member 62b does not obstruct the exhaust air towards both ends of the filter 62, and the exhaust air leaks into the circulation chamber 63d of the duct 63. Furthermore, the term "obstruction" here means blocking the flow of air, meaning that the exhaust air cannot leak out from the frame member 62b. In this embodiment, the exhaust air leaks out from the frame member 62b, thus promoting the flow of exhaust air along the pleats of the collecting member 62a, thereby allowing the exhaust air to pass through the entire surface of the collecting member 62a of the filter 62. Therefore, the air velocity of the exhaust air passing through the collecting member 62a decreases, and the particle collection efficiency of the collecting member 62a is improved. The pleated pleats of the collecting member 62a extending along the long side of the filter 62 also contribute to the effective and flexible use of the area of ​​the collecting member 62a.

[0069] The exhaust air that leaks to the circulation chamber 63d flows in a ring shape in the circulation chamber 63d of the duct 63 and is detained, and then returns from the circulation chamber 63d to the tunnel portion 63c to flow toward the filter 62 again. In the present embodiment, the ventilation holes 62c that are uniform in size are formed at both ends of the frame member 62b in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62, and the circulation chambers 63d are also provided in the duct 63 along both sides in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62. Therefore, the exhaust air that flows from the fan 61 toward the collection member 62a flows to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62 to be directed to the respective circulation chambers 63d in a balanced manner.

[0070] The exhaust air is detained in a ring shape in the circulation chamber 63d, and thus the particles M included in the exhaust air adhere to the wall surface of the circulation chamber 63d, and the particles M gather with each other to increase in particle diameter. The particles M that adhere to the wall surface of the circulation chamber 63d are removed from the exhaust air. In addition, the particles M that increase in particle diameter are collected by the collection member 62a of the filter 62 with improved efficiency, and are easily removed from the exhaust air.

[0071] Figure 7 is a graph that shows the relationship between the particle diameter of the particles and the collection efficiency.

[0072] Figure 7 The horizontal axis of the graph of indicates the particle diameter of the particles, and the vertical axis indicates the collection efficiency of the collection member.

[0073] The particle diameter of the center of the so-called UFP included in the exhaust air is in the range from ten nm to several tens of nm as indicated by the mesh in the graph, but the collection efficiency of the collection member 62a for the particles in this particle diameter range is slightly more than 70%. In contrast, when the particle diameter is about 100 nm, the collection efficiency increases to nearly 80%, and when the particle diameter is further about 200 nm, the collection efficiency exceeds 80%. Therefore, the particles M gather by the convection of the exhaust air in the circulation chamber 63d, and thus the collection efficiency is improved.

[0074] Next, other examples of the air leakage portion described in the present disclosure will be described.

[0075] Figures 8-10 is a graph that shows other examples of the air leakage portion.

[0076] In the above embodiment, as one example of the air leakage portion, the ventilation hole in the shape of a triangle is formed, and in Figure 8 In, as another example of the air leakage portion, the ventilation hole 62e in the shape of a quadrangle is formed in the frame member 62b. Such a ventilation hole 62e in the shape of a quadrangle also allows the exhaust air that flows along the collection member 62a that is folded in a pleat shape to pass therethrough. That is, the exhaust air passes through the frame member 62b through the ventilation hole 62e in the shape of a quadrangle.

[0077] In Figure 9In the above embodiment, as another example of the air leakage portion, an oval-shaped ventilation hole 62f is formed in the frame member 62b. The oval-shaped ventilation hole 62f has no corner portion, and thus has higher strength than a quadrangular ventilation hole. On the other hand, the size of the ventilation hole 62f is easy to control, and the amount of the exhaust air passing through the ventilation hole 62f is easy to control.

[0078] In the above embodiment, as an example of the air leakage portion, a hole is formed, whereas in Figure 10 In the above embodiment, as another example of the air leakage portion, an oval-shaped ventilation hole 62f is formed in the frame member 62b. The oval-shaped ventilation hole 62f has no corner portion, and thus has higher strength than a quadrangular ventilation hole. On the other hand, the size of the ventilation hole 62f is easy to control, and the amount of the exhaust air passing through the ventilation hole 62f is easy to control.

[0079] Regardless of the shape, in the case where the air leakage portion is a hole, an edge is present around the entire circumference, and thus the strength is high. On the other hand, in the case where the air leakage portion is a notch, the manufacturing is easy.

[0080] Next, other embodiments of the particle remover will be described. The particle remover of the other embodiments described below is a particle remover that can be used in place of the particle remover 60 of the above-described first embodiment in the printer 1. In the following description, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements as those described above, and repeated description will be omitted.

[0081] Figure 11 FIG. 1 is a view showing a particle remover of a second embodiment.

[0082] Figure 11 The particle remover 160 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a fan 61, a filter 62, and a duct 63, like the first embodiment. Further, the filter 62 has a collection member 62a and a frame member 62b, like the first embodiment. However, in the particle remover 160 of the second embodiment, the circulation chamber 63d of the duct 63 is provided only on one side in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62.

[0083] In a case where there is no space in which the circulation chamber 63d is provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62 due to the positional relationship with other structural elements in the printer 1, by using the particle remover 160 of the second embodiment, an improvement in the collection efficiency can be achieved.

[0084] Further, in the particle remover 160 of the second embodiment, the exhaust air sent out by the fan 61 contacts the collection member 62a at a position that is biased to the opposite side of the circulation chamber 63d. In other words, the collection member 62a receives the exhaust air toward the portion that is biased to the opposite side of the circulation chamber 63d. The exhaust air is thus biased to one side with respect to the collection member 62a, and interacts with the circulation chamber 63d being provided on only one side, which promotes the flow of the exhaust air along the collection member 62a toward the circulation chamber 63d, with the entire surface of the collection member 62a contributing to the collection of the particles.

[0085] Further, as in the first embodiment, in the frame member 62b of the filter 62 used in the particle remover 160 of the second embodiment, the ventilation holes can be formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62, or the ventilation holes can be formed on only one side corresponding to the circulation chamber 63d.

[0086] Figure 12 Fig. 6 is a view showing a particle remover of a third embodiment.

[0087] Figure 12 The particle remover 260 of the third embodiment shown in the figure has a fan 61, a filter 62, and a duct 63, as in the first embodiment. Further, the filter 62 has a collection member 62a and a frame member 62b, as in the first embodiment. Also, as in the first embodiment, the circulation chamber 63d is provided on both sides of the duct 63 in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62. However, in the particle remover 260 of the third embodiment, the direction of the exhaust air sent out by the fan 61 is inclined with respect to the collection member 62a of the filter 62. The inclination of the exhaust air is, for example, an inclination toward one side in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62.

[0088] Further, the ventilation holes 62c_1, 62c_2 of quadrilateral shape are formed in the frame members 62b_1, 62b_2 of the filter 62. In Figure 12 Below the figure, the case where each frame member 62b_1, 62b_2 is viewed from the longitudinal direction of the filter 62 is shown.

[0089] In the particle remover 260 of the third embodiment, the size of the vent hole 62c_1 formed in the frame member 62b_1 on the side toward which the exhaust air is directed is smaller than the size of the vent hole 62c_2 formed in the frame member 62b_2 on the other side. As a result, the exhaust air in contact with the collection member 62a of the filter 62 is promoted to flow toward one side due to the inclination with respect to the collection member 62a, and on the other hand, is promoted to flow toward the other side due to the difference in size of the vent holes 62c_1, 62c_2. As a result, the amount of the exhaust air toward both sides of the long direction of the filter 62 is uniform, and the amount of the exhaust air that leaks into the circulation chambers 63d and is trapped in the circulation chambers 63d is also uniform. Therefore, the effect of improving the collection efficiency of the circulation chambers 63d is well balanced in the circulation chambers 63d on both sides.

[0090] In addition, in the above description, as the filter and the collector of the present disclosure, the case of collecting particles from the exhaust air passing through the fuser is exemplified, but the filter and the collector of the present disclosure can collect particles from the exhaust air passing through an apparatus other than the fuser, such as an image engine, and can be provided in an apparatus other than the image forming apparatus.

[0091] Furthermore, the present disclosure is disclosed for the purpose of solving the problem, but the structure of the present disclosure does not hinder the conversion to other purposes that do not solve the problem, and the manner of converting the structure of the present disclosure is also one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A filter, comprising: a collection member having a pleat that collects particles by passing air therethrough; and a holding body that holds an end of an elongated direction of the pleat and is formed with a draft portion that leaks air flowing along the pleat, the draft portion being formed on an inflow side of the air with respect to the collection member, the draft portion being a hole provided in the holding body, the draft portion being provided on a side of the holding body that faces a flow direction of the air flowing along the pleat.

2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein a long side direction of the collection member is oriented toward the elongated direction.

3. The filter according to claim 2, wherein a width of a short side direction of the collection member coincides with a width of an air supply port through which the air is supplied.

4. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding body holds both ends of the elongated direction, and the draft portions are formed on the both ends, respectively.

5. The filter according to claim 4, wherein the collection member receives the air at a central portion in the elongated direction, opening sizes of the draft portions of the both ends of the holding body are identical.

6. The filter according to claim 4, wherein the collection member receives the air inclined toward one side of the elongated direction, an opening size of one of the draft portions of the both ends of the holding body toward which the air is inclined is smaller than an opening size of the other of the draft portions opposite to the one.

7. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding body holds both ends of the elongated direction, and the draft portion is formed on one side of the both ends.

8. The filter according to claim 7, wherein the collection member receives the air toward a side that is biased toward a side opposite to the one side.

9. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the draft portion is a notch provided in the holding body.

10. A collector, comprising: the filter according to claim 1; and a circulation chamber into which the air leaked from the draft portion flows, the circulation chamber circulating the air to an upstream side of the air toward the collection member.

11. The collector according to claim 10, wherein as the holding body, there is a holding body that holds both ends of the elongated direction, and the draft portions are formed on the both ends, respectively, the circulation chamber is provided on both sides of the elongated direction.

12. The collector according to claim 10, wherein as the holding body, there is a holding body that holds both ends of the elongated direction, and the draft portion is formed on one side of the both ends, the circulation chamber is provided on the one side.

13. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming portion that generates air containing particles in association with image formation; and the collector according to claim 10 that collects the particles. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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