Image forming apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can achieve a compact design while incorporating both a configuration that guides the attachment / detachment device along the attachment / detachment direction when the attachment / detachment device is attached to or detached from the main body of the apparatus, and a configuration that cools the attachment / detachment device. [Solution] An image forming apparatus 100 comprises a main body 110 and a detachable device (200) having a heating element (232) and being detachably attached to the main body 110 in a predetermined attachment / detachment direction. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a duct 300 that guides air to the heating element (232) of the detachable device (200) when it is attached to the main body 110, and the duct 300 has a guide duct portion 310 that guides the detachable device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H when the detachable device (200) is attached to or detached from the main body 110.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to image forming apparatuses such as copiers, multifunction peripherals, printers, and facsimile machines.

Background Art

[0002] In an image forming apparatus in which a detachable device (for example, an exposure apparatus) having a heat generating portion (for example, a heat generating component such as a deflection drive motor) is detachably provided in a predetermined attachment / detachment direction on an apparatus main body that is the main body of the image forming apparatus, the heat generating portion in the detachable device may be cooled, and in this case, it is necessary to provide a duct that guides air to the heat generating portion in the detachable device.

[0003] Meanwhile, although downsizing of image forming apparatuses has been conventionally demanded, it is difficult to achieve downsizing of the image forming apparatus in a state where both a configuration that guides the detachable device along the attachment / detachment direction when the detachable device is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and a configuration that cools the detachable device are provided. This becomes particularly remarkable when the detachable device is an exposure apparatus that exposes the surface of an image carrier.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In this regard, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a configuration is described in which a cover member included in an optical scanning device includes a guide portion that abuts against the image forming apparatus when the optical scanning device is attached to the image forming apparatus to guide the attachment of the optical scanning device to the image forming apparatus.

[0006] However, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 does not have a duct, and is not designed to achieve a compact image forming apparatus while having both a configuration that guides the attachment / detachment device along the attachment / detachment direction and a configuration that cools the attachment / detachment device.

[0007] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide an image forming apparatus that can achieve a compact design while having both a configuration for guiding the attachment / detachment device along the attachment / detachment direction when the attachment / detachment device is attached to or detached from the main body of the apparatus, and a configuration for cooling the attachment / detachment device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the aforementioned problems, the image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure comprises an apparatus body and a detachable device having a heating element and being detachably attached to the apparatus body in a predetermined attachment / detachment direction, wherein the apparatus comprises a duct for guiding air to the heating element of the detachable device when it is attached to the apparatus body, and the duct has a guide duct portion for guiding the detachable device along the attachment / detachment direction when the detachable device is attached to the apparatus body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, it is possible to achieve a more compact image forming apparatus while providing both a configuration that guides the attachment / detachment device along the attachment / detachment direction when the attachment / detachment device is attached to or detached from the main body of the apparatus, and a configuration that cools the attachment / detachment device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the general configuration of the exposure apparatus in the image forming apparatus shown. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing an example of an exposure apparatus in an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, mounted on a frame in the main body of the apparatus. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment detached from the frame. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the frame according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment, viewed from below. [Figure 7] This is an exploded perspective view of the exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment, viewed from below. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing the exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment detached from the frame, with the right frame removed. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing the exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment mounted on the apparatus body. [Figure 10] This is an enlarged side view showing a magnified view of the guide duct section shown in Figure 9. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view showing an example of an exposure apparatus in an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, mounted on a frame in the main body of the apparatus. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view showing the exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment detached from the frame. [Figure 13] This is a plan view showing the exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment detached from the frame. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view showing the frame according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view of the exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment, viewed from the bottom. [Figure 16] This is a perspective view showing a cross-sectional view of the exposure apparatus and sheet guide frame when the exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment is mounted on the apparatus body. [Figure 17] This is a perspective view showing the exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment detached from the frame, with the right frame removed. [Figure 18] This is a cross-sectional view showing the exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment mounted on the apparatus body. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also identical. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0012] [Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is a color image forming apparatus. In the drawings, the left-right direction is defined as X, the right side as X1, the left side as X2, the direction orthogonal to the left-right direction X is defined as the depth direction Y, the front side as Y1, the back side as Y2, and the up-down direction orthogonal to both the left-right direction X and the depth direction Y is defined as Z, and the following description is given on this basis.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 100 forms multicolor and monochrome images on a sheet P such as recording paper, in accordance with image data read by a document reading device 108 or an image reading device 90, or image data transmitted from an external source. The image forming apparatus 100 may be a monochrome image forming apparatus. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may be a color image forming apparatus of another form.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a document reading device 108 and an apparatus main body 110 which is the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, and the apparatus main body 110 is provided with an image forming unit 112 and a sheet conveyance system 113.

[0015] The image forming unit 112 includes a plurality of photosensitive drums 3 to 3, a plurality of charging devices 5 to 5, an exposure device 200 (optical scanning device), a plurality of developing devices 2 to 2, a plurality of cleaning devices 4 to 4, an intermediate transfer belt device 6, and a fixing device 7.

[0016] Here, the multiple photoreceptor drums 3-3 are a type of image carrier on which a toner image is formed. The charging devices 5-5 charge the surfaces of the multiple photoreceptor drums 3-3 to a predetermined potential. The exposure device 200 (optical scanning device) exposes the surfaces of the multiple photoreceptor drums 3-3, which are charged to a predetermined potential, based on the image data to be printed, to form an electrostatic latent image. The multiple developing devices 2-2 supply toner to the surfaces of the multiple photoreceptors on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed, developing them and forming a toner image on the corresponding photoreceptor drums 3-3. The multiple cleaning devices 4-4 clean the surfaces of each photoreceptor drum 3-3 after the toner image has been transferred to the intermediate transfer belt device 6. The intermediate transfer belt device 6 transfers the toner images transferred sequentially from the photoreceptor drums 3-3 to the sheet P. The fixing device fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet P to the sheet using heat and pressure. The sheet transport system 113 is equipped with a paper feed tray 81, a manual feed tray 82, and an output tray 15.

[0017] An image reading device 90 is provided at the top of the main body 110, which has a document tray 92 made of transparent glass on which a document (not shown) is placed. The image reading device 90 reads the document placed on the document tray 92. A document reading device 108 is also provided above the document tray 92. The images of the document read by the document reading device 108 and the image reading device 90 are sent to the main body 110 as image data, and the image formed in the main body 110 based on the image data is recorded on sheet P.

[0018] The image data handled by the image forming apparatus 100 corresponds to a color image using multiple colors (in this example, black (BK), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y)). Therefore, the developing devices 2-2, photoreceptor drums 3-3, cleaning devices 4-4, and charging devices 5-5 are each set to multiple units (in this example, four units each, for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow) to form multiple types of images corresponding to each color (four types in this example).

[0019] In the image forming apparatus 100, when image formation is performed, the sheet P is supplied from the paper feed tray 81 and transported to the registration roller 13 by vertical transport rollers 12a provided along the vertical sheet transport path Sa. Alternatively, the sheet P is supplied from the manual feed tray 82 and transported to the registration roller 13 by multiple horizontal transport rollers 12b~12b (an example of multiple transport rollers) and vertical transport rollers 12a provided along the horizontal sheet transport path Sb. Next, the sheet P is transported to the transfer roller 10 at the timing to align the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61, which moves circumferentially in the circumferential direction V in the intermediate transfer belt device 6, and the toner image is transferred onto the sheet P by the transfer roller 10. After that, the sheet P passes through the fixing member 71 (fixing film in this example) and the pressurizing member 72 (pressurizing roller in this example) in the fixing device 7. At this time, the unfixed toner on the sheet P is melted and fixed by heat. The sheet P with the formed toner image is discharged onto the discharge tray 15 via the discharge roller 31.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the general configuration of the exposure apparatus 200 in the image forming apparatus 100 shown in Figure 1.

[0021] The exposure apparatus 200 includes a light source unit 210, an incident optical system 220, a deflection device 230, and an output light It is equipped with two systems 240, 240 and two detection units 250, 250.

[0022] The light source unit 210 is equipped with multiple light sources 211-211. Each light source 211-211 emits a beam BM-BM (specifically, a laser beam). The incident optical system 220 is positioned between the light source unit 210 and the deflection device 230 in the optical path of the beams BM-BM. The incident optical system 220 causes the beams BM-BM emitted from the light source unit 210 to be incident on the deflection device 230.

[0023] The deflection device 230 deflects and scans the beam BM~BM, which is incident from the light source unit 210 via the incident optical system 220, in the main scanning direction T,T. The exit optical systems 240,240 are arranged between the deflection device 230 and the surface of the photoreceptor drums 3~3 in the optical path of the beam BM~BM. The exit optical systems 240,240 irradiate the surface of the photoreceptor drums 3~3 with the beam BM~BM emitted from the deflection device 230. The detection units 250,250 detect the beam BM~BM emitted from the deflection device 230. The light source unit 210, incident optical system 220, deflection device 230, exit optical systems 240,240 and detection units 250,250 are arranged in the housing 200a.

[0024] In the exposure apparatus 200, the beam BM~BM emitted from the light source unit 210 is directed to the deflection device 230 via the incident optical system 220, and the deflection device 230 deflects and scans in the main scanning directions T,T, and while being detected by the detection units 250,250, image information is written onto the surface of the photoreceptor drums 3~3 via the output optical systems 240,240.

[0025] More specifically, the light source unit 210 is equipped with multiple (four in this example) light sources 211-211 corresponding to each color. The incident optical system 220 irradiates the reflective surface 231a of the rotating polyhedron mirror 231 with the beams BM-BM emitted from the light source unit 210. The deflection device 230 is equipped with the rotating polyhedron mirror 231 and a deflection drive motor 232 (polygon motor) that rotates the rotating polyhedron mirror 231. The rotating polyhedron mirror 231 is fixed to the rotation axis 232a of the deflection drive motor 232. The deflection drive motor 232 rotates at a constant rotational speed in a constant rotational direction E. As a result, the rotating polyhedron mirror 231 can deflect and scan the beams BM-BM incident on the reflective surface 231a in the main scanning directions T,T. The output optical systems 240, 240 reflect and refract the beam BM~BM, which is repeatedly scanned in the main scanning direction T, T, and illuminate the surface of the photoreceptor drums 3~3. The deflection drive motor 232 rotates at a very high speed to increase the scanning speed, and generates a lot of heat and becomes hot during image formation. Therefore, it needs to be cooled during image formation.

[0026] [About this embodiment] [First Embodiment] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an exposure apparatus 200 mounted on the frame 101 of the apparatus body 110 in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the exposure apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment detached from the frame 101. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the frame 101 according to the first embodiment. Figures 6 and 7 are a perspective view and exploded perspective view, respectively, of the exposure apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment viewed from the bottom 200b. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the exposure apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment detached from the frame 101 with the right frame 101a removed. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the exposure apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment mounted on the apparatus body 110. Figure 10 is an enlarged side view showing the guide duct portion 310 shown in Figure 9.

[0027] The image forming apparatus 100 is equipped with a detachable attachment device having a heating element, which is detachably attached to the apparatus body 110 in a predetermined attachment / detachment direction H (horizontal direction in this example). The detachable attachment device in this embodiment is an exposure apparatus 200 that exposes the surface of the photoreceptor drum 3, and the heating element is driven by a deflection drive motor 232. Yes. For this reason, in the following, the exposure apparatus 200 may be referred to as the attachment / detachment device (200), and the deflection drive motor 232 as the heat-generating unit (232). Thus, the image forming apparatus 100 comprises an apparatus body 110 and an attachment / detachment device (200) which has a heat-generating unit including a deflection drive motor 232 that is a drive source, and is attached to the apparatus body 110 so as to be attachable / detachable in a predetermined attachment / detachment direction. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 is equipped with a duct 300 that guides air to the heat-generating unit (232) of the attachment / detachment device (200) when it is attached to the apparatus body 110.

[0028] The duct 300 includes guide duct sections 310 (311, 312) that guide the attachment / detachment device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to or detached from the device body 110.

[0029] According to this embodiment, the guide duct section 310 (311, 312), which constitutes a part of the duct 300, guides air to the heat-generating part (232) of the attachment / detachment device (200), thereby cooling the heat-generating part (232) of the attachment / detachment device (200). This prevents deformation of the attachment / detachment device (200) or thermal deformation of surrounding parts due to heat generated by the heat-generating part (232). In addition, the guide duct section 310 (311, 312), which constitutes a part of the duct 300, guides the attachment / detachment device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H when it is attached to or detached from the device body 110. That is, since the guide duct section 310 (311, 312) guides the attachment / detachment device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H, there is no need to provide a separate guide section to guide the attachment / detachment device (200), and thus the image forming apparatus 100 can be made more compact.

[0030] As described above, the guide duct sections 310 (311, 312) included in the duct 300 are configured to guide the attachment / detachment device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H when attaching / detaching it to the main body of the device 110, and to cool the heat-generating section (232) of the attachment / detachment device (200), thereby enabling the image forming apparatus 100 to be made more compact. This is particularly effective when the attachment / detachment device is an exposure apparatus 200 that exposes the surface of the image carrier (in this example, the photosensitive drum 3).

[0031] (First Embodiment-1) In this embodiment, the main body 110 of the image forming apparatus 100 further includes a frame 101 (in this example, a right frame 101a, a left frame 101b, and a sheet guide frame 101c) to which a detachable device (200) is attached, as shown in Figure 4, and a plurality of transport rollers (in this example, horizontal transport rollers 12b to 12b).

[0032] Frame 101 has a sheet guide frame 101c that guides the sheet P being transported by a plurality of transport rollers (12b to 12b), and the plurality of transport rollers (12b to 12b) are rotatably supported with respect to the sheet guide frame 101c. In this example, the sheet guide frame 101c constitutes the upper guide frame of the sheet lateral transport path Sb (see Figure 1).

[0033] The frame 101 has positioning parts 101d1, 101d1 that engage with positioning parts 201, 201 provided on the attachment / detachment device (200) to position the attachment / detachment device (200) on the frame 101. In other words, the frame 101 has positioning parts 101d1, 101d1 that position the attachment / detachment device (200) and supports the attachment / detachment device (200) in the positioned state by the positioning parts 101d1, 101d1. In addition, a plurality of transport rollers (12b~12b) that transport the sheet P in the transport direction F along the attachment / detachment direction H are provided below the attachment / detachment device (200).

[0034] In this configuration, multiple transport rollers (12b~12b) are connected to the sheet guide frame 101c Because the image forming apparatus 100 is rotatably supported relative to the sheet guide frame 101c, its height in the vertical direction Z increases. If a separate guide section is provided to guide the attachment / detachment device (200), the height of the image forming apparatus 100 in the vertical direction Z will increase even further. However, since a guide duct section 310 (311, 312) is provided to guide the attachment / detachment device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H, there is no need to provide a separate guide section to guide the attachment / detachment device (200). In other words, when multiple transport rollers (12b~12b) are rotatably supported relative to the sheet guide frame 101c, the image forming apparatus 100 can be made more compact by providing both a configuration that guides the attachment / detachment device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H when attaching / detaching it to the apparatus body 110, and a configuration that cools the heat-generating part (232) of the attachment / detachment device (200).

[0035] In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 is further equipped with a cooling fan 400 that generates airflow within the duct 300 (see Figures 3 to 5). The guide duct section 310 (in this example, the second guide duct section 312) has one end connected to the cooling fan 400 and the other end has an opening 300a (see Figures 6 and 10) that communicates with the space inside the apparatus body 110.

[0036] In this configuration, the opening on the other end of the guide duct section 310 (312) opposite to the cooling fan 400 communicates with the space inside the device body 110, thereby improving the airflow in the duct 300 by the cooling fan 400. In this example, the cooling fan 400 is located on the outside of the left frame 101b. The cooling fan 400 may either blow air into the device body 110 or draw air in from inside the device body 110.

[0037] (First Embodiment-2) First guide duct section 311 and second guide duct section 312 In this embodiment, the guide duct section 310 has a first guide duct section 311 and a second guide duct section 312. The first guide duct section 311 is provided on the upper surface 101e of the seat guide frame 101c. The second guide duct section 312 is provided on the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200). The second guide duct section 312 communicates with the first guide duct section 311 when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to the device body 110. In other words, the guide duct section 310 has a first guide duct section 311 provided on the upper surface 101e of the seat guide frame 101c, and a second guide duct section 312 provided on the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200) that communicates with the first guide duct section 311 when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to the device body 110.

[0038] More specifically, the first guide duct section 311 extends in the width direction M perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction H, and the second guide duct section 312 extends in the attachment / detachment direction H. Furthermore, the opening 311c provided on the end face 311a of the first guide duct section 311 and the opening 312c provided on the side surface 312b of the second guide duct section 312 communicate when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to the device body 110. An elastic member (e.g., sponge) not shown is provided as a sealing member around the opening 311c on the end face 311a of the first guide duct section 311. When the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to or detached from the device body 110, this sealing member slides against the side surface 312b of the second guide duct portion 312 on the first guide duct portion 311 side (X2 side) in the width direction M, and when the second guide duct portion 312 is attached to the device body 110, it seals around the opening 312c provided in the second guide duct portion 312, so that no gap occurs in the communication portion formed when the openings 311c and 312c face each other. In this way, at the end face 311a of the first guide duct portion 311, it slides against the side surface 312b of the second guide duct portion 312 via the elastic member, so that the positioning portions 201, 201 of the attachment / detachment device (200) are reliably positioned (inserted) into the positioning portions 101d1, 101d1 provided on the frame 101.

[0039] In this configuration, the attachment / detachment device (200) can be reliably attached to and detached from the device body 110 by sliding the end face 311a of the first guide duct portion 311 and the side surface 312b of the second guide duct portion 312 in contact via an elastic member, and the positioning portions 201, 201 of the attachment / detachment device (200) can be reliably positioned by the positioning portions 101d1, 101d1 provided on the frame 101.

[0040] (Specific configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment) From here, the specific configuration of the first embodiment described above will be explained. In the following explanation, the attachment / detachment device may be referred to as the exposure device 200, and the heating element may be referred to as the deflection drive motor 232.

[0041] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the frame 101 (main frame) further comprises a right frame 101a provided on the right side and a left frame 101b provided on the left side when viewed from the front side Y1 of the device body 110. The seat guide frame 101c (connecting frame) is provided between the right frame 101a and the left frame 101b and connects the right frame 101a and the left frame 101b.

[0042] The right frame 101a and the left frame 101b are made of sheet metal that aligns with both the depth direction Y and the vertical direction Z. The seat guide frame 101c is made of sheet metal that aligns with both the left-right direction X and the depth direction Y, and connects the right frame 101a and the left frame 101b below the center of the vertical direction Z of the right frame 101a and the left frame 101b.

[0043] The duct 300 further includes an intermediate duct 320 connected between the cooling fan 400 and the first guide duct section 311 in the guide duct section 310.

[0044] The cooling fan 400 and the intermediate duct 320 are provided on the outer surface of the right frame 101a. The intermediate duct 320 and the first guide duct section 311 are connected via a through hole 101a1 (see Figures 5 and 8) provided in the right frame 101a.

[0045] The first guide duct section 311 has an end face 311b opposite to the second guide duct section 312 that is connected to the intermediate duct 320, and an opening 311c is provided on the opposite end face 311a.

[0046] The second guide duct section 312 is box-shaped with its upper surface 312a and the end surface 312d opposite to the first guide duct section 311 in the attachment / detachment direction H open. The second guide duct section 312 has a duct mechanism when attached to the lower surface 200b of the exposure apparatus 200 and its upper surface 312a is closed. At this time, the end surface 312d of the second guide duct section 312 forms an opening 300a. The bottom surface 312e of the second guide duct section 312 is flat.

[0047] An opening 312c is provided on the side surface 312b of the second guide duct section 312 on the side facing the first guide duct section 311 in the width direction M. The opening 312c is positioned to face the opening 311c of the first guide duct section 311 when the exposure apparatus 200 is mounted on the apparatus body 110. This allows the opening 312c of the second guide duct section 312 and the opening 311c of the first guide duct section 311 to communicate when the exposure apparatus 200 is mounted on the apparatus body 110. Furthermore, an elastic member (e.g., a sponge) not shown is provided around the opening 311c of the first guide duct section 311 as a sealing member, sealing the area around the opening 312c of the second guide duct section 312 when the exposure apparatus 200 is mounted on the apparatus body 110.

[0048] Furthermore, the second guide duct section 312 is connected to the deflection drive motor 2 on the lower surface 200b of the exposure apparatus 200. It is positioned to include the area corresponding to 32. This allows air to be forcibly circulated in the area of ​​the lower surface 200b of the exposure apparatus 200 that corresponds to the deflection drive motor 232, thereby ensuring that the deflection drive motor 232 in the exposure apparatus 200 is reliably cooled.

[0049] One or more (two in this example) positioning portions 201, 201 are provided on the downstream end face 200c of the exposure apparatus 200 in the mounting direction H1. In this example, the positioning portions 201, 201 are projections that protrude from the end face 200c in the mounting direction H1.

[0050] Frame 101 has a positioning frame 101d. The positioning frame 101d is made of sheet metal oriented in both the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z, and is erected upward from the downstream end in the mounting direction H1 of the seat guide frame 101c. One or more (two in this example) positioning parts 101d1, 101d1 are provided at positions corresponding to the positioned parts 201, 201 of the positioning frame 101d. In this example, the positioning parts 101d1, 101d1 are through holes that penetrate in the attachment / detachment direction H.

[0051] (First Embodiment-3) Each of the multiple conveying rollers (12b~12b) has a rotating shaft 12b1 and multiple roller sections 12b2~12b2 that are spaced apart in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 12b1 (left-right direction X), and each of them contacts the sheet P to convey the sheet P. The second guide duct section 312 provided on the attachment / detachment device (200) contacts the rotating shaft 12b1 when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to or detached from the device body 110.

[0052] However, in this configuration, when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to or detached from the device body 110, if the second guide duct portion 312 provided on the attachment / detachment device (200) comes into contact with the rotation axis 12b1 of the conveying roller (12b~12b), it becomes difficult to smoothly attach or detach the attachment / detachment device (200) to or detach it from the device body 110.

[0053] In this embodiment, the sheet guide frame 101c is provided with a sliding contact portion 330 that extends above the rotation axis 12b1 of the multiple conveyor rollers (12b~12b). The tip of the sliding contact portion 330 slides against the second guide duct portion 312. In other words, the sheet guide frame 101c has a sliding contact portion that extends above the rotation axis of the multiple conveyor rollers (12b~12b) and whose tip slides against the second guide duct portion 312. The second guide duct portion 312 faces the area where the multiple roller portions 12b2~12b2 of the rotation axis 12b1 are not provided when the attachment / detachment device (200) is mounted on the device body 110.

[0054] In this configuration, the tip of the sliding contact portion 330, which extends above the rotation axis 1b1 of the conveyor rollers (12b~12b), slides against the second guide duct portion 312. This effectively prevents the second guide duct portion 312 from coming into contact with the rotation axis 12b1 of the conveyor rollers (12b~12b) when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to or detached from the device body 110. As a result, the attachment / detachment device (200) can be smoothly attached to and detached from the device body 110.

[0055] In this embodiment, multiple (two) sliding contact portions 330 are provided at intervals in the attachment / detachment direction H. Each sliding contact portion 330 has a flat portion 331 and an inclined portion 332 along the attachment / detachment direction H. The inclined portion 332 is connected to the upstream end of the flat portion 331 in the mounting direction H1 and is inclined such that its height from the upper surface 101e of the sheet guide frame 101c decreases as it moves towards the flow side in the mounting direction H1.

[0056] By doing so, when attaching the attachment device (200) to the main body 110 of the device, the second guide duct The attachment / detachment device (200) can be raised along the inclined surface 332a of the inclined section 332 while the T section 312 is sliding against the inclined surface 332a of the inclined section 332. This allows the attachment / detachment device (200) to be attached to and detached from the device body 110 even more smoothly.

[0057] Furthermore, the upper surface 331a of the flat section 331 and the bottom surface 312e of the second guide duct section 312 slide against each other when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to or detached from the device body 110. The position of the upper surface 331a of the flat section 331 in the vertical direction Z is such that when the upper surface 331a of the flat section 331 slides against the bottom surface 312e of the second guide duct section 312, the positioning parts 101d1, 101d1 on the frame 101 can position (insert) the positioned parts 201, 201 on the attachment / detachment device (200). This ensures that the positioning parts 101d1, 101d1 on the frame 101 can reliably position (insert) the positioned parts 201, 201 on the attachment / detachment device (200).

[0058] In this example, the sliding contact portions 330, 330 are formed by cutting out and bending the sheet guide frame 101c, and act as leaf springs relative to the sheet guide frame 101c. The end face 312d (opening 300a) of the second guide duct portion 312 is inclined such that the height from the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200) increases as it moves away from the upstream side in the mounting direction H1.

[0059] In this embodiment, the upstream end of the seat guide frame 101c in the mounting direction H1 is provided with a mounting portion 101f on which the upstream end of the attachment / detachment device (200) in the mounting direction H1 can be placed when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to or detached from the device body 110. The mounting portion 101f is connected to the upstream end of the seat guide frame 101c in the mounting direction H1 and is inclined such that its height from the upper surface 101e of the seat guide frame 101c increases as it moves upstream in the mounting direction H1.

[0060] This allows the attachment / detachment device (200) to be temporarily placed on the mounting section 101f before or after attaching it to the main body 110 of the device.

[0061] In this example, the mounting portion 101f is formed by bending the sheet guide frame 101c.

[0062] [Second Embodiment] Figure 11 is a perspective view showing an example of an exposure apparatus 200 in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment, mounted on the frame 101 of the apparatus body 110. Figures 12 and 13 are a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, showing the exposure apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment detached from the frame 101. Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the frame 101 according to the second embodiment. Figure 15 is a perspective view of the exposure apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment viewed from the bottom. Figure 16 is a perspective view showing a cross-section of the exposure apparatus 200 and the sheet guide frame 101c when the exposure apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment is mounted on the apparatus body 110. Figure 17 is a perspective view showing the exposure apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment detached from the frame 101 with the right frame 101a removed. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the exposure apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment mounted on the apparatus body 110.

[0063] In the second embodiment, components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0064] The image forming apparatus 100 has a detachable device (in this example, an exposure device 200) having a heat-generating part (in this example, a deflection drive motor 232) that is detachably attached to the main body 110 in a predetermined detachable direction H (in this example, the horizontal direction). The image forming apparatus 100 has a heat-generating device (200) that generates heat. The unit (in this example, the deflection drive motor 232) is equipped with a duct 300 that guides air.

[0065] The duct 300 has guide duct sections 310 (313, 314) that guide the attachment / detachment device (in this example, the exposure device 200) along the attachment / detachment direction H when the attachment / detachment device is attached to or detached from the device body 110.

[0066] According to this embodiment, the heat-generating part (232) of the attachment / detachment device (200) can be cooled by guiding air to it in the duct 300. Furthermore, the guide duct section 310 (313, 314) constituting the duct 300 can guide the attachment / detachment device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H when it is attached to or detached from the device body 110. In other words, since the duct 300 has guide duct section 310 (313, 314) that guides the attachment / detachment device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H without the need to provide a separate guide section for guiding the attachment / detachment device (200), the image forming apparatus 100 can be made more compact.

[0067] As described above, the duct 300 is configured to guide the attachment / detachment device (200) along the attachment / detachment direction H when attaching / detaching the attachment / detachment device (200) to the main body 110, and to cool the heat-generating part (232) of the attachment / detachment device (200), thereby enabling the image forming apparatus 100 to be made more compact. This is particularly effective when the attachment / detachment device is an exposure apparatus 200 that exposes the surface of an image carrier (in this example, a photosensitive drum 3). In this example, the heat-generating part is a deflection drive motor 232.

[0068] (Second Embodiment-1) The duct 300 in this embodiment will be described in more detail. In this embodiment, the guide duct section 310 has a third guide duct section 313 and a fourth guide duct section 314. The third guide duct section 313 is provided on the upper surface 101e of the seat guide frame 101c. The fourth guide duct section 314 is provided on the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200). In other words, the guide duct section 310 has a third guide duct section 313 provided on the upper surface 101e of the seat guide frame 101c and a fourth guide duct section 314 provided on the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200). The third guide duct section 313 has an extended duct section 3131 that extends along the attachment / detachment direction H and has an open upper surface 3131a and an end surface 3131c opposite to the cooling fan 400. In other words, the third guide duct section 313 has an extendable duct section 3131, one end of which is connected to the cooling fan 400, extending along the attachment / detachment direction H, with an open upper surface 3131a and the other end surface 3131c. The fourth guide duct section 314 has a guide section 3141 that guides the extendable duct section 3131 in the attachment / detachment direction H when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to the device body 110. Thus, the fourth guide duct section 314 has a guide section 3141 that guides the attachment / detachment device (200) in the extension direction (attachment / detachment direction H) of the extendable duct section 3131 when the attachment / detachment device (200) is attached to the device body 110.

[0069] Furthermore, the upper surface 3131a of the extension duct portion 3131 in the third guide duct portion 313 slides against the lower surface 200b of the attachment device (200) when the attachment device (200) is attached to or detached from the device body 110. At least one of the two inner surfaces 3141a, 3141a in the width direction M of the guide portion 3141 in the fourth guide duct portion 314 (in this example, both inner surfaces 3141a, 3141a) (see Figure 16) slides against or faces with a gap between it and the outer surface 3131b in the width direction M of the extension duct portion 3131 in the third guide duct portion 313 (in this example, both outer surfaces 3131b, 3131b) (see Figures 15 and 16).

[0070] The position of the upper surface 3131a of the extension duct portion 3131 in the vertical direction Z and the position of the inner surface 3141a of the guide portion 3141 in the width direction M are as follows: When the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200) is in sliding contact with the inner surface 3141a of the guide portion 3141 is in sliding contact with the outer surface 3131b of the extension duct portion 3131, or when there is a gap between them, the positioning portions 101d1, 101d1 of the frame 101 are positioned to be able to position (insert) the positioned portions 201, 201 of the attachment / detachment device (200). This ensures that the positioning portions 101d1, 101d1 of the frame 101 can reliably position (insert) the positioned portions 201, 201 of the attachment / detachment device (200).

[0071] In this configuration, the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200) is brought into sliding contact with the upper surface 3131a of the extension duct portion 3131 in the third guide duct portion 313, while the inner surface 3141a in the width direction M of the guide portion 3141 in the fourth guide duct portion 314 is brought into sliding contact with or with a gap between it and the outer surface 3131b of the extension duct portion 3131, thereby enabling the attachment / detachment device (200) to be reliably attached to and detached from the device body 110. Furthermore, the guide portion 3141 can cover the gap between the outer surface 3131b of the extension duct portion 3131 in the third guide duct portion 313 and the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200). This suppresses air leakage from the gap between the outer surface 3131b of the extension duct portion 3131 and the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200).

[0072] (Second Embodiment-2) In this embodiment, the guide portion 3141 has a pair of ribs 3141b, 3141b extending along the attachment / detachment direction H. With this configuration, the guide portion 3141 can be realized with a simple structure.

[0073] (Second Embodiment-3) In this embodiment, the guide duct section 310 (extension duct section 3131 in this example) has an opening 300a (see Figure 16) that communicates with the space inside the device body 110 on the side opposite to the cooling fan 400.

[0074] In this configuration, the opening 300a on the opposite side of the guide duct section 310 (312) from the cooling fan 400 is in communication with the space inside the main body 110 of the device, so that the airflow in the duct 300 by the cooling fan 400 can be improved.

[0075] (Specific configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment) In the following explanation, the attachment / detachment device may be referred to as the exposure device 200, and the heating element may be referred to as the deflection drive motor 232.

[0076] The third guide duct section 313 further includes an upstream duct section 3132 that is connected to the upstream end of the extension duct section 3131 in the mounting direction H1 and extends toward the cooling fan 400 in the width direction M.

[0077] The intermediate duct 320 is connected between the cooling fan 400 and the upstream duct section 3132.

[0078] The intermediate duct 320 and the upstream duct section 3132 are connected via a through-hole 101a1 (see Figures 14 and 17) provided in the right frame 101a.

[0079] The upstream duct section 3132 has an opening 3132c on the end face 3132a opposite to the end face 3132b (see Figures 14 and 17) on the side connected to the intermediate duct 320.

[0080] The extension duct section 3131 is box-shaped with its upper surface 3131a and the end surface 3131c opposite to the upstream duct section 3132 open. The upstream duct section 3132 is an exposure apparatus. The upper surface 3131a is closed by being covered by the lower surface 200b of 200, thus forming a duct mechanism. At this time, the end surface 3131c of the extendable duct portion 3131 forms an opening 300a (see Figure 16). The upper surface 3131a of the extendable duct portion 3131 is flat.

[0081] Furthermore, the guide portion 3141 in the fourth guide duct portion 314 is positioned to include the area on the lower surface 200b of the exposure apparatus 200 that corresponds to the deflection drive motor 232. This allows air to be forcibly circulated in the area on the lower surface 200b of the exposure apparatus 200 that corresponds to the deflection drive motor 232, thereby ensuring that the deflection drive motor 232 in the exposure apparatus 200 is reliably cooled. The fourth guide duct portion 314 further has a connecting portion 3142 (see Figure 15). The connecting portion 3142 connects the guide portion 3141 at its upstream end in the mounting direction H1. The guide portion 3141 (connecting portion 3142) can cover the gap between the upstream end face 3131e of the extension duct portion 3131 in the third guide duct portion 313 and the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200) in the mounting direction H1. This makes it possible to suppress air leakage from the gap between the end face 3131e of the extended duct portion 3131 and the lower surface 200b of the attachment / detachment device (200). In this example, the connecting portion 3142 is a connecting rib that connects the upstream ends of the pair of ribs 3141b, 3141b in the mounting direction H1.

[0082] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in a variety of other ways. Therefore, these embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be constrained. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the claims and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Furthermore, any variations or modifications falling within the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of this disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0083] 100 Image forming apparatus 101 frames 101c Seat Guide Frame 101d Positioning Frame 101d1 Positioning section 101e Top side 110 Main unit of the device 12b Lateral conveying roller (an example of a conveying roller) 12b1 Rotation axis 12b2 Roller section 200 Exposure apparatus (an example of a detachable device) 200b bottom side 201 Positioning part 232 Deflection drive motor (example of heat-generating part) 300 duct 300a aperture 310 Guide duct section 311 First guide duct section 311a End face 311b End face 311c aperture 312 Second guide duct section 312a top side 312b side 312c aperture 312d end face 312e bottom 313 Third Guide Duct Section 3131 Extension duct section 3131a Top side 3131b External surface 3132 Upstream duct section 3132c aperture 314 Fourth Guide Duct Section 3141 Information Department 3141a Inside surface 3141b Rib 3142 Connection section 320 Intermediate duct 330 Sliding contact part 331 Plane section 331a Upper plane 332 Slope 332a Slope 400 Cooling Fan F Conveying direction H Attachment / Detachment Direction H1 Mounting direction M Width direction P Sheet Sa Sheet longitudinal transport path Sb Sheet Transverse Conveyor X Left / right direction Y (depth direction) Z vertical direction

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising a main body and a detachable device having a heating element and being detachably attached to the main body in a predetermined detachable direction, The attachment device, which is attached to the main body of the device, is provided with a duct that guides air to the heat-generating part of the attachment device, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the duct has a guide duct portion that guides the attachment / detachment device along the attachment / detachment direction when the attachment / detachment device is attached to or detached from the main body of the apparatus.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the attachment / detachment device is an exposure device for exposing the surface of an image carrier.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, The frame further comprises a positioning section for positioning the attachment / detachment device, a frame that supports the attachment / detachment device in the positioned state by the positioning section, and a plurality of conveying rollers that convey the sheet in a conveying direction along the attachment / detachment direction below the attachment / detachment device. The frame has a sheet guide frame that guides the sheet being transported by the plurality of transport rollers, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the plurality of transport rollers are rotatably supported with respect to the sheet guide frame.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, The duct is further equipped with a cooling fan that generates airflow, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the guide duct portion has one end connected to the cooling fan and the other end having an opening that communicates with the space inside the main body of the apparatus.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the guide duct portion includes a first guide duct portion provided on the upper surface of the sheet guide frame and a second guide duct portion provided on the lower surface of the attachment device and communicating with the first guide duct portion when the attachment device is mounted on the main body of the apparatus.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, The aforementioned plurality of conveying rollers have a rotating shaft and a plurality of roller portions provided at intervals in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating shaft, each of which contacts the sheet. The sheet guide frame is provided with a sliding contact portion that extends above the rotation axis of the plurality of transport rollers, and whose tip is in sliding contact with the second guide duct portion. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the second guide duct portion faces the region of the rotating shaft where the plurality of roller portions are not provided when the attachment / detachment device is mounted on the main body of the apparatus.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the sliding contact portion has a flat portion aligned with the attachment / detachment direction and an inclined portion connected to the upstream end of the flat portion in the mounting direction of the attachment / detachment device, and inclined such that the height from the upper surface of the sheet guide frame decreases as it moves upstream.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, The aforementioned guide duct section is a third guide duct section provided on the upper surface of the seat guide frame. It has a fourth guide duct section provided on the lower surface of the attachment / detachment device, The third guide duct section has an extendable duct section, one end of which is connected to the cooling fan, extending along the attachment / detachment direction, with the upper surface and the other end surface being open. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the fourth guide duct section has a guide section that guides the attachment device in the extending direction of the extension duct section when the attachment device is attached to the main body of the apparatus.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the guide portion has a pair of ribs extending along the attachment / detachment direction.

Images