Exhaust device and image forming apparatus equipped with same

Abstract

To provide an exhaust system that can be reduced in size, and an image forming apparatus including the same.SOLUTION: An exhaust system 4 comprises: a first fan 41 and a second fan 42; a first intake pipe part 50 that forms an intake path of the first fan 41; a first exhaust pipe part 51 that forms an exhaust path of the first fan 41; a second intake pipe part 52 that forms an intake path of the second fan 42; and a second exhaust pipe part 53 that forms an exhaust path of the second fan 42. The first fan 41 and the second fan 42 have intake ports 410, 420 opening in a direction along a first direction D1, and exhaust ports 411, 421 opening in a direction along a second direction D2 orthogonal to the first direction D1. The first exhaust pipe part 51 is arranged overlapping the second intake pipe part 52 in a direction intersecting the first direction D1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust device and an image forming apparatus equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, an exhaust device has been used in image forming apparatuses to exhaust air heated by a fixing device to the outside of the image forming apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the exhaust device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the exhaust path of the first fan is formed to pass through the opposite side of the intake port of the second fan. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-134103 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional exhaust device, there is still room for making the device smaller (more compact).

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art, and has an object to provide an exhaust device that can realize miniaturization of the device, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the exhaust device described in the present application is an exhaust device comprising a first fan and a second fan, a first intake pipe section forming an intake path of the first fan, a first exhaust pipe section forming an exhaust path of the first fan, a second intake pipe section forming an intake path of the second fan, and a second exhaust pipe section forming an exhaust path of the second fan, wherein the first fan and the second fan both have an intake port that opens in a direction along a first direction and an exhaust port that opens in a direction along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the first exhaust pipe section is arranged so as to overlap the second intake pipe section in a direction intersecting the first direction.

[0007] In the exhaust device, the first fan and the second fan may be aligned with each other in a third direction that is orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction.

[0008] In the exhaust device, the first fan and the second fan may be arranged to overlap each other when viewed from the second direction.

[0009] Furthermore, in the exhaust device, the first exhaust pipe section may include an oblique section formed to extend obliquely from the exhaust port of the first fan toward the intake port side of the second fan, and an outlet section formed to overlap the second intake pipe section and extend from the oblique section along the second direction, and in the third direction, the overall dimensions of the second intake pipe section and the outlet section of the first exhaust pipe section on the intake port side of the second fan may be equal to or smaller than the dimensions of the second fan.

[0010] Further, in the exhaust device, in the first direction, the sum of the dimensions of the outlet portion of the first exhaust pipe portion and the dimensions of the second exhaust pipe portion may be equal to or less than the sum of the dimensions of the first intake pipe portion and the dimensions of the first fan.

[0011] Furthermore, in the exhaust device, the second intake pipe portion may be configured to include an introduction portion formed to extend along the first direction at a position that partially overlaps with the second fan when viewed from the first direction, and a hood portion that guides air passing through the introduction portion to the entire area of ​​the intake port of the second fan.

[0012] In the exhaust device, the hood portion may also serve as a partition wall that separates the exhaust path of the first fan and the intake path of the second fan, and may be formed in a quarter sphere shape.

[0013] Furthermore, in the exhaust device, the hood portion may also serve as a partition wall separating the exhaust path of the first fan and the intake path of the second fan, and may be configured to include, on the exhaust path side of the first fan, a first inclined portion that inclines in a direction away from the intake path of the second fan, and a flat portion that is continuous with the first inclined portion and extends in the second direction, in that order from the upstream side in the exhaust direction of the first fan.

[0014] In addition, in the exhaust device, the hood portion may be configured to further include a second inclined portion downstream of the flat portion in the exhaust direction of the first fan, the second inclined portion inclining in a direction approaching the intake path of the second fan.

[0015] The image forming apparatus described in the present application is characterized by including the exhaust device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a compact exhaust device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the front. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of an exhaust device according to a first embodiment, viewed from the front. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exhaust device of FIG. 2 as seen from behind. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a side view showing the exhaust device of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a conventional exhaust device. [Figure 6] 3 is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of a first exhaust pipe section and a second intake pipe section in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4. [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the exhaust device of FIG. 2. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a second intake pipe section in a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a modified example of the second intake pipe section in the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a second intake pipe section in a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same components in the embodiments described below will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions of those components will be omitted.

[0019] (Embodiment 1) -Image forming device- First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus A in the first embodiment will be described.

[0020] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus A in embodiment 1 as viewed from the front. In the figure, the symbol X indicates the depth direction of the image forming apparatus A, the symbol Y indicates the left-right direction of the image forming apparatus A, and the symbol Z indicates the height direction of the image forming apparatus A. These settings are the same in the following embodiments.

[0021] The image forming apparatus A is a color image forming apparatus that forms a monochrome image on a sheet by electrophotography in accordance with image data read by an image reading device 27 or image data transmitted from an external device.

[0022] The image forming apparatus A includes a document feeder 10 and an image forming apparatus main body 11 (see FIG. 1). The image forming apparatus main body 11 includes an image forming section 12 and a sheet transport system 20.

[0023] The image forming unit 12 includes an exposure device 13, a developing device 14, an image carrier 15, a cleaner unit 16, a charger 17, a transfer device 3, a toner cartridge device 18, and a fixing device 19 (see FIG. 1). The transfer device 3 has a transfer roller 30 as a transfer member that transfers the toner image formed on the image carrier 15 to a sheet. The toner image is transferred to the sheet at a transfer nip formed between the image carrier 15 and the transfer roller 30.

[0024] An exhaust device 4 is provided above the fixing device 19 to exhaust the air heated by the fixing device 19 to the outside of the image forming apparatus A. The configuration of the exhaust device 4 will be described in detail later.

[0025] The sheet transport system 20 includes a tray 21, a manual feed tray 22, a discharge tray 23, and transport rollers (not shown) provided along the sheet transport path.

[0026] An original document table 26 made of transparent glass on which an original document is placed is provided at the top of the image forming apparatus main body 11, and an image reading device 27 for reading an image of the original document is provided below the original document table 26. An original document feeder 10 is provided above the original document table 26. The image of the original document read by the image reading device 27 is sent to the image forming apparatus main body 11 as image data, and an image formed based on the image data in the image forming apparatus main body 11 is recorded on a sheet.

[0027] The image forming apparatus A described above is configured to print an image on a sheet as follows. First, a sheet is supplied from tray 21 or manual feed tray 22. The sheet is transported to transfer device 3 by a transport roller. Next, the toner image formed by image forming section 12 is transferred onto the sheet by transfer device 3. Thereafter, unfixed toner on the sheet is melted and fixed by heat by fixing device 19, and the sheet is discharged onto discharge tray 23 by transport rollers and discharge rollers (not shown). In this way, a series of printing operations by image forming apparatus A is completed.

[0028] -Exhaust system- Next, the configuration of the exhaust device 4 in this embodiment will be described.

[0029] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the exhaust device 4 in embodiment 1 as seen from the front. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the exhaust device 4 as seen from the rear. Fig. 4 is a side view of the exhaust device 4. In the figures, the outline arrows indicate the flow of intake air, and the solid arrows indicate the flow of exhaust air.

[0030] The exhaust device 4 includes a first fan 41, a second fan 42, and a duct 5 that forms intake and exhaust paths for the first fan 41 and the second fan 42 (see FIGS. 2 to 4).

[0031] <First fan and second fan> The first fan 41 and the second fan 42 have the same external shape. In this embodiment, the first fan 41 and the second fan 42 are sirocco fans and have the same internal structure. The first fan 41 and the second fan 42 are controlled by a control unit (not shown).

[0032] The first fan 41 has an intake port 410 that opens in a direction along the first direction D1 and an exhaust port 411 that opens in a direction along the second direction D2 that is perpendicular to the first direction D1 (see FIG. 3).

[0033] Similar to the first fan 41, the second fan 42 has an intake port 420 that opens in the first direction D1 and an exhaust port 421 that opens in the second direction D2 (see FIG. 3).

[0034] In this embodiment, the rotation axes of the first fan 41 and the second fan 42 are both aligned along the first direction D1.

[0035] In this embodiment, the first direction D1 is aligned with the left-right direction Y of the image forming apparatus A, and the second direction D2 is aligned with the depth direction X of the image forming apparatus A. A third direction D3, which is perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, is aligned with the height direction Z of the image forming apparatus A. For ease of explanation, the first direction D1 will be referred to as the width direction of the exhaust device 4, the second direction D2 will be referred to as the length direction of the exhaust device 4, and the third direction D3 will be referred to as the height direction of the exhaust device 4.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the first fan 41 and the second fan 42 are aligned with each other in the third direction D3 (see FIG. 4). This reduces the height dimension of the entire exhaust device 4 in the third direction D3, thereby enabling the size of the exhaust device 4 to be reduced. When the first fan 41 and the second fan 42 have the same internal structure as in the present embodiment, the first fan 41 and the second fan 42 can be aligned with each other in the third direction D3 by aligning the height positions of the rotation axes of the first fan 41 and the second fan 42 with each other in the third direction D3.

[0037] In this embodiment, the first fan 41 and the second fan 42 are arranged so as to overlap each other when viewed from the second direction D2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). This makes it possible to reduce not only the height dimension of the entire exhaust device 4 but also the width dimension of the entire exhaust device 4 in the first direction D1, thereby further miniaturizing the exhaust device 4. In this specification, the term "overlapping" is a concept that includes not only cases where the entire device overlaps, but also cases where the device partially overlaps.

[0038] <Duct> The duct 5 is formed, for example, from a synthetic resin or the like, and includes a first intake pipe section 50 that forms the intake path of the first fan 41, a first exhaust pipe section 51 that forms the exhaust path of the first fan 41, a second intake pipe section 52 that forms the intake path of the second fan 42, and a second exhaust pipe section 53 that forms the exhaust path of the second fan 42 (see Figures 3 and 4).

[0039] The first intake pipe section 50 is formed to extend in a first direction D1 toward the intake port 410 of the first fan 41. A first flange section 91 is connected to the lower end edge 50a of the first intake pipe section 50 (see FIG. 3).

[0040] The first exhaust pipe section 51 includes an oblique section 510 formed so as to extend obliquely from the exhaust port 411 of the first fan 41 toward the intake port 420 of the second fan 42, and an outlet section 511 formed so as to overlap the second intake pipe section 52 and extend from the oblique section 510 along the second direction D2 (see Figures 2 and 3).

[0041] The first exhaust pipe section 51 is disposed so as to overlap the second intake pipe section 52 in a direction intersecting the first direction D1 (in this embodiment, the third direction D3). This makes it possible to reduce the width and height dimensions of the entire exhaust device 4, thereby realizing a more compact exhaust device 4. Specifically, this is as follows.

[0042] Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a conventional exhaust system 8, including the exhaust system disclosed in Patent Document 1. Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of a first exhaust pipe section 51 and a second intake pipe section 52.

[0043] In the case where the first exhaust pipe section 81 is positioned without overlapping the second intake pipe section 82, as in the conventional exhaust device 8 shown in Figure 5, the width dimension M1 of the exhaust device 8 is the sum of the width dimension Ma of the second intake pipe section 82, the width dimension Mb of the second fan 83, and the width dimension Mc of the first exhaust pipe section 81 that passes on the opposite side of the intake port 830 of the second fan 83.

[0044] On the other hand, in the case where the first exhaust pipe section 51 is arranged overlapping the second intake pipe section 52 in a direction intersecting the first direction D1, as in the exhaust device 4 of this embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the width dimension M2 of the exhaust device 4 is the sum of the width dimension Md of the second intake pipe section 52 and the width dimension Me of the second fan 42, and is therefore smaller than the width dimension M1. Furthermore, by arranging the first exhaust pipe section 51 overlapping the second intake pipe section 52 in a direction intersecting the first direction D1, the height dimension of the entire exhaust device 4 can be reduced compared to when the first exhaust pipe section 51 is arranged so as to be stacked above the second fan 42. In this way, the exhaust device 4 can be made more compact.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

[0046] The second intake pipe section 52 includes an introduction section 520 formed to extend along the first direction D1 at a position overlapping the lower half of the second fan 42 when viewed from the first direction D1, and a hood section 521 that guides the air passing through the introduction section 520 to the entire area of ​​the intake port 420 of the second fan 42 (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 7). The provision of the hood section 521 makes it possible to effectively utilize the space on the opening side of the intake port 420 of the second fan 42 and to efficiently draw in air using the entire area of ​​the intake port 420.

[0047] In this embodiment, the hood portion 521 is formed in a quarter spheroid shape and also serves as a partition wall separating the exhaust path of the first fan 41 and the intake path of the second fan 42. This allows the air in the exhaust path of the first fan 41 to flow smoothly along the curve of the hood portion 521.

[0048] A second flange portion 92 is connected to the lower end edge 52a of the second intake pipe portion 52 (see FIG. 3).

[0049] In the first direction D1, the length of the second intake pipe section 52 is set to be equal to the length of the first intake pipe section 50.

[0050] In this embodiment, in the third direction D3, the overall height H1 of the second intake pipe section 52 and the outlet section 511 of the first exhaust pipe section 51 on the intake port 420 side of the second fan 42 is the sum of the height Ha of the inlet section 520 of the second intake pipe section 52 and the height Hb of the outlet section 511 of the first exhaust pipe section 51, and is equivalent to the height H2 of the second fan 42 (see FIG. 7). This makes it possible to reduce the overall height of the exhaust device 4, thereby enabling the exhaust device 4 to be made more compact. In this specification, the term "equivalent" not only includes the case where the two are the same, but also includes the case where the difference between the two is within a predetermined error range (for example, approximately ±10 mm).

[0051] In addition, the height H1 of the portion where the second intake pipe section 52 and the outlet section 511 of the first exhaust pipe section 51 overlap in the third direction D3 may be equal to or smaller than the height H2 of the second fan .

[0052] The second exhaust pipe section 53 is formed to extend from the exhaust port 421 of the second fan 42 along the second direction D2.

[0053] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the exhaust device 4. As shown in FIG.

[0054] In this embodiment, in the first direction D1, the sum (W1) of the width dimension Wa of the outlet portion 511 of the first exhaust pipe portion 51 and the width dimension Wb of the second exhaust pipe portion 53 is equal to the sum (W2) of the width dimension We of the first intake pipe portion 50 and the width dimension Wd of the first fan 41 (see FIG. 8). This makes it possible to reduce the width dimension of the entire exhaust device 4, and thus the exhaust device 4 can be made more compact.

[0055] In addition, in the first direction D1, the sum (W1) of the width dimension Wa of the outlet section 511 of the first exhaust pipe section 51 and the width dimension Wb of the second exhaust pipe section 53 may be less than or equal to the sum (W2) of the width dimension Wc of the first intake pipe section 50 and the width dimension Wd of the first fan 41.

[0056] The first intake pipe section 50, the first exhaust pipe section 51, the second intake pipe section 52, and the second exhaust pipe section 53 described above may be configured as separate components.

[0057] (Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, only the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described.

[0058] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the second intake pipe section 52 in the second embodiment.

[0059] In the second embodiment, the hood portion 521 of the second intake pipe portion 52 is configured to include, on the exhaust path side of the first fan 41, a first inclined portion 522 that is inclined in a direction away from the intake path of the second fan 42, and a flat portion 523 that is continuous with the first inclined portion 522 and extends in the second direction D2, in this order from the upstream side in the exhaust direction F of the first fan 41 (see FIG. 9 ). This allows the air in the exhaust path of the first fan 41 to flow smoothly along the inclination of the first inclined portion 522. It is desirable that the inclination angle θ1 of the first inclined portion 522 be, for example, approximately 45 degrees or less with respect to the second direction D2.

[0060] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a modified example of the second intake pipe section 52 in the second embodiment.

[0061] 10, a semi-cylindrical protrusion 524 extending in the first direction D1 may be provided on flat portion 523 of hood portion 521. This allows the air in the exhaust path of first fan 41 to gain momentum when passing over hood portion 521, thereby making it possible to prevent air from stagnating downstream of hood portion 521.

[0062] (Embodiment 3) Hereinafter, only the differences between the third embodiment and the second embodiment will be described.

[0063] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the second intake pipe section 52 in the third embodiment.

[0064] In the third embodiment, the hood section 521 of the second intake pipe section 52 is configured to further include a second inclined section 525 that is inclined in a direction approaching the intake path of the second fan 42, downstream of the flat section 523 in the exhaust direction F of the first fan 41 (see FIG. 11). This allows the air in the exhaust path of the first fan 41 to flow smoothly along the inclination of the second inclined section 525, and makes it possible to suppress the generation of vortexes downstream of the hood section 521. It is desirable that the inclination angle θ2 of the second inclined section 525 be approximately 75 degrees or less with respect to the second direction D2.

[0065] The above-described embodiments and examples are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted solely by the above-described embodiments and examples, but should be defined based on the claims. Furthermore, all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims are included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] A Image forming device 3. Transcription device 4. Exhaust system 41 First Fan 42 Second Fan 5 Duct 50 First intake pipe section 51 First exhaust pipe section 52 Second intake pipe section 53 Second exhaust pipe section 410 Air intake 411 Exhaust port 420 Air Intake 421 Exhaust port 510 Oblique part 511 Derivation part 520 Introduction 521 Food Section 522 1st slope part 523 Flat area 524 Protrusion 525 2nd slope part D1 1st direction D2 2nd direction D3 Third direction

Claims

1. a first fan and a second fan; a first intake pipe portion that forms an intake path of the first fan; a first exhaust pipe portion that forms an exhaust path of the first fan; a second intake pipe portion that forms an intake path of the second fan; a second exhaust pipe portion that forms an exhaust path of the second fan, each of the first fan and the second fan has an intake port that opens in a direction along a first direction and an exhaust port that opens in a direction along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; The exhaust device is characterized in that the first exhaust pipe section is arranged to overlap the second intake pipe section in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

2. 2. The exhaust system of claim 1, an exhaust device, characterized in that the first exhaust pipe section is arranged to overlap the second intake pipe section in the third direction at a portion overlapping with the second fan in the first direction;

3. 2. The exhaust system of claim 1, an exhaust device characterized in that the first fan and the second fan are aligned with each other in a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and are arranged so as to overlap each other when viewed from the second direction.

4. 4. The exhaust system according to claim 3, The first exhaust pipe portion is an oblique portion formed to extend obliquely from the exhaust port of the first fan toward the intake port of the second fan; a lead-out portion formed to overlap the second intake pipe portion and extend from the oblique portion along the second direction, An exhaust device characterized in that, in the third direction, the overall dimensions of the second intake pipe section and the outlet section of the first exhaust pipe section on the intake port side of the second fan are equal to or smaller than the dimensions of the second fan.

5. 5. The exhaust system according to claim 4, an exhaust device characterized in that, in the first direction, the sum of the dimensions of the outlet portion of the first exhaust pipe portion and the dimension of the second exhaust pipe portion is equal to or less than the sum of the dimensions of the first intake pipe portion and the dimension of the first fan.

6. 6. An exhaust system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The second intake pipe portion is an introduction portion formed to extend along the first direction at a position partially overlapping with the second fan when viewed from the first direction; a hood portion that guides the air passing through the introduction portion to the entire area of ​​the intake port of the second fan.

7. 7. The exhaust system of claim 6, The hood portion is an exhaust device formed in a quadrant sphere, the exhaust device also serving as a partition wall separating the exhaust path of the first fan and the intake path of the second fan;

8. 7. The exhaust system of claim 6, The hood portion is the first fan also serves as a partition wall that separates the exhaust path of the first fan from the intake path of the second fan, On the exhaust path side of the first fan, in order from the upstream side in the exhaust direction of the first fan, an exhaust device comprising: a first inclined portion inclined in a direction away from the intake path of the second fan; and a flat portion continuous with the first inclined portion and extending in the second direction.

9. 9. The exhaust system of claim 8, The hood portion is an exhaust device further including a second inclined portion downstream of the flat portion in the exhaust direction of the first fan, the second inclined portion inclining in a direction approaching the intake path of the second fan;

10. An image forming apparatus comprising the exhaust device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images