Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that can sufficiently perform ozonization.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: image forming devices that each form an image by an electrophotographic system; image formation related devices that are other than the image forming devices and related to formation of images; and an ozone filter 38 that eliminates ozone from exhaust air 41 from the image forming devices and the image formation related devices. A plurality of ozone filters 38, 39 are provided, and the exhaust air 41 from the image forming devices passes through a larger number of ozone filters 38, 39 than exhaust air 42 from the image formation related devices.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, a technique for processing harmful ozone by applying exhaust gas from a charger, a developing device, a static eliminator, and a transfer device around a photoreceptor to an ozone filter in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, many models of image forming apparatuses blow air onto the charger to prevent dust and toner from adhering to the charger. In such an image forming apparatus, air containing ozone from the charger also enters the fixing device and other devices inside the image forming apparatus. Therefore, even if ozone treatment is performed only on the exhaust gas from the charger, the developing device, the static eliminator, and the transfer device as in the technique of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that ozone treatment of the image forming apparatus cannot be sufficiently performed.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of sufficiently performing ozone treatment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) The present invention includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image by an electrophotographic method, an image forming related apparatus related to the formation of the image other than the image forming apparatus, The ozone processing apparatus comprises an ozone processing apparatus, and the ozone processing apparatus comprisesA first ozone filter for removing ozone from the exhaust gas from the imaging apparatus, and a second ozone filter for removing ozone from the exhaust gas from the image forming apparatus, A first housing housing the first ozone filter, and a second housing housing the second ozone filter, This is an image forming apparatus equipped with [a specific feature]. (2) The present invention also relates to the image forming apparatus described in (1), comprising an image forming apparatus body housing the image forming apparatus and the image forming related apparatus, wherein the first housing and the second housing are provided behind the image forming apparatus body.

[0007] ( 3 Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the exhaust from the imaging apparatus that has passed through the first ozone filter is Second cabinet This is the image forming apparatus described in (1) that flows into it.

[0008] ( 4 )The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein the second ozone filter also removes ozone from the exhaust gas from the imaging apparatus that has passed through the first ozone filter.

[0009] ( 5 ) Furthermore, the image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein at least a portion of the second ozone filter is located below the first ozone filter.

[0010] ( 6 )The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein a plurality of openings are provided between the imaging apparatus and the first ozone filter.

[0011] ( 7 )The image forming apparatus described in (1), wherein the image forming apparatus is a paper transport apparatus.

[0012] ( 8 )The image forming apparatus described in (1), wherein the image forming apparatus is an optical writing apparatus.

[0013] ( 9 The image forming apparatus described in (1), wherein the image forming apparatus is a fuser.

[0014] ( 10 The first ozone filter and the second ozone filter are provided behind the image forming apparatus, as described in (1).

[0015] ( 11 ) The first ozone filter is provided in the housing provided behind the image forming apparatus, The first The image forming apparatus according to (1). ( 12 ) The second ozone filter is provided in the housing provided behind the image forming apparatus, The second The image forming apparatus according to (1). ( 13 ) before Note Second The housing inside With a fan, the image forming apparatus according to ( 3 ). ( 14 ) The image forming apparatus according to (1), comprising a rectifying plate for merging the exhaust from the image forming apparatus that has passed through the first ozone filter with the exhaust from the image forming related apparatus. ( 15 ) The speed of passing through the second ozone filter is slower than the speed of passing through the first ozone filter by the rectifying plate, the image forming apparatus according to ( 14 ). ( 16 ) The ozone collection rate of the first ozone filter is higher than the ozone collection rate of the second ozone filter, the image forming apparatus according to (1). ( 17 ) The first ozone filter is smaller than the second ozone filter, the image forming apparatus according to (1). ( 18 ) The charger, which is one of the image forming devices, is blown with air to prevent adhesion of dust and toner, and the air diffuses into the image forming apparatus main body, the image forming apparatus according to (1).

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus capable of sufficiently performing ozone treatment can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1]This is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from the front. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from the rear. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from the rear. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from a side angle compared to the example in Figure 1. [Figure 5] This is a transmission perspective view of an ozone processing device provided in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a conceptual diagram of an ozone processing device provided in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a transmission perspective view of an ozone processing device provided in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a transmission perspective view of an ozone processing device provided in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Several embodiments of the present invention will be described below. [Embodiment 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from the front. Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from the rear. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from a more lateral angle than the example in Figure 1.

[0019] The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment is an apparatus that forms an image on a printing medium such as paper using an electrophotographic method, and comprises, for example, four image forming units 2 to 5 arranged in a vertical row, a first transfer belt (transfer device) 6, a paper transport device 7, and a fuser 8. Each image forming unit 2 to 5 is a device that forms toner images of different colors (for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K)) on their respective photoreceptor drums 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K. Each image forming unit 2 to 5 is equipped around its respective photoreceptor drum 11 with a charger 12 that charges the respective photoreceptor drum 11, an optical writing device 13 that optically writes an electrostatic latent image onto the respective photoreceptor drum 11, a developer 14 that develops the electrostatic latent image on the respective photoreceptor drum 11 with toner of the respective color, and an anti-static device 15 that removes static electricity from the respective photoreceptor drum 11.

[0020] Image forming unit 2 is a device that forms a yellow (Y) toner image on the photoreceptor drum 11Y. Image forming unit 3 is a device that forms a cyan (C) toner image on the photoreceptor drum 11C. Image forming unit 4 is a device that forms a magenta (M) toner image on the photoreceptor drum 11M. Image forming unit 5 is a device that forms a black (K) toner image on the photoreceptor drum 11K.

[0021] The image forming unit 2 is equipped around the photoreceptor drum 11Y with a charger 12Y that charges the photoreceptor drum 11Y, an optical writing device 13Y that optically writes an electrostatic latent image onto the photoreceptor drum 11Y, a developer 14Y that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 11Y with yellow (Y) toner, and an anti-static device 15Y that removes static electricity from the photoreceptor drum 11Y.

[0022] The image forming unit 3 is equipped around the photoreceptor drum 11C with a charger 12C that charges the photoreceptor drum 11C, an optical writing device 13C that optically writes an electrostatic latent image onto the photoreceptor drum 11C, a developer 14C that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 11C with cyan (C) colored toner, and an anti-static device 15C that removes static electricity from the photoreceptor drum 11C.

[0023] The image forming unit 4 is equipped around the photoreceptor drum 11M with a charger 12M that charges the photoreceptor drum 11M, an optical writing device 13M that optically writes an electrostatic latent image onto the photoreceptor drum 11M, a developer 14M that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 11M with magenta (M) colored toner, and an anti-static device 15M that removes static electricity from the photoreceptor drum 11M.

[0024] The image forming unit 5 is equipped around the photoreceptor drum 11K with a charger 12K that charges the photoreceptor drum 11K, an optical writing device 13K that optically writes an electrostatic latent image onto the photoreceptor drum 11K, a developer 14K that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 11K with black (K) toner, and an anti-static device 15K that removes static electricity from the photoreceptor drum 11K.

[0025] If color is not used to distinguish between components, the component name will simply be indicated by a numerical code.

[0026] The first transfer belt 6 is a conveyor belt-like device, and in this example, it is arranged along the respective photoreceptor drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K of each image forming unit 2 to 5, with the vertical direction being its longitudinal direction. The toner images formed on each photoreceptor drum 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K are transferred to the first transfer belt 6 so that the toner images are superimposed. These superimposed toner images of each color are transferred onto a printing medium such as paper supplied from the paper transport device 7 by a second transfer device (not shown). The toner images transferred onto the printing medium are then fixed onto the printing medium by the fuser 8, forming a color image on the printing medium.

[0027] In this specification, the chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12K, the developers 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, the static eliminators 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K, and the first transfer belt 6, which are involved in image formation using the electrophotographic method, will be referred to as the "image formation apparatus." In addition, other apparatuses involved in image formation other than the image formation apparatus, such as the optical writing apparatus 13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K, the paper transport apparatus 7, the fuser 8, and other apparatuses, will be referred to as "image formation-related apparatuses" in this specification.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1, near the top of the developer units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K of each image forming unit 2 to 5, there are scattered toner suction ducts 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K that suck up toner scattered into the image forming apparatus 1 from the developer units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, the first transfer belt 6, etc. Below the chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12K and static eliminators 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K of each image forming unit 2 to 5, there are suction ducts 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K that suck up air containing ozone generated from the chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12K and static eliminators 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K. Above each of the optical writing devices 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K in the image forming units 2 to 5, cooling fans 23Y, 23M, 23C, and 23K are provided to cool the optical writing devices 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K with air.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, a fuser exhaust fan 24 is provided near the rear upper part of the fuser 8 to discharge the heat from the fuser 8. A transport exhaust fan 25 is provided behind the paper transport device 7 to discharge the heat from the paper transport device 7. A transfer exhaust fan 26 is provided at the rear lower part of the first transfer belt 6 to discharge the heat from the first transfer belt 6. Each of the scattered toner suction ducts 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K is connected to each other and unified into a common duct 21a. The common duct 21a has an air outlet 21b located below and behind the paper transport device 7, and the air from each of the scattered toner suction ducts 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K exiting this outlet 21b is blown by a sirocco fan (not shown). Each of the suction ducts 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K is connected to one another and merged into a common duct 22a. The common duct 22a has an air outlet 22b located at the rear and lower part of the paper transport device 7, and the air from each of the suction ducts 22 exiting this outlet 22b is blown by a sirocco fan (not shown).

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, a fan 27 is provided behind the optical writing device 13K of the image forming unit 5 to blow away the heat generated by each optical writing device 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K. Below and behind the first transfer belt 6, above the transfer heat dissipation fan 26, a heat dissipation fan 28 is provided to blow away the heat generated around that location.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, fans 29Y, 29M, 29C, and 29K are provided near the chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K of each image forming unit 2 to 5 to blow air onto the chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K in order to prevent dust and toner from adhering to them. The air blown onto these chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K diffuses into the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, particularly into the image forming-related equipment.

[0032] Figure 5 is a transmission perspective view of an ozone processing device installed in an image forming apparatus, and Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram of the same ozone processing device. This ozone processing device 31 comprises a first housing 32 and a second housing 33. Both the first housing 32 and the second housing 33 are, for example, box-shaped, with the former being smaller than the latter, and the former being installed inside the latter. The inlets 34 and 35 of the first housing 32 and the second housing 33 are on the exhaust inlet side of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and ozone filters 38 and 39 are provided on the outlet sides 36 and 37, respectively. The ozone filters 38 and 39 remove ozone contained in the exhaust from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0033] The outlet 36 of the first housing 32 is, for example, rectangular in shape, and a rectangular plate-shaped ozone filter 38 is detachably fitted into it. The outlet (opening) 37 of the second housing 33 is also, for example, rectangular in shape, and a rectangular plate-shaped ozone filter 39 is detachably fitted into it. Ozone filter 38 is slightly smaller than ozone filter 39. In addition, ozone filter 38 uses a material with a higher ozone collection efficiency than ozone filter 39. At the inlet 34 of the first housing 32, exhaust gas drawn in from the scattered toner suction ducts 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K and discharged from outlet 21b, exhaust gas drawn in from the suction ducts 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K and discharged from outlet 22b, exhaust gas including exhaust heat from the transfer heat exhaust fan 26, and exhaust gas including exhaust heat from the heat exhaust fan 28 flows in via a predetermined path. In other words, exhaust gas from the "imaging device" that generates ozone flows into the first housing 32.

[0034] Meanwhile, exhaust from cooling fans 23Y, 23M, 23C, and 23K, exhaust from fixing heat exhaust fan 24, exhaust from transport heat exhaust fan 25, and exhaust from fan 27 flows into the inlet 35 of the second housing 33 via a predetermined path. In other words, exhaust from the "image forming related apparatus," which does not generate much ozone, flows into the second housing 33. In other words, in the first housing 32, exhaust gas 41 from each imaging device flows in and passes through an ozone filter 38 located on the outlet side 36. In the second housing 33, exhaust gas 42 from each image forming device and exhaust gas 41 that has passed through the ozone filter 38 of the first housing 32 flow in, and the exhaust gases 41 and 42 merge and diffuse inside before passing through an ozone filter 39 located on the outlet side 37. The exhaust gas 43 that has passed through here is discharged outside the image forming device 1. The exhaust gases 41 and 42 that have flowed into the first housing 32 and the second housing 33 respectively are diffused within each housing before passing through their respective ozone filters 38 and 39.

[0035] In this way, the number of ozone filters 38, 39 through which the exhaust air from each imaging device and each image forming-related device passes varies depending on the type of device. More specifically, the exhaust air 41 from each imaging device passes through two more ozone filters than the exhaust air 42 from each image forming-related device. In the second housing 33, both exhaust gases 41 and 42 merge and diffuse internally, so the speed at which the exhaust gases 41 and 42 pass through the ozone filter 39 of the second housing 33 is lower than the inflow velocity of the exhaust gases 41 and 42 into the second housing 33.

[0036] Furthermore, as is clear from Figure 5, the ozone filter 38 of the first housing 32 can be removed through the outlet 37 (opening) created by removing the ozone filter 39 from the second housing 33. Ozone is easily generated from the charger 12 and static eliminator 15 of the aforementioned "image forming apparatus." Therefore, the exhaust 41 from the image forming apparatus contains a large amount of ozone. However, as shown in Figure 4, fans 29Y, 29M, 29C, and 29K are provided near the chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K of each image forming unit 2 to 5 to blow air onto the chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K in order to prevent dust and toner from adhering to them. The air blown onto these chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K diffuses into the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, i.e., the "image forming related apparatus." Therefore, the exhaust 42 from the image forming related apparatus also contains a certain amount of ozone.

[0037] Therefore, in this embodiment 1, not only the exhaust gas 41 from the imaging apparatus but also the exhaust gas 42 from the image forming-related apparatus are subject to ozone treatment by the ozone filter 39, so that the ozone generated in the image forming apparatus 1 can be sufficiently removed. Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the number of ozone filters 38 and 39 through which the exhaust from each imaging apparatus and each image forming-related apparatus passes varies depending on the type of apparatus. As a result, exhaust with a high ozone concentration passes through a large number of ozone filters 38, allowing for sufficient removal of highly concentrated ozone. On the other hand, exhaust with a low ozone concentration also passes through the ozone filters 39, albeit with fewer filters, allowing for sufficient ozone removal.

[0038] More specifically, the exhaust 41 from each imaging device passes through more ozone filters 38 than the exhaust 42 from each image forming device. That is, the exhaust 41 from each imaging device, which has a high ozone concentration, passes through two ozone filters 38 and 39 to ensure sufficient ozone removal. On the other hand, the exhaust 42 that flows from the chargers 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K, which contains a small amount of ozone, can be sufficiently removed by just one ozone filter 39. Furthermore, since the exhaust gas 41 is contained within the first enclosure 32 and surrounded by the walls of that enclosure, it is diffused to a relatively uniform ozone concentration before passing through the ozone filter 38, thus ensuring sufficient ozone removal. Similarly, the exhaust gases 41 and 42 after passing through the ozone filter 38 are contained within the second enclosure 33 and surrounded by the walls of that enclosure, so they are diffused to a relatively uniform ozone concentration before passing through the ozone filter 39, thus ensuring sufficient ozone removal.

[0039] Furthermore, within the second enclosure 33, the exhaust gases 41 and 42, after passing through the ozone filter 38, merge and diffuse, resulting in a relatively uniform concentration of ozone before passing through the ozone filter 39, thus ensuring sufficient ozone removal. Furthermore, within the second housing 33, the exhaust gases 41 and 42 merge and diffuse internally, resulting in a lower speed at which the exhaust gases 41 and 42 pass through the ozone filter 39 than at the inflow velocity of the exhaust gases 41 and 42 into the second housing 33. In other words, since the exhaust gases 41 and 42 pass through the ozone filter 39 at a low speed, the ozone in the exhaust gases 41 and 42 can be sufficiently removed by the ozone filter 39.

[0040] The ozone filter 38 in the first housing 32 has a higher ozone collection efficiency than the ozone filter 39 in the second housing 33. In other words, since the exhaust gases 41 and 42 in the second housing 33 have a relatively low ozone concentration, the ozone filter 39, which has a relatively low ozone collection efficiency, can sufficiently remove ozone from the exhaust gases 41 and 42. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the ozone filter 39 can be reduced.

[0041] As shown in Figure 5, the first housing 32 is located inside the second housing 33, and the ozone filters 38 and 39 in the first housing 32 are smaller than those in the second housing 33. Both ozone filters 38 and 39 are detachable from the first housing 32 and the second housing 33, respectively. The ozone filter 38 in the first housing 32 can be removed through an opening (outlet 37) created by removing the ozone filter 39 from the second housing 32. Therefore, the ozone filter 38 can be easily replaced.

[0042] [Embodiment 2] In the following embodiments, the differences from Embodiment 1 will be the main focus of the description, and common elements with Embodiment 1 will be described using the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0043] Figure 7 is a transmission perspective view of an ozone processing device provided in an image forming apparatus. This ozone processing device 31 differs from the ozone processing device 31 of Embodiment 1 in that it is equipped with a fan 51 that diffuses the exhaust gases 41 and 42 that flow into the second housing 33 within the second housing 33. The agitation of the exhaust gases 41 and 42 by the fan 51 makes the ozone concentration of the exhaust gases 41 and 42 that flow into the second housing 33 more uniform as they pass through the ozone filter 39, allowing the ozone in the exhaust gases 41 and 42 to be efficiently removed by the ozone filter 39.

[0044] [Embodiment 3] Figure 8 is a transmission perspective view of an ozone processing device provided in an image forming apparatus. This ozone processing device 31 differs from the ozone processing device 31 of Embodiment 1 in that it is equipped with rectifier plates 52A and 52B that rectify and merge the exhaust gases 41 and 42 that flow into the second housing 33 and diffuse the exhaust gases 41 and 42. Specifically, multiple rectifier plates 52A and 52B are provided on the outlet 36 of the first housing 32 and on the inlet 35 side of the second housing 33. The orientation of the rectifier plates 52A and 52B is such that the exhaust gases 41 and 42 are merged.

[0045] The rectifier plates 52A and 52B combine the exhaust gases 41 and 42 and diffuse them into the second housing 33. As a result, the ozone concentration in the exhaust gases 41 and 42 becomes more uniform before passing through the ozone filter 39, allowing the ozone in the exhaust gases 41 and 42 to be efficiently removed by the ozone filter 39. Moreover, unlike the fan 51 in Embodiment 2, the rectifier plates 52A and 52B do not require electricity to operate, thus reducing the running costs of the device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Image forming apparatus 6. First transfer belt (image creation device) 7. Paper transport device (image forming related device) 8. Fuser (Image Forming Related Equipment) 11Y, 11C, 11M, 11K Photoconductor Drum 12Y, 12C, 12M, 12K charging device (image creation device) 13Y, 13C, 13M, 13K Optical Writing Device (Image Forming Related Device) 14Y, 14C, 14M, 14K developer (imaging device) 15Y,15C,15M,15K Static eliminator (imaging device) 32 First cabinet 33. Second cabinet 34 Entrance 35 Entrance 36 Exit 37 Exit (opening) 38,39 Ozone filter 41,42 Exhaust 51 Fans 52A,52B Rectifier plate

Claims

1. An image-forming device that forms images using an electrophotographic method, Image forming related apparatus other than the aforementioned image forming apparatus, The system includes an ozone processing device for processing ozone, The ozone treatment device is A first ozone filter removes ozone from the exhaust gas from the imaging apparatus, A second ozone filter for removing ozone from the exhaust gas from the image forming apparatus, A first housing that houses the first ozone filter, A second housing containing the second ozone filter, An image forming apparatus equipped with the following features.

2. An image forming apparatus body that houses the image forming apparatus and the image forming related apparatus, It has, The first housing and the second housing are provided at the rear of the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust from the imaging apparatus that has passed through the first ozone filter flows into the second housing.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second ozone filter also removes ozone from the exhaust gas from the imaging apparatus that has passed through the first ozone filter.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second ozone filter is located below the first ozone filter.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of openings are provided between the imaging apparatus and the first ozone filter.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming related apparatus is a paper transport apparatus.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an optical writing apparatus.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming related apparatus is a fuser.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first ozone filter and the second ozone filter are provided at the rear of the image forming apparatus.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first ozone filter is provided in the first housing located at the rear of the image forming apparatus.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second ozone filter is provided in the second housing located at the rear of the image forming apparatus.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a fan is provided inside the second housing.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rectifier plate that combines the exhaust from the imaging apparatus, which has passed through the first ozone filter, with the exhaust from the image forming-related apparatus.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the speed at which the ozone passes through the second ozone filter is slower than the speed at which it passes through the first ozone filter, due to the rectifier plate.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ozone collection efficiency of the first ozone filter is higher than that of the second ozone filter.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first ozone filter is smaller than the second ozone filter.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charger, which is one of the image forming devices, is blew with air to prevent dust and toner from adhering to it, and the air is diffused into the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Images