JP3107601B2 - Copier cooling system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device for a copying machine, and more particularly, to a structure for cooling a power supply unit disposed in the copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an electrophotographic copying machine or the like,
A light source in an exposure apparatus provided in the apparatus, a motor for driving a moving body such as a photoconductor and a fixing device, and a cooling device for suppressing the influence of heat generated by a power supply to these electrical components. Is provided.

As a structure of the above-described cooling device, for example, in the case of a device for cooling a light source, a cooling fan capable of rotating forward and backward is disposed near an illumination lamp, and the air in the copying machine is discharged to the outside during normal rotation. When the temperature inside the copying machine rises abnormally, there is a structure in which a cooling fan is reversed to introduce outside air (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-116).
No. 956). For this reason, a filter structure for preventing the introduction of dust and dirt is provided in the outside air introduction portion on the outer wall of the copying machine, and this structure can prevent the danger of ignition at the heat generating portion or prevent the inside of the machine from being ignited. It is designed to prevent contamination.

[0004]

However, in the above-described filter structure in the cooling structure, clogging occurs while the introduction of the outside air by the cooling fan is continued, and the amount of air required for cooling is reduced. There is a danger that the cooling efficiency cannot be obtained any more.

[0005] In particular, the place where the copier is installed has relatively many corners, for example, in an office or the like. Often.

In view of the above-mentioned problems in the cooling structure, an object of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus having a structure capable of preventing the cooling efficiency from being lowered even if continuous cooling is performed, regardless of the installation location. It is to obtain a cooling structure of the machine.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve this object, the present invention relates to a cooling structure for a copying machine which cools by introducing outside air into a heat generating portion in the copying machine. A fan motor, dustproof means provided in a ventilation hole formed in the outer wall of the copying machine, the fan motor connected to the output side, and a start switch of the copying machine connected to the input side. The normal rotation of the fan motor is performed for a predetermined time from the start of operation of the copying machine. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the fan motor is turned on only when the copying machine is in a standby state. And a drive control unit that reverses the rotation for a predetermined time.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cooling structure for a copying machine in which cooling is performed by introducing outside air into a heat generating portion in the copying machine. A possible cooling fan motor, dustproof means provided in a ventilation hole formed in the outer wall of the copying machine, and the fan motor connected to the output side, and a starting switch for the copying machine connected to the input side. The fan motor is rotated forward after a predetermined time from the start of the operation of the copying machine. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the fan motor is rotated only when the copying machine is in a standby state. And a drive control unit for reversing the motor for a predetermined time.

Further, according to the present invention, in a cooling structure of a copying machine for cooling by introducing outside air into a heat generating portion in the copying machine, a cooling fan motor capable of rotating forward and reverse and an outer wall portion of the copying machine are provided. A dust-proof means provided in a ventilation hole formed in the dust-proof means, a dust-detecting means arranged near the dust-proof means for detecting the amount of dust accumulated in the dust-proof means, and a fan motor connected to an output side. The dust detection means is connected to the input side, and when it is determined that the amount of dust accumulated in the dust prevention means by the dust detection means has reached a predetermined value or more, the fan motor is moved to the dust detection means. And a drive control unit for performing reverse rotation until the accumulated amount becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cooling structure of a copying machine for cooling by introducing outside air into a heat generating portion in the copying machine. A dustproof means provided in a ventilation opening formed in the dustproof means, an airflow detecting means arranged near the dustproof means for detecting an airflow in the dustproof means, and the fan motor connected to the output side, The air flow detecting means is connected to the side, and when it is determined by the air flow detecting means that the air flow in the dustproof means has reached a predetermined value or less, the fan motor is turned to a predetermined value or more. And a drive control unit for reversing the rotation up to or for a predetermined time.

Further, the present invention provides a cooling structure for a copying machine, in which cooling is performed by introducing outside air to a heat-generating portion in the copying machine.
Dust-proof means provided in a ventilation opening formed in an outer wall of the copying machine; and a fan motor in a ventilation direction of the fan motor when the heating unit is cooled by the fan motor.
A temperature detecting means disposed at a position corresponding to the downstream side of the fan, for detecting the ambient temperature at that position, the fan motor connected to the output side, and the temperature detecting means connected to the input side. A drive control unit that, when it is determined that the ambient temperature at the position where the temperature detecting means is located has reached a predetermined value or more, reverses the fan motor until the ambient temperature falls to or below the predetermined value. It is characterized by having.

[0012]

According to the present invention, dust and dirt deposited on the outside air introduction side of the dustproof means can be removed by reversing the fan motor.

Further, according to the present invention, by detecting the amount of dust and dirt deposited on the outside air introduction side of the dust proof means,
The reverse rotation of the fan motor is set to set an appropriate air volume, and dust is removed.

[0014]

1 to 15, the details of an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a copying machine using a cooling structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copying machine 1 has a structure using a belt-shaped photosensitive member 2. Around the photoreceptor belt 2, a charging device 3, an exposing device 4, a developing device 5, a transfer device 6, and a cleaning device 7 for performing an image forming process along a moving direction indicated by an arrow. Is arranged. Accordingly, after the photosensitive belt 2 is uniformly charged, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed by the exposure device 4, and the electrostatic latent image subjected to visible image processing by the developing device 5 is transferred. The transfer is performed on a transfer sheet fed at a set sheet feed timing from a sheet feeder 8 via a device 5, and the photoreceptor belt 2 after the transfer is transferred to a cleaning device 7. As a result, the residual charge and the residual developer are removed, and the image forming apparatus is prepared for the next image forming process. The transfer paper on which the image has been transferred is discharged after the fixing device 9 has fixed the image.

The exposure device 4 in the above-described copying machine includes:
In the case of the present embodiment, for example, a xenon lamp is used as an illumination source, and the light emitted from the illumination source to the original is reflected from the original to the image forming lens via a plurality of mirrors, and the photosensitive belt 2 is projected onto the upper surface.

In the copying machine, a cooling structure according to the present embodiment is provided as shown in FIG. That is, the cooling structure shown in FIG. 2 is configured to cool the power supply of the exposure apparatus 3, and specifically, the outside air suction port 1 formed on the wall plate 1 </ b> A of the copying machine 1.
A1 and a discharge port 1A2 for air from the inside, and a power supply accommodating section 10 which is constituted by a wall plate forming a space part large enough to cover the respective ports 1A1 and 1A2, A cooling fan motor 11 attached to a wall of the power supply housing 10 on the side of the outside air suction port 1A1 is connected to the cooling fan motor 11 and the above-described outside air suction port 1A1. And the partitioning portion 12 configured to partition from the surroundings.

The above-mentioned outside air suction port 1A1 is constituted by, for example, an opening formed by punching, and
A2 is composed of, for example, an opening formed by forming a lath hole or a cut-and-raised piece, and a filter member 13 is arranged inside the outside air suction port 1A1 among these openings as shown in FIG. I have. The above-mentioned filter member 13 has a two-layer structure, and on the upstream side in the introduction direction of the outside air indicated by the arrow in the drawing, a relatively large mesh-formed louver 13A is formed. On the downstream side, a louver 13B formed with a mesh having an area smaller than that of the louver 13A described above, specifically, an area smaller than the area of the stapler according to the wire diameter.
Is arranged. Although it is effective in the filter operation to use only the louver 13B having a fine mesh as the filter member 13 described above, the strength of the filter member 13 alone when attached to the suction port 1A1 cannot be guaranteed. The coarse mesh louver 13A is used as a reinforcing member.

On the other hand, the cooling fan motor 11 described above
Is constituted by a motor which can rotate in the forward and reverse directions, and at the time of forward rotation, as shown by an arrow in FIG.
A state in which outside air can be introduced from A1 and a state in which outside air can be introduced from the discharge port 1A2 at the time of reverse rotation are set, and the rotation state thereof is set by the control unit 14 described later.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 14 has, as a main part, a microcomputer used for sequence control of a copying machine, for example. The cooling fan motor 11 is connected to the output side via a drive unit (not shown). This control unit 14
When the power switch 15 of the copying machine is turned on, the built-in timer is turned on to measure a predetermined time, during which the cooling fan motor 11 is rotated forward, and After a lapse of time, the copying process is not performed, in other words, the cooling fan 11 is rotated in the reverse direction for a predetermined time only during the copy standby state.

Since the present embodiment has the above configuration,
The operation will be described with reference to a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit, as shown in FIG. That is, it is determined whether or not the power-on switch 15 is turned on.
At the time when the copying machine is started, the operation of the timer is started to measure time, and at this time, the cooling fan motor is rotated forward. Then, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned timer has passed a predetermined time, and when the predetermined time has passed, the copying machine is in a standby state,
That is, it is determined whether or not the copy start switch has been turned on. When the copying machine is in the standby state, the operation of the timer is started again, and the cooling fan motor 11 is rotated in the reverse direction. Then, this reverse rotation is released by judging the elapse of a predetermined time by clocking. Therefore, after the start of the copying machine,
When the copying machine is in a standby state after the outside air for cooling is introduced, the cooling fan motor 11 is rotated in the reverse direction, for example, by sucking in the outside air to form the filter member 13 as shown in FIG. Dust or dust accumulated in the mesh
(Shown by dots in FIG. 6), as shown in FIG. 7, the clogging of the filter member 13 can be eliminated.

In the cooling structure described above, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the cooling fan motor 11 on the side of the outside air intake port 1A1, a filter member 13 similar to that shown in FIG. A cooling fan motor 11A is provided on the upstream side in the discharge direction (the direction indicated by the solid line arrow), and these cooling fan motors 11 and 11A are connected to the control unit 1 described above.
4 may be used to set the rotational position. The operation of the control unit in this case is as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

By the way, in the cooling structure according to the present embodiment in which the above-described filter member 13 is used, the rotation state of the cooling fan motor 11 is detected by detecting the phenomenon caused by the clogging of the filter member 13. Is set and controlled.

FIG. 10 shows a structure for detecting the clogging of the filter member 13 described above. Specifically, FIG. 10 shows the structure of the filter member 13 provided at the outside air suction port 1A1 shown in FIG. At positions corresponding to the back side, for example, reflection type optical sensors 17 and 18 are arranged at two places,
As shown in FIG. 6, at a position facing the optical sensors 17 and 18 with the filter member 13 interposed therebetween, a reflecting member made of a sheet metal member having a size that does not affect the introduction or discharge of outside air. 19 are arranged. The above-described optical sensors 17 and 18 are connected to an input side of the control unit 14 for the sake of convenience using the control unit shown in FIG. 4, and are controlled by output signals from the optical sensors 17 and 18. Numeral 14 designates the rotation state of the cooling fan motor 11. That is, in the control unit 14, optical control is performed in accordance with the amount of light transmitted through the filter member 13 and reflected by the reflection member 19 according to the amount of dust or dirt deposited on the filter member 13. Sensor 17,
In response to the change in the output signal from the optical sensor 18, specifically, in FIG. The state in which light does not reach the member 19 (in the figure, the symbol β
Check the output signals from the optical sensors 17 and 18 at the time of change to the optical path (indicated by). Reversing the cooling fan motor 11
The dust and dust accumulated in the filter member 13 are discharged.

Since the present embodiment has the above configuration,
The operation will be described with reference to a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit, as shown in FIG. That is, when the cooling fan motor 11 is rotating forward, the optical sensor 1
The change in the output signal from the control unit 7 or 18 is tracked, and it is determined whether the change in the output signal, that is, the change in the signal level corresponds to the clogging of the filter member 13 described above, and corresponds to the clogging. In such a case, the cooling fan motor 11 is reversed, and this reversal is changed to a signal level when the output signals from the optical sensors 17 and 18 are not clogged in the filter member 13. Continued until

It is also possible to determine the above-mentioned phenomenon caused by clogging of the filter member 13 by detecting the amount of outside air introduced from the outside air suction port side.

FIG. 12 shows the structure in this case.
In this structure, the wind sensor 2 is
0 is arranged. In the wind sensor 20 described above, the sensor main body is formed of a transmission type optical sensor, and the main body corresponds to an actuator 21 disposed in the partition portion 12. The blades are configured to rotate by the force of the sucked outside air, and the blades are in a normal state in which the light transmission path of the main body is shut off by wind force in a state where the filter member 13 is not clogged. 12, the position indicated by the solid line), and the position for opening the above-described light transmission path (position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 12) is set when the wind power drops when clogging occurs. As described above, the rotation behavior is provided by the urging means (not shown).

The above-mentioned wind sensor 20 is connected to the input side of the control unit 14, and the control unit 14 detects the clogging state of the filter member 13 based on the output signal from the wind sensor 20. Judging and cooling fan motor
The rotation position of the motor 11 is set. That is, in the control unit 14, in the wind sensor 20,
By judging the state where the light transmission path is opened, a decrease in wind power is detected, and it is judged that this decrease is caused by clogging of the filter member 13, and the cooling fan motor 11 is rotated for a predetermined time. Set to attitude.

The operation of the above-described structure is similar to that of the control unit 14.
The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. That is, at the time when the cooling fan motor 11 is rotated forward to set the attitude of sucking the outside air into the power storage unit 10, the output signal from the wind sensor 20 is tracked, and the flow rate of the sucked outside air is small. As a result, the ON signal output when the actuator 21 opens the light transmission path of the main body is determined. When the ON signal is output, the timer is set, and the cooling fan motor 11 is turned on. Reverse. In this case, the reverse of the predetermined time is set because the air flow is set in the direction in which the actuator 21 blocks the light transmission path in the main body of the wind sensor 20. Therefore, the actuator 21 is used. This is because the elimination of clogging cannot be detected. Then, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, the cooling fan motor 11
Is returned to the expected position, and the timer is reset.

Further, such a change in wind force, that is, a change in the amount of outside air sucked, causes an increase in the ambient temperature in the power supply housing 10. It is also possible to determine the state of clogging.

FIG. 14 shows the structure in the case described above. This structure is provided at a position close to a power supply (not shown) in the power supply accommodating section 10 by suction of outside air by the cooling fan motor 11. A temperature sensor 22 is provided on the wall of the housing portion on the downstream side of the fan motor 11 in the flow direction of the generated outside air, and the temperature sensor 22 is connected to the input side of the control unit 14. In the control unit 14 described above, the rotation state of the cooling fan motor 11 is set based on the temperature detection signal from the temperature sensor 22. When the temperature sensor 22 is turned on when the ambient temperature reaches a predetermined value or more, it is determined that the filter member 13 is clogged, and the cooling fan motor 11 is caused to discharge the outside air from the outside air suction port 1A1. An inversion state is set as desired, and this state is maintained until the input signal relating to the ambient temperature outputs a signal corresponding to a temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined value. The operation of such a structure will be described with reference to a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit, as shown in FIG. When the cooling fan motor 11 is in normal rotation, in other words, when the power supply unit 10 is in a state of receiving outside air, the output signal from the temperature sensor 22 indicates that the ambient temperature in the power supply unit 10 is low. If the signal is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, it is determined that appropriate outside air has not been introduced due to clogging of the filter member 13, and the cooling fan motor 11 is rotated in the reverse direction.
Therefore, dust and dirt deposited on the suction side of the filter member 13 are removed from the mesh of the filter member 13 by an airflow opposite to the suction direction. And
This reverse state is continued until the output signal from the temperature sensor 22 described above reaches a predetermined value or less.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, a cooling fan motor that can be rotated forward and backward is used, and this cooling fan motor is used only when the copying machine is started and when the copying machine is on standby. By setting the posture opposite to the outside air introduction posture, and bouncing off the dust and dust accumulated in the mesh of the filter member arranged on the outside air suction port side, the clogging of the filter member can be prevented. Can be prevented. Therefore, irrespective of the installation location of the copying machine, especially when the copying machine is installed in a place covered with dust, the efficiency of cooling the heat generating portion in the machine is not reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, a cooling fan motor capable of rotating forward and backward is used, and it is detected that the amount of outside air sucked by the cooling fan motor changes due to clogging of the filter member. The dust and dirt deposited in the mesh of the filter member located on the outside air suction side are removed according to the change in the amount of outside air introduced, so that when a continuous copying machine is used. Even if it does, it is possible to prevent the cooling efficiency in the heat generating portion from being lowered.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram for explaining an example of a copying machine using a cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a main part of the cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a main part shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a control unit used for a main part shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a structure of a main part shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the operation of the main part shown in FIG. 2;
It is a considerable schematic diagram.

8 is a schematic diagram corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a partially modified example of the main part shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another operation of the control unit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a main part of a cooling structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a case where the main structure shown in FIG. 10 is used.
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a main part of a cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a case where the main structure shown in FIG. 12 is used.
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining a main part of a cooling device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a case where the main structure shown in FIG. 14 is used.
Is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the control unit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Copier 1A Wall plate 1A1 Outside air intake 1A2 Air exhaust 10 Power supply housing 11 Cooling fan motor 11A Cooling fan motor 12 Partition 13 Filter member 13A Louver 13B with coarse mesh 13B Fine Louver with eye mesh 14 Control unit 15 Power-on switch 17, 18 Optical sensor 19 Reflecting member 20 Wind sensor 21 Actuator 22 Temperature sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Fumiko Tsunakawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Kobayashi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeru Muramatsu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-57-667 (JP, A) JP-A-50-92742 (JP, A) JP-A-4-238337 (JP, A) JP-A-4-368929 (JP, A) Fully open 50-39186 (JP, U) Really open 63-137339 (JP , U) Fully open sho 61-203755 (JP, U) Fully open sho 63-170840 (JP, U) Real open hei 3-24642 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB) (Name) G03B 27/52

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cooling structure for a copying machine in which cooling is performed by introducing outside air into a heat-generating portion in the copying machine, wherein the cooling fan motor is rotatable in normal and reverse directions and is formed on an outer wall of the copying machine. The fan motor is connected to the output side, and the input side is connected to the start switch of the copier. The start switch of the copier is connected for a predetermined time from the start of the operation of the copier. A drive control section for causing the fan motor to rotate forward and rotating the fan motor for a predetermined time only when the copying machine is in a standby state after a predetermined time has elapsed. A cooling device for a copying machine. 2. A cooling structure for a copying machine in which cooling is performed by introducing outside air to a heat generating portion in the copying machine, wherein a plurality of forward and reverse rotatable cooling units are arranged in a cooling air passage in the copying machine. Fan motor, dustproof means provided in a ventilation hole formed in the outer wall of the copying machine, the fan motor connected to an output side, and a start switch of the copying machine connected to an input side. The normal rotation of the fan motor is performed for a predetermined time from the start of operation of the copying machine. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the fan motor is turned on only when the copying machine is in a standby state. And a drive control unit for reversing the rotation for a predetermined time. 3. A cooling structure for a copying machine in which cooling is performed by introducing outside air to a heat generating portion in the copying machine, wherein a cooling fan motor which can be rotated forward and backward and an outer wall portion of the copying machine are formed. A dust-proof means provided at the ventilation opening, a dust-detecting means arranged near the dust-proof means for detecting the amount of dust accumulated in the dust-proof means, and an output side connected to the fan motor at an output side. The dust detection means is connected to the fan motor, and when it is determined that the dust accumulation amount in the dust prevention means by the dust detection means has reached a predetermined value or more, the fan motor reduces the dust accumulation amount. And a drive control unit for performing reverse rotation until the rotation becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. 4. A cooling structure for a copying machine in which cooling is performed by introducing outside air to a heat generating portion in the copying machine, wherein the cooling fan motor is rotatable in forward and reverse directions and is formed on an outer wall of the copying machine. Dust-proof means provided in the ventilation opening, and air-flow detecting means arranged near the dust-proof means for detecting the air flow in the dust-proof means; the fan motor is connected to the output side; When the air volume detection means is connected and the air volume detection means determines that the air volume in the dustproof means has reached a predetermined value or less, the fan motor is operated until the air volume becomes a predetermined value or more or for a predetermined time. And a drive control unit for reversing the rotation of the copier. 5. A cooling structure for a copying machine in which cooling is performed by introducing outside air to a heat generating portion in the copying machine, wherein the cooling fan motor is rotatable in normal and reverse directions and is formed on an outer wall of the copying machine. A dustproof means provided at a ventilation opening provided at a position corresponding to a downstream side of the fan motor in a ventilation direction of the fan motor when the heating unit is cooled by the fan motor, and an atmosphere at the position. Temperature detection means for detecting temperature, the fan motor is connected to the output side, and the input side is connected to the temperature detection means, and the ambient temperature at the position where the temperature detection means is arranged reaches a predetermined value or more. And a drive control unit for reversing the fan motor until the ambient temperature becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value when it is determined that the fan motor has been operated.