JP4333666B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, and in particular, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed in the apparatus body, and a latent image formed on the image carrier. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a rotary developing device in which a plurality of developing devices used for developing the toner are rotatable about an axis, and an ozone generation source that generates ozone.

  In forming an image in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, generally, as shown in FIG. 1, a drum-shaped image carrier 1 provided in the apparatus main body 10 is rotated and the image carrier is rotated. After the surface of the body 1 is charged by the charging device 2, the charged image carrier 1 is exposed according to the image signal by the exposure device 3, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 1. Try to form. Then, toner is supplied from the developing device 4 to the surface of the image carrier 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed in this way, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 1, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer device. 5 is transferred to the recording sheet 6, and the recording sheet 6 having the toner image transferred thereon is guided to the fixing device 7. The fixing device 7 fixes the toner image to the recording sheet 6, while the toner image is transferred. The toner remaining on the surface of the subsequent image carrier 1 is removed from the surface of the image carrier 1 by the cleaning device 8.

  Here, when image formation is performed as described above, ozone is generated when the surface of the image carrier 1 is charged by the charging device 2 provided in the apparatus main body 10. There has been a problem that the temperature inside the apparatus main body 10 rises due to heat accumulated in the exposure apparatus 3 and the above-described exposure apparatus 3 and the like.

  For this reason, conventionally, an exhaust device such as a fan is provided in the image forming apparatus as described above, and ozone or heat generated in the apparatus main body is forcibly exhausted outside the apparatus main body by the exhaust apparatus. The thing is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).

  However, when an exhaust device is provided in the image forming apparatus in this way and ozone or heat generated in the apparatus main body is forcibly discharged out of the apparatus main body, the apparatus becomes large or the running cost increases. There was a problem.

  In recent years, as an image forming apparatus for forming a full-color image, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of developing devices 4 </ b> A to 4 </ b> D containing toners of different colors are held on a rotatable support 41. Using the rotary developing device 40, the rotary developing device 40 is rotated by the support 41, and the developing devices 4A to 4D are sequentially guided to positions facing the image carrier 1, and the developing devices 4A to 4D are guided. The toner of each color is sequentially supplied from 4D to the image carrier 1, and the toner thus supplied to the image carrier 1 is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 9, and the toner is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 9. After the full-color toner image is formed, the full-color toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 9 to the recording sheet 6 such as recording paper by the transfer device 5, and the transferred full-color toner image is transferred to the fixing device 7. Yo Those to be fixed on the recording sheet 6 Te is used.

However, in such an image forming apparatus that performs full-color image formation, when an exhaust device is provided as described above, ozone or heat generated in the device body is forcibly discharged out of the device body. Furthermore, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes larger.
JP 2003-280494 A

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer, and in particular, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed in the apparatus body. Ozone generation such as a rotary developing device in which a plurality of developing devices used for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier are rotatable about an axis, and a charging device that generates ozone When the ozone is generated by the ozone generation source provided in the apparatus main body when the image is formed by the image forming apparatus provided with the source, the ozone generated in the apparatus main body without providing a separate exhaust device It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to easily discharge the battery outside the apparatus main body.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a latent image formed on the image carrier are developed in the apparatus body. In an image forming apparatus comprising a rotary developing device in which a plurality of developing devices used for rotation are provided to be rotatable about an axis and an ozone generation source for generating ozone , the outer periphery of the rotary developing device And a partition member that partitions the region including the rotary developing device and the ozone generation source, and a discharge that discharges the gas containing ozone in the region partitioned by the partition member to the outside of the apparatus main body. A rotating member that is in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device in the vicinity of the discharge portion and swings with the rotation of the rotary developing device. Drained by rotating the device The gas containing ozone introduced to the vicinity of the part, and so as to be discharged out of the apparatus main body through the discharge portion by the volume change of the region of the discharge portion near by the swinging of the oscillating members.

Here, when forming the recesses in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device, the recesses can be formed in the outer peripheral portion of each of the developing devices in the rotary developing device.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus, a partition member is provided in the apparatus main body, and a region having the rotary developing device and an ozone generation source is partitioned, and the region partitioned by the partition member is included in the region. It is preferable to provide an outside air intake section for introducing outside air, and to provide a discharge section for discharging the gas in this region to the outside of the apparatus main body on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the rotary developing device from the outside air intake section.

Further, as described above, the discharge portion is provided with a swinging member that swings along the outer peripheral portion of the rotating rotary developing device, and the outer peripheral portion of the rotating developing device rotating in the outside air intake portion. It is preferable to provide a second rocking member that rocks along the axis.

  Further, it is preferable to provide a guide member for guiding the outside air introduced from the outside air intake section to the ozone generation source in an area having the rotary developing device and the ozone generation source.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, as described above, the plurality of developing devices are provided with recesses in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device provided rotatably around the axis, and the rotary developing device and ozone A partition member that divides a region including the generation source, a discharge unit that discharges gas containing ozone in the region partitioned by the partition member to the outside of the apparatus main body, and the rotary type in the vicinity of the discharge unit A tip is in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the developing device, and a swinging member that swings with the rotation of the rotary developing device is provided. The ozone guided to the vicinity of the discharge portion by the rotation of the rotary developing device is provided. the gas containing, for which so as to be discharged out of the apparatus main body through the discharge portion by the volume change of the region of the discharge portion near by the swinging of the oscillating members, even without separately providing an exhaust system, device It can be easily discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body gas containing ozone generated in the body, device or upsizing, thereby preventing that the running cost is expensive.

Further, in the image forming apparatus, the partition member is provided in the apparatus main body as described above to partition the region having the rotary developing device and the ozone generation source, and in the region partitioned by the partition member. When an outside air intake portion for introducing outside air is provided, and a discharge portion for discharging the gas in this region to the outside of the apparatus main body is provided downstream of the outside air intake portion in the rotation direction of the rotary developing device. Due to the rotation of the rotary developing device, the outside air is led into the space of the rotary developing device through the outside air intake, and the gas containing the outside air is led into the space and sent to the ozone generation source. The ozone generated by the ozone generation source is taken in, and the gas in which ozone is taken in this way is sequentially led to the discharge part by the rotation of the rotary developing device and discharged. Ozone generated by Zon source is discharged to the outside efficiently apparatus.

Further, as described above , when the swinging member swinging along the outer peripheral portion of the rotating rotary developing device is provided in the discharge unit, the swinging member swings the region in the vicinity of the discharge unit. In a state where the volume of the space is changed and the space of the above-mentioned region in the vicinity of the discharge portion is widened by swinging of the swing member, the gas containing ozone in the space portion of the rotary developing device is efficiently guided to the discharge portion. On the other hand, in a state where the space of the discharge portion is narrowed by the swing of the swing member, the gas containing ozone introduced to the discharge portion as described above is efficiently discharged out of the apparatus main body through the discharge portion. Become.

  In addition, when the second swing member that swings along the outer peripheral portion of the rotating developing device is provided in the outside air intake portion, the outside air intake portion is caused by the swing of the second swing member. When the space in the outside air changes and the space in the outside air intake portion becomes narrow, the second swinging member swings and the space in the outside air intake portion becomes wide. Through the outside air intake portion, the air is guided into the space of the rotary developing device, and the outside air can be taken in efficiently.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the one shown in the following embodiment, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, four developing devices 40A in which toners of different colors, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners are accommodated in the apparatus body 10. A rotary developing device 40 is provided, which is rotatably held around a rotary shaft 42 as a center of rotation, and the rotary type as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 around the rotary shaft 42. The developing device 40 is rotated clockwise so that the developing devices 40A to 40D are sequentially guided to positions facing the image carrier 1.

  In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, when forming the space portion 43 that accommodates gas in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device 40, the concave portions 43 are formed in the outer peripheral portions of the developing devices 40A to 40D. Forming.

  In the image forming apparatus, the partition member 11 is provided in the apparatus main body 10, and the partition member 11 includes the rotary developing device 40 and the charging device 2 serving as an ozone generation source that generates ozone. An outside air intake unit 13 is provided to divide the area including the air and thus introduce the outside air into the area including the rotary developing device 40 and the charging device 2, and the above rotary developing device 40 is more than the outside air inlet 13. The discharge part 14 which discharges | emits the gas in said area | region out of the apparatus main body 10 is provided in the rotation direction downstream.

  In this image forming apparatus, a swinging member 15 that swings along the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device 40 is provided in the discharge unit 14. The swing member 15 swings following the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device 40, particularly the shape of the recess 43 thereof. Here, in this embodiment, the rotation center axis of the swing member 15 is provided on the wall surface facing the partition member 11 (the wall surface on the opposite side via the discharge portion 14). Is in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device 40. Therefore, as the rotary developing device 40 rotates, the swing member 15 swings, and the volume of the space surrounded by the swing member 15 and the partition member 11 in the discharge portion 14 changes.

  Further, a second swinging member 17 that swings along the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device 40 is provided in the outside air intake portion 13. The second swing member 17 swings following the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device 40, particularly the shape of the recess 43 thereof. Here, in this embodiment, the rotation center axis of the second rocking member 17 is provided on the wall surface facing the partition member 11 (the wall surface on the opposite side through the outside air intake portion 13). The tip of the second swing member 17 is in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device 40. Accordingly, as the rotary developing device 40 rotates, the second swing member 17 swings, and the volume of the space surrounded by the third swing member 17 and the partition member 11 in the outside air intake portion 13 changes. It is supposed to be. In addition, a negative pressure is generated by changing the volume of the space surrounded by the second swing member 17 and the partition member 11 in this way, and the outside air can be efficiently introduced.

  Further, in this image forming apparatus, a guide member 18 for guiding the outside air introduced from the outside air intake unit 13 to the charging device 2 is provided between the outside air intake unit 13 and the discharge unit 14. The end of the swinging portion 18a of the guide member 18 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device 40 so that the swinging portion 18a of the guide member 18 swings as the rotary developing device 40 rotates. I have to.

  Here, when full-color image formation is performed by the image forming apparatus, the first developing device 40A containing toner of a predetermined color is opposed to the image carrier 1 in the rotary developing device 40 described above. The image carrier 1 is rotated, the surface of the image carrier 1 is charged by the charging device 2, and the image carrier 1 thus charged is exposed according to the image signal by the exposure device 3. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 1.

  In the developing region where the image carrier 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is thus formed and the first developing device 40A face each other, yellow toner is supplied from the first developing device 40A to the image carrier 1. The yellow toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the image carrier 1, and the yellow toner image thus formed on the image carrier 1 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image portion formed on the image carrier 1. Then, the image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 9 that is bridged above the image carrier 1.

  Thereafter, the rotary developing device 40 is rotated around the rotating shaft 42 so that the second developing device 40B containing magenta toner is positioned so as to face the image carrier 1, and the above In the same manner as in the case of the first developing device 40A, a magenta toner image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 1, and the intermediate transfer belt on which the yellow toner image is transferred to the magenta toner image. 9 is transferred. Then, a similar operation is performed to form a cyan toner image on the surface of the image carrier 1 by the second developing device 40C containing cyan toner. Next, a black toner image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 1 by the fourth developing device 40D containing black toner, and the black toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 9 described above. A full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 9 by transferring yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images.

  Then, the recording sheet 6 is guided from a paper cassette 6 a provided at the lower part of the image forming apparatus to a portion where the intermediate transfer belt 9 and the transfer apparatus 5 face each other by a feed roller 19, and the full color formed on the intermediate transfer belt 9 is formed. The full-color toner image thus transferred onto the recording sheet 6 is fixed onto the recording sheet 6 by the fixing device 7 and discharged.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the rotary developing device 40 is rotated around the rotation shaft 42 as described above, and the four developing devices 40A to 40D are sequentially opposed to the image carrier 1. In the state where the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier 1 is developed by each of the developing devices 40A to 40D when guided to the position, for example, as shown in FIG. The end of the swinging member 15 provided in the discharge portion 14 comes into contact with the recess 43 provided in the outer peripheral portion of the second developing device 40C, so that the space in the discharge portion 14 is widened. Further, in the outside air intake portion 13 described above, the end of the second swinging member 17 provided in the outside air intake portion 13 contacts the recess 43 provided in the outer peripheral portion of the first developing device 40A. The space in the outside air intake unit 13 becomes wider. Then, the outside air is introduced into the outside air intake portion 13 whose space is thus widened, and the outside air is guided into the recess 43 provided in the first developing device 40A. Further, the end portion of the swinging portion 18a of the guide member 18 contacts a concave portion 43 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the fourth developing device 40D, so that the charging device 2 and the rotary developing device 40 are not connected. Thus, the gas containing ozone present on the charging device 2 side is guided into the recess 43 of the fourth developing device 40D.

  Next, while the rotary developing device 40 is rotated around the rotating shaft 42 as described above and the second developing device 40B is guided to a position facing the image carrier 1, as shown in FIG. In the discharge section 14, the end of the swing member 15 provided in the discharge section 14 passes through the outer peripheral portion protruding from the concave portion 43 of the second development apparatus 40C, and the fourth development apparatus 40D. Accordingly, the rocking member 15 is swung, and the space of the discharge portion 14 which is in a wide state is narrowed. As a result, the gas that has been present in the space of the discharge unit 14 is discharged from the discharge unit 14 to the outside of the apparatus main body 10, and when the gas contains ozone, the gas containing ozone is the apparatus main body 10. It will be discharged outside. Further, in the outside air intake portion 13 described above, the end of the second swing member 17 provided in the outside air intake portion 13 has an outer peripheral portion protruding from the concave portion 43 of the first developing device 40A. Through the movement to the outer peripheral portion of the second developing device 40B, the second swinging member 17 swings accordingly, and the space of the outside air intake portion 13 that has been in a wide state is narrowed. Further, the end portion of the swinging portion 18a of the guide member 18 passes through the outer peripheral portion protruding from the concave portion 43 provided in the outer peripheral portion of the fourth developing device 40D, and the outer peripheral portion of the first developing device 40A. The gas stored in the recess 43 of the first developing device 40A is guided to the charging device 2 side by the guide member 18, and the swinging portion 18a of the guide member 18 swings. The flow path between the charging device 2 and the rotary developing device 40 becomes narrow, and the gas containing ozone is accommodated in the recess 43 of the fourth developing device 40D.

  When the rotary developing device 40 is further rotated and the second developing device 40B is guided to a position facing the image carrier 1, the discharge is performed as in the case shown in FIG. The end of the swinging member 15 provided in the portion 14 contacts the concave portion 43 provided in the outer peripheral portion of the fourth developing device 40D, and the space in the discharge portion 14 is widened. The gas containing ozone accommodated in the concave portion 43 of the fourth developing device 40D is guided to the space of the discharge portion 14 thus formed. Further, in the outside air intake section 13 described above, the end of the second swinging member 17 provided in the outside air intake section 13 is in contact with the recess 43 provided in the outer peripheral portion of the second developing device 40B. The space in the outside air intake section 13 is widened and introduced into the outside air intake section 13 thus widened so that the outside air is sucked into the recessed portion 43 provided in the second developing device 40B. Be guided. Further, the end portion of the swinging portion 18a of the guide member 18 contacts a recess 43 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the first developing device 40A, so that a gap between the charging device 2 and the rotary developing device 40 is obtained. Thus, the gas containing ozone present on the charging device 2 side is guided into the recess 43 of the first developing device 40A.

  Each time the rotary developing device 40 rotates as described above, the outside air is sequentially introduced from the outside air intake portion 13 into the concave portion 43 of each developing device 40A to 40D, and thus each developing device 40A to 40D. The gas guided into the concave portion 43 is sequentially sent to the charging device 2 side through the guide member 18, and the gas containing ozone present on the charging device 2 side is contained in the concave portion 43 of each developing device 40A to 40D. The gas containing ozone is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 10 through the discharge part 14, and it is not necessary to provide a separate exhaust apparatus as in the prior art. The gas containing ozone in the apparatus main body 10 is appropriately discharged out of the apparatus main body 10.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, as the rotary developing device 40, the developing devices 40A to 40D that are rotatably held around the rotation shaft 42 serving as an axis are used. As in the conventional image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the developing devices 40 </ b> A to 40 </ b> D can be held on a rotatable support 41.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the four developing devices 40A to 40D are provided in the rotary developing device 40. However, the number of the developing devices to be provided is not particularly limited. Alternatively, it may be 5 or more. Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, four developing devices having the same form are provided, but the developing apparatuses do not necessarily have the same form.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which image formation is performed in a conventional image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which image formation is performed in a conventional image forming apparatus using a rotary developing device in which a plurality of developing devices are held on a rotatable support. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which image formation is performed in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state in which one developing device in the rotary developing device is led to a position facing the image carrier in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, it is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a stage in the middle of guiding one developing device in the rotary developing device to a position facing the image carrier.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image carrier 2 Charging device (ozone generation source)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Exposure apparatus 5 Transfer apparatus 6 Recording sheet 6a Paper cassette 7 Fixing apparatus 9 Intermediate transfer belt 10 Apparatus main body 11 Partition member 13 Outside air intake part 14 Discharge part 15 Swing member 17 Second rocking member 18 Guide member 18a Swing part 40 Rotating Developing Device 40A to 40D Developing Device 41 Support 42 Rotating Shaft 43 Concave (Space)

Claims (6)

An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a plurality of developing devices used for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier are provided in the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable about an axis. In the image forming apparatus provided with the rotary developing device and the ozone generating source for generating ozone, a concave portion is provided in the outer peripheral portion of the rotating developing device, and the rotary developing device and the ozone generating source are included. A partition member that partitions the region, a discharge unit that discharges the gas containing ozone in the region partitioned by the partition member to the outside of the apparatus main body, and an outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device in the vicinity of the discharge unit And a rocking member that rocks with the rotation of the rotary developing device, and the gas containing ozone introduced to the vicinity of the discharge portion by the rotation of the rotary developing device is Discharge by swinging of the swinging member Image forming apparatus characterized by discharging out of the apparatus main body through the discharge portion by the volume change of the region in the vicinity. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion is formed on an outer peripheral portion of each of the developing devices. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge section is provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main body . 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an outside air intake portion that introduces outside air into an area partitioned by the partition member is provided at a position away from the discharge portion. image forming apparatus, characterized in that the. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the outside air intake portion is provided in an upper part of the apparatus main body . 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the tip of the rotary developing device comes into contact with the outer periphery of the rotary developing device in the vicinity of the outside air intake portion and swings as the rotary developing device rotates. In a state where the swing member in the vicinity of the discharge portion is in contact with a portion other than the recess provided in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary developing device, the second swing member also rotates. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is in contact with a portion other than a concave portion provided on an outer peripheral portion of the developing device.

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