阅读说明：本技术 过滤器、收集器以及图像形成装置 (Filter, collector, and image forming apparatus ) 是由 山崎俊祐 百村裕智 三部直生 权田泰久 于 2020-03-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及过滤器、收集器以及图像形成装置。过滤器具有：收集件,其具有褶片,通过使风透过而收集粒子；以及保持体,其保持所述褶片的延长方向的端部,并且形成有使沿着该褶片流动来的风漏出的漏风部。(The invention relates to a filter, a collector and an image forming apparatus. The filter has: a collector having a pleat and collecting particles by allowing wind to pass therethrough; and a holding body which holds an end portion of the flap in the direction of extension and has a wind leaking portion through which wind flowing along the flap leaks.)

1. A filter, having:

a collector having a pleat and collecting particles by allowing wind to pass therethrough; and

and a holding body which holds an end portion of the flap in the direction of extension and has a wind leaking portion through which wind flowing along the flap leaks.

2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein,

the long side direction of the collecting member faces the extending direction.

3. The filter according to claim 2, wherein,

the width of the collecting member in the short side direction is equal to the width of the air supply opening for supplying the air.

4. A filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the holding bodies hold both ends in the extending direction, respectively, and the air leakage portions are formed at both ends, respectively.

5. The filter according to claim 4, wherein,

the collecting member receives wind at a central portion in the extending direction,

the openings of the air leakage parts at the two ends of the holding body are consistent in size.

6. The filter according to claim 4, wherein,

the collecting member receives wind directed obliquely to one side of the elongation direction,

the size of the opening of one of the air leakage portions at both ends of the holding body, in which the air is inclined, is smaller than the size of the opening of the other air leakage portion opposite to the one air leakage portion.

7. A filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the holding bodies respectively hold both ends in the extending direction, and the air leakage portion is formed at one side of both ends.

8. The filter according to claim 7, wherein,

the collecting member receives wind directed toward a portion that is offset to a side opposite the single side.

9. A filter according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the air leakage part is a hole formed in the holding body.

10. A filter according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the air leakage part is a notch arranged on the holding body.

11. A collector, having:

a collector having a pleat and collecting particles by allowing wind to pass therethrough;

a holding body which holds an end portion of the flap in the direction of extension and has a wind leaking portion through which wind flowing along the flap leaks; and

and a circulation chamber into which the wind leaking from the wind leaking portion flows, the circulation chamber circulating the wind to an upstream side of the wind toward the collector.

12. The collector of claim 11,

the holding body has holding bodies which hold both ends in the extending direction and in which the air leakage portions are formed at both ends,

the circulation chamber is provided on both sides of the elongation direction.

13. The collector of claim 11,

the holding body has one side holding body which holds both ends in the extending direction and in which the air leakage part is formed,

the circulation chamber is provided on the single side.

14. An image forming apparatus includes:

an image forming unit that generates wind containing particles in association with image formation; and

a collector that collects the particles,

the collector has:

a collector having a pleat and collecting particles by allowing wind to pass therethrough;

a holding body which holds an end portion of the flap in the direction of extension and has a wind leaking portion through which wind flowing along the flap leaks; and

and a circulation chamber into which the wind leaking from the wind leaking portion flows, the circulation chamber circulating the wind to an upstream side of the wind toward the collector.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a filter, a collector, and an image forming apparatus.

Background

Conventionally, in order to reduce the amount of particulates discharged to the outside of an apparatus, which is generated in an image forming apparatus or the like, a collector has been proposed in which particulates are collected by passing exhaust gas through a filter.

For example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2018-049189 discloses an image forming apparatus in which a rectifying plate provided on the upstream side of a filter is driven in accordance with a value related to the amount of generation of fine particles.

Further, for example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2006-208718 discloses an image forming apparatus including: the filter surface is inclined such that a direction of an air flow generated by the exhaust unit has a prescribed angle with a direction perpendicular to the filter surface, and a point projected onto the filter from a center of an exhaust port of the exhaust unit in the direction of the air flow is closer to the exhaust unit side than the center of the filter.

However, in an image forming apparatus or the like, for example, when the distance between a fan or duct for sending air to a filter and the filter is shortened, only a part of the filter area contributes to collection and the collection efficiency may be lowered. This situation is not limited to the case where the distance between the fan, the duct, and the filter is shortened, but also occurs due to the device structure such as the duct shape.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a filter, a collector, and an image forming apparatus having higher collection efficiency than a case where wind flowing along a pleat is blocked by a holder.

According to an aspect 1 of the present disclosure, there is provided a filter having: a collector having a pleat and collecting particles by allowing wind to pass therethrough; and a holding body which holds an end portion of the flap in the direction of extension and has a wind leaking portion through which wind flowing along the flap leaks.

According to the 2 nd aspect of the present disclosure, the long side direction of the collecting member is oriented in the extending direction.

According to claim 3 of the present disclosure, a width of the collector in a short side direction is equal to a width of the air outlet through which the air is blown.

According to claim 4 of the present disclosure, the holding bodies hold both ends in the extending direction, respectively, and the air leakage portions are formed at both ends, respectively.

According to claim 5 of the present disclosure, the collector receives wind at a central portion in the extending direction, and openings of the wind leaking portions at both ends of the holding body are uniform in size.

According to the 6 th aspect of the present disclosure, the catcher receives wind whose direction is inclined to one side in the extending direction, and an opening size of one wind leaking portion in which the wind is inclined to the wind leaking portion of the wind leaking portions at both ends of the holding body is smaller than an opening size of the other wind leaking portion opposite to the one wind leaking portion.

According to claim 7 of the present disclosure, the holding body holds both ends in the extending direction, respectively, and the air leakage portion is formed on one of the both ends.

According to the 8 th aspect of the present disclosure, the collecting member receives wind directed to a portion that is offset to the side opposite to the one side.

According to the 9 th aspect of the present disclosure, the air leakage portion is a hole opened in the holding body.

According to the 10 th aspect of the present disclosure, the air leakage portion is a notch provided in the holding body.

According to an 11 th aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a collector having: a collector having a pleat and collecting particles by allowing wind to pass therethrough; a holding body which holds an end portion of the flap in an extending direction and is formed with a wind leaking portion through which wind flowing along the flap leaks; and a circulation chamber into which the wind leaking from the wind leaking portion flows, the circulation chamber circulating the wind to an upstream side of the wind toward the collector.

According to the 12 th aspect of the present disclosure, the holding body has holding bodies that hold both ends in the extending direction and have the air leakage portions formed at both ends, respectively, and the collector has the circulation chamber at both sides in the extending direction.

According to the 13 th aspect of the present disclosure, the holding body includes holding both ends in the extending direction, and the air leakage portion is formed on one side of the both ends, and the collector includes the circulation chamber on the one side.

According to a 14 th aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an image forming apparatus having: an image forming unit that generates wind containing particles in association with image formation; and a collector that collects the particles, the collector including: a collector having a pleat and collecting particles by allowing wind to pass therethrough; a holding body which holds an end portion of the flap in an extending direction and is formed with a wind leaking portion through which wind flowing along the flap leaks; and a circulation chamber into which the wind leaking from the wind leaking portion flows, the circulation chamber circulating the wind to an upstream side of the wind toward the collector.

(Effect)

According to the above aspects 1, 11, and 14, the collecting efficiency is higher than the case where the wind flowing along the flap is blocked by the holding member.

According to the above-described aspect 2, the area of the collecting member is effectively utilized more flexibly than the case where the short side direction is oriented in the extending direction.

According to the 3 rd aspect, the area of the collecting member is effectively utilized flexibly compared to the case where the width is not uniform.

According to the 4 th aspect, the collection efficiency is higher than that in the case of one side.

According to the 5 th aspect, the collection efficiency is higher than the case where the wind and the opening size are not uniform.

According to the above-described aspect 6, the air volume toward both ends is uniform as compared with the case where the opening sizes are uniform.

According to the above 7 th aspect, even in the case where there is a space only on one side, the collection efficiency is improved.

According to the 8 th aspect, the collection efficiency is higher than the case where the wind is deviated to the above-described one side.

According to the 9 th aspect, the strength is higher than the notch.

According to the 10 th aspect, it is easily formed in comparison with the pore.

The collector according to item 12, which is higher in collection efficiency than the case of one side.

According to the collector of item 13, the collection efficiency is improved even in the case where there is space only on one side.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer corresponding to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a comparative example of the collector.

Fig. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between wind speed and collection efficiency.

Fig. 4 is an external view showing the particle remover according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the particle remover of the present embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a function of collecting particles in the particle remover according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the particle diameter of the particles and the collection efficiency.

Fig. 8 is a view showing a rectangular vent hole as another example of the air leakage portion.

Fig. 9 is a view showing an elliptical vent hole as another example of the air leakage portion.

Fig. 10 is a view showing a notch as another example of the air leakage portion.

Fig. 11 is a view showing a particle remover according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a particle remover according to embodiment 3.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer corresponding to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus.

The printer 1 shown in fig. 1 is a so-called Tandem type (Tandem) color printer.

The printer 1 includes: a sheet tray 10 that stacks and stores sheets P that are one of recording materials on which images are recorded; and 4 image engines 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K that form toner images of 4 colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) in an electrophotographic manner, respectively.

The 4 color toner images formed by the 4 image engines 50C, 50M, 50Y, and 50K are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 71 so as to be superimposed on one another, thereby forming a color toner image. The color toner image is transferred to the paper P by the transfer device 72. The sheet P is taken out from the sheet tray 10 by various conveying rollers 44 and conveyed to the transfer 72 along the conveying path R.

The printer 1 includes a fixing device 80, and when a sheet P on which a color toner image is transferred is conveyed along the conveyance path R, the fixing device 80 fixes the color toner image to the sheet P by heat and pressure.

The printer 1 has a conveying roller 46, and the conveying roller 46 conveys the paper P on which the color toner image is fixed to the outside of the printer 1. The printer 1 has a stack tray 30 on the upper surface of the housing, and the sheet P conveyed by the conveying roller 46 is stacked on the stack tray 30.

The printer 1 includes a particle remover 60, and the particle remover 60 collects suspended particles such as Ultra Fine Particles (UFPs) and the like contained in the exhaust air discharged after cooling the fixing device 80 and removes them from the exhaust air. The particle remover 60 corresponds to one embodiment of the collector of the present disclosure. The printer 1 further includes a control unit 20 that controls the overall operation of the printer 1.

The combination of the 4 image engines 50C, 50M, 50Y, and 50K, the intermediate transfer belt 71, the transfer device 72, and the fixing device 80 corresponds to an example of the image forming unit according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a comparative example of the collector.

The particle remover 5 of the comparative example shown in fig. 2 has: a fan 51 that sends the cooling air passing through the fixing device 80 to the outside of the housing of the printer 1 as exhaust air to be exhausted; a filter 52 for collecting particles contained in the exhaust air; and a duct 53 that guides the exhaust air from the fan 51 to the filter 52. The fan 51 is incorporated into an inlet 53a of the duct 53, and the filter 52 is incorporated into an outlet 53b of the duct 53.

The size of the filter 52 is larger than that of the fan 51, and the duct 53 is provided with an air tunnel portion 53c for expanding the traveling path of the exhaust air discharged from the fan 51 to contact the filter 52. The traveling path of the exhaust air is expanded, and thus the wind speed of the exhaust air when passing through the filter 52 is reduced, and the particle collection efficiency is improved.

Fig. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between wind speed and collection efficiency.

The horizontal axis of the graph in fig. 3 indicates the wind speed of the exhaust wind passing through the filter 52, and the vertical axis of the graph indicates the collection efficiency of the filter 52 for the particles.

As shown in fig. 3, the graph is a curve inclined downward to the right, and the higher the passing wind speed, the lower the collection efficiency.

In the particle remover 5 of the comparative example shown in fig. 2, when the length D of the air tunnel portion 53c (i.e., the distance in the direction in which the exhaust air flows) is shortened in accordance with downsizing of the printer 1 or the like, the range r in which the exhaust air passes through the filter 52 is narrowed, and the exhaust air is concentrated on a part of the filter 52. As a result, as shown by the arrows in fig. 3, the wind speed of the exhaust air passing through the filter 52 increases, and the particle collection efficiency decreases.

Therefore, the particle remover 60 of the present embodiment has a structure that achieves high collection efficiency even when the distance from the inlet to the filter is short.

Fig. 4 and 5 are views illustrating a particle remover according to the present embodiment, fig. 4 is an external view of the particle remover, and fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure.

The particle remover 60 of the present embodiment includes: a fan 61 that sends the cooling air passing through the fixing device 80 to the outside of the housing of the printer 1 as exhaust air to be exhausted; a filter 62 for collecting particles contained in the exhaust air; and a duct 63 that guides the exhaust air from the fan 61 to the filter 62. The duct 63 is provided with an inlet 63a through which exhaust air flows in, and an outlet 63b through which exhaust air flows out. The fan 61 is incorporated into an inlet 63a of the duct 63, and the filter 62 is incorporated into an outlet 63b of the duct 63. However, in the collector of the present disclosure, the fan is not essential, and may be a member that is provided at a position where the exhaust air flows out, for example, and causes the exhaust air to naturally flow into the collector by a force of the exhaust air.

The filter 62 incorporated in the particle remover 60 is a consumable product, and a portion at one end is detachable from the particle remover 60 as seen in fig. 4. The filter 62 has: a collecting member 62a with pleated flaps, in other words with pleats, to increase the collecting area; and a frame member 62b that surrounds 4 sides of the collecting member 62a and holds the edge of the collecting member 62a, thereby maintaining the strength of the filter 62. In addition, as an example, a triangular vent hole 62c is formed in a portion of the frame member 62b that holds the short side of the collecting member 62 a. The vent hole 62c corresponds to an example of the air leakage portion in the present disclosure.

The duct 63 is provided with an air tunnel 63c extending from the fan 61 to the filter 62, and a circulation chamber 63d connected to the air vent 62c and the air tunnel 63c of the filter 62 is provided at both ends of the filter 62 in the longitudinal direction. The size of the filter 62 and the collecting member 62a is matched with the size of the inflow port 63a in the short side direction of the filter 62, so that the exhaust air flows from the inflow port 63a to the collecting member 62a without being expanded or narrowed.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a function of collecting particles in the particle remover according to the present embodiment.

When the exhaust air flowing into the particle remover 60 by the fan 61 contacts the collecting member 62a toward the filter 62, the exhaust air flows along the flaps of the collecting member 62a toward both ends of the filter 62 in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in the drawing). In the present embodiment, since the frame member 62b is provided with the vent hole 62c (see fig. 5), the frame member 62b does not block the exhaust air toward both ends of the filter 62, and the exhaust air leaks into the circulation chamber 63d of the duct 63. The term "blocking" as used herein means blocking the flow of the air, and means that the exhaust air cannot leak from the frame member 62 b. In the present embodiment, since the exhaust air leaks from the frame member 62b, the flow of the exhaust air along the flap of the collecting member 62a is promoted, and the exhaust air passes through the entire surface of the collecting member 62a of the filter 62. Therefore, the wind speed of the exhaust wind passing through the collecting member 62a is reduced, and the collecting efficiency of the particles by the collecting member 62a is improved. The pleated flap of the collecting member 62a extends in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62, and contributes to effective use of the area of the collecting member 62 a.

The exhaust air leaking to the circulation chamber 63d flows and accumulates in a ring shape in the circulation chamber 63d of the duct 63, and then returns from the circulation chamber 63d to the air channel 63c and flows toward the filter 62 again. In the present embodiment, vent holes 62c having the same size are formed in both ends of the frame member 62b in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62, and a circulation chamber 63d is provided in the duct 63 also on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62. Therefore, the exhaust air flowing from the fan 61 toward the collecting member 62a flows toward the respective circulation chambers 63d while being balanced to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62.

The discharged air is retained in the annular shape in the circulation chamber 63d, and thereby the particles M included in the discharged air adhere to the wall surface of the circulation chamber 63d, and the particles M are aggregated with each other to increase the particle diameter. The particles M adhering to the wall surface of the circulation chamber 63d are removed from the exhaust air. Further, the efficiency of collecting the particles M having increased particle diameters by the collecting member 62a of the filter 62 is improved, and the particles M are easily removed from the exhaust air.

Fig. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the particle diameter of the particles and the collection efficiency.

In the graph of fig. 7, the horizontal axis represents the particle diameter of the particles, and the vertical axis represents the collection efficiency of the collecting member.

The particle diameter range of the center of the so-called UFP included in the exhaust air is, as shown by the grid in the figure, in the range from ten nm to several tens of nm, but the collection efficiency of the collection member 62a for particles in such a particle diameter range is on the order of slightly exceeding 70%. On the other hand, when the particle size is about 100nm, the collection efficiency is improved to nearly 80%, and when the particle size is further about 200nm, the collection efficiency exceeds 80%. Therefore, the particles M are collected by convection of the exhaust air in the circulation chamber 63d, whereby the collection efficiency is improved.

Next, another example of the air leakage portion in the present disclosure will be described.

Fig. 8 to 10 are diagrams illustrating other examples of the air leakage portion.

In the above embodiment, a triangular vent hole is formed as an example of the air leakage portion, and in fig. 8, a rectangular vent hole 62e is formed in the frame member 62b as another example of the air leakage portion. Such a quadrangular vent hole 62e can also be penetrated by the exhaust air flowing along the collection member 62a folded in an accordion shape. That is, the exhaust air passes through the frame member 62b via the rectangular vent hole 62 e.

In fig. 9, as another example of the air leakage portion, an oval vent hole 62f is formed in the frame member 62 b. The oval vent hole 62f has no corner portion and thus has higher strength than the quadrangular vent hole. On the other hand, for example, the size control of the rectangular vent hole 62e is relatively easy, and the volume of the discharged air passing through the vent hole 62e is easily controlled.

In the above embodiment, the hole is formed as an example of the air leakage portion, and in fig. 10, the notch 62g is formed in the frame member 62b as another example of the air leakage portion. When the notch 62g is formed, the exhaust air flowing along the collecting member 62a also passes through the frame member 62 b.

Regardless of the shape, when the air leakage portion is a hole, the strength is high because the edge is present over the entire circumference. On the other hand, in the case where the air leakage portion is a notch, the manufacturing is relatively easy.

Next, another embodiment of the particle remover will be described. A particle remover according to another embodiment described below is a particle remover that can be used in the printer 1 in place of the particle remover 60 according to embodiment 1 described above. In the following description, the same elements as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

Fig. 11 is a view showing a particle remover according to embodiment 2.

The particle remover 160 according to embodiment 2 shown in fig. 11 includes a fan 61, a filter 62, and a duct 63, as in embodiment 1. The filter 62 includes a collecting member 62a and a frame member 62b, as in embodiment 1. However, in the particle remover 160 according to embodiment 2, the circulation chamber 63d of the duct 63 is provided only on one side in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62.

When there is no space for providing the circulation chamber 63d on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62 due to the positional relationship with other components in the printer 1, the use of the particle remover 160 according to embodiment 2 can improve the collection efficiency.

Further, in the particle remover 160 according to embodiment 2, the exhaust wind sent by the fan 61 contacts the collecting member 62a at a position offset to the opposite side of the circulation chamber 63 d. In other words, the collecting member 62a receives the exhaust air toward a position offset from the circulation chamber 63 d. The exhaust wind is offset to one side with respect to the collecting member 62a in this way, and interacts with the case where the circulation chamber 63d is provided only on one side, the flow of the exhaust wind toward the circulation chamber 63d along the collecting member 62a is promoted, and the entire surface of the collecting member 62a contributes to the collection of particles.

Further, similarly to embodiment 1, in the frame member 62b of the filter 62 used in the particle remover 160 of embodiment 2, vent holes may be formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62, or vent holes may be formed only on one side corresponding to the circulation chamber 63 d.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a particle remover according to embodiment 3.

A particle remover 260 according to embodiment 3 shown in fig. 12 includes a fan 61, a filter 62, and a duct 63, as in embodiment 1. The filter 62 includes a collecting member 62a and a frame member 62b, as in embodiment 1. Further, as in embodiment 1, circulation chambers 63d are provided on both sides of the duct 63 in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62. However, in the particle remover 260 according to embodiment 3, the direction of the exhaust air sent out by the fan 61 is inclined with respect to the collecting member 62a of the filter 62. The inclination of the exhaust air is, for example, an inclination toward one side in the longitudinal direction of the filter 62.

Further, the frame members 62b _1 and 62b _2 of the filter 62 are formed with rectangular ventilation holes 62c _1 and 62c _ 2. Fig. 12 shows a lower part of the filter 62 as viewed from the longitudinal direction of the frame members 62b _1 and 62b _ 2.

In the particle remover 260 according to embodiment 3, the size of the vent hole 62c _1 formed in the frame member 62b _1 on the side toward which the exhaust air is directed is smaller than the size of the vent hole 62c _2 formed in the frame member 62b _2 on the other side. As a result, the exhaust air contacting the collecting member 62a of the filter 62 is promoted to flow to one side by the inclination with respect to the collecting member 62a, and is promoted to flow to the other side by the difference in size of the vent holes 62c _1 and 62c _ 2. As a result, the amount of the exhaust air toward both sides of the filter 62 in the longitudinal direction is uniform, and the amount of the exhaust air leaking to the circulation chambers 63d on both sides and staying in the circulation chambers 63d is also uniform. Therefore, the effect of improving the collection efficiency of the circulation chamber 63d is achieved in a well-balanced manner in the circulation chambers 63d on both sides.

In the above description, the case where particles are collected in the exhaust air passing through the fixing device has been exemplified as the filter and collector of the present disclosure, but the filter and collector of the present disclosure may be configured to collect particles in the exhaust air passing through a device other than the fixing device, for example, an image engine, or the like, or may be configured in a device other than the image forming apparatus.

The present disclosure is disclosed for the purpose of solving the problems, but the configuration of the present disclosure does not prevent the configuration from being diverted to another purpose of a form that does not solve the problems, and thus the manner of diverting the configuration of the present disclosure is also an embodiment of the present disclosure.