Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080199205 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A disclosed developing device is for accommodating a developer including carriers and a toner, and for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier. The developing device includes plural developer conveying units configured to convey the developer accommodated in the developing device and form circulating paths; and a ventilation unit configured to perform ventilation between at least one of the developer conveying units whose internal pressure increases and at least one of the developer conveying units whose internal pressure decreases. | 08-21-2008 |
20080205925 | DUCT FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A duct for an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the duct includes a discharge opening for discharging air; a fan, mounted to a neighborhood of the discharge opening, for discharging the air; first and second openings for suction of air; a first guiding portion, having first and second openings, for guiding the sucked air; a separation member, provided in the first guiding portion, for separating a flow of the air sucked by the first opening and a flow of the air sucked by the second opening; a second guiding member, disposed overlapped with the first guiding portion, for guiding the air guided by the first guiding portion; a first interconnection opening for feeding the air from the first opening to the second guiding portion; a second interconnection opening for feeding the air from the second opening to the second guiding portion, wherein the first interconnection opening is disposed closer to the discharge opening than the second interconnection opening, and wherein the first interconnection opening has a size smaller than the second interconnection opening. | 08-28-2008 |
20080219693 | AERATOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An aerator includes: a ventilating member that is disposed opposedly to a heat generating object, and that allows air to flow through an inside; and an inlet device that takes in air from an outside, and that sends the air to the ventilating member, the ventilating member including: a discharging portion that discharges the air flowing through the ventilating member to the outside; an opening through which heat generated by the heat generating object is taken in the ventilating member; and a restraining portion that restrains the air taken in by the inlet device from flowing to the heat generating object through the opening. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219694 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus and a process cartridge have high-durability and stably form high quality images under long-term use without reducing image density even when concentration of discharge products at the surface of an electrophotographic photoconductor becomes uneven in a discharge region of a charging unit. The apparatus employs an image forming method and has a corona discharge type charging unit discharging in a non-contact manner, the photoconductor placed to face the charging unit and the outermost surface layer thereof contains a filler and an amine compound with a specific structure, and an airflow adjusting device which carries air taken from the outside of the apparatus to the vicinity of the charging unit or the photoconductor so that ozone concentration and unevenness thereof are maintained at an average of 30 ppm or less and 15 ppm or less respectively at the surface of the photoconductor in the discharge region. | 09-11-2008 |
20080240767 | COOLING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL COMPONENT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cooling system for an electrical component, comprises: a substrate having a mounting surface on which an electrical component is mounted; an air sucking section that takes in air for cooling the electrical component; a first guide member comprising a first guide surface that leads the air taken into the air sucking section in such a direction as to be separated from the mounting surface of the substrate; and a second guide member comprising a second guide surface that leads, to the mounting surface of the substrate, the air led to the first guide surface. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240768 | Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Method - An image forming apparatus, includes: an image forming section that forms a toner image and transfers the toner image to a recording material at a predetermined transfer position; a fixing unit that heats the toner image on the recording material at a predetermined fixing position and fixes the toner image to the recording material; a transporter that transports the recording material along a transportation path including a path extending from the transfer position to the fixing position; a heat absorber that is located on the transportation path at a place downstream of the fixing position and absorbs a heat from the recording material; a pre-heater that is located on the transportation path at a pre-heating position upstream of the transfer position and pre-heats the recording material passing through the pre-heating position; and a heat transfer unit that transfers a heat energy obtained by the heat absorber absorbing the heat to the pre-heater. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240769 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming unit for applying an image transferring process to a sheet-like recording material, a fixing unit for applying a heat fixing process to the recording material after the image transferring process by the image forming unit, a first conveyance path for conveying the recording material via the image forming unit and the fixing unit, a second conveyance path for returning the recording material after the fixing process by the fixing unit to an upstream side of the image forming unit from a side of the first conveyance path downstream of the fixing unit in the case of applying the image transferring process to both sides of the recording material, and a fan disposed between the first and second conveyance paths for taking air across the first conveyance path and exhausting air across the second conveyance path to form an air stream. | 10-02-2008 |
20080253795 | FUSER AND IMAGE FORMATION APARATUS - A fuser includes a fusing press section, a cooling section, a peeling section and a limitation section. The fusing press section has a nip part is between a fixing belt and a pressurization member. The fusing press section fuses a toner image on a record sheet and fixes the toner image on the record sheet. The cooling section cools the record sheet which has the toner image. The record sheet is attached onto the fixing belt. The peeling section peels off the record sheet cooled by the cooling section from the fixing belt. And the limitation section is disposed between the fusing press section and the cooling section. The limitation section limits a move of heat from the fusing press section to the cooling section. | 10-16-2008 |
20080253796 | Image forming apparatus - An image writing unit causes, upon being set in a write position, an optical system unit to be movable and positions the optical system unit, with a hitting portion of the optical system unit hitting a blocking portion in a chassis. A holding unit includes, in a state in which the image writing unit is set in the write position, a portion defining an opening that faces either one of an air intake unit and an air exhaust unit. The air intake unit blows an intake air to the optical system unit through the opening, or the air exhaust unit draws an exhaust air around the optical system unit through the opening. | 10-16-2008 |
20080253797 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus includes a first transport belt group including endless belts arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction intersecting a transport direction of a printing medium, a second transport belt group including endless belts arranged so as to oppose the first transport belt group and configured to transport the printing medium while the printing medium is clamped between the first transport belt group and the second transport belt group, and a group of liquid ejecting heads provided between the endless belts of the first transport belt group or between the endless belts of the second transport belt group and configured to eject liquid onto the printing medium being transported. | 10-16-2008 |
20080267656 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND EXHAUST MECHANISM - In an exhaust mechanism of the present invention, an upper surface of a part of a main body case in which exhaust ports are formed is formed into a curved or inclined shape, so that no object can be placed thereon, and therefore, there can be provided an image forming apparatus wherein the exhaust ports are not closed, whereby a constant exhaust efficiency can be maintained, a higher exhaust efficiency can be realized, and safety is improved. | 10-30-2008 |
20080279580 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus has: a housing; a member to be cooled provided inside the housing, the member to be cooled in which heat builds up; an airflow producing portion provided in a predetermined position of the housing for taking in air outside the housing; an air guide member for passing the air thus taken in through a hollow cross-section part, and guiding the air to the member to be cooled to cool the member to be cooled; an air inlet portion provided at one end of the air guide member for taking in the air from the airflow producing portion; and an air blowoff portion provided at another end of the air guide member for sending the air to the member to be cooled, the air blowoff portion in which the cross-sectional area of the hollow cross-section part is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hollow cross-section part in the air inlet portion. | 11-13-2008 |
20080285998 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF REDUCING TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE OF A PHOTOSENSITIVE BODY - An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive body; a driver to drive the photosensitive body; a supporting bracket to support the driver; and a heat insulator disposed between the supporting bracket and the driver to shield the photosensitive body from heat generated by the driver. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285999 | Image-forming apparatus - An image-forming apparatus comprising an image-forming means for forming a toner image and for transferring it onto a recording medium by an electrophotographic system, a fixing means for heat-fixing the toner image onto the recording medium, and a discharge conveying passage for conveying the recording medium onto which the toner image has been heat-fixed to a discharge portion, which are arranged in an apparatus body. The discharge conveying passage extends in the up-and-down direction along one side wall of the apparatus body. A cooling fan is arranged between the image-forming means and the discharge conveying passage on the inside facing the discharge conveying passage for forming an air stream heading from the side of the image-forming means toward the discharge conveying passage. Exhaust ports are formed in the discharge conveying passage facing the cooling fan and in the one side wall. | 11-20-2008 |
20080298831 | System and method for cooling a roller having multiple heating zones - A printer includes a system for cooling an image receiving member. The image receiving member cooling system includes an image receiving member having a first end and a second end, a first heater mounted within the image receiving member for heating the image receiving member in the vicinity of the first end, a second heater mounted within the image receiving member for heating the image receiving member in the vicinity of the second end, a first temperature detector located proximate the first end of the image receiving member, a second temperature detector located proximate the second end of the image receiving member, a fan mounted at one end of the image receiving member, and a controller electrically coupled to the first and the second temperature detectors and the fan, the controller for activating the fan to move air from the end at which a higher temperature is detected past the other end. | 12-04-2008 |
20080304854 | COOLING MECHANISM OF FIXING DEVICE - In a cooing mechanism for a fixing device according to an embodiment of the invention, a duct that flows outer air taken in by a fan is attached firmly to a slit formed between a bent coil part at an end part of a coil and a magnetic core in an induction heating device. The bent coil part is directly cooled without exerting influence of outer air on a heat roller, and temperature rise in the bent coil part is securely prevented. | 12-11-2008 |
20080304855 | Image forming apparatus with external air circulation chamber - An image forming apparatus capable of minimizing a temperature rise of a cover is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, a fusing unit mounted in the main body to fuse an image to paper, a cover mounted to the main body to expose the fusing unit, a heat shielding member mounted proximate to an inner side of the cover to block heat transferred from the fusing unit, an external air circulation chamber formed between the heat shielding member and the cover, in which external air circulates by convection, and at least one external air flow hole, through which the air flows into/out of the external air circulation chamber. | 12-11-2008 |
20090010672 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, includes: an image forming section which forms the image on the sheet; a fixing device which fixes the image onto the sheet; a first duct which covers the fixing device and ventilates air heated by the fixing device; a second duct, which covers the first duct and ventilates cool air introduced from outside; and an exhaust fan which exhausts the air that has passed through each of the first duct and the second duct. | 01-08-2009 |
20090016764 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus comprising a heating rotating body which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material bearing the toner image, a fan which cools down the heating rotating body, and a duct adapted in such a manner that air which is blown by the fan so as to cool down the heating rotating body does not pass through a recording material conveying path. | 01-15-2009 |
20090052933 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image including: a photoreceptor; a charging apparatus for charging the photoreceptor; and exposure apparatus for exposing an image onto the charged photoreceptor and forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor; a development apparatus for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor; and a plural kinds of air flow paths for discharging air out of the apparatus by ventilating the air in an axial direction of the photoreceptor; wherein air flow directions in the plural kinds of air flow paths are made to be one and the same direction. | 02-26-2009 |
20090060560 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developer carrier arranged to face the image carrier to form a developing nip portion, which carries developer containing toner for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier, a developing unit having a developer regulating member that regulates a thickness of a layer of the carried developer, an air sending duct having an air sending path provided on the developing unit, which sends air to the developer carrier and a suction duct having a suction path provided on the developing unit, which sucks air from the developer carrier. The developer regulating member is arranged on an air sending duct side, and the air sending and suction paths are arranged to be connected by forming a space surrounded by a surface of the developer carrier, the developer regulating member and a wall forming the suction path. | 03-05-2009 |
20090097875 | SHEET POST-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - In one embodiment of the present invention, a sheet post-processing apparatus includes an ejection path that successively feed sheets each with an image found thereon from an ejection outlet. A processing tray is disposed under the ejection outlet to temporarily store sheets fed from the ejection path. A port processing unit performs post processing such as binding and punching. The post processing unit is located under the ejection path and is provided with a cooling fan that sends air toward the post processing unit. | 04-16-2009 |
20090116864 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER SUPPLY CONTAINER USED THEREFOR - In a toner supply container, an air blowing mechanism includes an air blowing fan, an air blowing tube, and an air inlet coupling member. The air inlet coupling member is in close contact with a side wall of the toner container around an air inlet, and includes a skirt made of elastic silicone rubber that covers a joint part of the air blowing tube and the air inlet. An exhaust mechanism includes an exhaust outlet coupling member, an exhaust tube, and an air cleaning filter. The exhaust outlet coupling member is in close contact with an upper wall of the toner container around an exhaust outlet, and includes a skirt made of elastic silicone rubber that covers a joint part of the exhaust tube and the air outlet. | 05-07-2009 |
20090116865 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH AN AIR CHANNEL THAT COMMUNICATES WITH A HANDLE FOR A SHEET CASSETTE - An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body; a sheet feeding cassette attached to the apparatus main body so as to be pulled out to an outside; a cover that covers, with an internal space in between, a portion of the apparatus main body different from a portion where the sheet feeding cassette is attached; a handle portion formed on a front face side in a pull-out direction of the sheet feeding cassette so as to open for enabling a user to insert a fingertip therein; an air channel formed in the sheet cassette and allowing an opening of the handle portion and the internal space inside the cover to communicate with each other; and an air blower that sends outside air inside the apparatus main body by way of the opening, the air channel, and the internal space. | 05-07-2009 |
20090123173 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A photoreceptor | 05-14-2009 |
20090123174 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus and method for developing a latent image on an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, an air flow generator, and an air intake device. The image bearing member is configured to bear the latent image on the surface thereof. The airflow generator is configured to generate airflow to transport a developer. The air intake device is configured to connect outside the image forming apparatus with the airflow generator to draw air from outside the image forming apparatus to supply the air to the airflow generator. | 05-14-2009 |
20090175647 | Image forming apparatus and image forming method - An image forming apparatus is provided and includes: an image formation unit that forms an image on a recording medium with a color material; a color material container that contains the color material; and a cooling air passage that a cooling air for cooling the color material container flows through, the color material container comprising at least a part of the cooling air passage. | 07-09-2009 |
20090202267 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, having: an image carrier to carry a toner image; a transfer unit to transfer the toner image on the image carrier onto a sheet through a rotating member disposed to face the image carrier; a fixing unit to heat and fix the transferred toner image onto the sheet; and a cooling device to suctions air from a transfer unit side and discharge the air to a fixing unit side. | 08-13-2009 |
20090202268 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit such as a process section for forming an image on a recording sheet. The apparatus may include a fixing unit for fixing the image formed by the image formation unit on the recording sheet, a reversible roller configured to receive the sheet from the fixing unit along a sheet transport path and reverse a transport direction of the sheet, and an air blower, positioned between the fixing unit and the reversible roller along the sheet transport path, configured to blow air in a sheet feeding direction onto the recording sheet on which the image is fixed by the fixing unit. | 08-13-2009 |
20090202269 | IMAGE HEATING APPARTUS - An image heating apparatus including: an image heating member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blower, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the image heating member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, in which the shutter is kept at a closed position when a temperature of the predetermined area of the image heating member is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, whereby a temperature rise in a non-sheet passing portion can be efficiently reduced by using the small air blower without lowering the productivity when small-size recording materials are continuously passed nor reducing the lifetime of the air blower. | 08-13-2009 |
20090202270 | AIR DUCT AND TONER CARTRIDGE USING SAME - The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for containing toner material used in an image-forming device. The cartridge comprises a developer roll, two J-seals that provide interfaces with the developer roll at the ends thereof, and an air duct that conducts airflow across the interfaces to cool the developer roll and seals. The air duct comprises an elongated hollow body and a pair of nozzles in fluid communication with the hollow body. One of the nozzles is disposed at a distal end of the developer roll near one J-seal, and the other of the nozzles is disposed at a proximal end of the developer roll near the second J-seal. | 08-13-2009 |
20090214250 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a first fan and a second fan that are configured to generate air in a main body of the apparatus, a controller configured to control operations of the fans, and a detector configured to detect a malfunction of a first fan. When the detector detects the malfunction of the first fan, the controller increases a voltage applied to the second fan as compared with that before the malfunction is detected. | 08-27-2009 |
20090220271 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device is provided to be able to make efficient use of an internal space while improving the detection accuracy, with which a detected body is detected. The image forming device according to the invention comprises a housing, a duct, through which an air in the housing is caused to flow, a detection portion arranged outside the duct to be displaced according to the presence of, or movement of a detected body, an operating portion that can be displaced in the duct, a detection element arranged in the duct to detect displacement of the operating portion, and a transmission portion that transmits displacement of the detection portion to the operating portion through an opening formed on the duct. | 09-03-2009 |
20090245848 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotor which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material on which the toner image is borne, a fan which cools the heating rotor, a blowing port which is arranged facing the heating rotor and through which blowing air passes from the fan toward the heating rotor, and a shutter which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the heating rotor so as to change opening area of the blowing port, wherein the shutter is moved in the longitudinal direction while rotating the fan after heating operation of the heating rotor to the toner image is completed. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245849 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus with a plate having holes is described. An image forming apparatus includes image carriers, side walls, and a plate disposed below the image carriers. The plate includes a plurality of holes along the sides of the plate near the side walls. The image carriers, the side walls, and the plate form one or more passages for air to flow during operation of a cooling fan. | 10-01-2009 |
20090252525 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A first air blowing portion including an upper duct and a first fan blows air along a first surface of a sheet passing through a sheet conveying path in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, and a second air blowing portion including a lower duct and a second fan blows air along a second surface opposed to the first surface of the sheet passing through the sheet conveying path in a direction reverse to the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction of the first air blowing portion, so that both surfaces of the sheet are cooled. | 10-08-2009 |
20090257773 | FUSER ASSEMBLIES, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON SUPPORT SHEETS - Fuser assemblies for fusing toner on support sheets, electrophotographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on support sheets are disclosed. The fuser assembly includes a fuser belt; a thermally-insulated enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the fuser belt; a conveyor for conveying the support sheet to a nip at which the fuser belt contacts the support sheet and the toner is fused onto the support sheet; a pre-heater; and a heat transfer system for transferring heat from inside of the enclosure to the pre-heater, the pre-heater using the heat to pre-heat the support sheet before the support sheet is conveyed to the nip. | 10-15-2009 |
20090285596 | ENDLESS MEMBER DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An endless member driving device, includes: an endless member that rotates by receiving a driving force; a cooling path that extends in a widthwise direction along at least one of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of the endless member; and a gas transfer unit that transfers a gas in the cooling path along the widthwise direction of the endless member, wherein the cooling path includes a downstream-side cooling path that is formed on a downstream side in a gas transferring direction of the cooling path, and the downstream-side cooling path being directed in an opposite direction to a moving direction of the obverse surface or the reverse surface of the endless member perpendicular to the widthwise direction with respect to the moving direction. | 11-19-2009 |
20090297203 | Image Forming Apparatus and Process Cartridge - An image forming apparatus has plural process cartridges. Each of process cartridges comprises: a photosensitive element; an electrification unit including a discharging unit and an electrification frame which contains the discharging unit and which has a first opening formed between the photosensitive element and the discharging unit and a second opening formed at a position opposite the first opening across the discharging unit; and a process frame including an exposure opening opposing the photosensitive element, wherein the plurality of process cartridges are arranged such that one process cartridge of a pair of adjacent process cartridges opposes the second opening and the exposure aperture of the electrification unit of the other process cartridge; a regulation member configured to regulate airflow is provided between the pair of process cartridges; and the regulation member has elasticity and is disposed in a position between the second opening and the exposure aperture of the electrification unit. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297204 | BELT CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - The image heating apparatus has a plurality of heat generators which are capable of forming a plurality of heat generating distribution in the longitudinal direction for supplying heat to a heating member. Unevenness in temperature is decreased by changing the heat generating distribution when cooling by a fan for the heating member starts. The heat generating distribution is changed so that heat generating amount at an area in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the cooling area by the fan is to be larger than the heat generating amount before starting the cooling. | 12-03-2009 |
20090311000 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a heat source, a toner containing member containing toner, and an electric fan for generating air flow in an air flow path formed between the heat source and the toner containing member. In the image forming apparatus, a temperature of the heat source reaches a glass transition point of the toner. After the electric fan is changed from a driving state to a rest state, a phase transition member for absorbing heat is disposed in a heat transfer path, in which heat transfers, from the heat source to the toner containing member. | 12-17-2009 |
20090324276 | FAN DRIVE APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING FAN DRIVE APPARATUS - A fan drive apparatus includes a first fan, a second fan configured to form an air flow space, which has an intake side and an exhaust side, in cooperation with the first fan, a first drive circuit and a second drive circuit configured to output drive voltages to drive the first fan and the second fan respectively, a current detection unit configured to detect a drive current for the second drive circuit when the first fan and the second fan are driven, and a control unit configured to control the second drive circuit to change the drive voltage applied to the second fan, and determine a drive voltage so that a variation amount of the drive current detected by the current detection unit with respect to a change of the drive voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined value. | 12-31-2009 |
20100003048 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a discharging unit, and multiple guide members. The transfer unit transfers an image onto a transfer sheet. The fixing unit fixes the image to the transfer sheet by application of heat and conveys the fixed transfer sheet to a further downstream portion of the image forming apparatus. The discharging unit discharges the transfer sheet to an external portion of the image forming apparatus. The multiple guide members form a sheet conveyance path that has first and second paths including a hollow portion defined by the multiple guide members to enable an air current generated during image forming to pass therethrough. | 01-07-2010 |
20100014885 | System for Creating a Condition of Substantial Thermal Consistency Between Multiple Printer Cartridges - A system for creating a condition of substantial thermal consistency between multiple printer cartridges includes a frame defining a cavity for supporting the multiple cartridges spaced apart from one another and a plurality of components mounted to the frame in flow communication with one another and with the cavity via the frame. The plurality of components coact with one another and with the frame to generate, regulate and distribute an intake flow of cooling air from the frame into multiple inflows of cooling air along different spaced apart paths at different velocities through the cavity and between the spaced apart multiple cartridges for causing transformation of the multiple inflows of cooling air into multiple outflows of heated air by contact with the multiple cartridges and to exhaust the multiple outflows of heated air from the cavity and frame. | 01-21-2010 |
20100034553 | AIR GUIDE MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An air guide mechanism includes a box unit that incorporates a heating element therein; an air fan unit that is disposed within the box unit; and a guide unit that is disposed on a side of the box unit, wherein the guide unit guides the air to a portion of a round area formed due to the rotation of the vane portion from a first direction having an acute angle with respect to an inclination direction of the vane portion corresponding to the portion of the round area, and to an area, which is at least another portion of the round area and in which the first direction intersects at a non-acute angle with an inclination direction of the vane portion, from a second direction having a smaller angle than the non-acute angle. | 02-11-2010 |
20100054791 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus comprising a fixing unit; a discharge unit; a stacking unit; an inversion guide; a cooling fan; an opening; a duct; and a second duct, wherein the discharge unit is provided on a downstream side of the side end of the fixing unit in a paper discharge direction, and an air flow direction from the duct toward the second duct is substantially matched with a direction in which hot air above the fixing unit is taken in by the cooling fan. | 03-04-2010 |
20100080606 | DEVELOPING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING SAME - A developing unit includes a unit main body having an internal space defined by a predetermined frame and capable of supplying a developer to the outside while agitating the developer within the internal space, a unit-side cooling duct attached to the unit main body, and a duct connecting member connecting the unit-side cooling duct and an external duct which supplies a cooling gas to the unit-side cooling duct from outside the unit main body. The unit-side cooling duct is structured by a duct piece and a part of the predetermined frame. The duct piece is detachably attached to the unit main body in opposed relation to the part of the predetermined frame, and has an end that is fitted to the duct connecting member. | 04-01-2010 |
20100086326 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus comprising a heating rotating body which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material bearing the toner image, a fan which cools down the heating rotating body, and a duct adapted in such a manner that air which is blown by the fan so as to cool down the heating rotating body does not pass through a recording material conveying path. | 04-08-2010 |
20100098452 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE SUPPORT MEMBER - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main frame, and a tray being movable between an inner side position located inside of the main frame and an outer side position located outside of the main frame while supporting process cartridges. The tray has, in its interior, hollow portions through which outside air passes, an inlet that introduces the outside air into the hollow portions, and outlets through which the outside air introduced into the hollow portions is discharged so as to impinge on the process cartridges. | 04-22-2010 |
20100104314 | HEAT EXHAUST PLENUM ATTACH/DETACH MECHANISM - A simple and cost effective method of simplifying and speeding heat exhaust plenum attachment and detachment from a machine that uses metal for exterior covers and air output grills includes placing magnetic sheeting around that portion of the plenum that mates with the back of the machine and allowing the magnetic force of the sheeting to attach the plenum to the machine. The plenum can easily be detached from the machine by overcoming the magnetic force of the sheeting. | 04-29-2010 |
20100129107 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND COOLING METHOD USED THEREIN - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image carrier and a development device, a transfer unit to transfer an image formed on the image carrier onto a sheet, a fixing device to fix the image on the sheet, a sheet transport unit, a sheet stack portion, an air duct, and a first liquid-cooling device. The first liquid-cooling device includes a first heat receiving member disposed in thermal contact with a first heated portion, a first heat releaser, a first circulation pipe connecting the first heat receiving member and the first heat releaser to circulate a coolant therebetween, a first transport member to transport the coolant through the first circulation pipe, and an airflow generator to generate an airflow with external air to cool the first heat releaser. The air duct guides the air taken in by the airflow generator to a second heated portion. | 05-27-2010 |
20100158557 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cooling device that cools the inside of an image forming apparatus provided with a developer carrier that carries an image developed with a developer while being rotated. The cooling device includes: a counting unit that counts an accumulative number of rotation of the developer carrier; and a fan that cools the inside of the image forming apparatus. The cooling device further includes: a calculating unit that calculates the abrasion amount of the developer carrier in which the accumulative number of rotation counted by the counting unit is used as at least one variable; and a controlling unit that actuates the fan with cooling efficiency according to the abrasion amount calculated by the calculating unit. | 06-24-2010 |
20100215394 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image; an image-transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed by the image forming unit onto an recording medium; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred on the recording medium by the image-transfer unit; a conveyance path that guides the recording medium toward the image-transfer unit by changing a conveyance direction of the recording medium fixed with the toner image by the fixing unit; and a reverse path that has at least a partial overlap with the conveyance path in a vertical direction by being folded in a direction opposite to a direction of the conveyance path, and turns over the recording medium by conveying the recording medium toward the image-transfer unit from a front end portion of the recording medium conveying the recording medium toward the image-transfer unit from a front end portion of the recording medium to a rear end portion of the recording medium. | 08-26-2010 |
20100226681 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable belt to be heated, a pressure roller for pressure-contacting the rotatable belt so as to constitute a pressure contact portion in which a recording sheet is nipped and conveyed so that an image on the recording sheet is heated, and a roller provided for pressing an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable belt inward on a downstream in a sheet conveying direction of the pressure contact portion. | 09-09-2010 |
20100232826 | COOLING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - In an image formation state, to cool a recording sheet on a route from a fixer to a paper ejection roller, a blast fan assumes a first position restrained by a first fixture. Also, in another state, to cool a recording sheet on the catch tray, the blast fan assumes a second position restrained by a second fixture. To transition from the image formation state to another state, the blast fan sends a strong blast in a reverse direction from the normal blast direction. A bias is generated on the blast fan due to the resulting reactive force, the blast fan becomes free from the restraint of the first fixture, and shifts from the first position to the second position. Conversely, to transition from another state to the image formation state, a strong blast is sent in the same direction as the normal blast direction, and the blast fan shifts from the second position to the first position. | 09-16-2010 |
20100290804 | EXHAUST DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME, RECORDING MEDIUM ON WHICH CONTROL PROGRAM FOR EXHAUST DEVICE IS RECORDED - An exhaust device provided in an image forming apparatus is provided. In the exhaust device, an initial condition setting unit sets an initial drive output value of a exhaust fan at a time of starting an image forming operation based on a calculation value calculated by an image bearing member drive counting unit. A drive unit drives the exhaust fan to start to discharge air in the image forming apparatus. A continuation condition setting unit sets a continuation drive condition at a time of continuously driving the exhaust fan from a point in time when ending the image forming operation based on a count value of the number of image formation by the job counting unit | 11-18-2010 |
20100316408 | CLEANING CONTROL OF IMAGE CARRIER IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Process cartridges are driven by respectively corresponding DC brushless motors. In a cleaning sequence executed after image formation ends, the DC brushless motors operate according to the driving parameters such that acoustic operational noise decreases. | 12-16-2010 |
20100322662 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus wherein a printing medium can be prevented from being stained with toner leaking out of a developing device. As a photosensitive drum rotates in a direction, an air flow in the rotating direction is generated around the photosensitive drum. Guides that define a part of a sheet path are disposed to guide a sheet to between a transfer roller and the photosensitive drum. The guides are located in positions downstream from the developing device and upstream from the transfer roller with respect to the rotating direction of the photosensitive drum and face the photosensitive drum. A fan is disposed to generate an air flow passing below the guides. An air passage for directing part of the air flow generated around the photosensitive drum to the air flow passing below the guides is made in a position upstream from the sheet path and downstream from the developing device with respect to the rotating direction of the photosensitive drum. | 12-23-2010 |
20100329726 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus comprises a fixing part for fixing a toner image formed on a transfer material to the transfer material, a fan provided on the downstream side of the fixing part, for blowing air to the transfer material having passed through the fixing part, and an airflow control part for controlling the amount of air to be blown from the fan. When the basis weight of the transfer material is larger than a first threshold value, the airflow control part sets the amount of air to be blown to a value smaller than that in a case where the basis weight of the transfer material is smaller than the first threshold value. | 12-30-2010 |
20110008067 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer belt having a surface onto which a toner image is transferred directly or through a transfer medium; plural image forming units that are aligned along a moving direction of the surface of the transfer belt and form the toner image; a support member that supports the transfer belt; a flow path forming member that forms a flow path along the moving direction of the surface of the transfer belt, has plural suction ports through which floating fine toner particles occurring in the plural image forming units are sucked into the flow path, and is disposed at the transfer belt side with respect to the support member; and an exhausting unit that sucks the floating fine toner particles through the suction ports into the flow path, and exhausts the sucked floating fine toner particles from the flow path. | 01-13-2011 |
20110008068 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device is disclosed which includes a developing tank, a developing roller, a carrying member, and a filter. Rotation of the developing roller causes a first airflow directed from the outside of the developing tank through an air path to the inside of the developing tank. Rotation of the carrying member causes a second airflow directed from below in an upward direction inside the developing tank. Collision between the first airflow and the second airflow causes a third airflow directed from the inside of the developing tank through the filter to the outside of the developing tank and further from the outside through the filter back to the inside of the developing tank. This arrangement prevents not only filter clogging but also a toner leak to the outside of the developing device. | 01-13-2011 |
20110026963 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit; a pair of frames that faces each other with sandwiching the image forming unit therebetween, at least one of the pair of frames including: a first frame, which is made of resin, and which forms a lower part thereof; and a second frame, which forms an upper part thereof; a duct that forms an air passageway between an outer side of the pair of frames and an inner side of the pair of frames; a fan that generates airflow in the duct; and a rib wall, which forms at least a part of the duct, and which is integrally molded with the first frame, wherein a width of the rib wall, increases from an upper end side of the first frame to a lower end side of the first frame. | 02-03-2011 |
20110033198 | INTERNAL WARMING-UP METHOD AND SHEET POST-PROCESSING APPARATUS INCLUDING WARMING-UP DEVICE - A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a warming-up device including a first duct connected to a fan to lead warm exhaust air sucked from an image forming apparatus into an apparatus, a second duct provided to lead the warm exhaust air discharged by a fan or ambient Air in a housing to the fan, and a control valve that performs switching control to lead, when a temperature sensor measures temperature equal to or higher than proper operation temperature, high-temperature Air in the housing and the warm exhaust air such that the fan discharges the high-temperature Air and the warm exhaust air to the outside and lead, when the temperature sensor measures temperature lower than the proper operation temperature, the warm exhaust air to the mechanical members of the sheet post-processing apparatus and the temperature sensor. | 02-10-2011 |
20110052244 | FREQUENCY DAMPENING DUCT - This is an environmental unit useful in a xerographic system that reduces or eliminates pulsation and vibration in the system. This is accomplished by the use of flexible bladders on a wall of the air duct work pumping air into the print housing. When the vibration is abated, the banding problems on images are eliminated. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052245 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME, AND FIXING METHOD - In a fixing device, a metal member is provided inside a fixing belt to heat the fixing belt. A first lubricant is applied between the metal member and the fixing belt at a center portion of the fixing belt in an axial direction of the fixing belt that contacts a recording medium bearing a toner image. A second lubricant having a viscosity greater than a viscosity of the first lubricant is applied between the metal member and the fixing belt at lateral edge portions of the fixing belt in the axial direction of the fixing belt that do not contact the recording medium. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052246 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus which includes a fan to generate an air flow within the image forming apparatus, and a controller to drive the fan at a first speed corresponding to a first time period representing an image forming operation and to drive the fan at a second speed corresponding to a second time period corresponding to operations other than the image forming operation. | 03-03-2011 |
20110064448 | LASER FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an aspect of the invention, a laser fixing device includes a laser beam generating device and an airflow generating unit. The laser beam generating device generates laser beams and irradiates a recording medium transported with the laser beams. The airflow generating unit generates airflow flowing between the laser beam generating device and the recording medium. A flow speed of the airflow in a transport direction of the recording medium in an irradiation position of the laser beams is higher than a transport speed of the recording medium. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064449 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus such as a color printer including a fixing device and air supply and exhaust members, capable of effectively exhausting hot, moist air and preventing condensation from forming in and around a sheet conveyance path. The image forming apparatus includes an exhaust fan mounted at a predetermined angle to the sheet conveyance path above the fixing device, with an exhaust airflow path of the exhaust fan narrowing toward a downstream side in the air exhaust direction. | 03-17-2011 |
20110085818 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a placement tray on which a recording medium is placed and which is attachably and detachably assembled into a housing. The placement tray includes a holding portion having an upwardly concave configuration at one end of the placement tray in an attaching and detaching direction of the placement tray. The holding portion includes at least one air vent for taking air into the housing in a vicinity of at least one of both end portions of the holding portion in a width direction perpendicular to the attaching and detaching direction. | 04-14-2011 |
20110097101 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image-forming device includes a main casing, a process casing, a photosensitive member, a charger, a first duct member, a fan, and a duct moving unit. The process casing is accommodated in the main casing and removably mounted thereon. The process casing has a casing inlet formed therein. The photosensitive member is disposed in the process casing. The charger is disposed in the process casing for charging a photosensitive member. The first duct member has a duct outlet,. The fan blows air on the charger through the duct outlet of the first duct member and the casing inlet. The duct moving unit moves the first duct member between a first position in which the duct outlet of the first duct member is adjacent to the casing inlet formed in the process casing, and a second position in which the duct outlet is separated farther from the casing inlet than in the first position. | 04-28-2011 |
20110097102 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has: a rotary member which conveys a sheet; a blowing device which blows a cooling air to cool the rotary member; and a blow-off member which blows the cooling air from the blowing device toward the rotary member. The cooling air is blown toward the portion of the rotary member serving as a downstream side of the rotary member and a blow-off direction of the cooling air is opposite to a rotating direction of the rotary member. | 04-28-2011 |
20110110678 | EXHAUST APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An exhaust apparatus includes a first exhausting section including a first exhausting member and a first flow path provided with an air inlet disposed above a heating device for heating a recording medium, a second exhausting section including a second exhausting member and a second flow path provided with an air inlet disposed downstream of the heating device in a transporting direction of the recording medium, and a third flow path provided with an air inlet disposed upstream of the heating device in the transporting direction. The first and second flow paths cause air in a housing that accommodates the heating device to flow to the outside. The first and second exhausting member exhaust the air using the first and second flow paths. The third flow path causes the air to flow from the air inlet thereof to the air inlet of the first flow path. | 05-12-2011 |
20110110679 | HEAT INSULATION STRUCTURE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A heat insulation structure includes: a duct member disposed above a fixing device that fixes developer onto a recording medium, through which air flows to be exhausted; a heat insulating member disposed between an upper side of the duct member and a lower side of a function member disposed above the duct member; and a gap forming member that forms a gap between the duct member and the heat insulation member in a vertical direction. | 05-12-2011 |
20110116826 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A cooling device having a cooling unit including an air suction port that is disposed at a front surface side of a main body of the cooling device to suck air, and an air exhaust port that is disposed at a rear surface side of the main body of the cooling device to exhaust air, in which the cooling unit transfers heat from a cooling target to air sucked from the air suction port to cool the cooling target, and discharges the heat-transferred air from the air exhaust port. | 05-19-2011 |
20110116827 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A copier comprises a housing, an image reading section, an image forming section, a paper discharge section, a paper supply section. and an ion generating unit. The ion generating unit is disposed below the paper discharge section and above the paper supply section. The ion generating unit includes a duct that defines a path of flow guiding air sucked from outside of the housing to outside of the housing again. | 05-19-2011 |
20110116828 | ION GENERATING UNIT WITH ION GENERATING FUNCTION AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH - An ion generating unit comprises a duct, an ion generating device, a mounting plate and a fan. The duct is configured so as to have an air intake port at a first end and so as to have an exhaust port at a second end. The ion generating device is disposed inside the duct. The mounting plate is configured so as to serve to attach the duct to the housing. The mounting plate has an opening aperture communicating with the duct, and is configured so as to be attachable to the housing and so as to function as a part of the housing when it is attached to the housing. | 05-19-2011 |
20110123215 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic apparatus which has an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer constituted of an amorphous silicon carbide, wherein the ratio of the atom density (C) of carbon atoms to the sum of the atom density (Si) of silicon atoms and the atom density (C) of carbon atoms, C/(Si+C), in the surface layer is set larger from one end portion toward the other end portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the direction of rotational axis thereof, and is from 0.61 or more to 0.75 or less in the whole region of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the direction of rotational axis thereof and the electrophotographic apparatus has an air current generation means which draws out air from the side of the above one end portion toward the side of the above other end portion. | 05-26-2011 |
20110142480 | HEATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heating device includes: a heating member heating a recording medium; a pressure member forming a heating pressure portion between the pressure member and the heating member by coming into pressure contact with the heating member, the heating pressure portion passing through the recording medium; a tensioning member placed to face the pressure member across the heating member to provide a tension to the heating member; and a cooling unit cooling the pressure member, the cooling unit including: an air blower generating an air flow; a circulator circulating the air flow along the pressure member; and a group of protruding portions provided on the circulator to guide the air flow. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142481 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a corona charge device to charge a photoconductor. The corona charge device includes first and second shielding members arranged to shield most of a space between a surface of the photoconductor and the corona charge device, and a guide member to guide outside air stream to an outside air inlet. The image forming apparatus prevents damage and contamination of the photoconductor due to byproducts of corona discharge. | 06-16-2011 |
20110188879 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a paper supply section, a housing member and an ion generating unit. The housing member is disposed at least below the image forming section, and gives the same shape in plane view as the image forming section and the paper supply section. The ion generating unit is contained in the housing member. The ion generating unit includes a duct forming a pathway of flow to guide the air that is sucked in from outside of the housing member again to outside of the housing member, an ion generating device disposed inside the duct, and a fan for generating an air current in the duct. | 08-04-2011 |
20110200350 | PROCESS UNIT FOR AN IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE - A process unit includes a photosensitive drum, a frame, a partitioning member, and a charging wire. The photosensitive drum has a rotational axis extending in an axis direction. A space is formed in the frame. The partitioning member is disposed in the space to partition the space into a first air passage into which an air flows from an outside of the frame and a second air passage. The separating member is formed with a ventilation hole thorough which the air flows into the second air passage from the first air passage. The charging wire is disposed in the second air passage and extends in the axis direction to charge the photosensitive drum. The frame is formed with a guiding surface that guides the air flowing into the second air passage toward the charging wire. | 08-18-2011 |
20110200351 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier belt for carrying an image, a transfer roller rotating on a rotating shaft and forming a transfer nip with the image carrier belt downward in a vertical direction from a virtual horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction including the centerline of the rotating shaft, an airflow-generating unit for generating a first airflow directed between the image carrier belt and a transfer surface, and a second airflow directed towards the transfer surface from below in the vertical direction, where the image has been transferred by the transfer nip onto a transfer material, and where the image on the transfer material has been transferred onto the transfer surface. | 08-18-2011 |
20110206408 | System for Cooling a Developer Roll Inside an Image Forming Device - A system for cooling a developer roll inside an image forming device. In one embodiment of the invention, the system for cooling the developer roll includes an air duct for carrying an airflow, the air duct having at least one opening to allow airflow to pass therethrough, and at least one toner cartridge in fluid communication with the air duct. The at least one toner cartridge includes the developer roll and at least one input port. The at least one input port is coupled to the at least one opening of the air duct to receive the airflow and to direct the received airflow towards end portions of the developer roll via a conduit and nozzles located within the toner cartridge. The system provides an effective way for introducing the airflow into the toner cartridge for cooling the developer roll. | 08-25-2011 |
20110206409 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device includes: a heater; a nip member; a stay; a tubular flexible fusing member; a pair of frame members; a backup member; and a ventilator. The heater is configured to radiate radiant heat. The nip member is configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater. The stay has an inner surface confronting the heater and an outer surface in opposition to the inner surface. The stay is configured to cover the heater and to support the nip member. The tubular flexible fusing member has end portions in an axial direction and an inner peripheral surface. The fusing member is configured to surround the heater, the nip member and the stay. The pair of frame members is disposed at the end portions. One of the frame members is formed with an inlet opening. Remaining one of the frame members is formed with an outlet opening. The inlet opening and the outlet opening are in fluid communication with a space defined between the inner peripheral surface and the outer surface. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The ventilator is configured to allow an air to flow in the space in the axial direction from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. | 08-25-2011 |
20110217065 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a toner image carrier that rotates in a specified direction, a developing device comprising a toner supporting member that faces to a surface of the toner image carrier to form a developing area and that rotates in a same direction with the toner image carrier at the developing area, a transfer member for transferring a toner image from the surface of the toner image carrier onto a recording sheet, a guide for guiding a recording sheet to between the toner image carrier and the transfer member, and an air aspirator for aspirating air from the developing area and a location of the guide to a location of the transfer member. The air aspirator causes a first airflow, which carries toner, from the developing area and a second airflow, which does not carry toner, from the location of the guide. The second airflow prevents the first airflow from flowing to the location of the guide. Further, an opening is made at a position upstream from the guide with respect to a direction of the second airflow as an air inlet of the second airflow. | 09-08-2011 |
20110222897 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a corona charger, including a charging electrode, for charging a photosensitive member; a cleaning member for cleaning said charging electrode; a shutter in the form of a sheet for opening and closing an opening provided between the charging electrode of said corona charger and the photosensitive member; driving means for driving said shutter and said cleaning member; a first fan for supplying the air toward said photosensitive member through the opening of said corona charger; and control means for controlling said fan such that air supply operation of said first fan stopped before said shutter operates to close the opening. | 09-15-2011 |
20110229184 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A developing device includes: a developer carrying member for supplying a developer to an image bearing member at an opposing region opposing to the image bearing member, the developer carrying member being arranged so as to be opposed to the image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed; a blade for regulating an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a casing for housing the developer carrying member and the blade, the casing including a wall portion opposed to the developer carrying member between the blade and the opposing region; a sheet member that is flexible, provided on the wall portion, has a free end, forms a part of an inner wall surface of the wall portion, and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the inner wall surface; and a moving portion provided on the wall portion, for moving the sheet member. | 09-22-2011 |
20110243595 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND COOLING DUCT - An image forming apparatus is provided that can achieve a reduction in size while ensuring the necessary cooling performance. The image forming apparatus includes in an apparatus main body thereof: an image carrier; a developing device disposed to oppose the image carrier; a cooling fan; and a cooling duct flowing cool air from the cooling fan to at least the image carrier and the developing device, in which the cooling duct includes an image-carrier cooling duct that flows cool air to the image carrier; and a developing-device cooling duct that flows cool air to the developing device, and the image-carrier cooling duct and the developing-device cooling duct are disposed abreast front to back inside of the apparatus main body. | 10-06-2011 |
20110249982 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - An image formation apparatus includes: an image formation unit configured to form a developer image; an image transfer unit configured to transfer the developer image from the image formation unit to a recording medium; a fixation unit having a heater to fix the developer image to the recording medium; a duct provided between the image formation unit and the fixation unit, the duct comprising a first circumference section made of heat conductive material and a second circumference section made of heat insulation material; and a fan to flow air through the duct. | 10-13-2011 |
20110255895 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus including: a body housing; a paper feeding unit accommodated in the body housing and providing a recording medium; an image forming unit accommodated in the body housing and forming an image on the recording medium; a fixing unit accommodated in the body housing and fixing the image formed by the image forming unit; and a cooling unit including a channel including an inhalation part and a discharging part which are formed in the body housing for air to flow, extending between the inhalation part and the discharging part and formed adjacently to the fixing unit, and an air purification module installed in the channel and generating ions reacting to foreign substances in air traveling through the channel to purify the air, and discharging heat generated in the fixing unit to the outside. | 10-20-2011 |
20110262174 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING SCATTER OF TONER FROM DEVELOPING DEVICE - A developing device includes: a developing roller that faces an image carrier at a development position; a housing that supports the developing roller, supplies a developer to the developing roller and includes an opening portion formed in a wall surface of the housing; and a pipe that communicates with the opening portion. | 10-27-2011 |
20110262175 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR CHANGING EXHAUST AIR DIRECTION - An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a housing including an exhaust port; a pocket-and-duct which is attached to or detached from the housing; and an attaching portion of the pocket-and-duct. | 10-27-2011 |
20110262176 | CHARGING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a charging device, a holding member holding a discharge electrode is provided in a shield case. The holding member includes a first guide and a second guide defining a slit therebetween. In the slit, the rear face of the discharge electrode other than a first long side is fixed to the internal side face of the first guide. The holding member holds the discharge electrode so that the entire surface of the discharge electrode and the rear face of the first long side are positioned in an air path extending from the air inlet to a gap and the first long side faces a grid electrode. | 10-27-2011 |
20110280609 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus ( | 11-17-2011 |
20110305477 | DEVELOPER CONTAINING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer containing device for containing a developer includes a partition arranged between an outer space and an inner space for containing the developer, a bearing arranged on the partition, a rotation shaft carried by the bearing and extending from the outer space to the inner space, a sealing member arranged on the inner space side, having one end side fixed to the partition and the other end side being in contact with a surface of the rotation shaft, and thereby isolating the bearing from the inner space, a communication groove arranged at the surface of the rotation shaft, and connecting the outer space to a closed space isolated from the inner space by the sealing member, and a communication passage arranged on the partition for connecting the outer space to the closed space. | 12-15-2011 |
20110311261 | DEVELOPMENT APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A development apparatus according to the present invention includes: a stir member that stirs a developer in a development container; a stir gear that rotates the stir member; a stir rotation shaft that connects the stir member and the stir gear to each other; a development member that supplies the developer onto a surface of an image carrier; a development gear that collaborates with the stir gear to form a series of gears and rotates the development member; a development rotation shaft that connects the development member and the development gear to each other; a housing box that houses the stir gear and the development gear, supports the stir rotation shaft and the development rotation shaft, and is provided with an air take-in opening for taking in air and an air discharge opening for discharging the taken-in air; and a wind sending member that takes in the air from the air take-in opening into the housing box and makes the taken-in air pass through the housing box to discharge the air from the air discharge opening. | 12-22-2011 |
20110311262 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An embodiment provides an image forming apparatus including: a photo conductor; a charging unit that charges the surface of the photo conductor by using corona discharge; a fixing device that fixes a toner image transferred on a recording medium from the photo conductor; a plurality of fans that discharges air containing ozone produced by charging of the charging unit to the outside of the apparatus, by generating the flow of the air from the inside of the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus; an information acquiring unit that acquires at least any one of print process information, which is information on a print process, or apparatus information, which is information on the internal environment of the apparatus; a reference determining unit that determines whether the print process or the internal environment of the apparatus satisfies the reference by using the print process information or the apparatus information that is acquired by the information acquiring unit; and an operation control unit including a first control mode that operates and stops the fans and the fixing device when the reference determining unit determines that the reference is not satisfied, and a second control mode that is performed before the first control mode is performed and stops the fixing device while driving the fans, when the reference determining unit determines that the reference is satisfied. | 12-22-2011 |
20120002997 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including an intake opening from which an outside air is drawn, a fixing device disposed above the intake opening to heat a recording medium to fix an image onto the recording medium, and a flow path for the air drawn from the intake opening to direct the air onto devices or components provided near the fixing device inside the image forming apparatus by negative pressure generated by an upward current of hot air generated from the fixing device. | 01-05-2012 |
20120014707 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING VAPOR EMISSIONS FROM A PRINTER - An apparatus for reducing vapor emissions from a printer may include a treatment chamber having an inlet and an outlet. While the printer is operating, vapor-laden air may enter the treatment chamber via the inlet and treated air may exit the treatment chamber via the outlet. While the printer is idle, the inlet and outlet can be sealed to prevent vapors located in the treatment chamber from being emitted to the atmosphere. | 01-19-2012 |
20120045243 | BLOWER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A blower includes a fan; and an air duct having a passage formed therein, the air duct guiding the air and blowing the air onto the corona discharger, the air duct including an increasing-width portion in which a passage width gradually increases downstream in an air flow direction, a decreasing-height portion in which a passage height gradually decreases downstream in the air flow direction, an extension portion extending from a downstream end of the decreasing-height portion to a position near the corona discharger, a bent portion that is bent from a downstream end of the extension portion toward the corona discharger, an opening formed at a downstream end of the bent portion, and a plate-shaped member disposed in the passage at a position on an inner wall of any of the decreasing-height portion and the extension portion, the inner wall being on the corona discharger side. | 02-23-2012 |
20120057895 | Laser Printer Cleaning Cartridge Device and Method - A cleaning cartridge insert is provided for removing residual paper debris and toner from a laser printer in between printer cartridge removal and replacement. The cartridge comprises a modified laser printer cartridge with an internal cavity lined with an adhesive material, a plurality of air inlet tubes and a drive gear having an adhesive outer surface. With the lid of the printer cartridge loading cavity in an open state, the cartridge is placed therein into a working position, as would a replacement cartridge. Compressed air is then forced into the nozzles of the air inlet tubes, stirring paper dust, residual toner and debris from the interior of the printer and onto the adhesive cavity of the cartridge device. The lid is then closed, which initiates the drive gear of the cartridge roller, which cleans debris from the bias transfer roller via rotation during the machine initializing stage. The present invention is intended as a preventative maintenance device for laser printers, prolonging their useful life and the increasing service intervals wherein a specialist is required for maintenance and cleaning. | 03-08-2012 |
20120063803 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - To remove also VOC gas generated from the discharged sheets, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet; a tray on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are stacked; a suction device which sucks air from the surrounding space of sheets stacked up on the tray; and a VOC removing unit which removes VOC contained in the air sucked by the sucking device. | 03-15-2012 |
20120070179 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including an upper section including an image forming section to form an image on a recording sheet, a lower section arranged below the upper section including a sheet supplying tray to stack a plurality of recording sheets, a partitioning body to separate the upper section and the lower section in a vertical direction, wherein the lower section includes a dehumidification device to heat the inside of the lower section and to dehumidify the recording sheets stacked on the sheet supplying tray, the partitioning body includes a first shielding member to shield a bottom portion of the upper section, a second shielding member separated from the first shielding member to shield a top portion of the lower section, a clearance formed between the first shielding member and the second shielding member, and an air blowing section to blow air into the clearance. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070180 | COOLING DEVICE, COOLING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cooling device to cool an apparatus includes a heat receiver to receive heat from a hot portion of the apparatus using a coolant while contacting the hot portion, a heat releaser to cool the heat-received coolant to release the heat from the hot portion to outside the apparatus, the heat releaser having a variable-speed fan of multiple operation speed modes including an off mode, a coolant circulation system through which the coolant is circulated between the heat receiver and the heat releaser, a variable-speed pump to move the coolant through the coolant circulation system, whose operation speed modes include an off mode and relate to a coolant flow rate of the pump, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature in the hot portion, and a controller to control the operation modes of the fan and the pump in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070181 | Air Duct and Toner Cartridge Using Same - A cartridge for containing toner material used in an image-forming device according to one example embodiment includes a developer roll, two J-seals that provide interfaces with the developer roll at the ends thereof, and an air duct that conducts airflow across the interfaces to cool the developer roll and seals. The air duct is an unitary structure including an elongated hollow body and a pair of nozzles in fluid communication with the hollow body. One of the nozzles is disposed at a distal end of the developer roll near one J-seal, and the other of the nozzles is disposed at a proximal end of the developer roll near the second J-seal. | 03-22-2012 |
20120087693 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus comprising a process unit having a charger that charges a photosensitive member, a fixing unit having a heat source for thermally fixing a developer image formed on a recording sheet by the process unit, an apparatus body configured to accommodate the process unit and the fixing unit and having an ejection port above the fixing unit, the ejection port being used for ejecting the recording sheet ejected from the fixing unit to the outside of the image forming apparatus and an exhaust fan configured to discharge air inside the apparatus body to the outside of the image forming apparatus. The exhaust fan is disposed at a fixing-unit side of the process unit and is disposed lower than both the charger and the heat source such that air entering through the ejection port from outside the image forming apparatus flows through the fixing unit and is discharged by the exhaust fan. | 04-12-2012 |
20120107009 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes a fan configured to generate an air flow moving from both ends of photosensitive drums in a rotation axis direction toward a space (gap) between two process cartridges located next to each other among a plurality of process cartridges. The air flow is caused to move to a center of the space from both ends of the space in the rotation axis direction by a changing member (stay member). Temperature differences in the image forming apparatus in which plural image forming units are provided side by side can be reduced to improve cooling efficiency. | 05-03-2012 |
20120107010 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a first process unit and a second process unit arranged in parallel and each having a photosensitive drum configured to form an electrostatic latent image by an exposure and a charging device configured to charge the photosensitive drum; an exposing unit disposed between the first process unit and the second process unit and configured to expose the photosensitive drum of the second process unit; a first flow channel formed between the first process unit and the exposing unit for supplying air to the charging device of the second process unit; and a second flow channel formed in the first process unit and having an outlet for supplying the air to the charging device of the second process unit. | 05-03-2012 |
20120114366 | DEVELOPER COLLECTING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer collecting device includes a housing provided with an opening opposed to a developer carrying member; a collecting member provided along an edge of the opening at a downstream end thereof in a transporting direction of the developer carrying member, the collecting member removing developer from the developer carrying member and collecting the developer into the housing when the collecting member is in contact with the developing carrying member; a suction unit that sucks air from the opening; a flow rate regulating member provided in a suction path between the suction unit and the housing, the flow rate regulating member changing a flow rate of the air; and an operation device that moves the collecting member and operates the flow rate regulating member such that the flow rate regulating member raises the flow rate before the separation of the collecting member from the developer carrying member. | 05-10-2012 |
20120148290 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention prevents condensation on a pressure roller and excessive temperature rise of a non-paper-passage portion of a fixing unit by switching a blower unit that cools the fixing unit between a blowing mode in which the blower unit sends air to the non-paper-passage portion and an exhausting mode in which a fan of the blower unit is rotated reversely and the air in the fixing unit is exhausted out of the apparatus. | 06-14-2012 |
20120155913 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH GUIDE MEMBER TO GUIDE AIR - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a print medium, a fixing unit to fix the image formed by the image forming unit on the print medium, and a guide member installed in a moving path where air moves along between the image forming unit and the fixing unit so that air inhaled through an inhaling unit formed at one side of a main frame can be exhausted to an exhaust unit formed at the other side of the main frames, and to guide a moving direction of the air so that the air inhaled through the inhaling unit can move to the image forming unit along the moving path. | 06-21-2012 |
20120189341 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, which has an exposure device for emitting light to a charged image formation surface to form an electrostatic latent image, a support structure for supporting the exposure device, and a housing for storing the exposure device, wherein the housing has a first wall which is provided with an insertion opening to insert the support structure that supports the exposure device, and the support structure is designed so that the support structure is pulled out of the housing through the insertion opening. | 07-26-2012 |
20120201563 | Image Forming Apparatus, Latent Image Carrying Unit, and Developing Unit - Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrying drum on which a latent image is formed; a charging section that includes a corona charger charging the latent image carrying drum and an air flow duct formed in the corona charger so as to be long in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrying drum so that air flows in the corona charger; a developing section that is disposed above the air flow duct in the vertical direction, is formed so as to be shorter than the air flow duct in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrying drum, and develops the latent image formed on the latent image carrying drum by a liquid developing agent including toner and a carrier liquid. | 08-09-2012 |
20120201564 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - At the start of paper conveyance, a gate is turned upwards to a first position to thereby close a sixth conveying path and establish communication between a first conveying path and a second conveying path so that the paper having passed through a fixing unit starts to be conveyed from first conveying path to second conveying path. At the same time, air is exhausted from an exhausting mechanism arranged upstream of a cooling mechanism. When a first paper sensor detects the leading end of the paper, a cooling fan starts to rotate at a predetermined rotational rate to start blowing air at a predetermined volume of cooling airflow. | 08-09-2012 |
20120213545 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An intake fan ( | 08-23-2012 |
20120219314 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of process cartridges and a pair of frames. Each of the plurality of process cartridges includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a charger supporting wall. One of the pair of frames has a plurality of first openings such that air outside the pair of frames is sucked between the pair of frames through the first openings. The other of the pair of frames has a plurality of second openings such that air between the pair of frames is discharged outside the pair of frames through the second openings. The first openings are positioned on an opposite side of the charger supporting wall from the photosensitive drum. The second openings are positioned on the same side of the charger supporting wall as the photosensitive drum. | 08-30-2012 |
20120230720 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with toner, an intake fan to draw air used for cooling the image forming unit into the image forming apparatus, an exhaust fan to exhaust the air from the image forming apparatus, and an exhaust duct to form an airflow path between the image forming unit and the exhaust fan. One end of the exhaust duct is disposed below the exhaust fan. | 09-13-2012 |
20120237249 | IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An imaging device provided with a latent image carrying body rotatably disposed to carry a latent image, a developing unit that develops the latent image carried on the carrying body by using a developer containing toner at least, and a duct disposed downstream of the developing unit and having a wall with an upstream suction port and a downstream suction port formed. An air flow path is formed by a surface of the latent image carrying body and a surface of the duct wall, between the upstream suction port and the downstream suction port. A gap of the air flow path is wider at the downstream side than at the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image carrying body. | 09-20-2012 |
20120243899 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a duct, a fan, a filter, and a guide duct. Air flows through the duct from an intake port in a front face of an apparatus body toward a first exhaust port in a rear face of the apparatus body. The fan takes in and exhausts the air via the intake port and the first exhaust port. The filter removes a foreign object from the air. The guide duct is provided at the rear face and covers one of the first exhaust port and a second exhaust port from which exhaust air containing an odorous component is exhausted. The second exhaust port is provided at the rear face. The guide duct guides the exhaust air from one of the exhaust ports upward in a vertical direction while keeping the exhaust air separated from a passage of the exhaust air from the other exhaust port. | 09-27-2012 |
20120243900 | VENTILATING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VENTILATING A HOUSING - A ventilating device for ventilating a housing, includes first and second blowers, a flow chamber with an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and an equalization opening connecting the flow chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening with the environment, a freely movable cover element for partially covering the equalization opening in such a manner that passage of the flow is blocked in one direction but cleared in the other direction, and an ascending pipe. The elements in the ventilating device are arranged in the sequence first blower, inlet opening, flow chamber, outlet opening, second blower, and ascending pipe. The equalization opening is at least partially open at all times, so that the equalization opening displays a greater flow resistance than the inlet opening of the flow chamber. | 09-27-2012 |
20120251155 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device includes a development roller that holds developer containing toner and carrier, rotates and transports the developer to a development area, and develops a latent image using the toner; a housing that has a first opening that opens towards the image holding member, and that holds the development roller; an airflow path that has a second opening that opens towards the image holding member at a location below the first opening; a blower that causes air in the airflow path to be sent in a direction in which the toner scattered between the housing and the image holding member is sucked from the second opening; and a magnetic plate opposing an end portion of the development roller in a direction of an axis of rotation of the development roller and extending so as to surround the development roller in a direction of rotation of the development roller. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251156 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a transfer-receiving member conveyed from a first side to a second side, and a fixing device disposed on a side of the image forming unit closer to the second side, and configured to fix the image formed on the transfer-receiving member. A conveying path formation member is configured to form a conveying path along which the transfer-receiving member is conveyed from the image forming unit to the fixing device. The conveying path formation member includes a first member having first through holes in the up-down direction, and a second member having second through holes in the up-down direction, wherein the second member faces the first member such that the second through holes do not overlap the first through holes when projected in the up-down direction. | 10-04-2012 |
20120275813 | FUSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fusing apparatus includes a fusing section, a supplying section and a control section. The supplying section supplies airflow between a recording medium and the fusing section. The supplying section includes a supplying opening of the airflow divided in a plurality of blocks along a width direction of the recording medium. The control section controls at least any one of speed of the airflow and supply amount of the airflow individually for each of the plurality of blocks based on information regarding the recording medium. | 11-01-2012 |
20120301174 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus capable of effectively cooling down a sheet having been subjected to fixing processing while preventing an apparatus from becoming larger in size and a sheet conveyance failure from occurring is provided. The image forming apparatus ( | 11-29-2012 |
20120301175 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A cooling device having a cooling unit including an air suction port that is disposed at a front surface side of a main body of the cooling device to suck air, and an air exhaust port that is disposed at a rear surface side of the main body of the cooling device to exhaust air, in which the cooling unit transfers heat from a cooling target to air sucked from the air suction port to cool the cooling target, and discharges the heat-transferred air from the air exhaust port. | 11-29-2012 |
20120308256 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image on a recording material by heating the image carried on the recording material while conveying the recording material by a fixing nip; a first cooling portion for cooling one end region of the fixing portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction; and a second cooling portion for cooling the other end region of the fixing portion with respect to the direction perpendicular to the recording material conveyance direction. The first cooling portion and the second cooling portion are operable independently from each other. | 12-06-2012 |
20120315061 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an outer cover in which an air intake and an exhaust outlet are formed, an image forming unit, a fixing device to fix an image on a recording medium and including a fixing casing in which a sheet inlet and a first exhaust opening are formed, and a thermal shield disposed above the sheet inlet of the fixing device and between the fixing device and a component adjacent to the fixing device, an air channel to guide air sucked in through the air intake to the exhaust outlet, defined by the thermal shield as well as the fixing casing. The first exhaust opening formed in the fixing casing communicates with the air channel formed by the thermal shield and the fixing casing to merge the hot air discharged from the fixing device into the air flowing in the air channel. | 12-13-2012 |
20120321339 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A feeder has a longer side direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and is configured to feed a maximum size recording medium with a longer side first. An image forming unit has a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of the maximum size recording medium, and is configured to print a toner image corresponding to digital image data onto the recording medium. An electrical component unit is configured to control the feeder and the image forming unit. The image forming unit and the electrical component unit are respectively disposed on both sides of the feeder in a shorter side direction. | 12-20-2012 |
20120328323 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - In a fixing unit in which a recording material carrying a toner image is heated while conveying in a nip portion to fix the toner image onto the recording material, a measure is required, which can to prevent both of temperature rise at non-sheet-passing area and condensation slippage using at least one air supplying unit. Separately providing air supplying units for these two issues results in the need of a plurality of fans only for the fixing unit, increasing the size and cost of the apparatus. Thus, decreases in size and cost of a fixing unit and an image forming apparatus including the fixing unit can be achieved by using a common air supplying member to prevent both of temperature rise at non-sheet-passing area and condensation slippage. | 12-27-2012 |
20130011157 | HEAT FIXING DEVICE - A heat fixing device includes a rotatable member for heating, a pressing roller configured to form a fixing nip portion that nips and conveys a recording material bearing a toner image, and a cooling fan configured to cool a recording material non-passing region in the rotatable member for heating in a direction orthogonal to a recording material conveying direction, wherein the pressing roller includes a rubber layer, between a cored bar and a release layer, containing a needle-shaped heat conductive filler oriented in a roller axis direction. | 01-10-2013 |
20130016992 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSAANM WATANABE; KanehiroAACI KanagawaAACO JPAAGP WATANABE; Kanehiro Kanagawa JP - An image forming apparatus includes a main body, exposing portions each forming a latent image on a photosensitive drum based on image data by driving of a polygon motor, developing portions each developing the latent image formed on each of the exposing portions using toner, and a partition member provided between each of the exposing portions and each of the developing portions. Projecting portions each including the polygon motor project from the partition member toward a side of the developing portion. Each of the projection portions is overlapped with at least a part of each of the developing portions on a vertical direction. The cooled air flows to the overlap portion in which the polygon motor of each of the exposing portions and each of the developing portions are overlapped. | 01-17-2013 |
20130058676 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus comprising: a built-in rotary driving member; a developing device detachably attachable to the body of the image forming apparatus; a developer driving part disposed at one end in a shaft direction of the developing roller and the agitation screw; a driving part duct enveloping the developer driving part of the developing device; a developer case surface duct formed along a surface parallel to the shaft direction of the developing roller and the agitation screw; and a blast fan or a exhaust fan to blow air from either the driving part duct or the developer case surface duct to each other. | 03-07-2013 |
20130077987 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic apparatus suppresses the unevenness of image density, even though the electrophotographic apparatus has no heater for an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member is arranged in the electrophotographic apparatus so that when the electrophotographic photosensitive member is equally divided into two regions in a cylindrical shaft direction, absolute values of a temperature dependence of photosensitive-member characteristics in the two regions are not the same, and when a region out of the two regions which has a smaller absolute value of the temperature dependence of the photosensitive-member characteristics is defined as a first region, and a region which has a larger absolute value of the temperature dependence of the photosensitive-member characteristics is defined as a second region, the change of a surface temperature of the first region becomes larger than the change of a surface temperature of the second region when an image is formed by the apparatus. | 03-28-2013 |
20130094877 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a period that a first mode is executed, an image forming apparatus blows air at a first amount of flowing air in a period during which a recording material is conveyed on a conveying path and before a leading edge of the recording material reaches a fixing unit, and blows air at a second amount of flowing air smaller than the first amount in a period during which the recording material passes through the fixing unit. In a period that a second mode is executed, the image forming apparatus blows air at a third amount of flowing air larger than the second amount for at least a period during which a recording material on which an image is formed passes through the fixing unit. | 04-18-2013 |
20130101307 | AIRFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR CORONA CHARGER - Airflow management systems for a charger support area having a charger housing supporting a corona charger that is proximate to a primary imaging member are provided. In one embodiment an air flow management system has an air supply providing flow of air proximate an inlet side of the charger housing area and a deflection surface positioned to deflect the flow of air from a first direction to a second direction leading to an impact surface against which the flow of air is disbursed. The impact surface is outside of the width of the charger housing and the primary imaging member so that the air flow can supply a volume of disbursed air into the charger housing area that is sufficient to create a pressure that causes the disbursed air to move to an outlet on an opposite side of the area without exposing the charger or the primary imaging member to the flow. | 04-25-2013 |
20130101308 | AIRFLOW MANAGEMENT METHOD FOR CORONA CHARGER - Methods are provided for controlling airflow across a width of a charger support area having a charger housing supporting a corona charger that is proximate to a primary imaging member. In one method, a flow of air is provided proximate an inlet side of the charger housing area and a deflection surface is used to deflect the flow of air from a first direction to a second direction leading to an impact surface against which the flow of air is disbursed. The impact surface is outside of the width of the charger housing so that the air flow can supply a volume of disbursed air into the charger housing and primary imaging member that is sufficient to create a pressure that causes the disbursed air to move to an outlet on an opposite side of the area without directly exposing the charger or the primary imaging member. | 04-25-2013 |
20130101309 | BLOWING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A blowing device includes a blower and an air duct including an inlet, an outlet, and a body. The outlet faces a longitudinal portion of an oblong target structure toward which air is blown. The outlet allows air to be discharged in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction in which the longitudinal portion extends. The inlet has an opening and the outlet has an oblong opening, and the opening of the inlet and the opening of the outlet having different shapes. The body has a passage space formed therein. Plural restraining portions that restrain airflow are disposed at different positions in the passage space in the direction of airflow. A most downstream one of the restraining portions is formed so as to at least partially cover the passage space with an air-permeable member having plural air passage portions that are distributed the air-permeable member. | 04-25-2013 |
20130101310 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has a fixing part, a drawer, a case member, and an exhaust duct | 04-25-2013 |
20130108307 | BLOWING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
20130108308 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH NATURAL VENTILATOR | 05-02-2013 |
20130108309 | IMAGE READER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
20130108310 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING SAME | 05-02-2013 |
20130136483 | IMAGE CARRIER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, where the image carrier may include an image carrier body having a hollowness and image carrier flanges, which are installed at both ends of the image carrier body. Each image carrier flange may include a blower fan integrally formed therewith, so that air outside of the image carrier body is moved from one end of the image carrier body, at which a drive gear is positioned, to the other end of the image carrier body as the image carrier rotates. Waste developer which may accumulate on the drive gear is reduced, thereby preventing the operational error of the image carrier and thus avoiding the degradation of the image quality. | 05-30-2013 |
20130136484 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a chassis, an image forming section, a shield metal plate, and a plurality of substrates. The chassis has a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side to the first surface. The image forming section is disposed in an internal space formed between the first and second surfaces of the chassis and performs an image forming process on a sheet. The shield metal plate is provided vertically between the second surface and the image forming section and has a third surface facing a side of the first surface and a fourth surface facing a side of the second surface. The plurality of substrates are provided vertically on the third surface of the shield metal plate and have electrical components protruding toward the first surface. | 05-30-2013 |
20130136485 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a chassis, an image forming section, a fan, a circuit board, and a first cooling air channel. The chassis includes a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. The image forming section is arranged in an internal space formed between the first surface and the second surface of the chassis and performs an image forming process on a sheet. The fan is arranged between the first surface and the image forming section and is rotationally driven to cause an airflow to flow into the internal space. The circuit board is vertically arranged between the second surface and the image forming section. The first cooling air channel is arranged in the internal space and sends the airflow toward the circuit board. | 05-30-2013 |
20130142538 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material by exposing a photosensitive member with a light emitting member in a state where a cartridge including the photosensitive member is mounted in an apparatus main body includes a light emitting member, a support member, and a duct formed in the support member. The light emitting member includes a plurality of light emitting portions arranged in an array. The support member supports the light emitting member. The duct forms an air supply path extending in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge to cool the cartridge mounted in the apparatus main body. | 06-06-2013 |
20130164021 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a structure which prevents contamination of charging units charging photoconductors. The image forming apparatus includes photoconductor units, charging units charging the photoconductor units, and a fan-motor unit changing the flow of air between the photoconductor units and the charging units to prevent substances of fine particles from flowing into the charging units. | 06-27-2013 |
20130170852 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a sheet conveyance path, a toner containing unit, a fixing unit, a fixing housing, a heat insulation member, a first hot air exhaust passage, a second hot air exhaust passage and a third hot air exhaust passage. The fixing housing houses the fixing unit and includes a wall portion facing the toner containing unit. The heat insulation member shields between the wall portion and the toner containing unit. The first hot air exhaust passage is arranged between the heat insulation member and the toner containing unit. The second hot air exhaust passage communicates with the first hot air exhaust passage. The third hot air exhaust passage is arranged between the wall portion and the heat insulation member and includes an opening facing the sheet conveyance path and a communication port communicating with the second hot air exhaust passage. | 07-04-2013 |
20130177332 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND COOLING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, includes: an image heating device for heating an image on a sheet; a cooling belt for cooling the sheet in close contact with the sheet heated by the image heating device; a heat sink for cooling the cooling belt; a first fan for forming airflow in the heat sink; and a second fan for forming airflow in a space between the image heating device and the cooling belt. | 07-11-2013 |
20130183059 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided that can prevent a winding jam of a sheet, which can be caused owing to curling of the sheet at the front end in the sheet conveying direction. | 07-18-2013 |
20130183060 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit to form a visible image on a printing medium using developer, a fixing device to fix the developer to the printing medium, and a heat plate placed between the developing unit and the fixing device such that heat generated from the fixing device is absorbed by the heat plate, and transmission of heat to the developing unit is restricted. | 07-18-2013 |
20130188984 | USE OF AN ACOUSTIC CAVITY TO REDUCE ACOUSTIC NOISE FROM A CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER - An acoustic cavity conditions the air flowing from a blower to reduce noise in the airflow. The air flowing directly out of the blower exhibits pulses produced by each impeller blade or fan blade. The airflow noise is thereby induced at certain frequencies. Printing operations inside a printer can also occur at specific frequencies. Introducing the airflow directly into certain areas of a printer can result in the noise frequencies and printing frequencies to combine and produce noticeable printing artifacts. An acoustic cavity tuned to dampen the airflow noise can condition the airflow and eradicate the printing artifacts. | 07-25-2013 |
20130223871 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a housing, an image scanning section, an airflow generation section, a guiding air path, and a blow-off port. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet. The housing accommodates the image forming section therein. The image scanning section has a bottom portion and is disposed above the housing. The airflow generation section generates an airflow inside the housing. The guiding air path guides the airflow upward inside the housing. The blow-off port is communicated with the guiding air path and arranged so as to face the bottom portion of the image scanning section. | 08-29-2013 |
20130236207 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING FAN - An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a fan, a first louver, and a second louver. The first louver includes first rectifier vanes that direct airflow produced by the fan. The second louver is located on an inner side of an apparatus body with respect to the first louver and faces the first louver in such a manner as to overlap the first louver in a direction of an axis of rotation of the fan. The second louver includes second rectifier vanes that direct the airflow produced by the fan. Each of the first rectifier vanes and a corresponding one of the second rectifier vanes that is adjacent thereto extend in one plane inclining at a specific angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the fan. | 09-12-2013 |
20130259511 | AIR SENDING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An air sending mechanism includes an air sending unit including a rotating shaft and a plurality of blade members provided on the rotating shaft, the air sending unit being configured to send air by producing a swirl flow swirling about the rotating shaft with rotation of the plurality of blade members; a wall member provided on a downstream side in an air sending direction with respect to the air sending unit in such a manner as to face the air sending unit; and a rectifying member provided between the air sending unit and the wall member and having at least one bend or curve provided as a result of the member being angled or curved such that the swirl flow produced by the air sending unit is guided in an intersecting direction that intersects the air sending direction. | 10-03-2013 |
20130266337 | Input Port for a Cooling System of an Imaging Unit - An imaging unit of an imaging apparatus is provided including a developer unit for developing a toner and a cooling system. The cooling system includes an air distribution duct and a connecting segment. The connecting segment includes an air conduit attached to the air distribution duct and an air entry port disposed on the air conduit for connecting to the air supply line during installation of the imaging unit. A contacting surface of the air entry port is angled inwardly in two directions, relative to the air conduit, that are orthogonal to each other. | 10-10-2013 |
20140003833 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 01-02-2014 |
20140056608 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an imaging station for forming a toner image on a sheet using toner containing a parting material; a fan for discharging air adjacent the fixing portion to an outside of the apparatus; and a controller capable of executing an operation in a first control mode in which a driving speed of the fan is changed in a set range in accordance with a temperature adjacent the imaging station, and in a second control mode in which the driving speed of the fan set at an upper limit speed in the set range irrespective of the information corresponding to the temperature adjacent the imaging station. | 02-27-2014 |
20140072324 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A guide path branched downward from a conveyance path for guiding a sheet having a toner image fixed thereon to a sheet discharge tray, a switchback path, and a inversed discharge path guide the sheet once, and then guide the sheet to the sheet discharge tray with its front and back surfaces and its leading and trailing edges in a sheet conveyance direction reversed. A fan supplies air between a sheet discharged by a sheet discharge roller and a sheet already discharged onto the sheet discharge tray from a supply opening provided below the sheet discharge roller. A control portion for controlling a blowing operation of the fan selectively operates the fan when discharging the sheet after passing the sheet through the guide path, the switchback path, and the inversed discharge path. | 03-13-2014 |
20140079431 | CHARGING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND CHARGING UNIT - A charging device includes a discharge electrode configured to charge a surface of an image carrier; a charging device body including an opening portion that is provided so as to surround the discharge electrode and be opposed to a surface of the image carrier across a longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode; a charging duct member that is provided so as to surround at least the entire opening portion and configured to introduce and exhaust an airflow within the surrounded area; an intake unit configured to generate an airflow to be guided into the charging duct member; and an exhaust unit configured to exhaust the airflow guided. The charging duct member includes an airflow wall forming unit for covering, with an airflow wall, the entire opening portion from an upstream end to a downstream end in a rotation direction of the image carrier at the opening portion. | 03-20-2014 |
20140093269 | AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME, AND AIR-CONDITIONING CHANNEL SWITCHING METHOD - An air-conditioning unit includes an air conditioner to control air temperature, a first channel to guide air supplied from the air conditioner to a conditioning target, a heat exchange channel through which the air supplied from the air conditioner exchanges heat with the conditioning target, a second channel to guide air from the conditioning target either outside the air-conditioning unit or to the air conditioner, and a channel switching unit to cause the air conditioner to suck in either external air or the air guided from the conditioning target. | 04-03-2014 |
20140112680 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body to come into contact with a toner image on a recording medium and a pressing rotary body separably pressed against the fixing rotary body to press the recording medium against the fixing rotary body. A cooler, disposed opposite the pressing rotary body to cool the pressing rotary body, includes a fan to move air to the pressing rotary body and at least one inlet duct interposed between the fan and the pressing rotary body to supply air from the fan to the pressing rotary body. The at least one inlet duct selectively cools the pressing rotary body in a variable axial span in an axial direction thereof. | 04-24-2014 |
20140119767 | BLOWER PIPE, BLOWING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A blower pipe includes an inlet port, an outlet port, a flow path that connects the inlet port and the outlet port and is bent at least in one location, and plural flow control members that are provided in mutually different regions in a direction in which air in the flow path is caused to flow and that control the flow of the air, wherein a flow control member of the plural flow control members closest to the inlet port (a) cuts off a portion of a bent portion of the flow path while air crossing the portion, (b) makes an elongated gap to pass air, and (c) satisfies following condition; when a virtual straight line which passes through both end portions of the elongated gap is drawn, the virtual straight line lies downstream of an extension line of a wall immediately before the flow path is bent. | 05-01-2014 |
20140126925 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a housing; an image forming section that is provided within the housing and forms an image onto a recording medium; an output section that outputs the recording medium, having the image formed thereon by the image forming section, outward from the housing; a loading section on which the recording medium output from the output section is loaded and that is provided with an air hole; and a cooling unit that allows air to flow between an interior of the housing and the loading section via the air hole so as to cool a surface, which faces the loading section, of the recording medium loaded on the loading section. | 05-08-2014 |
20140126926 | VENTILATION STRUCTURE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH SAME - A ventilation structure includes a duct unit between a heat generating structure and a heat insulating structure. The ventilation structure includes a heat generating structure side flow channel formed on the heat generating structure side in the duct unit to take in and let fresh air flow along a long side of the duct unit and a heat insulating structure side flow channel formed on the heat insulating structure side in the duct unit to exhaust air outputted from an exhaust system provided in the heat generating structure by letting the air flow and evacuate along the short side of the duct unit. | 05-08-2014 |
20140140718 | BLOWING TARGET STRUCTURE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A blowing target structure includes an opening portion that (a) is an inlet into which the air flow from a blower pipe that has an elongated shape in one direction, (b) is elongated in the same direction as the one direction of an outlet of the blower pipe, (c) has a member that is provided at least on one end side in a lateral direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the opening portion to set an air permeability of a member side region of the opening portion to a value smaller than an air permeability of a region other than the member side region of the opening portion. | 05-22-2014 |
20140140719 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes a cooling device for cooling a plurality of cartridges, and a plurality of shielding members for shielding the plurality of openings, respectively. Each developing member is movable between a first position at which the developing member is brought into contact with a photosensitive member and a second position at which the developing member is caused to separate from the photosensitive member. Each of the plurality of shielding members is caused to move in association with a position of the developing member of the cartridge opposed to the opening to be shielded by the each of the shielding members. A gap between the opening and the shielding member the second position of the developing member is smaller than a gap therebetween at the first position of the developing member is. | 05-22-2014 |
20140147160 | COOLING SYSTEM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device to fix an image on a recording medium, at least one temperature control target to be kept to or below a reference temperature, and a cooling system to insulate the temperature control target from the fixing device. The cooling system includes an air vent to introduce external air into an apparatus body, an exhaust duct assembly disposed between the fixing device and the temperature control target, a first inlet formed in the exhaust duct assembly to cause the external air to pass through a range in which the temperature control target is provided, and a first fan to generate airflow inside the exhaust duct assembly. | 05-29-2014 |
20140147161 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a blowing portion and an air guide portion. The blowing portion blows air to a conveyance path of a sheet from a fixing device to a sheet discharge port. The air guide portion guides air blown from the blowing portion toward the downstream side in a sheet conveyance direction toward the sheet discharge port on the conveyance path. | 05-29-2014 |
20140161480 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus gas a photosensitive drum, an anti-static lamp, and a drum unit, The drum unit includes a unit main frame for holding the photosensitive drum, and | 06-12-2014 |
20140161481 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a formed image that is formed by an image forming portion to sheet, a first carrying path configured to guide the sheet in a set direction, a fixing unit configured to fix the formed image to the sheet that is guided by the first carrying path, a second carrying path configured to guide the sheet that is fixed by the fixing unit in a set direction, a communicating unit configured to communicate between the first carrying path and the second carrying path, a first air flowing unit configured to flow air from the first carrying path to the second carrying path, an ejection unit configured to vent the air in the second carrying path to outside. | 06-12-2014 |
20140169825 | BLOWER PIPE, BLOWING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A blower pipe includes an inlet port, an outlet port, a flow path that connects the inlet port and the outlet port to cause air to flow therethrough and that are divided by a partition wall, and plural flow control members that are respectively provided in different parts in an air flow direction in each of divided passage spaces that are divided by the partition wall and that control the flow of the air, wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are constituted by plural opening portions, respectively, the plural opening portions that constitute the outlet port have elongated opening shapes divided by the partition wall, and a flow control member of the plural flow control members closest to the inlet port is provided in the vicinity of the bent portion. | 06-19-2014 |
20140178091 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device configured to form, in a first position, a toner image on a sheet using toner containing a parting material; a fixing device configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device in a second position, by heat and pressure; a fan configured to flow air along an air flow path between the image forming device and the fixing device; and a partition configured and positioned to substantially separate between the air flow path and a sheet feeding path from the first position to the second position. | 06-26-2014 |
20140199091 | DETACHABLE UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A detachable device, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a unit drive mechanism, and a cover disposed at one end and an opposite end in the given attachment/detachment direction to cover the unit drive mechanism thereof. The cover includes a first cover and a second cover. The first cover includes at least one first inlet port to intake air from the apparatus body and guide the air to the detachable unit. The second cover includes a second inlet port to intake the air guided into the detachable unit and an air outlet port to exhaust the air introduced from the second inlet port to the apparatus body. | 07-17-2014 |
20140205309 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a development device which is provided so as to be detachably attachable to an apparatus body to develop an electrostatic image on a surface of an image bearing member with a developer; an airflow generating device which generates an airflow; a duct which induces the airflow generated by the airflow generating device into the apparatus body; and a support member which supports a lower surface of the development device along a longitudinal direction of the development device; wherein a tubular flow path is formed between the support member and a bottom of the development device such that air flows along the longitudinal direction, and the flow path is connected to the duct. | 07-24-2014 |
20140212164 | COOLING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A cooling device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes multiple air blowers to cool a cooling target provided to the image forming apparatus and a duct to connect with the multiple air blowers and to flow airflow generated by the multiple air blowers therethrough and to have an opening formed thereon and disposed at a position shifted to a part of the multiple air blowers. Respective outputs of the multiple air blowers are different from each other according to respective positions of the multiple air blowers with respect to the opening. | 07-31-2014 |
20140212165 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable fixing member; an air-blowing unit for blowing air onto an end portion of the rotatable fixing member with respect to a generating line direction of the rotatable fixing member, wherein the air-blowing unit includes a fan, a duct for guiding the air generated by drive of the fan, and a shutter, provided at an outlet of the duct, for switching an outlet width of the duct with respect to the generating line direction; and a partition, provided in the duct, for partitioning an air passing region inside the duct into a plurality of regions with respect to the generating line direction, wherein the partition extends to a neighborhood of the shutter with respect to an air-blowing direction. | 07-31-2014 |
20140255057 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a suction port, provided in a front side of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, for sucking air; an air flow guiding portion for guiding the air sucked through the suction port; and a sound source, provided din a rear side of the main assembly so as to oppose a space connected with the air flow guiding portion, for generating a sound to be notified to an operator. | 09-11-2014 |
20140286671 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a main duct forming an airflow path of air blew by an air blower such that the air flows through the main duct from a first side to a second side in an extending direction of the airflow path, the main duct including a plurality of air outlets opening in a direction intersecting the extending direction and discretely disposed along the extending direction, and an image forming unit including a plurality of air inlets disposed apart from the plurality of air outlets such that the air flowing out from the plurality of air outlets is introduced into the plurality of air inlets, each air inlet formed such that a second-side end thereof in the extending direction is positionally shifted toward the second side in the extending direction, relative to a second-side end of a corresponding air outlet in the extending direction. | 09-25-2014 |
20140294426 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING INTAKE DUCT - An image forming device includes: an image forming unit; an enclosure; and an intake duct. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive member having an axis. The enclosure is configured to house the image forming unit and includes a first wall provided on one side of the image forming unit with respect to a first direction parallel to the axis. An air intake is formed in the first wall to allow air communication between an interior and an exterior of the enclosure. The intake duct is elongated in the first direction. Air drawn in through the air intake flows into the intake duct. The intake duct includes an opposing part. The opposing part opposes the image forming unit in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. An opening is formed in the opposing part. Air introduced into the intake duct flows toward the image forming unit through the opening. | 10-02-2014 |
20140314437 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion; a fixing portion; a first air blowing portion; and a second air blowing portion. The apparatus is operable in a first air blowing mode in which both the first and second air blowing portions are driven and in which the direction of the air near the exit is the recording material feeding direction, and is operable in a second air blowing mode in which both the first and second air blowing portions are driven and in which a direction of the air near the exit is a recording material feeding direction and a speed of the air is lower than a speed of the air in the first air blowing mode or in which the direction of the air near the exit is the opposite direction to the recording material feeding direction. | 10-23-2014 |
20140314438 | FIXING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH FIXING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a fixing unit including a fixing rotatable member for fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material, and a frame for accommodating the fixing rotatable member, the fixing unit is detachably mountable to the main assembly; and an air feeding member for feeding air to the fixing rotatable member provided in the main assembly, wherein the frame is provided with an opening for applying the air fed from the air feeding member to the fixing rotatable member, and an openable member movable between a first position for closing the opening and a second position for opening the opening, wherein the openable member moves from the second position to the first position in response to an operation of taking the fixing unit out of the main assembly. | 10-23-2014 |
20140321877 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an ejection stacking section, a cooling target unit, and a cooling fan. The cooling target unit is disposed below the ejection stacking section. The cooling fan sends air to flow between the cooling target unit and the ejection stacking section. The ejection stacking section includes an opening, a movable member, and a biasing member. The movable member is movable between a closed position and an open position. The biasing member biases the movable member toward the closed position. In response to that the recording mediums are stacked on the ejection stacking section, the movable member moves toward the open position against a biasing force of the biasing member to allow the air sent from the cooling fan to flow through the opening so as to cool a lower surface of the recording mediums stacked on the ejection stacking section. | 10-30-2014 |
20140328606 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a recording medium storage unit that stores therein a recording medium; an image forming unit that is arranged above the recording medium storage unit and that forms an image on the recording medium transferred from the recording medium storage unit; a storage-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the recording medium storage unit; an image-forming-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the image forming unit and that protrudes forward relative to the storage-unit exterior member; and a fresh air supply path that is arranged on a back side of the image-forming-unit exterior member, through which fresh air introduced from outside the image forming apparatus flows. | 11-06-2014 |
20140341607 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a fusing unit including a first rotor provided with a heat-generating unit and an elastic layer, as well as a second rotor provided in direct contact with the first rotor, the fusing unit fixing a toner image on a sheet, and a duct for allowing an inlet and an exhaust outlet to communicate with each other, the inlet being adapted to allow a current of air derived from the fusing unit to flow in, the exhaust outlet facing toward the outside of the apparatus. The duct includes an introduction channel for guiding and jetting out air taken in from the inlet, a main channel for guiding the air jetted out of the introduction channel to the exhaust outlet, and a cul-de-sac provided in communication with the main channel at one end and closed at the other end. | 11-20-2014 |
20140363190 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming units arranged in parallel with each other at intervals in a predetermined direction toward a first side from a second side of the image forming apparatus, each image forming unit including a photoconductive drum, and a charger configured to charge the photoconductive drum, a frame body configured to support the plurality of image forming units, and a regulating member disposed between a first-side image forming unit of the plurality of image forming units that is closest to the first side in the predetermined direction and a first-side end portion of the frame body in the predetermined direction, the regulating member configured to regulate an air current and urge the first-side image forming unit. | 12-11-2014 |
20140363191 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - To provide an image forming apparatus in which the paper is cooled early by blowing air to the paper in the conveying path so as to prevent a sticking phenomenon on a paper output tray while paper turning, paper folding, paper breakage and paper jamming due to influence on paper conveyance by blowing air onto the paper in the conveying path, can be prevented. At the start of paper conveyance, a gate | 12-11-2014 |
20140369710 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided with a casing, a drum unit including a photoconductive drum having a central axis extending in a first direction, and a charging device configured to charge the photoconductive drum, a fixing unit configured to fix an image on a printing medium, a fan configured to generate an air flow inside the casing, a filter configured to remove ozone included in the air, a first channel defined in the casing, the air directed from the fixing unit toward the fan flowing in the first channel, a second channel defined in the casing, the air directed from the charging device toward the fan flowing in the second channel, the filter being provided in the second channel, the second channel being arranged next to the first channel, and a blocking member configured to block communication between the first channel and the second channel. | 12-18-2014 |
20140369711 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of preventing heat in an in-body copy receiving portion from reaching a bottom face of a scanner portion disposed above the in-body copy receiving portion. | 12-18-2014 |
20140376949 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit heating an image formed on a recording medium and disposed along a conveying path conveying the recording medium. The conveying path includes a first guide plate, discharge guide plate portions and second guide plate portion as conveyance guide plates guiding the recording medium. Partition walls and vertical walls are disposed at positions facing these guide plate portions. The air current guide portion guides air taken in from intake ports through an intake guide portion between the respective guide plate portions and each walls. | 12-25-2014 |
20140376950 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry a toner image. A transfer unit is configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording sheet. A fixing unit is configured to fix the toner image transferred at the transfer unit onto the recording sheet. Through a conveyance path, the recording sheet is conveyed from the transfer unit to the fixing unit. A conveyance guide member is disposed in the conveyance path on an image formation surface side of the recording sheet. A fan is configured to send air from the transfer unit to the conveyance path toward a gap defined between the conveyance guide member and the transfer unit so as to form a flow of air in the conveyance path from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the recording sheet. | 12-25-2014 |
20150010322 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus ( | 01-08-2015 |
20150016836 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a process unit, an exhaust path, and a positioning member movable between (i) a positioning position for positioning the process unit and (ii) a releasing position for releasing the process unit, the positioning member having an air path, the air path and the exhaust path being connected in a case where the positioning member is in the positioning position, and the air path and the exhaust path being disconnected in a case where the positioning member is in the releasing position. | 01-15-2015 |
20150037061 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a cooling chamber to cool the intermediate transfer belt, a fixing section, a cooling fan, and a frame. The cooling chamber is defined immediately above the intermediate transfer belt. The fixing section is arranged on one side of the cooling chamber and configured to fix to a sheet the toner image transferred to the sheet by heating the toner image. The cooling fan is arranged on the other side of the cooling chamber and configured to introduce external air to the cooling chamber. The frame has an exhaust port for releasing air in the cooling chamber and is arranged on the other side of the cooling chamber. | 02-05-2015 |
20150043938 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The fixing apparatus is configured to include a fixing roller, a paper separation claw, a drive source that switches between a state in which the paper separation claw is in contact with the fixing roller and a state in which the paper separation claw is separated from the fixing roller, and a paper transport guide that is disposed on the downstream side of the fixing roller, the drive source including a heat generating element, and to further include a main ventilation channel that channels cooling air to a fixed paper sheet passing over the paper transport guide and a sub ventilation channel that is branched from the main ventilation channel and channels a portion of the cooling air to the heat generating element. | 02-12-2015 |
20150063856 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveyance passage, a photosensitive drum, a transfer unit, a fixing section, a conveyance unit, one or more detection sensors, an airflow generating section, a cooling airflow passage, and a shielding member. The conveyance unit is at an opposite side of the transfer unit from the photosensitive drum with a predetermined clearance from the transfer unit. Each detection sensor is disposed to face the transfer unit in cross section intersecting the axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The sheet detection sensor performs a predetermined detection. The airflow generating section causes a cooling airflow to flow between the transfer unit and the conveyance unit in the axial direction. The cooling airflow passage guides the cooling airflow toward each detection sensor. The shielding member blocks an airflow from a location around the transfer unit toward the cooling airflow passage in a direction intersecting the axial direction. | 03-05-2015 |
20150086233 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming portion, a hold portion, a cooling air passage, and a communication opening. The apparatus body includes a front wall, and a side wall standing perpendicularly to the front wall, the front wall and the side wall defining an internal space. The image forming portion is disposed in the internal space, and forms an image on a sheet. The hold portion is in the form of a hollow at a part of the side wall, and adapted to be held when moving the apparatus body. The cooling air passage extends in the internal space vertically along the side wall. The communication opening allows communication between a space defined by the hold portion and a lower part of the cooling air passage. | 03-26-2015 |
20150093139 | DEVELOPING DEVICE - Provided is a developing device including a storage container that stores a developer, a rotating body that supplies the developer to an image holding member in a supply region by being rotated with holding the developer, an inflow portion that is provided with an inflow port placed on a downstream side of the supply region in a rotation direction of the rotating body, and flows air into the storage container, and an outflow portion that is provided with an outflow port and emits air in the storage container from the outflow port, wherein the outflow port and the inflow port are placed to be adjacent to each other. | 04-02-2015 |
20150093140 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a fan cover including a wall portion disposed to overlap a rotational axis of a fan in an axis direction along the rotational axis, the wall portion extending in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the axis direction, a first section disposed on one side relative to the wall portion in the orthogonal direction, the first section having a first opening disposed on one side relative to the fan in the axis direction and on the one side relative to the rotational axis in the orthogonal direction, and a second section disposed on an other side relative to the wall portion in the orthogonal direction, the second section having a second opening disposed on the one side relative to the fan in the axis direction and on the other side relative to the rotational axis in the orthogonal direction. | 04-02-2015 |
20150093141 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, comprising: a housing having an opening through which a recording medium passes, the housing comprising a container unit configured to support at least a part of the recording medium passed through the opening; a feed roller configured to feed the recording medium supported in the container unit to an image formation unit; and a fan configured to cause air in the housing to flow, wherein the container unit comprises: a stacker part to support at least the part of the recording medium; and a pair of side parts disposed to sandwich the stacker part between the pair of side parts, in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the feed roller, and the fan is disposed at one of the pair of side parts and at a position closer to the opening relative to the feed roller in the feeding direction. | 04-02-2015 |
20150093142 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, a housing having a sheet ejection opening, a plurality of sheet ejection rollers disposed in the sheet ejection opening and configured to eject the sheet fed from the fixing unit to the outside of the housing, a heat generating member spaced apart from the fixing unit and configured to generate heat, and a first guide member. The first guide member is disposed above the heat generating member, and configured to guide the sheet fed from the fixing unit to the ejection rollers. The first guide member includes a base portion having a plurality of outlet ports, and a plurality of ribs protruding upward from the base portion. The outlet ports are disposed between each pair of adjacent ones of the ribs and positioned closer to a downstream end of the first guide member than to an upstream end thereof. | 04-02-2015 |
20150098723 | DRAWER MEMBER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A drawer member that is capable of being drawn out from an image forming apparatus body and that includes a fixing unit that heats and fixes an image onto a recording medium, a first flow path that is formed around the fixing unit and that causes air that is heated by heat, which is discharged from the fixing unit, to circulate, and a second flow path that is formed adjacent to the first flow path on a side opposite to the fixing unit and in which air having a temperature lower than a temperature of air, which circulates in the first flow path, circulates. | 04-09-2015 |
20150098724 | REMOVAL MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A removal mechanism includes a removing member, an accommodation section, a receiver, and a cooling path. The removing member rubs against an extraneous-matter-adhered member, to which extraneous matter is adhered, so as to remove the extraneous matter therefrom. The accommodation section accommodates therein the extraneous matter removed by the removing member. The receiver receives, at a lower side of the accommodation section, the extraneous matter spilling out and dropping from the accommodation section. The cooling path allows gas so flow therethrough so as to cool the accommodation section from outside thereof. The cooling path is spatially isolated from a passage chamber through which the extraneous matter dropping from the accommodation section toward the receiver passes, an accommodation chamber for the extraneous matter in the accommodation section, and a chamber above the receiver that receives the extraneous matter. | 04-09-2015 |
20150110518 | SUCTION PIPE, SUCTION DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a suction pipe including a suction port that has an opening shape which is long in one direction parallel with a longitudinal-direction part of an object structure long in one direction, and is arranged to face the longitudinal-direction part of the object structure to suction the air, an exhaust port that has an opening shape which is different shape from the opening shape of the suction port, and suctions out the air suctioned from the suction port, a flow path that connects the suction port and the exhaust port and has at least one bended portion which bends an air flow direction, and at least one flow control members that are disposed at flow path in one direction parallel with the suction port, and controls a flow of the air. | 04-23-2015 |
20150110519 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a toner containing portion, an air blowing portion, and an air blowing control portion. The toner containing portion contains toner that is used in image formation. The air blowing portion generates an airflow that contacts an outer side surface of the toner containing portion. The air blowing control portion narrows a vertical range of the airflow, which is generated by the air blowing portion and contacts the outer side surface of the toner containing portion, downward in a vertical direction in correspondence with reduction of toner amount in the toner containing portion. | 04-23-2015 |
20150117894 | EXHAUST DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE INCLUDING SAME - An exhaust fan, an exhaust duct through which a discharged gas flows and a filter which is provided in the exhaust duct are included. A curved portion is provided in the exhaust duct, and the filter is provided on a downstream side in a direction of flow of the gas with respect to the curved portion. On an inside wall of the curved portion of the exhaust duct on an outer side in a radial direction, a first flow control member that uniformizes the amount of the gas flowing through the filter is provided so as to be perpendicular to the shaft of the curved portion, and a space is formed between the first flow control member and an inside wall of the curved portion on an inner side in the radial direction. | 04-30-2015 |
20150132020 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for heat-fixing the image on a recording material; a duct including a suction port for sucking air from an outside of the image forming apparatus and an exhaust port for delivering the air to the outside of the image forming apparatus; and a fan for forming a flow of the air from the suction port toward the exhaust port in the duct. The duct includes a merging portion, between the suction port and the exhaust port, for merging the air from the neighborhood of the fixing portion with the flow of the air by taking the air from the neighborhood of the fixing portion inside the duct. The recording material on which the image is fixed at the fixing portion is cooled by the air delivering through the exhaust port. | 05-14-2015 |
20150293494 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor; an exposure device to expose a surface of the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor; a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with developer to render the electrostatic latent image visible as a toner image; a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium; a fixing device to fix the toner image onto the recording medium; and an evacuation space disposed in an area adjacent to the photoconductor to accommodate the exposure device during detachment and attachment of the photoconductor. The evacuation space serves as a vent duct to circulate air to cool an image forming unit including the photoconductor during printing. | 10-15-2015 |
20150309454 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion, including: a heating member and a back-up member forming a nip; and an air feeding portion for feeding air to a non-sheet-passing area of at least one of the heating member and the back-up member, the air feeding portion including a fan for feeding the air, a duct, including an opening, for guiding the air fed from the fan through the opening to the non-sheet-passing area, and an adjusting member for adjusting an opening amount of the opening. The apparatus executes a first air feeding operation with a first opening amount and a first rotational frequency of the fan and a second air feeding operation with a second opening amount and a second rotational frequency, when the fixing portion fixes the images on sheets having the same widths. | 10-29-2015 |
20150331387 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning device, a duct, and a cooling fan. The optical scanning device has a rotating polygon mirror, a motor which has a rotating shaft fixed to the rotating polygon mirror, and a housing that accommodates the rotating polygon mirror and the motor. The duct is disposed adjacent to the optical scanning device, and a part of the rotating shaft is exposed into the duct. The cooling fan generates airflow inside the duct. A sectional area of the duct becomes gradually small toward the part of the rotating shaft exposed into the duct from an upstream side of the part of the rotating shaft exposed into the duct with respect to a flow direction of the airflow in the duct, and a sectional area of the duct becomes large at a downstream side of the part of the rotating shaft exposed into the duct. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331388 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a process unit, an exhaust path, and a positioning member movable between (i) a positioning position for positioning the process unit and (ii) a releasing position for releasing the process unit, the positioning member having an air path, the air path and the exhaust path being connected in a case where the positioning member is in the positioning position, and the air path and the exhaust path being disconnected in a case where the positioning member is in the releasing position. | 11-19-2015 |
20150338799 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a fusing device in which a recording medium carrying an unfused toner image is nipped at a fusing nip formed between a heated member and a pressing member to fuse and fix the unfused toner image to the recording medium, and an exhaust duct unit through which air around the fusing device is expelled outside. The exhaust duct unit allows a choice between a first exhaust path through which outside air sucked into the image forming apparatus is passed through a space around the fusing device and is then expelled out of the image forming apparatus, and a second exhaust path in which a filter for collecting particles contained in an air stream is arranged and through which the air around the fusing device is passed through the filter and is then expelled out of the image forming apparatus. | 11-26-2015 |
20160004215 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DUCT - Image forming apparatus ( | 01-07-2016 |
20160004216 | AIR BLOWING SYSTEM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - Disclosed is an air blowing system including: an air blowing device; a duct that guides air blown by the air blowing device; and a ventilation section disposed downstream of the duct in terms of an air blowing direction in which air is blown by the air blowing device so that the air blown by the air blowing device strikes and passes through the ventilation section, wherein the duct has a distorted portion where a part of an inner wall face of the duct located between the air blowing device and the ventilation section is distorted perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the air blowing direction so that the air blown by the air blowing device flows perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the air blowing direction. Also disclosed is an air blowing system including: an air blowing device; and a duct that guides air blown by the air blowing device, wherein the duct has an outer surface on at least a part of which there is provided a surface area reducing portion for reducing a surface area of a continuous face. | 01-07-2016 |
20160004217 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearer; a charging unit configured to charge a surface of the image bearer by causing a discharging member to discharge; a latent image forming unit configured to form a latent image on the surface of the image bearer charged by the charging unit; a developing unit configured to develop the latent image formed on the surface of the image bearer into a toner image with developer containing toner; an airflow generating unit configured to generate an airflow inside the image forming apparatus such that the airflow passes through at least the charging unit; an image-area-ratio information acquiring unit configured to acquire information on an image area ratio of the toner image; and a control unit configured to control the airflow generating unit so as to change a flow velocity of the airflow in accordance with the image area ratio. | 01-07-2016 |
20160004218 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having: an inside-air duct having a first inlet to an inside of the image forming apparatus; a first ventilator provided in the inside-air duct; an outside-air duct having a second inlet to an outside of the image forming apparatus; a common duct into which the inside-air duct and the outside-air duct are merged; a second ventilator provided in at least one of the outside-air duct and the common duct; a filter provided in the common duct; and a control section that retrieves information indicative of an flow rate in the inside-air duct and increases a pressure produced by the second ventilator based on the retrieved information such that an flow rate in the outside-air duct is substantially constant with respect to an increase of the flow rate in the inside-air duct. | 01-07-2016 |
20160011547 | Fixing Device and Image Forming Apparatus with Fixing Device That Ensure Effective Cooling of Induction Heating Unit | 01-14-2016 |
20160070230 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an exposure unit that forms a latent image by irradiating a photoconductor body with light by using light emitting elements that are arranged along an axial direction of the photoconductor body, the exposure unit having an inlet to which air flow is introduced; and an air blowing unit that produces the air flow that is introduced to the exposure unit from an air blow opening that is provided at a position that is in correspondence with a position of the inlet of the exposure unit. | 03-10-2016 |
20160070231 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - In the present invention, in order to efficiently cool circuit boards such as an image formation section ( | 03-10-2016 |
20160085209 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having a sheet conveyance path guiding a sheet to a sheet exit port after the sheet passes through a fixing device. A conveyance unit constitutes one of a pair of sheet conveyance surface portions of the sheet conveyance path. A first cooling fan is disposed within the conveyance unit and sucks air from an air introducing hole in the conveyance unit that is in communication with the sheet conveyance path. A second cooling fan is disposed on an opposite side of the sheet conveyance path to the conveyance unit and blows air at a sheet passing through the sheet conveyance path. A conveyance guide member is fitted to the conveyance unit and switches a conveyance direction of the sheet passing through the sheet conveyance path. The first cooling fan blows at the conveyance guide member air sucked from the air introducing hole. | 03-24-2016 |
20160085210 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing device, a sheet conveyance path, a conveyance guide member, a blower, and a control section. The conveyance guide member constitutes one of a pair of sheet conveyance surface portions of the sheet conveyance path. The blower is disposed on an opposite side of the sheet conveyance surface portion constituted by the conveyance guide member to the sheet conveyance path and blows air at a sheet passing through the sheet conveyance path. A ventilation port and an air passage recess are located in the sheet conveyance surface portion constituted by the conveyance guide member. The ventilation port allows air from the blower to flow into the sheet conveyance path. The air passage recess extends in a sheet width direction. The air passage recess allows air that has passed through the ventilation port to flow through the air passage recess. | 03-24-2016 |
20160098009 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes first and second rotatable members configured to fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a casing provided with a sheet introducing opening and a sheet discharging opening and configured to include the first and second rotatable members; a fan; a duct configured to guide air from the fan toward one longitudinal end portion of the first rotatable member; and a cover member configured to cover an outer surface of the first rotatable member, wherein the cover member extends inside the casing from a neighborhood of the sheet introducing opening to the duct. | 04-07-2016 |
20160116885 | SINGLE BLOWER PROVIDING COOLING AND AIR KNIFE - Printing apparatuses include, among other components, a media path transporting sheets of print media in a process direction. A transfer station is located at a first location of the media path, and a fusing station is located at a second location of the media path (the second location is closer to the end of the media path (in the process direction) relative to the first location). Also, a single blower is located adjacent the fusing station, and two outlets receive air from the single blower. A first outlet (of the two outlets) provides air to the transfer station to reduce the temperature of the transfer station, and a second outlet (of the two outlets) is located between the transfer station and the fusing station and directs the sheets of print media toward one side of the media path. | 04-28-2016 |
20160156796 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 06-02-2016 |
20160161903 | HOUSING STRUCTURE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A housing structure includes an exterior cover having an opening through which an interior of the exterior cover communicates with an exterior of the exterior cover, an interior cover disposed inside the exterior cover and facing the exterior cover with a clearance secured therebetween, an inward projection projecting from the exterior cover to the interior cover, and an outward projection projecting from the interior cover to the exterior cover. The inward projection and the outward projection define an airflow passage in the clearance between the exterior cover and the interior cover, and the airflow passage includes multiple bent portions. The outward projection is greater in width than the inward projection in an airflow direction toward the opening, and the airflow direction perpendicular to a direction in which the interior cover faces the exterior cover. | 06-09-2016 |
20160170368 | HOUSING STRUCTURE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 06-16-2016 |
20160179054 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SECONDARY TRANSFER UNIT AND FIXING SECTION DISPOSED ON PRINTING PAPER TRANSPORT PATH | 06-23-2016 |
20160187847 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT ENSURES COOLING PERFORMANCE OF TONER CONTAINER AND DOWNSIZED IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a frame member, an intermediate transfer unit, a plurality of image forming units, a plurality of toner containers. The frame member defines a plurality of concave portions to accommodate respective lower end portions of the toner containers, and includes an upper frame portion located to cover a top surface of an intermediate transfer belt. One concave portion among the plurality of the concave portions defined by a wall portion defines a vent hole. The upper frame portion defines a ventilation path located at an opposite side of the one concave portion with respect to the wall portion and communicating with the one concave portion via the vent hole. The image forming apparatus further includes a blast fan to discharge air in the ventilation path from the vent hole to a side of the one concave portion. | 06-30-2016 |
20160195848 | DUCT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME | 07-07-2016 |
20160378059 | COOLING DEVICE INCLUDING AIR BLOWER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING COOLING DEVICE - A cooling device includes an air blower, a first support frame, and a second support frame. The first support frame supports the air blower and has a first groove portion extending from a blowing port of the air blower to a predetermined discharge port. The second support frame supports a driving portion for transmitting a driving force to a portion to be driven of the image forming apparatus, and is configured such that the first support frame is connectable thereto. The second support frame has a second groove portion. The second groove portion is engaged with the first groove portion, in a state where the first support frame is connected to the second support frame, to form an air duct configured to guide air blown from the air blower, to the discharge port. | 12-29-2016 |
20180024462 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 01-25-2018 |
20220137552 | Cooling And Air Purifying Structure Of Image Forming Apparatus - An example image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a toner image on a print medium, a fusing unit to fix the toner image to the print medium, a duct comprising an air inlet located adjacent to an exit of the fusing unit and an air discharge outlet located toward a discharge outlet through which the print medium is discharged, and a blower provided in the duct to discharge air to the air discharge outlet. | 05-05-2022 |
20220137554 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a contact portion that is disposed at a position. where the contact portion is contactable with a recording medium; a cooler that cools the recording medium; and a hardware processor that controls a cooling action of the cooler on the recording medium based on information on a temperature of the recording medium. | 05-05-2022 |