IP Library Granted Patent US 11,526,128
Granted Patent B2
US 11,526,128 · App. 17/665,288 · Granted Dec 13, 2022

Image forming apparatus having duct with flow dividing plates

Inventors: Yuya Otsuka (Chiba, JP); Hiroki Sato (Ibaraki, JP); Ryuichi Kojima (Ibaraki, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
G03G21/206F24F13/08G03G15/0258H02B1/56H05K7/20145G03G2221/1645
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,526,128
App. No.
17/665,288
Granted
Dec 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A duct for guiding air outside an image forming apparatus to a charging device includes: a first flow passage; a second flow passage bent from the first flow passage and extending in a direction orthogonal to a rotational direction and a rotational axis direction of a photosensitive drum, the second flow passage being provided with an outlet; and a plurality of flow dividing plates provided in the second flow passage, the plurality of flow dividing plates being disposed in parallel along the rotational axis direction and forming a third flow passage between the flow dividing plates adjacent to each other, in which a relationship between a length in the orthogonal direction and a length in the rotational axis direction of the third flow passage is a predetermined relationship.

Claims (29)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a duct configured to guide air outside the image forming apparatus to a cooling target; and

a fan configured to generate an airflow for taking air outside the image forming apparatus into the duct, wherein

the duct includes:

a first flow passage;

a second flow passage bent from the first flow passage and extending in a first direction, the second flow passage being provided with an outlet of the duct; and

a plurality of flow dividing plates provided in the second flow passage, the plurality of flow dividing plates being disposed in parallel along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and forming a third flow passage between the flow dividing plates adjacent to each other, and

when a length in the first direction of the third flow passage is L (mm) and a length in the second direction of the third flow passage is D (mm), the L satisfies following conditions:

if 3.0≤ D≤ 5.5, L≥D× 3.04−6.72;

if 5.5≤ D≤ 6.5, L≥D× 4.0−12.0;

if 6.5≤ D≤ 9.0, L≥D× 8.40−40.60;

if 9.0≤ D≤ 13.0, L≥D× 10.50−59.50; and

if 13.0≤ D≤ 28.0, L≥D× 4.70+15.90.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the duct is disposed at a position within 17 mm from an end portion on a downstream side of the plurality of flow dividing plates in a direction in which air in the duct is directed toward the outlet.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the first direction, an end portion on a side close to the outlet in each of the plurality of flow dividing plates is located at an equal position.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the duct is provided with a plurality of the third flow passages, and a length in the second direction of each of the plurality of the third flow passages is not equal.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the duct is provided with a plurality of the third flow passages, and a length in the first direction of each of the plurality of the third flow passages is not equal.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:

a photoreceptor; and

a charging member which is the cooling target and charges a surface of the photoreceptor.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:

a photoreceptor;

a transfer device configured to transfer a toner image formed on the photoreceptor onto a sheet;

a fixing device configured to fix the toner image transferred onto the sheet by the transfer device to the sheet; and

a conveying device configured to convey the sheet having passed through the fixing device,

wherein the duct guides air toward a sheet on a conveying path of the sheet conveyed by the conveying device.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the conveying path includes a reverse conveying path that reverses the sheet to which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device and conveys the sheet to a transfer portion in the transfer device, and

the duct guides air toward the sheet on the reverse conveying path.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2022
From: OTSUKA, YUYA; SATO, HIROKI; KOJIMA, RYUICHI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 059318/0189 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2021-029633 · Feb 26, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220276606A1 · Sep 1, 2022