Image forming device
First Claim
1. An image forming device for forming developer images on a recording medium, the image forming device comprising:
- a main body case;
an image bearing member disposed within the main body case and having a surface;
image forming unit disposed within the main body, the image forming unit forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image bearing member;
a process cartridge that is removably disposed in the main body case;
a developing unit disposed within the process cartridge, the developing unit holding developer and using the developer to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member into a developer image;
a transfer unit disposed within the main body case at a position in opposition with the process cartridge, the transfer unit transferring the developer image on the image bearing member onto the recording medium;
a fixing unit disposed within the main body case, the fixing unit generating heat to thermally fix the developer image onto the recording medium;
a duct wall having a cartridge-side wail section opposed to the process cartridge, a fixing-unit-side wall section opposed to the fixing unit, and a connecting wall section that connects the cartridge-side wall section and the fixing-unit-side wall section together, the cartridge-side wall section, the fixing-unit-side wall section, and the connecting wall section defining a duct that extends between the fixing unit and the process cartridge, the connecting wall section and the fixing-unit-side wall section being formed with a fixing-unit-side through hole that extends from a portion of the connecting wall section to a portion of the fixing-unit-side wall section; and
an exhaust unit that draws air in the vicinity of the fixing unit, through the through hole and the duct, to outside the main body case.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laser printer for forming toner images on sheets includes a duct wall and a shutter. The duct wall extends between a process cartridge, which is filled with toner, and a thermal fixing unit, which generates heat to fix toner images onto the sheets. The duct wall defines a duct and is formed with openings at its side that faces the thermal fixing unit. A fan is provided for drawing hot air from the thermal fixing unit, through the openings in the duct wall and the duct itself, and out from the laser printer. The shutter moves in and out of contact with the process cartridge in association with opening and closing movement of a cover of the laser printer. When the shutter is in contact with the process cartridge, an exhaust chamber is formed that connects an ozone exhaust hole of the process cartridge with the duct. Another fan is provided for drawing the ozone generated by a charge unit of the process cartridge through the ozone exhaust hole, the exhaust chamber, and the duct.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An image forming device for forming developer images on a recording medium, the image forming device comprising:
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a main body case;
an image bearing member disposed within the main body case and having a surface;
image forming unit disposed within the main body, the image forming unit forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image bearing member;
a process cartridge that is removably disposed in the main body case;
a developing unit disposed within the process cartridge, the developing unit holding developer and using the developer to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member into a developer image;
a transfer unit disposed within the main body case at a position in opposition with the process cartridge, the transfer unit transferring the developer image on the image bearing member onto the recording medium;
a fixing unit disposed within the main body case, the fixing unit generating heat to thermally fix the developer image onto the recording medium;
a duct wall having a cartridge-side wail section opposed to the process cartridge, a fixing-unit-side wall section opposed to the fixing unit, and a connecting wall section that connects the cartridge-side wall section and the fixing-unit-side wall section together, the cartridge-side wall section, the fixing-unit-side wall section, and the connecting wall section defining a duct that extends between the fixing unit and the process cartridge, the connecting wall section and the fixing-unit-side wall section being formed with a fixing-unit-side through hole that extends from a portion of the connecting wall section to a portion of the fixing-unit-side wall section; and
an exhaust unit that draws air in the vicinity of the fixing unit, through the through hole and the duct, to outside the main body case. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An image forming device comprising:
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a detachable process cartridge that forms images on recording medium, the process cartridge including a housing, a photosensitive member, and a charger, the housing supporting the photosensitive member and the charger in confrontation with each other and being formed with a cartridge through hole near the charger, the charger charging the photosensitive member;
a main body case formed with a receiving section that receives the process cartridge and an exhaust hole that brings the receiving section into fluid communication with outside the main body case;
a movable member that moves between a contact position and a non-contact position, the movable member, when in the contact position, contacting the cartridge housing and defining an exhaust chamber that connects the exhaust hole of the receiving section to the cartridge through hole, the movable member, when in the non-contact position, being out of contact with the cartridge housing; and
an exhaust unit that draws air through the exhaust chamber and the exhaust hole together to outside of the main body case. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification