Airflow around electrical circuit of image forming apparatus

• US 20040228646A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Otoguro, Yasuaki, Sekiguchi, Hajime, Kitahara, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 7,016,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/92
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/206 Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes image forming means for forming an image; a first electrical substrate having an electric circuit for electric power supply to the image forming means; a second electrical substrate disposed above the first electrical substrate and having an electric circuit for electric power supply to the image forming means; an opening formed above the first electrical substrate in fluid communication with an ambient air; and a partition member for partitioning the first electrical substrate and the second electrical substrate and for forming an air flow path from the first electrical substrate to the opening.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

image forming means for forming an image;

a first electrical substrate having an electric circuit for electric power supply to said image forming means;

a second electrical substrate disposed above said first electrical substrate and having an electric circuit for electric power supply to said image forming means;

an opening formed above said first electrical substrate in fluid communication with an ambient air; and

a partition member for partitioning said first electrical substrate and said second electrical substrate and for forming an air flow path from said first electrical substrate to said opening.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein between said first electrical substrate and said second electrical substrate, air is movable.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said partition member has a portion substantially inclined upward toward said opening.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fan for directing heat from said first electrical substrate toward said partition member.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second opening, formed in a lower side of said first electrical substrate, for suction of the ambient air.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first electrical substrate has an electric power supply circuit for supplying electric power to said image forming means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second electrical substrate has a circuit for sending a signal to said image forming means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a duct extending between said partion member and said second electrical substrate to exhausting heat from said image forming means to the ambient air.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein partition member includes a heat insulation member.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising:

image forming means for forming an image;

a first electrical substrate having an electric circuit for electric power supply to said image forming means;

a second electrical substrate disposed above said first electrical substrate and having an electric circuit for electric power supply to said image forming means;

an opening formed above said first electrical substrate in fluid communication with an ambient air; and

an air flow forming member for forming an air flow path for directing heat from said first electrical substrate toward said opening before said second electrical substrate.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein between said first electrical substrate and said second electrical substrate, air is movable.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said partition member has a portion substantially inclined upward toward said opening.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a fan for directing heat from said first electrical substrate toward said partition member.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a second opening, formed in a lower side of said first electrical substrate, for suction of the ambient air.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first electrical substrate has an electric power supply circuit for supplying electric power to said image forming means.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second electrical substrate has a circuit for sending a signal to said image forming means.

17. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a duct extending between said flow path forming means and said second electrical substrate to exhaust heat from said image forming means.

18. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein partition member includes a heat insulation member.