Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024255893-A1
Application number	US-202418425320-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 29, 2024
Priority date	Jan 31, 2023
Publication date	Aug 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a fan and a duct portion including (i) a first opening from which an airflow blows and (ii) a projecting portion configured to guide the airflow to the first opening, and a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a casing including a first side surface in which a second opening is formed. The second opening communicates with a space inside the process cartridge, to which a surface of the photosensitive drum and a surface of the developing roller are exposed. When viewed in a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum, the first opening and the second opening overlap. In the rotational axis direction, the projecting portion projects in a direction away from an attachment space in which the process cartridge is attached.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body including a fan and a duct portion through which airflow generated by the fan flows, the duct portion including (i) a first opening from which the airflow blows and (ii) a projecting portion configured to guide the airflow to the first opening; and a process cartridge that is detachable from the apparatus body and is attached to the apparatus body in a position in which the process cartridge receives the airflow blown from the first opening, the process cartridge including
a photosensitive drum,
a developing roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum, and
a casing including a first side surface in which a second opening is formed,
wherein the second opening communicates with a space inside the process cartridge, to which a surface of the photosensitive drum and a surface of the developing roller are exposed, wherein, when viewed in a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum, the first opening and the second opening overlap, and wherein, in the rotational axis direction, the projecting portion projects in a direction away from an attachment space in which the process cartridge is attached.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the casing includes a second side surface in which a third opening communicating with the space is formed, wherein the second side surface is a surface opposite to the first side surface in the rotational axis direction, wherein the apparatus body includes a fourth opening configured to receive the airflow that has been discharged from the third opening to an exterior of the process cartridge, and wherein the third opening and the fourth opening overlap when viewed in the rotational axis direction.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein, when viewed in the rotational axis direction, the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, and the fourth opening overlap.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the process cartridge includes a guided portion, wherein the apparatus body includes
a side plate extending in a direction intersecting with the rotational axis direction and
a guide member configured to guide the guided portion in a case where the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus body.

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the first opening of the duct portion is formed in the guide member.

6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the projecting portion is formed integrally with the side plate.

7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the process cartridge is arranged on a first side in the rotational axis direction with respect to the side plate, wherein the fan is arranged on a second side in the rotational axis direction with respect to the side plate, wherein the side plate includes a hole into which the projecting portion is inserted, and wherein the projecting portion projects from the first side toward the second side through the hole.

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the projecting portion is formed integrally with the guide member.

9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the process cartridge is arranged on a first side in the rotational axis direction with respect to the side plate, wherein the fan is arranged on a second side in the rotational axis direction with respect to the side plate, wherein the side plate includes a hole into which the projecting portion is inserted, and wherein the projecting portion projects from the first side to the second side through the hole.

10 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the projecting portion is formed integrally with the guide member.

11 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein, when viewed in the rotational axis direction, the projecting portion overlaps the first opening.

12 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein, when viewed in the rotational axis direction, an opening area of the second opening is smaller than an opening area of the first opening.

13 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the casing includes a first frame and a second frame, wherein the process cartridge includes a first unit in which the first frame and the photosensitive drum are provided, and a second unit in which the second frame and the developing roller are provided, wherein a gap through which light to expose the photosensitive drum passes is formed between the first frame and the second frame, and wherein, in a cross section perpendicular to the rotational axis direction, the space inside the process cartridge is surrounded by the photosensitive drum, the first frame, the developing roller, the second frame, and the gap.

14 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 ,
wherein the second frame is movable with respect to the first frame.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Toyota Akitoshi
• Oguni Atsushi

Classifications

• G03G21/1814 Primary

  Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1828

  Prevention of damage or soiling, e.g. mechanical abrasion (G03G21/1839 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/206 Primary

  Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone · CPC title