US 12,306,574 B2
Air ventilation structure in image forming apparatus
Takashi Fujita, Chiba (JP); and Tomoki Hasegawa, Ibaraki (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/488,141.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-170873 (JP), filed on Oct. 25, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0134311 A1, Apr. 25, 2024
Prior Publication US 2024/0231272 A9, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 21/20 (2006.01); G03G 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/206 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0258 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a housing; and
an image forming unit provided in the housing and configured to form an image on a sheet,
wherein the image forming unit includes:
a photosensitive body;
a charger configured to charge a surface of the photosensitive body;
an exposure device configured to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface of the photosensitive body;
a developing device configured to form a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive body by developing the electrostatic latent image using toner; and
a transfer roller configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive body to a sheet, and
wherein the housing includes:
a protective member configured to be switched between in a protective state in which the protective member is protecting a protection target and in a non-protective state in which the protective member is not protecting the protection target;
an intake port configured to take in air;
a duct configured to guide the air taken in from the intake port to the image forming unit and guide the air from the image forming unit to outside of the housing;
an exhaust port connected to the duct and configured to discharge the air to outside of the housing;
a fan provided in a section from the intake port to the exhaust port in the duct and configured to assist intake, discharging or both of intake and discharging of the air; and
a processor configured to control the fan,
wherein the processor is configured to, in a case where the protective member is in the protective state, permit rotation of the fan and, in a case where the protective member is in the non-protective state, restrict rotation of the fan,
wherein the image forming unit further includes:
an electrical component that generates ozone;
a first supply duct configured to guide the air to the electrical component; and
a second supply duct configured to guide the air to a group of other components different from the electrical component among a group of components constituting the image forming unit,
wherein the fan includes:
a first fan disposed in the first supply duct; and
a second fan disposed in the second supply duct, and
wherein the processor is configured to:
in a case where the protective member is in the protective state, permit rotation of the first fan and the second fan, and
in a case where the protective member is in the non-protective state, restrict rotation of the first fan and permit rotation of the second fan.