Image forming apparatus and fan operation controlling method

a technology of image forming apparatus and fan, which is applied in the direction of cooling/ventilation/heating modification, instruments, printing, etc., can solve the problems of exhaust fan emitted loud noise, loss of air flow, and lowering of the temperature inside the image forming apparatus

US20190354068A1Active Publication Date: 2019-11-21CANON KK
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2019-11-21
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording material; an exhaust fan configured to exhaust air inside the image forming apparatus; a CPU configured to control rotation of the exhaust fan; and a memory configured to store in advance a first control setting value for rotating the exhaust fan at a first target rotation speed. The CPU rotates the exhaust fan based on the first control setting value, and permits the image forming unit to form an image when a rotation speed of the exhaust fan becomes equal to or faster than a lower limit rotation speed for suppressing a discharge amount of UFPs. When a predetermined time period has elapsed, the CPU performs feedback control for the exhaust fan such that the exhaust fan is rotated faster than the first target rotation speed.
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Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, for example, a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to control of a fan motor provided inside an image forming apparatus.Description of the Related Art

[0002] An image forming apparatus includes an exhaust fan motor (hereinafter referred to as “exhaust fan”) for suppressing an increase in temperature inside the image forming apparatus. The exhaust fan exhausts heated air inside the image forming apparatus. At a time of exhausting air, fine particles and the like may be discharged along with air. Such fine particles and the like are required to be reduced from the viewpoint of environmental protection. For example, in “Blue Angel”, German certification for products and services, a discharge amount of ultra-fine particles (UFPs), which are ultra-fine particles discharged from a product, is regulated. Therefore, the image forming appar...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0020]An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021]FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer serving as an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. A printer 100 includes a sheet feeding cassette 110 capable of receiving a plurality of recording materials (or sheets of recording paper) P, for example, sheets, a conveyance path for conveying the recording material P, an image forming unit 130 configured to form an image on the recording material P, a fixing device 150, and an exhaust fan 210 for suppressing an increase in temperature inside the printer 100. In order to feed the recording material P, the conveyance path includes a pickup roller 111, a sheet feeding roller 112, a retard roller 113, a conveyance roller pair 114, a registration roller pair 115, and a discharge roller pair 160. The image forming unit 130 includes a photosensitive drum 131, a charging roller ...