JP2002274677A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An image forming system capable of warming a recording material in an image forming apparatus and a recording material in a recording material supply device attached as a peripheral device with one heater. An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material and a peripheral device selectively attached to the image forming apparatus. And a recording material supply device 6 for supplying the accommodated recording material to the image forming apparatus 2.
The image forming apparatus 2 has a recording material storage tray 210 that stores the recording material on the recording material supply device 6 side. A heater 300 is provided between the image forming apparatus 2 and the recording material supply apparatus 6.
Is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and peripheral devices, and more particularly, to an image forming system including a recording material supply device for storing a recording material as a peripheral device. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material such as paper, an image to be formed based on the state of the recording material (water content, etc.) and the state of an image forming unit (image temperature, humidity, etc.) for image recording. Quality is greatly affected. This is particularly remarkable in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a recording material is conveyed from a recording material storage tray to an image forming unit, a toner image is transferred to the conveyed recording material by an image forming unit, and then the toner image is transferred by a fixing device. Is thermally fixed to a recording material to form an image. Here, when the water content of the recording material is high, curl occurs in the recording material or the stiffness (rigidity) of the recording material decreases. Due to these factors, double feeding, non-feeding, and jamming of the recording material occur when the recording material is conveyed, and wrinkles occur in the recording material when an image is fixed. Further, when the water content of the recording material is high, various problems such as transfer failure (transfer white spots) occur when transferring the toner image to the recording material.

Therefore, conventionally, a technique has been developed in which a heater is provided in an image forming apparatus to adjust the water content of a recording material or to adjust the temperature and humidity of an image forming section.

For example, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-32473, a dehumidification heater disposed below a storage frame in which a recording material storage tray is stored, and air heated by the dehumidification heater are supplied. An air flow path leading to the vicinity of the uppermost recording material of the recording material storage tray is provided in the sheet feeding device. In this way, the uppermost recording material that is most likely to absorb moisture is dehumidified. Further, in this technique, an air distribution means is further provided so that the air heated by the dehumidification heater can be distributed to the side surface of the recording material, thereby improving the separation of the recording material.

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-83221, a duct for connecting a fixing device and a recording material storage tray, and a fan for collecting heat generated by the fixing device and blowing the heat to the recording material storage tray are disclosed. Is provided in the image forming apparatus. This achieves dehumidification and moisture prevention of the recording material without newly providing a dehumidifying device.

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-157120, a heater and a fan are provided at a lower portion of the sheet feeding device in order to effectively use a space in the sheet feeding device.

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-179677, a mechanism for sending heat of the fixing device to the photosensitive member is provided. This prevents the image density from becoming unstable due to the characteristics of the photoconductor. In particular, by heating the photosensitive member while rotating the photosensitive member, thermal deformation and dehumidification of the photosensitive member are made uniform, thereby suppressing image density unevenness.

[0008]

In recent years, as image forming apparatuses have been reduced in size, the components of the apparatus have been increasingly used as peripheral devices in order to respond to the needs of various types of users. Then, by combining the peripheral devices, an image forming system centered on the image forming apparatus is configured. As a result, an image forming system desired by each user can be easily realized by a combination of peripheral devices.

As described above, the components of the apparatus become independent peripheral devices, and when the image forming system is configured by selecting and combining the peripheral devices, the components are provided for adjusting the water content of the recording material as described above. There is a problem that a heater or the like must be provided for each peripheral device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to avoid providing a heater or the like for each peripheral device in an image forming system configured by combining peripheral devices. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of maintaining good image formation.

[0011]

An image forming system according to the present invention is an image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material and peripheral devices selectively attached to the image forming apparatus. There is, as a peripheral device, an image forming system that contains at least a recording material supply device that accommodates a recording material and supplies the accommodated recording material to the image forming device, in order to solve the above-described problem, The image forming apparatus has a recording material storage unit for storing a recording material on the recording material supply device side, and a heating element is provided between the image forming apparatus and the recording material supply device. It is characterized by:

In the above configuration, the recording material used for image formation is accommodated in the recording material accommodating portion in the image forming apparatus, and the recording material supply device attached to the image forming apparatus as a peripheral device is also provided. Is housed. Further, in the image forming apparatus, the recording material storage section is arranged on the recording material supply device side. A heating element is provided between the image forming apparatus and the recording material supply device. That is, when a recording material supply device as a peripheral device is attached to the image forming apparatus, a heating element is arranged at a boundary between the image forming device and the recording material supply device.

In this configuration, the heating element is arranged so as to be close to the recording material storage section in the image forming apparatus and the recording material supply apparatus. Therefore, both the recording material storage unit and the recording material supply device can be heated by the heating element to adjust their temperature and humidity, and the water content of the recording material in either the recording material storage unit or the recording material supply device can be adjusted. Can also be adjusted appropriately. As a result, the water content of the recording material is high, curling of the recording material occurs, or the stiffness (rigidity) of the recording material is reduced. Problems such as occurrence of a jam, wrinkling of a recording material at the time of fixing an image, and occurrence of a transfer failure (transfer white spot) at the time of transferring a toner image to a recording material can be suppressed.

As a result, it is possible to maintain good image formation while avoiding the provision of a heating element for each device, and to simplify the image forming system and reduce the cost. .

The image forming system according to the present invention, in the above image forming system, further includes an opening for guiding hot air from the heating element into the image forming apparatus on a surface of the image forming apparatus on the heating element side. Is preferably provided.

In the above configuration, hot air from the heating element easily enters the image forming apparatus, and the inside of the image forming apparatus can be efficiently heated.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the image forming system, it is preferable that the image forming apparatus is disposed vertically above the recording material supply apparatus.

In the above configuration, the hot air from the heating element can easily enter the image forming apparatus without using a forced circulation means such as a fan, and the inside of the image forming apparatus can be warmed more efficiently. Become like In addition, since the heating element can be installed above the recording material supply device, the attachment and detachment of the heating element is facilitated.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the above image forming system, it is preferable that the opening is further provided so as to guide hot air from the heating element to the recording material accommodating section.

With the above arrangement, the hot air from the heating element reaches the recording material storage portion more directly, and the recording material in the recording material storage portion can be more efficiently heated.

[0021] In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the above-described image forming system, the image forming apparatus may further include an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material; It is preferable that a recording material conveying path for conveying the recording material one by one is provided, and the opening is provided so as to guide hot air from the heating element to the recording material conveying path.

In the above configuration, hot air from the heating element reaches the recording material transport path on which the recording material is transported one by one. Therefore, the hot air from the heating element acts on each recording material individually, and the recording material can be warmed more efficiently.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the above-described image forming system, a paper feed roller for taking out a recording material from the recording material storage section is further provided in the recording material conveyance path, and the opening is provided. It is preferable that hot air from the heating element is provided so as to be guided to the paper feed roller in the recording material conveyance path.

When the temperature of the paper feed roller is low, the roller surface for separating one recording material from another recording material and transporting the recording material is cooled and hardened by contact with the recording material. In this state, the separation and conveyance operations of the recording material by the paper feed roller do not function well, and a problem such as double feeding of the recording material may occur. Further, if the temperature of the paper feed roller is low, the roller surface may condense, and the roller surface may slip on the recording material, making it impossible to convey the recording material.

In the above configuration, since the recording material can be heated and the paper feed roller can be heated, the paper feed roller exerts its original function while preventing dew condensation on the roller surface. Can be suppressed.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the above-described image forming system, the image forming section may form an electrophotographic image, and at least a part of the recording material conveying path may be in a vertical direction. And the image forming section is located above the opening in the vertical direction.

The surface resistance of a photoreceptor provided in an electrophotographic image forming unit decreases when moisture in the air is adsorbed on the surface thereof. This decrease in the surface resistance of the photoconductor may cause instability of the image density.

With the above arrangement, the hot air from the heating element can be efficiently guided to the electrophotographic image forming section without using a forced circulation means such as a fan. Then, the photoconductor provided in the electrophotographic image forming unit can be heated by the heating element for heating the recording material. This makes it possible to eliminate moisture from the surface of the photoreceptor, suppress a decrease in surface resistance, and stabilize the image density. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the image density while simplifying and reducing the cost of the image forming system.

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system 1 includes a scanner 3, an automatic document feeder 4, a post-processing device 5, a recording material feeder 6, a relay feed unit 8, and a duplex feeder 10, each of which is a peripheral device, with the image forming device 2 as a core. Connected and expanded functionality. Among them, the image forming apparatus 2 and the post-processing apparatus 5 are placed side by side on the upper surface of the recording material supply apparatus 6, and the scanner 3 is mounted above them together with the automatic document feeder 4 arranged above the system. It is arranged by being supported on the rack 7.

When an image processing device such as a personal computer is connected as an externally connected device, the image forming device 2 outputs image data from the externally connected device as well as recording and outputting the image read by the scanner 3. It is to record and output.

An electrophotographic process unit (image forming unit) 20 centered on a photoreceptor (photoreceptor drum) 200 is disposed substantially at the center left side of the image forming apparatus 2. Photoreceptor 2
00, a charging roller 201 for uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor 200, an optical scanning unit 2 for scanning an optical image on the uniformly charged photoconductor 200 to write an electrostatic latent image
2. A developing unit 202 that reproduces the electrostatic latent image written by the optical scanning unit 22 with a developer, and the photoconductor 20
A transfer unit 203 for transferring an image reproduced on the recording medium to a recording material, and removing a developer remaining on the photoconductor 200 after the transfer to enable a new image to be recorded on the photoconductor 200 Cleaning unit 204 and photoconductor 2
A static elimination lamp unit (not shown) for removing the electric charges on the surface of the 00 is disposed.

At the lower part of the image forming apparatus 2, that is, at the side of the recording material supply device 6, a recording material supply unit 21 capable of storing the recording material is provided.
Is arranged. The recording material supply unit 21 includes a recording material storage tray 210 that stores recording materials, and a separation supply unit 211 that separates and feeds the recording materials stored in the recording material storage tray 210 one by one. The recording material separated and fed one by one by the separation and supply unit 211 is sequentially supplied between the photoconductor 200 of the electrophotographic process unit 20 and the transfer unit 203, and the toner recorded and reproduced on the photoconductor 200. The image is transferred. The recording material supply unit 21
Operations such as replenishment of the recording material to the recording material and replacement of the recording material are performed by pulling out the recording material storage tray 210 to the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus 2 (see FIG. 4).

On the lower surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus 2, a recording material sent from a recording material supply device 6 provided as an option is received, and the photosensitive member 20 of the electrophotographic process section 20 is received.
A recording material receiving port 27 for sequentially supplying the recording material 27 between the transfer unit 203 and the transfer unit 203 is provided.

A fixing device 23 is disposed above the electrophotographic process unit 20. The fixing device 23 receives the recording material on which the image has been transferred sequentially, and heats and fixes the developer transferred on the recording material. Send the recording material out. The recording material on which the image is recorded is transferred from the discharge roller 28 of the image forming apparatus to the relay conveyance unit 8 on the upper surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus 2. As described above, the paper transport path (recording material transport path) 64 of the image forming apparatus 2 is configured to be substantially vertical from bottom to top.

The optical scanning unit 22 is disposed on the side of the electrophotographic processing unit 20, that is, at a position adjacent to the electrophotographic processing unit 20 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet transport path 64. In the upper and lower spaces of the optical scanning unit 22, a device control unit 24 for accommodating a process control unit (PCU) board for controlling an electrophotographic process and an interface board for receiving image data from outside of the apparatus. An image control unit 25 having an image control unit (ICU) substrate for subjecting the received image data to predetermined image processing and scanning and recording as an image on the photoconductor 200 by the optical scanning unit 22; Various substrates and a power supply unit 26 for supplying power to the units are arranged.

The recording material supply device 6 is an optional externally provided recording material supply device, and has three recording material supply units 61, 62 and 63. Recording material supply unit 6
In 1.62 and 63, the recording material storage trays 610 and 620
The recording material stored in the recording material supply device 6 is separated from the recording material accommodated in the recording material supply device 611 by separating and feeding means 611, 621, and 631, respectively. The recording material is supplied toward the recording material discharge port 65 communicating with the receiving port 27. At the time of operation, a recording material supply unit 61, 62, 6 containing a recording material of a desired size.
3 operates selectively. Recording material supply units 61, 62, 63
The recording material is supplied to the unit main body by pulling out the recording material storage trays 610, 620, and 630 to the front side of the unit main body.

The recording material supply device 6 is configured so that the image forming device 2 and the post-processing device 5 are placed on the upper portion. The recording material supply device 6 is moved in this state and fixed between the system racks 7. A movable roller 69 and a fixed part 68 are provided at the lower part so as to be able to be arranged. At the time of movement, the fixed part 68 is rotated and raised to separate the fixed part 68 from the floor surface. At the time of fixing, the fixed part 68 is rotated and lowered to contact the fixed part 68 with the floor surface. The recording material supply device 6 is fixed.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates a case where the recording material supply device 6 has three recording material supply units 61, 62, and 63, the present invention is not limited to this, and the recording material supply device 6 includes at least one recording material supply unit. What is necessary is just to have a material supply part.

The post-processing device 5 guides the recording material on which the image discharged from the image forming device 2 and the relay conveyance unit 8 is recorded by a carry-in roller 50 provided on the upper portion of the post-processing device 5, and performs recording. Post-processing is performed on the material.

The post-processing includes staple processing, punching processing, sorting processing, and the like. The post-processing apparatus 5 illustrated in FIG. Those not subjected to post-processing are placed in the paper tray 59 and the upper discharge tray 56 are placed in the switching gate 52.
Is selectively discharged by

The scanner 3 has an automatic reading mode in which a sheet-shaped document automatically supplied by the automatic document feeder 4 is sequentially exposed and scanned one by one to read a document image, and a book set by a manual operation of a user. And a manual reading mode for reading a document image of a sheet-shaped document or a sheet-shaped document that cannot be automatically supplied by the automatic document feeder 4. The original image of the original set on the transparent original placing table 30 is exposed and scanned by a first scanning unit 31 and a second scanning unit 32 that move along the original placing table 30 at a predetermined speed relationship with each other. The photoelectric conversion element 3 is guided by optical components such as a mirror and an imaging lens 33.
By forming an image on the document 4, the original image is converted into an electric signal and then output.

The automatic document feeder 4 feeds the document placed on the document set tray 40 toward the document placing table 30, and discharges the scanned document onto the document discharge tray 42. It has. Further, the automatic document feeder 4 rotates upward with the rear side of the apparatus as a fulcrum so that a sheet-shaped original that cannot be automatically supplied is placed on the original table 30 and can be scanned. Is configured to open on the near side.

The relay conveyance unit 8 is mounted on an upper portion of a paper discharge tray 29 provided on the top of the image forming apparatus 2 to transfer a recording material on which an image discharged from a paper discharge roller 28 of the image forming apparatus 2 is recorded. This is a transport unit for introducing the paper toward the post-processing device 5 located downstream of the image forming apparatus 2.

Another recording material for guiding the recording material to a discharge tray 9 formed by the upper surface 82 of the unit and the upper surface 54 of the post-processing device 5 in the middle of the recording material conveyance path 84 of the relay conveyance unit 8. The transport path 83 branches. The two discharge destinations can be changed by switching the gate 81 arranged at the branch of the transport path.

The double-sided conveying device 10 is a conveying device mounted on the side of the image forming apparatus 2 and for reversing the recording material when forming images on both surfaces of the recording material. When reversing the recording material, the recording material is stopped in a state in which the paper discharge roller 28 has partially discharged the recording material, and the recording material is guided to the double-sided conveyance device 10 by reversing the recording material. At this time, by switching the gate 85 provided after the fixing device 23, the recording material is transferred to the fixing device 23.
The user enters the double-sided conveyance device 10 without returning to the side. The recording material that has passed through the double-sided conveyance device 10 enters the paper conveyance path 64 again before the electrophotographic processing unit 20 and passes through the electrophotographic processing unit 20 and the like, whereby an image is formed on the back surface.

The image forming system 1 has a structure in which the image forming apparatus 2 and the post-processing apparatus 5 are placed side by side on the recording material supply apparatus 6, and the width of the main body of the image forming apparatus 2 is L1, Assuming that the width of the main body of the post-processing device 5 is L2, the width L of the recording material supply device 6 is designed to be substantially equal to L1 + L2.

By constructing a system by combining peripheral devices like the image forming system 1, an image forming system desired by the user can be easily realized. On the other hand, in such an image forming system 1, it is necessary to consider adjustment of the temperature, humidity, and the like of the entire system. On the other hand, if a heater, a fan, or the like is provided for each peripheral device, the number of components increases as a whole system, which causes a problem such as an increase in cost of the image forming system 1.

Therefore, the image forming system 1 has a configuration in which a heater (heating element) 300 is provided between the image forming apparatus 2 and the recording material supply apparatus 6. This heater 300
2 to 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing a configuration around the heater 300 in the image forming system 1 of FIG. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the heater 30 in the image forming system 1 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration around the image forming apparatus 0. FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which the image forming apparatus 2 is separated upward from the recording material supply device 6, and FIG. The state where it pulled out to the front side of the main body of the forming apparatus 2 is shown. 2 to 4, the post-processing device 5 is not shown.

The heater 300 includes a recording material storage tray 210.
And on the upper surface of the recording material supply device 6 so as to be located immediately below the recording material storage tray 610. That is, when the recording material supply device 6 as a peripheral device is attached to the image forming device 2, the heater 300 is disposed at the boundary between the image forming device 2 and the recording material supply device 6. The heater 300 may be attached to the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus 2, but is preferably attached to the top surface of the recording material supply device 6 because attachment / detachment becomes easy.

In this configuration, the heater 300 is disposed so as to be close to the recording material storage tray 210 in the image forming apparatus 2, the recording material storage tray 610 in the recording material supply device 6, and the like. . Therefore, this heater 300
Recording material storage tray 210 and recording material supply device 6
By heating both of them, the temperature and humidity can be adjusted, and the water content of any of the recording materials in the recording material storage tray 210 and the recording material supply device 6 can be reduced. As a result, the water content of the recording material is high, the recording material is curled, or the stiffness (rigidity) of the recording material is reduced.
Problems such as non-feeding, jamming, wrinkling of the recording material at the time of image fixing, and occurrence of poor transfer (transfer white spots) when transferring a toner image to the recording material are less likely to occur. Can be.

By arranging the heater 300 in this manner, the water content of the recording material contained in each of the image forming apparatus 2 and the recording material supply apparatus 6 can be reduced without installing a heater in each of the apparatuses. Image formation can be maintained.

The image forming system 1 further includes a ventilation hole for guiding hot air from the heater 300 to the inside of the image forming apparatus 2 on the side of the image forming apparatus 2 on the heater 300 side, that is, the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus 2. Mouth (opening) 310
320 are formed. Therefore, the hot air from the heater 300 easily enters the image forming apparatus 2, and the inside of the image forming apparatus 2 can be efficiently heated.

Here, the vent 310 is formed at a position where the hot air (arrow A in FIG. 2) from the heater 300 is guided to the bottom surface of the recording material storage tray 210. Specifically, the vent 310 is located so as to face the bottom surface of the recording material storage tray 210 and the top surface of the heater 300. Thereby, when the hot air from the heater 300 rises vertically upward, it passes through the vent 310. In addition, the hot air from the heater 300 that has entered the image forming apparatus 2 through the ventilation port 310 warms the recording material in the recording material storage tray 210 by heating the bottom surface of the recording material storage tray 210. Therefore, the hot air from the heater 300 reaches the recording material storage tray 210 more directly, and the recording material in the recording material storage tray 210 can be heated more efficiently.

The vent 320 is formed at a position where the hot air (arrow B in FIG. 2) from the heater 300 is guided to the paper transport path 64. Specifically, the heater 30
The hot air from 0 moves in the horizontal direction (left direction in FIG. 2) along the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus 2, and when it reaches the position of the vent 320, it passes through the vent 320 and moves vertically upward. Become. Then, the hot air from the heater 300 that has entered the image forming apparatus 2 through the ventilation port 320 is guided to the paper transport path 64, and when the recording material passes through the paper transport path 64 one by one, the recording is performed. The material will be warmed.
Therefore, the hot air from the heater 300 acts on each recording material individually, and the recording material can be heated more efficiently.

The vent 320 is used to transfer hot air from the heater 300 to the paper transport path 64 of the paper transport path 64.
It is desirable that the guide member 4 is formed at a position where it is guided to the separation / supplying means 211 which is a starting end of the sheet 4.

The separating / supplying means 211 has sheet feeding rollers 211a, 211b and 211c whose surfaces are made of rubber or the like. The paper feed roller 211a separates the topmost recording material from the recording materials stacked in the recording material storage tray 210 and guides the separated recording material between the paper feeding rollers 211b and 211c. The paper feed rollers 211b and 211c convey the recording material guided between them, take out the recording material from the recording material storage tray 210, and send it to the electrophotographic process unit 20 side. Here, if the temperature of the paper feed rollers 211a, 211b, 211c is low, the rubber or the like on the surface is cooled and hardened. In this state,
The separation and conveyance functions of the recording material by the paper feed rollers 211a, 211b, and 211c do not function well, and a problem such as double feeding of the recording material may occur. Also, the paper feed roller 211a
When the temperature of 211b and 211c is low, the surface condenses,
The paper feed rollers 211a, 211b, and 211c may slip with respect to the recording material and may not be able to convey the recording material.

When the hot air from the heater 300 is guided to the separating / supplying means 211 through the ventilation port 320, the feeding rollers 211a, 211b, and 211c together with the recording material are provided.
Can also be heated, so that the paper feed rollers 211a and 2a
11b and 211c can exhibit their original functions, can prevent dew condensation, and can suppress the occurrence of the above problems.

As described above, the paper feed rollers 211a and 211b
A part of the rail 330 supporting the recording material storage tray 210 or the recording material storage tray 2 located on the rail 330 in order to efficiently guide the hot air from the heater 300 to the 211c.
Vent holes 340 and 350 are also provided in a part of 10.

In the image forming system 1, the image forming apparatus 2 is disposed vertically above the recording material supply device 6. Therefore, the hot air from the heater 300 can easily enter the image forming apparatus 2 without using a forced circulation unit such as a fan, and the above-described units in the image forming apparatus 2 can be more efficiently heated. Become like

In the image forming apparatus 2, the paper transport path 64 is set so that the main part of the paper transport path 64 is in the vertical direction.
Is arranged. The electrophotographic process unit 20 is located above the air port 320 and the separation supply unit 211 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the vent 320
And enters the image forming apparatus 2 through the paper transport path 6.
Hot air from the heater 300 that has reached 4 (arrow C in FIG. 2)
Further rises to reach the electrophotographic processing unit 20. This is because the sheet transport path 64 is a portion through which the recording material passes, and therefore, there are few members that prevent the rise of hot air. Therefore, the hot air from the heater 300 is guided to the electrophotographic processing unit 20 without using a forced circulation means such as a fan. And the heater 30
The hot air from 0 can also heat the photoconductor 200 in the electrophotographic process unit 20. The photoconductor 200 is
When moisture in the air is adsorbed on the surface, the surface resistance decreases. The reduction in the surface resistance of the photoconductor 200 may cause the image density to become unstable. As described above, by heating the photoreceptor 200 with the hot air from the heater 300, moisture can be removed from the surface and a decrease in surface resistance can be suppressed, and image density can be stabilized.

[0062]

As described above, the image forming system according to the present invention is an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a recording material supply device as a peripheral device, wherein the image forming device accommodates the recording material. The recording material supply unit is provided on the recording material supply device side, and a heating element is provided between the image forming apparatus and the recording material supply device.

In the above configuration, the heating element is disposed at the boundary between the image forming apparatus and the recording material supply apparatus. In this configuration, the heating element is disposed so as to be close to the recording material storage unit in the image forming apparatus and the recording material supply device. Therefore, both the recording material storage unit and the recording material supply device can be heated by the heating element to adjust their temperature and humidity, and the water content of the recording material in either the recording material storage unit or the recording material supply device can be adjusted. Can also be adjusted appropriately. This makes it possible to maintain good image formation while avoiding the provision of a heating element for each device, thereby making it possible to simplify the image forming system and reduce costs.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the above-described image forming system, an opening for guiding hot air from the heating element into the image forming apparatus is provided on a surface of the image forming apparatus on the side of the heating element. Is preferred.

In the above configuration, hot air from the heating element easily enters the image forming apparatus, and the inside of the image forming apparatus can be efficiently heated.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the above image forming system, it is preferable that the image forming apparatus is further disposed vertically above the recording material supply apparatus.

In the above configuration, the hot air from the heating element can easily enter the image forming apparatus without using a forced circulation means such as a fan, and the inside of the image forming apparatus can be warmed more efficiently. Become like In addition, since the heating element can be installed above the recording material supply device, the attachment and detachment of the heating element is facilitated.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, it is preferable that, in the above-described image forming system, an opening is further provided so as to guide hot air from the heating element to the recording material accommodating section.

In the above configuration, the hot air from the heating element reaches the recording material storage section more directly, and the recording material in the recording material storage section can be more efficiently heated.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the above image forming system, the image forming apparatus further includes an image forming section and a recording material conveying path, and the opening records hot air from the heating element. Preferably, it is provided so as to be guided to the material conveying path.

In the above configuration, the hot air from the heating element reaches the recording material transport path on which the recording material is transported one by one. Therefore, the hot air from the heating element acts on each recording material individually, and the recording material can be warmed more efficiently.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the above-described image forming system, a feeding roller for taking out a recording material from a recording material storage section is provided in a recording material conveyance path, and an opening is formed by a heating element. Is preferably provided so as to guide the hot air to the paper feed roller.

In the above configuration, the recording material can be warmed and the paper feed roller can be heated, so that the paper feed roller can exhibit the original function of separating and conveying the recording material.

In the image forming system according to the present invention, in the above-described image forming system, the image forming section further forms an electrophotographic image, and at least a part of the recording material conveying path is disposed in a vertical direction. Along with
It is preferable that the image forming unit is located above the opening in the vertical direction.

With the above arrangement, the hot air from the heating element can be efficiently guided to the electrophotographic image forming section without using a forced circulation means such as a fan. Then, the photoconductor provided in the electrophotographic image forming unit can be heated by the heating element for heating the recording material. This makes it possible to eliminate moisture from the surface of the photoreceptor, suppress a decrease in surface resistance, and stabilize the image density.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing a configuration around a heater in the image forming system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration around a heater in the image forming system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration around a heater in the image forming system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming system 2 image forming apparatus 3 scanner 4 automatic document feeder 5 post-processing device 6 recording material supply device 7 system rack 8 relay transport unit 10 double-sided transport device 20 electrophotographic process unit (image forming unit) 64 paper transport path ( (Recording material conveyance path) 210 recording material storage tray (recording material storage section) 211 separation / supply means 211a paper feed roller 211b paper feed roller 211c paper feed roller 300 heater (heating element) 310 vent (opening) 320 vent (opening) Part)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Naofumi Okada 22-22, Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Toshiki Ogita 22-22, Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside (72) Inventor St. Tokushige 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Toyoaki Namba 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Sharp Corporation F-term (reference) 2H027 JA12 JA16 JB11 JB13 JB19 JC11 JC14 JC15 2H071 DA05 DA22 EA04 2H072 AA12 AA30 BA03 BA12 CA01 HB01 JA02 3F343 FA02 FB01 FC19 FC23 FC29 GA01 GD01 HA32 JD03 JD09 KB30 KB05 KB05 KB05 KB10

Claims (7)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material;
What is claimed is: 1. An image forming system comprising: a peripheral device selectively attached to the image forming apparatus; and a recording material supply device for accommodating a recording material as the peripheral device and supplying the accommodated recording material to the image forming device. In an image forming system including at least a device, the image forming apparatus has a recording material storage unit that stores a recording material on the recording material supply device side, and the image forming device and the recording material supply device An image forming system, wherein a heating element is provided therebetween. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein an opening for guiding hot air from the heating element into the image forming apparatus is provided on a surface of the image forming apparatus on the heating element side. An image forming system. 3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed vertically above the recording material supply device. 4. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein said opening is provided to guide hot air from said heating element to said recording material storage. system. 5. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, and an image forming unit that forms the image from a recording material storage unit. And a recording material transport path for transporting the recording material one by one to the unit, wherein the opening is provided to guide hot air from the heating element to the recording material transport path. Image forming system. 6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein a feed roller for taking out a recording material from the recording material storage section is provided in the recording material transport path, and the opening is formed by the heating element. An image forming system provided to guide hot air from the printer to the paper feed roller in the recording material conveying path. 7. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein said image forming section forms an image by an electrophotographic system, and at least a part of said recording material conveying path is arranged in a vertical direction. An image forming system, wherein the image forming unit is located above the opening in the vertical direction.