SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a fixing device to fix a toner image by heat, a discharging tray to accommodating a sheet fixed toner image at the fixing device, a sheet feeding device including a sheet discharging roller to discharge the sheet and positioned downstream of the fixing device, and a sheet cooling device to cool the sheet fixed toner image. The sheet cooling device is located along the direction in which the sheets are stacked and is close to the sheet discharging device. Blocking from adhesion of sheets to each other by melting toner may be prevented by cooling the discharged sheet efficiently after the fixing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet discharging tray shown as a substantial part of the sheet feeding device of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet discharging tray of FIG. 1 attached to the body of the sheet image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view showing a configuration of a sheet discharging device and sheet stack after fixing to explain a reason why a cooling device is needed.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of orifices configured to a sheet feeding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of orifices configured to a sheet feeding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of an air supplying device of a cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross-section view showing a sheet discharging tray configured to supply air from a fan to orifices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-section view showing a sheet discharging tray configured to supply air from a fan to orifices according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating construction of an embodiment of a fan controlling system of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section view showing a sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet feeding path and a temperature detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing operations of an embodiment of a fan controlling system of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram showing operations of an embodiment of a fan controlling system of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram showing operations of an embodiment of a fan controlling system of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram showing operations of an embodiment of a fan controlling system of FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of orifices of a cooling device of a sheet feeding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a fixing device to fix a toner image by heat;a sheet accommodating device to accommodate a stack of sheets with the fixed toner image;a sheet feeding device including a sheet discharging device to discharge the sheet and positioned downstream of the fixing device;a sheet cooling device to cool the sheet with the fixed toner image;wherein the sheet cooling device is located along the direction in which the sheets are stacked in the sheet accommodating device, wherein the sheet cooling device is located close to the sheet discharging device.

2. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet cooling device is at an upstream edge of the sheet accommodating device relative to a sheet feeding direction.

3. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet cooling device includes a duct to induct air to a discharging position of the sheet discharging device.

4. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the duct includes a plurality of orifices located along the direction in which the sheets are stacked.

5. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least two of the orifices have different sizes from one another.

6. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the orifices are located at least at one of a side part perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction of the sheet accommodating device.

7. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the orifices inducts air from an air supply device.

8. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the air supply device includes a fan connected to the duct.

9. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the orifices is connected to the duct that supplies air in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction.

10. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the orifices supplies air in a diagonally lower direction.

11. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a volume of air supplied by the fan is variable.

12. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a fan controller, wherein the fan controller controls timing of the air supply relative to a sheet discharging timing.

13. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fan controller includes a detector that detects an amount of sheets stacked on the sheet accommodating device.

14. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fan controller controls an air volume relative to image density or a number of colors of an image on the sheet in an image adjustment mode.

15. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fan controller controls an air supply volume of the fan relative to an air temperature between the fixing device and the sheet accommodating device.

16. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet cooling device further includes orifices at a bottom of the sheet accommodating device to discharge air.

17. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1.

18. A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising: a fixing device for fixing a toner image;a sheet accommodating device to accommodate a stack of sheets with the fixed toner image;a sheet feeding device including a sheet discharging device for discharging a sheet and positioned downstream of the fixing device;sheet cooling means for cooling the sheet;wherein the sheet cooling means is located along the direction in which the sheets are stacked and is located close to the sheet discharging device.

19. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 18.

20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the sheet cooling means is at a downstream edge of the sheet discharging device.