# US 9,519,266 B2 · Duct and image forming apparatus using the same

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- Number: US 9,519,266 B2
- Document ID: US9519266B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/982,045
- Filed: 2015-12-29
- Published: 2016-07-07
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-07
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Shoji Sasaki
- Inventors: Shoji Sasaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519266B2

## CPC

- G03G 21/206: {Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone}
- F24F 7/065: {fan combined with single duct; mounting arrangements of a fan in a duct}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)

## Abstract

A duct includes a suction port being connected to a first separate duct from a first direction, an exhaust port being connected to a second separate duct from the first direction, and a passage formed to extend from the suction port to the exhaust port. At least one of the suction port and the exhaust port includes a first opening portion that is opened to incline to the first direction and second opening portions at both ends of the first opening portion, the second opening portions that are opened in a transverse direction to the first direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A duct comprising:
a suction port at a first terminal end of the duct, the suction port being connectable to a first separate duct from a first direction;
an exhaust port at a second terminal end of the duct, the exhaust port being connectable to a second separate duct downstream from the second terminal end of the duct in an air exhausting direction; and
a passage formed to extend from the suction port to the exhaust port,
wherein at least one of the suction port and the exhaust port includes a central first opening portion that is opened to incline to the first direction, and second opening portions disposed laterally of the central first opening portion, the second opening portions that are opened in a transverse direction to the first direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The duct according to claim 1, wherein the suction port includes a third opening portion that is opened in a substantially perpendicular direction to the first direction,
the exhaust port includes the central first opening portion and the second opening portions, and
the central first opening portion is formed to open toward a side where the suction port is formed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The duct according to claim 2, wherein the passage includes a bent portion to bent from the suction port to the exhaust port,
wherein the central first opening portion is a substantially perpendicular to the bent portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The duct according to claim 1, further comprising a seal within the central first opening portion and the second opening portions to seal a clearance between the duct and at least of the first separate duct and the second separate duct.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The duct according to claim 4, further comprising at least one rib upstream of the first opening portion of the central first opening portion and the second opening portions in the air exhausting direction and to define a position of the seal in the first direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus, comprising
an image forming part to form an image;
the duct as claimed in claim 1; wherein
the first separate duct connects to the suction port of the duct; and
the second separate duct connects to the exhaust port of the duct.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising
a frame to fix the first separate duct,
wherein the first separate duct includes an exhaust port to connect the suction port of the duct.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein the second separate duct includes a suction fan, the second separate duct is connected to the duct in a substantially perpendicular direction to the frame, as the first direction in a state where the duct is connected to the first separate duct.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The duct according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust port has a pair of parallel side walls and the second opening portions extend perpendicularly from the side walls toward the central first opening portion, and the central first opening portion is opened to incline between the second opening portions.