Air Blowing Devices for Sheet Cooling in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently transporting sheets and managing heat to prevent toner cartridge temperature increases, leading to unstable image formation and potential jamming issues.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a sheet transport unit with first and second air blowing devices that direct airflow from downstream to upstream, cooling the sheet and toner cartridges, and minimizing heat diffusion from the fixing device, thereby maintaining stable temperatures and preventing jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sheets are transported horizontally above the image forming section, then sheet transport efficiency is improved, but heat from the fixing device diffuses to toner cartridges causing temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air blowing devices as intermediary elements that generate airflow to cool the toner cartridges and sheet. The airflow acts as a mediator between the heat source (fixing device) and the sensitive components (toner cartridges), removing excess heat through convection without requiring physical separation or modification of the transport path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic cooling by using air blowing devices to create forced convection airflow. This pneumatic approach directs cool air toward the toner cartridges and sheet, effectively removing heat generated by the fixing device during horizontal sheet transport, thus maintaining stable temperatures without compromising transport efficiency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If airflow is applied to cool the sheet and toner cartridges, then temperature stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional air blowing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The air blowing devices are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: cooling the toner cartridges, cooling the sheet, and preventing heat diffusion from the fixing device. This multi-functionality allows a single cooling system to address multiple thermal management needs, reducing the requirement for separate cooling mechanisms for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the cooling functions for different components (toner cartridges and sheet) into a unified air blowing system. By merging these cooling requirements into a single pneumatic approach, the system achieves temperature stability for multiple components without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one airflow system serves multiple cooling purposes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances sheet transport efficiency, reduces toner cartridge temperature, and ensures continuous stable image formation by cooling the sheet and toner cartridges, minimizing printout time and preventing heat-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
The first air blowing device applies on an upper side of the sheet being transported an airflow directed from a downstream side to an upstream side in a sheet transport direction
Implementation Method 2
The second air blowing device applies an airflow directed from the downstream side to the upstream side in the sheet transport direction of the sheet transport unit in a region that is on an upper side of the image forming section and on a lower side of the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms a toner image, an output section, a sheet transport unit that transports in a region above the image forming section a sheet onto which the toner image has been fixed toward the output section in a substantially horizontal direction, a first air blowing device that applies on an upper side of the sheet being transported an airflow directed from a downstream side to an upstream side in a sheet transport direction of the sheet transport unit, and a second air blowing device that applies an airflow directed from the downstream side to the upstream side in the sheet transport direction of the sheet transport unit in a region that is on an upper side of the image forming section and on a lower side of the sheet.