Air Cooling System for Image Forming Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face issues with temperature gradients and increased temperatures within the apparatus body, leading to potential deformation of optical components, toner degradation, and user discomfort due to heated air in the output sheet stacker, as well as inefficient air discharge that increases power consumption.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus incorporates a configuration with air guide openings and an air suction fan to efficiently draw and discharge air across the width of the sheet conveying path, preventing heated air from accumulating in the output sheet stacker and reducing temperature gradients, while maintaining necessary heat for the fixing unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air is discharged from the sheet discharging port to cool the apparatus body, then temperature is reduced, but heated air is discharged to the output sheet stacker causing user discomfort and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus body temperatureVSAvoidheated air discharge to output sheet stacker

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air discharge function is segmented into two separate locations: one for cooling the apparatus body (discharging from the rear surface) and another for preventing heated air accumulation (discharging from the side surface near the output sheet stacker). This segmentation allows each discharge point to serve its specific purpose without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A side surface air discharge opening is introduced as an intermediary solution between the fixing unit and the output sheet stacker. This opening acts as a mediator to release heated air before it can reach the output sheet stacker, thereby protecting users and sheets from excessive heat while maintaining the cooling function of the rear discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If air discharge is increased to reduce temperature, then cooling effect is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus body temperatureVSAvoidair discharge power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the apparatus body are assigned different air discharge characteristics: the rear surface discharge handles general cooling with lower power consumption, while the side surface discharge near the output sheet stacker handles localized heated air removal. This local quality differentiation optimizes the balance between cooling efficiency and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a single high-power air discharge system, the patent employs multiple lower-power discharge points that collectively achieve the same cooling effect. The side surface discharge operates partially to handle only the heated air near the output sheet stacker, reducing overall power consumption compared to a full-strength single discharge system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Temperature

If air discharge is positioned to cool the apparatus body, then temperature is reduced, but heated air accumulates in the output sheet stacker

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus body temperatureVSAvoidtemperature distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The air discharge system uses asymmetric positioning of discharge openings: one on the rear surface and another on the side surface near the output sheet stacker. This asymmetric arrangement creates targeted airflow patterns that simultaneously cool the apparatus body and prevent heated air accumulation in specific high-risk areas, achieving uniform temperature distribution more effectively than symmetric discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 effectively reduces temperature gradients and prevents heated air from being discharged to the output sheet stacker, maintaining image quality and user safety while minimizing power consumption by ensuring efficient air discharge and heat management.

Implementation Method 1

an air suction fan to discharge air passing through the air guide opening to an outside of the casing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentUS10503118B2Image forming apparatus having air cooling system

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming device to form an image on a recording medium, a casing to accommodate the image forming device, a sheet discharging port through which the recording medium having the image is discharged from the casing, a sheet stacker to stack the recording medium output through the sheet discharging port and opening on one side of the apparatus body and surrounded by outer walls including an outer wall having the sheet discharging port, an air guide opening disposed within a sheet passing range in a width direction of the recording medium in a sheet conveying path through which the recording medium having the image passes from the image forming device to the sheet discharging port, and an air suction fan to discharge air passing through the air guide opening to an outside of the casing.