Intermediate Transfer Belt Cooling Chamber Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tandem type image forming apparatuses face challenges in cooling the intermediate transfer belt, which is heated by photosensitive drums and the fixing section, leading to difficulties in cooling the drums and potential toner adhesion issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a cooling mechanism with a first and second cooling fan, and an exhaust fan to cool the intermediate transfer belt, along with a duct member forming an air curtain to prevent heating from the fixing section, ensuring effective cooling and reducing heat transfer from the photosensitive drums.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the intermediate transfer belt is cooled by placing cooling fans on one side and exhaust fans on the other side, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to requiring multiple fans and complex airflow control structures
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling chamber is divided into a first cooling chamber and a second cooling chamber separated by a partition wall. The first cooling chamber receives cooling air from cooling fans positioned on one side of the intermediate transfer belt, while the second cooling chamber receives cooling air from cooling fans positioned on the other side. This segmentation allows independent cooling zones that can be optimized separately, reducing the need for complex cross-controlling mechanisms while maintaining effective cooling across the entire belt surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust function is extracted from the traditional exhaust fan configuration and integrated into the natural airflow path through the cooling chambers. The cooling air flows through the first and second cooling chambers, absorbs heat from the intermediate transfer belt, and naturally exhausts through the open structure without requiring a separate exhaust fan. This extraction eliminates the need for exhaust fans while maintaining effective heat removal.
2Temperature
If cooling fans and exhaust fans are arranged on both sides of the intermediate transfer belt, then the cooling coverage is improved, but the apparatus width and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling chambers are arranged in the vertical dimension above the intermediate transfer belt rather than extending the apparatus width horizontally. The first and second cooling chambers are positioned one above the other, with the partition wall creating vertical separation. This vertical stacking allows cooling fans to be positioned on both sides of the belt without increasing the apparatus footprint, as the cooling structure occupies vertical space rather than horizontal space.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the intermediate transfer belt is cooled more effectively, then toner adhesion is prevented, but the photosensitive drums may be over-cooled affecting their operating temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling chambers are positioned to provide localized cooling primarily to the intermediate transfer belt surface where toner adhesion occurs. The partition wall creates separate cooling zones that can be independently controlled. The first cooling chamber targets areas where the belt contacts photosensitive drums, while the second cooling chamber targets areas where the belt passes near the fixing section. This localized cooling approach prevents toner adhesion without uniformly cooling the entire photosensitive drum system, maintaining their operational temperature requirements.
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
The cooling mechanism effectively cools the intermediate transfer belt and photosensitive drums, preventing toner adhesion and reducing the risk of fixing section failures, while also eliminating the need for an exhaust fan, thus lowering apparatus costs.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling fan introduces external air to the cooling chamber
Implementation Method 2
The cooling fan introduces external air to the cooling chamber
Implementation Method 3
The intermediate transfer belt is in contact with the photosensitive drums to be heated by the heat of the photosensitive drums
Implementation Method 4
The fixing section is configured to fix to a sheet the toner image that the transfer section transfers to the sheet by heating the toner image
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, a cooling chamber to cool the intermediate transfer belt, a fixing section, a cooling fan, and a frame. The cooling chamber is defined immediately above the intermediate transfer belt. The fixing section is arranged on one side of the cooling chamber and configured to fix to a sheet the toner image transferred to the sheet by heating the toner image. The cooling fan is arranged on the other side of the cooling chamber and configured to introduce external air to the cooling chamber. The frame has an exhaust port for releasing air in the cooling chamber and is arranged on the other side of the cooling chamber.