Bidirectional Airflow Filter for Printer Odor Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses, such as electrophotographic printers, inadequately remove odorous substances like volatile organic compounds generated during the printing process, as air containing these substances passes through filters only once, leading to insufficient odor removal and potential leakage outside the printer.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a duct with a filter and two fans positioned upstream and downstream of the filter, operating in alternating modes to increase the contact time of air with the filter, enhancing odor collection efficiency by reversing airflow direction after an initial operation, thereby increasing the filter's effectiveness in capturing odorous substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air passes through the filter only once, then the device complexity is low, but the odor removal efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust device performs periodic air sending operations in alternating directions through the filter. The controller alternates between sending air from the interior space through the filter to the outside, and sending air from the outside through the filter to the interior space. This periodic bidirectional airflow allows the filter to capture odorous substances during the first pass and then re-capture any remaining odorous substances during the return pass, significantly improving odor removal efficiency without requiring a complex multi-filter system
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust device maintains continuous operation by alternating airflow directions through the same filter rather than stopping after a single pass. The controller continuously switches between forward and reverse airflow modes, ensuring that the filter remains actively engaged in odor removal throughout the entire exhaust period. This continuous utilization of the filter maximizes its effectiveness while avoiding the need for additional filtering components
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the filter is used multiple times, then the odor removal efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust device inverts the conventional unidirectional airflow approach by implementing bidirectional airflow through the same filter. Instead of air passing through the filter in one direction and then being discharged, the system reverses the airflow direction to pass through the filter again from the opposite side. This inversion allows the filter to be used multiple times for odor removal without requiring additional filters or complex multi-stage filtration systems
Solution Approach 2:
The single filter in the exhaust device performs multiple functions by handling odor removal in both forward and reverse airflow directions. The filter serves as both the primary filtration medium for exhaust air and the secondary filtration medium when air is sent from outside to inside. This multi-functional use of a single filter component achieves enhanced odor removal efficiency while maintaining simple device structure and avoiding the need for multiple specialized filtering components
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 significantly reduces the amount of odorous substances remaining in the air, even with low sealing performance, minimizing odor leakage and user discomfort by achieving higher odor removal efficiency through repeated air flow reversals post-printing.
Implementation Method 1
a suction and exhaust means to suck air emitted from a discharged recording medium and then to discharge the sucked air through a filter
Implementation Method 2
a first fan provided on an upstream side of the filter in an exhaust direction and a second fan provided on a downstream side of the filter in the exhaust direction
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a duct, a filter provided inside the duct, a first fan provided on an upstream side of the filter in an exhaust direction and a second fan provided on a downstream side of the filter in the exhaust direction. A first mode operation containing a first operation in which the first fan sends air to the filter and a second operation in which the second fan sends air to the filter after the first operation is performed at least once, and then a second mode in which the first fan sends air in the exhaust direction is performed.