Blower Duct Structure for Uniform Corona Cleaning Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the blowing device used to prevent unnecessary substances from adhering to corona discharge wires and grid electrodes often results in non-uniform air flow, leading to charging defects such as uneven charging due to the lack of a specialized configuration in the blower duct that causes disturbances in air flow.
Innovation Solution
A blowing target structure with a blower duct having an inlet and outlet of different opening shapes, featuring a passage space with changing cross-sectional shapes that includes suppressing portions and a permeable member to regulate air flow, ensuring uniform wind speed distribution by adjusting permeability at the opening portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a blower pipe with a simple straight passage space is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the air flow uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing suppressing portions at specific locations within the passage space where air flow suppression is needed. These suppressing portions are strategically positioned to control air flow distribution without requiring the entire duct to have a complex shape, thus achieving uniform air flow while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage space is segmented into different regions by introducing suppressing portions that divide the air flow path. This segmentation allows different parts of the passage space to have different flow characteristics, enabling uniform air flow distribution at the outlet while keeping the overall duct configuration manageable.
2Manufacturing precision
If the passage space of the blower pipe is formed with a special shape or straightening vane, then the air flow uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire passage space complex, the patent uses suppressing portions at specific locations to achieve the desired air flow control. This localized approach provides uniform air flow distribution without requiring the whole duct to have a complicated configuration.
3Device complexity
If air flow is not uniformly distributed, then the device complexity is reduced, but charging defects occur due to non-uniform wind speed
Solution Approach 1:
The suppressing portions are strategically placed to control air flow in specific regions, ensuring uniform wind speed distribution across the corona discharge wire. This localized flow control prevents charging defects while maintaining a relatively simple overall duct structure.
4Manufacturing precision
If a permeable member is added to regulate air flow, then the air flow uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a permeable member within the passage space to regulate air flow distribution. This permeable member allows controlled air passage while suppressing excessive flow in certain regions, achieving uniform air flow distribution at the outlet. The addition of this single component provides flow regulation without requiring complex duct reshaping.
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 solution ensures uniform air flow distribution, preventing adhesion of substances and reducing charging defects, resulting in improved image quality by maintaining consistent charging performance.
Implementation Method 1
a blowing device that blows air against the component parts
Implementation Method 2
there is an image forming apparatus using a corona discharger that performs corona discharge in the process of charging a latent image holding member
Data Source
AI summary
A blowing target structure includes an opening portion that (a) is an inlet into which the air flow from a blower pipe that has an elongated shape in one direction, (b) is elongated in the same direction as the one direction of an outlet of the blower pipe, (c) has a member that is provided at least on one end side in a lateral direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the opening portion to set an air permeability of a member side region of the opening portion to a value smaller than an air permeability of a region other than the member side region of the opening portion.