Consolidated Airflow Duct System for Image Forming Apparatus Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large electrophotographic image forming apparatuses with multiple housings, the maintenance of collection filters for exhaust airflows becomes cumbersome due to the need for separate airflow systems for each housing, especially when the fixing unit is positioned downstream, leading to increased complexity and reduced workability during filter replacement.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a conveyance belt system that directs air from the image forming unit to the fixing unit through a shared duct system, using intake fans and duct units to consolidate airflow paths, allowing for a single filter to collect VOCs and UFPs generated near the fixing unit, thereby simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate airflow systems are provided for each housing, then heat exhaustion from each unit is effective, but the number of filters increases and maintenance becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate airflow systems into a unified exhaust system. The first duct unit from the image forming unit and the second duct unit from the fixing unit are combined into a common exhaust path that passes through a single filter before exiting. This consolidation maintains effective heat exhaustion from both units while reducing the number of filters from multiple to one, thereby improving maintenance workability.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple filters are provided for each airflow, then pollutant collection is thorough, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pollutant collection paths into a single filter system. The exhaust airflows from both the image forming unit and the fixing unit are merged into a common duct that passes through one filter. This unified approach maintains thorough pollutant collection from both sources while reducing the total number of filters from multiple individual filters to a single filter, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Productivity
If the apparatus is divided into multiple housings, then productivity and functionality are improved, but the number of airflow systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal exhaust system that serves multiple functions across different housings. The common exhaust duct and shared filter system are designed to handle exhaust airflows from both the image forming unit in the first housing and the fixing unit in the second housing. This multi-functional design maintains the productivity benefits of divided housings while reducing the total number of airflow systems by having one exhaust system serve multiple 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 improves maintainability by consolidating airflow paths and reducing the number of filters needed, enhancing the workability of filter replacement and environmental friendliness by efficiently collecting pollutants from both units with a single filter.
Implementation Method 1
a first intake fan configured to take in air so as to suction the sheet to an outer peripheral surface of the conveyance belt
Implementation Method 2
a filter through which the air exhausted from the exhaust port to the outside of the image forming apparatus passes
Implementation Method 3
a first duct unit provided in the first housing and configured to form an air path for exhausting air that is taken in by the first intake fan, a second duct unit provided in the second housing and configured to pass through the air flowing in from the first duct unit
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a first housing inside an image forming unit, a second housing that includes a fixing unit, a conveyance belt provided in the first housing to convey a sheet, first and second intake fans, and first and second duct units. The first intake fan takes in air to suction the sheet to an outer peripheral surface of the conveyance belt. The first duct unit provided in the first housing forms an air path for exhausting air from the first intake fan. The second intake fan provided in the second housing takes in air near the fixing unit. The second duct unit provided in the second housing passes air flowing in from the first duct unit and the air taken in by the second intake fan. The second duct unit includes an exhaust port for exhausting air outside and a filter through which the exhausted air passes.