Image Forming System Cooling Unit with Non-Uniform Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems face challenges in reducing temperature around the transfer unit without damaging unfixed images, as increasing cooling air flow rates risk drawing in and discharging image-forming materials, leading to soiling.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system with a cooling unit that includes suction openings on both sides of the spatial region between the transfer unit and the thermal fixing unit, with an exhaust unit that draws in and discharges air such that a greater amount is drawn in the central region than at the ends, ensuring efficient heat removal without damaging images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air flow rate is increased to reduce temperature around the transfer unit, then temperature reduction effect is improved, but image-forming materials are drawn in and discharged causing soiling
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust unit is designed with non-uniform opening areas in the crossing direction, where the central region has a larger opening area than the end regions. This creates localized differences in air flow characteristics, concentrating the cooling effect in the central region while minimizing air flow at the ends where image-forming materials are present, thus preventing soiling while maintaining effective temperature reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow path is segmented into different regions with different opening areas. The exhaust unit divides the crossing direction into a central region and end regions, assigning different opening areas to each segment. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region: the central region receives high air flow for cooling, while end regions have restricted air flow to prevent material discharge
2Temperature
If cooling air flow rate is increased to reduce temperature around the transfer unit, then temperature reduction effect is improved, but unfixed images may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust unit creates localized cooling in the central region through its larger opening area, while the end regions have smaller opening areas that limit air flow. This localized quality differentiation ensures that cooling is concentrated where needed (central region) while protecting sensitive areas (end regions with images) from excessive air flow that could cause damage
3Object-generated harmful factors
If cooling air flow rate is reduced to prevent soiling and image damage, then image integrity is maintained, but temperature reduction effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust unit segments the air flow path into regions with different opening areas, allowing the central region to receive sufficient air flow for effective cooling while end regions are restricted to prevent soiling. This segmentation enables the system to achieve both temperature reduction and soiling prevention simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the exhaust unit have different opening areas, creating local quality variations in air flow distribution. The central region has larger openings for cooling, while end regions have smaller openings for soiling prevention, allowing the system to optimize both temperature control and contamination prevention
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
Effectively reduces temperature around the transfer unit at a low flow rate, preventing filming of image-forming materials while maintaining image integrity by optimizing air flow patterns through the use of strategically placed suction and intake openings.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling unit (3) that cools a spatial region (SR) between the transfer unit (1) and the thermal fixing unit (2)... an exhaust unit (5) that draws in and discharges air in the spatial region
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust unit (5) that draws in and discharges air in the spatial region SR
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system includes: a transfer unit that transfers an image formed of a thermally fusible image-forming material to a medium that moves; a thermal fixing unit disposed downstream of the transfer unit in a moving direction in which the medium moves, the thermal fixing unit fixing the image on the medium by at least heating the image; and a cooling unit that cools a spatial region between the transfer unit and the thermal fixing unit. The cooling unit has suction openings through which outside air is taken into the spatial region between the transfer unit and the thermal fixing unit from both sides of the spatial region in a crossing direction crossing the moving direction of the medium. The cooling unit includes an exhaust unit that draws in and discharges air in the spatial region such that an amount of air drawn in a central region in the crossing direction of the medium is greater than an amount of air drawn in regions adjacent to ends in the crossing direction of the medium.