Discharging Unit Air Duct Prevents Toner Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses using xerography, the discharging unit's proximity to the paper path leads to contamination from paper dust and unfixed toner, reducing the discharging light's intensity and potentially causing image defects, while adding cleaning configurations increases component count and cost.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a blast unit and air duct to direct air from the blast unit towards the discharging unit, blowing air through the air duct to the side of the paper path, thereby preventing contamination of the light emitting body without additional cleaning configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the discharging unit is disposed close to the paper path to improve processing speed, then the time interval between discharging and charging is reduced, but the light emitting body surface is contaminated with paper dust and unfixed toner
Solution Approach 1:
A blast unit and air duct are introduced as intermediary elements between the paper path and the light emitting body. The air flow from the blast unit, directed through the air duct, acts as a protective mediator that prevents paper dust and unfixed toner from contaminating the light emitting body surface while allowing the discharging unit to remain in its optimal position for high-speed processing
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the discharging unit is disposed more on the upstream side away from the paper path, then contamination is reduced, but the rotational angle between discharging and charging positions increases reducing processing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct system serves as an intermediary that enables the discharging unit to maintain its upstream position away from the paper path for contamination prevention, while the directed air flow compensates for the increased rotational angle by actively clearing contaminants, thus maintaining processing efficiency
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning configurations are added to protect the light emitting body, then contamination is prevented, but the number of components and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blast unit and air duct system provides a self-service protective mechanism where the air flow automatically and continuously prevents contamination of the light emitting body without requiring additional cleaning components, mechanical brushes, or complex maintenance systems
Solution Approach 2:
A pneumatic system using air flow from the blast unit directed through the air duct is employed to protect the light emitting body, replacing what would traditionally require mechanical cleaning components with a simpler fluid-based protective mechanism
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 effectively prevents contamination of the discharging unit's surface, maintaining the discharging light's intensity and reducing image defects without increasing the number of components or manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a blast unit and air duct to direct air from the blast unit towards the discharging unit, blowing air through the air duct to the side of the paper path
Implementation Method 2
a discharging unit including a light emitting body that emits discharging light, the discharging unit eliminating electrical charge on a surface of the photoreceptor drum
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a photoreceptor drum that is provided along a paper path of transfer paper; a discharging unit including a light emitting body that emits discharging light, the discharging unit eliminating electrical charge on a surface of the photoreceptor drum; a blast unit that is provided to blow air toward the discharging unit; and a air duct that is provided in the vicinity of the light emitting body, and is configured such that the air from the blast unit toward the discharging unit is configured to blow to a side of the paper path through the air duct.