Downstream Cooling Unit with Higher Capacity for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices for image forming apparatuses are inefficient in cooling the sheet downstream, leading to insufficient temperature reduction and potential blocking issues due to uneven heat distribution and cooling capacity across the cooling units.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a downstream cooling unit having a higher cooling capacity than the upstream unit, utilizing a chiller for the downstream unit and a radiator for the upstream unit, arranged in a configuration where the coolant channels are disposed on or inside the cooling member and arranged side by side in the sheet conveyance direction, ensuring effective heat absorption and dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the same cooling capacity is used for all cooling units, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling efficiency downstream becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different cooling capacities to different cooling units based on their position. The downstream cooling unit (second cooling unit) is equipped with a chiller having higher cooling capacity, while the upstream cooling unit (first cooling unit) uses a radiator with lower cooling capacity. This matches the local cooling needs at different positions along the sheet conveyance path.
2Temperature
If higher cooling capacity is provided downstream, then the temperature reduction effectiveness is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing higher cooling capacity (chiller) only where needed (downstream position), rather than uniformly across all cooling units. This targeted approach improves temperature reduction effectiveness at the critical downstream location while avoiding unnecessary power consumption in upstream areas where lower cooling capacity suffices.
3Productivity
If the coolant channels are arranged side by side in sheet conveyance direction, then the heat absorption efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cooling system into multiple discrete cooling units (first cooling unit with upstream coolant channel, second cooling unit with downstream coolant channel) arranged side by side. Each unit operates independently with its own liquid-cooling device, allowing modular heat absorption that improves efficiency while managing complexity through standardized modular 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 enhances the temperature difference between the cooling member and the coolant, effectively cooling the sheet and preventing blocking, while reducing costs and power consumption by optimizing the cooling capacity and device layout.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling member (11) to directly or indirectly absorb heat from a conveyed sheet
Implementation Method 2
one of the liquid-cooling devices coupled to the downstream coolant channel is a heat absorption device configured to absorb, with a refrigerant, heat of the coolant
Implementation Method 3
the liquid-cooling devices coupled to the upstream coolant channel is a heat dissipating device configured to dissipate heat of the coolant
Implementation Method 4
one of the liquid-cooling devices coupled to the downstream coolant channel is a chiller
Implementation Method 5
the liquid-cooling devices coupled to the upstream coolant channel is a radiator
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device includes a cooling member to absorb heat from a conveyed sheet and a plurality of cooling units to cool the cooling member. Each of the cooling units includes a coolant channel through which a coolant flows and a liquid-cooling device configured to cool the coolant that flows in the coolant channel. The coolant channels are disposed on or inside the cooling member and arranged side by side in a sheet conveyance direction. The coolant channels includes a downstream coolant channel being downstream from at least one of the plurality of coolant channels in the sheet conveyance direction, and an upstream coolant channel being upstream from the downstream coolant channel in the sheet conveyance direction. One of the liquid-cooling devices coupled to the downstream coolant channel has a cooling capacity higher than a cooling capacity of another of the liquid-cooling devices coupled to the upstream coolant channel.