Exhaust Duct Filter Segmentation for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electrophotographic image forming apparatus faces challenges in efficiently removing dust from hot air while maintaining adequate ventilation, leading to potential temperature rises and increased noise when attempting to enhance ventilation capacity.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a combination of a permeable filter and a contact-type filter in an array configuration within the exhaust duct, along with an axial exhaust fan and a louver to guide airflow, allowing for effective dust removal without increasing ventilation resistance or noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a tight woven fiber permeable filter is used to sufficiently remove dust from hot air, then dust removal capability is improved, but ventilation resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust duct is divided into multiple sections with different filter types arranged in sequence. A loose woven fiber permeable filter and a contact-type filter are positioned at different locations along the duct, allowing dust removal functions to be segmented across multiple components rather than relying on a single tight filter that would create high resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the exhaust duct are assigned different filter characteristics. The loose woven fiber filter provides initial filtration with low resistance, while the contact-type filter at a specific location provides additional dust removal. This local differentiation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without compromising overall ventilation.
2Productivity
If a larger-sized exhaust fan is used to increase ventilation capability, then air discharge capability is improved, but apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing fan size, the invention changes the resistance parameter of the exhaust duct by using loose woven fiber filters and contact-type filters with lower ventilation resistance. This allows the same or improved ventilation capability to be achieved with a smaller fan, thereby reducing apparatus size.
3Productivity
If the rotational speed of the exhaust fan is increased to increase ventilation capability, then air discharge capability is improved, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the resistance parameter of the exhaust system by using filters with lower ventilation resistance, allowing the exhaust fan to operate at lower rotational speeds while maintaining adequate ventilation capability, thereby reducing noise generation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If ventilation resistance increases, then dust removal capability is improved, but air passage amount decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The dust removal function is segmented across multiple filter types positioned at different locations in the exhaust duct. The loose woven fiber filter handles initial filtration with minimal resistance, while the contact-type filter provides additional dust removal, allowing sufficient air passage to be maintained while achieving effective dust removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust duct system uses a composite filtering approach combining loose woven fiber material and contact-type filter material. This composite structure achieves effective dust removal through multiple mechanisms while maintaining lower overall ventilation resistance compared to a single tight filter, thereby preserving adequate air passage amount.
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 solution effectively removes dust from hot air discharged from the apparatus, preventing temperature rises and noise increases, while maintaining efficient airflow and reducing the need for larger or higher-speed exhaust fans.
Implementation Method 1
an exhaust fan disposed between the exhaust outlet and the duct, and being configured to cause air entering the duct from the inlet to go toward the exhaust outlet
Implementation Method 2
The permeable filter is configured to prevent dust suspended in air, e.g. developer particles and paper dust, from being discharged along with the hot air
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording sheet includes a housing having an exhaust outlet and an image forming unit disposed in the housing and configured to form an image on a recording sheet. A duct in the housing may have an inlet at a first end in the housing, and communicate with the exhaust outlet at a second end in the housing. The image forming apparatus includes an exhaust fan disposed between the exhaust outlet and the duct, and being configured to cause air entering the duct from the inlet to go toward the exhaust outlet; a first filter disposed in the duct to cover the inlet and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air, and a second filter disposed in the duct downstream from the first filter in a direction of airflow and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air.