Fan Control for Image Forming Apparatus Ventilation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, ozone generated by the charger oxidizes components, and the developing device requires cooling, while maintenance operations can lead to unfixed toner being sucked into the apparatus, soiling the charger.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a housing with a protective member, intake port, duct, exhaust port, fan, and a processor that controls the fan's rotation based on the protective member's state, preventing unfixed toner from entering during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fan operates continuously to cool the developing device and discharge ozone, then cooling effectiveness and ozone discharge are improved, but unfixed toner can be sucked into the apparatus during maintenance, soiling the charger
Solution Approach 1:
The fan operation is made dynamic by switching between operational and stopped states based on maintenance mode detection. When the maintenance mode is detected (protective member in non-protective state), the fan is stopped to prevent toner suction. When maintenance mode is not active (protective member in protective state), the fan operates normally for cooling and ozone discharge. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by adapting fan operation to actual operational conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the protective member is opened for maintenance to remove jammed sheets, then ease of operation is improved, but unfixed toner can enter the apparatus through the intake port, worsening charger cleanliness
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting when the protective member is opened for maintenance and proactively stopping the fan before toner can be sucked in. The control unit detects the open state of the protective member and stops the fan operation in advance, preventing the harmful effect of toner contamination before it occurs. This allows maintenance operations to proceed easily while protecting the charger from toner soiling.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus comprises a housing and an image forming unit. The housing includes a protective member with a protective state in which the protective member is protecting a protection target and a non-protective state in which the protective member is not protecting the protection target, an intake port, a duct for guiding air taken in from the intake port to the image forming unit and guide the air from the image forming unit to outside of the housing, an exhaust port connected to the duct and for discharging the air to outside of the housing, a fan provided in a section from the intake port to the exhaust port in the duct and for assisting intake, discharging or both of intake and discharging of the air, and a processor for controlling the one fan.