Fan Noise Control in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining low noise levels, as existing technologies result in rapid noise level changes that can be offensive to users, despite efforts to reduce fan noise through silent modes and temperature-based control.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a controller to selectively stop and change which fans are active, limiting the noise level change to within a specified range (0.5 dB) by switching between predefined patterns based on operational conditions, ensuring consistent noise levels while maintaining cooling and sucking performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fans are stopped to reduce noise, then noise level is reduced, but cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is segmented across multiple fans, allowing the system to stop individual fans while maintaining overall cooling performance through redistribution of cooling load to remaining active fans
Solution Approach 2:
The fan operation state is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature conditions and operational requirements, switching between different fan activation patterns to balance noise reduction and cooling performance
2Reliability
If fan operation patterns are changed to maintain cooling performance, then cooling performance is maintained, but noise level changes rapidly causing user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fan operation patterns are pre-defined and stored, allowing the system to smoothly transition between patterns without abrupt noise changes, as each pattern is designed with gradual noise level progression
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between predefined fan patterns while controlling the rate of noise level change, ensuring that transitions occur within acceptable noise variation ranges to prevent user discomfort
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of fans, a drive part and a controller. The drive part drives each of the fans. The controller controls the drive part in such a way that while the apparatus is operated, a part of the plurality of fans are stopped and the fan to be stopped is changed and the amount of change in a noise level of all the fans before and after the change of the fan to be stopped is limited to within a specified range.