Filter Intake Positioning for Airborne Particle Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in effectively reducing the discharge of volatile organic compounds, fine particles, and ultrafine particles into the air, which are generated during the image formation process and pose environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a duct with strategically positioned intakes below the recording medium ejector and a filter to collect these foreign substances, ensuring they are not obstructed by the ejected recording medium, and additional intakes are placed to capture particles from the heating device, with a fan and filter configuration that optimizes suction and reduces the apparatus's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the intake is disposed below the recording medium ejector to effectively collect foreign substances, then the collection efficiency of foreign substances is improved, but the recording medium may cover the intake and obstruct air suction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the intake in a location that utilizes the spatial dimension below the ejector but above the tray, creating a three-dimensional arrangement where the intake is surrounded by guide walls. This dimensional positioning allows the intake to collect foreign substances effectively while preventing recording media from covering it, as the guide walls restrict the movement of recording media away from the intake opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces guide walls as intermediary structures between the intake and the recording medium tray. These guide walls act as mediators that guide the airflow toward the intake while simultaneously preventing recording media from reaching and covering the intake, thus resolving the conflict between collection efficiency and obstruction prevention.
2Reliability
If additional intakes are added to capture particles from the heating device, then the collection efficiency of foreign substances is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple intakes (first intake below the ejector and second intake below the heating device) into a unified duct system that leads to a common filter and exhaust. This merging approach allows the system to collect foreign substances from multiple sources effectively while avoiding the complexity of separate independent systems for each intake.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct system is designed to serve multiple functions: it collects foreign substances from both the ejector area and the heating device area, guides airflow from different locations, and delivers both streams to a single filter. This multi-functionality reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate dedicated systems for each collection point.
3Reliability
If the intake is positioned to face the recording medium during conveyance, then fine particles and ultrafine particles can be collected, but the apparatus size may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions intakes at specific local locations where foreign substances are generated (below the ejector and below the heating device) rather than using a single large centralized intake. This localized positioning allows efficient collection of fine particles and ultrafine particles at their sources while maintaining a compact overall apparatus design.
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 reduces the amount of foreign substances discharged into the air, aligning with environmental standards, while minimizing the apparatus's size and space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device that heats a recording medium having an image on one side of the recording medium
Implementation Method 2
the filter collects foreign substances in air sucked from the intake
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a heating device, a recording medium ejector, a recording medium tray, an outer wall having an intake, and a filter. The heating device heats a recording medium having an image on one side of the recording medium. The recording medium ejector ejects the recording medium with the one side facing downward. On the recording medium tray, the recording medium ejected by the recording medium ejector is stacked. The intake is open toward the recording medium tray and is disposed at a position below the recording medium ejector. At the position, a maximum amount of recording media placeable on the recording medium tray does not cover at least a part of the intake. The filter collects foreign substances in air sucked from the intake.