Fixing Roller Cooling via Paper Suction Fan Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face issues with unstable paper conveyance and increased ultrafine particle (UFP) discharge due to uneven heat distribution and accelerated paper speed, leading to higher costs and sizes when additional fans are installed to address these problems.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is configured with a paper suction fan unit that guides air discharged from the fan to cool the ends of the fixing roller and filter out UFP, using a guide member to direct air across the rotation axis of the fixing roller, thereby stabilizing paper conveyance and maintaining appropriate internal temperatures without increasing cost or size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional fans are installed to cool the fixing roller ends and stabilize paper conveyance, then paper conveyance stability and cooling effect are improved, but device cost and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the paper suction fan unit perform multiple functions: it not only stabilizes paper conveyance but also cools the fixing roller ends and collects UFP. By making one component serve multiple purposes, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components, thus resolving the contradiction between functional improvement and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the cooling function for fixing roller ends with the existing paper suction fan unit and guide member structure. Instead of adding separate cooling fans, the system merges the air flow path to serve both paper conveyance stabilization and cooling functions simultaneously, reducing overall device complexity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional fans are installed to cool the fixing roller ends and collect UFP, then cooling effect and UFP collection are improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The paper suction fan unit is designed to perform multiple functions including UFP collection, cooling, and paper conveyance stabilization. By making this single component multi-functional, the patent achieves UFP collection and cooling effects without adding separate dedicated components that would increase device volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the UFP collection function with the existing air flow path of the paper suction fan unit. The guide member directs air flow to cool the fixing roller ends while the same air flow path also collects UFP, combining multiple functions into a single integrated system that avoids volume increase
3Productivity
If the speed of conveying sheet of paper is accelerated, then productivity is improved, but heat in the fixing device rises and UFP discharge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary cooling action to the fixing roller ends before excessive heat buildup occurs. By having the paper suction fan unit continuously cool the ends of the fixing roller, the system prevents heat accumulation that would otherwise lead to increased UFP discharge, allowing higher paper conveyance speeds without harmful effects
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 achieves stable paper conveyance, appropriate internal temperatures, and effective UFP collection while preventing cost and size increments in the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a paper suction fan unit configured to move air so as to move over the secondary transfer roller
Implementation Method 2
a guide member provided in the paper suction fan unit and configured to guide air discharged from the paper suction fan unit to be discharged toward the fixing roller
Implementation Method 3
a filter device through which air discharged from the guide member passes to be discharged
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a secondary transfer roller configured to transfer a toner image onto a sheet of paper; a fixing device provided downstream in a direction in which the sheet of paper is conveyed, the fixing device including a fixing roller that is configured to fix the toner image transferred onto the sheet of paper; a paper suction fan unit configured to suction air such that air flows over the secondary transfer roller; and a guide member provided in the paper suction fan unit and configured to guide air discharged from the paper suction fan unit to be discharged toward the fixing roller. The guide member is configured to guide air in a direction crossing a rotation axis of the fixing roller at least toward each of ends of the fixing roller in a direction of the rotation axis.