Heat Shield Venting Layout for Compact Image Forming Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming devices face challenges in maintaining sufficient heat insulation, particularly when components like the cleaning device and developer storage are placed near the fixing device, leading to potential toner melting and reduced design flexibility due to heat transfer from the fixing device.

Innovation Solution

The image forming device incorporates a heat shield with a ventilation channel and duct between the fixing device and toner conveyance devices, including a hollow structure to minimize heat transfer and prevent temperature rise in these components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the cleaning device and toner conveyance device are placed near the fixing device to reduce device size, then the device compactness is improved, but the temperature of the toner conveyance device rises causing toner melting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidtemperature of toner conveyance device

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A heat shield plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the fixing device and the toner conveyance device. The heat shield plate has a heat shielding portion that blocks heat from the fixing device, preventing heat transfer to the toner conveyance device while allowing the devices to be placed close together for compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat shield plate is divided into functionally distinct portions: a heat shielding portion that blocks thermal radiation and a ventilation channel portion that allows air flow. This segmentation enables the heat shield to simultaneously provide thermal protection and ventilation functions, resolving the contradiction between compactness and temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If a heat shielding plate is placed between the fixing device and cleaning device to prevent heat transfer, then the temperature control is improved, but the insulation effect is insufficient when operated for long periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature of cleaning deviceVSAvoidheat insulation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat shield plate is segmented into a heat shielding portion with high thermal mass for blocking heat and a ventilation channel portion for air flow. This segmentation allows the heat shielding portion to absorb and block heat effectively during prolonged operation while the ventilation channel prevents overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A ventilation channel is incorporated into the heat shield plate to allow air flow between the fixing device and cleaning device. This pneumatic approach removes heat through convection, complementing the thermal blocking function and maintaining reliable insulation during extended operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Temperature

If the ventilation channel and duct are added to the heat shield to improve heat insulation, then the temperature suppression is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature of toner conveyance deviceVSAvoidheat shield structure

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation channel and duct are merged with the heat shield plate to form an integrated component. The heat shield plate simultaneously serves as a thermal barrier and a ventilation structure, eliminating the need for separate ventilation components and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat shield plate is designed with multi-functionality: it provides heat shielding through its heat shielding portion, ventilation through its channel portion, and structural support. This universal design reduces the number of separate components needed, offsetting the increased complexity with functional consolidation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 suppresses temperature rise in toner conveyance devices, preventing toner melting and enhancing design flexibility by allowing these components to be placed closer to the fixing device, thus facilitating size reduction and improved operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a heat shield that shields heat from the fixing device to the toner conveyance device, in which the heat shield includes a ventilation channel, and a duct including a hollow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12523947B2Image forming device capable of suppressing temperature rise of a member disposed near a fixing device

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 SHARP KK

AI summary

An image forming device includes: a fixing device including a heat source that thermally fixes a toner image formed on a sheet P; a cleaning device that holds toner inside and conveys held toner; and a heat shield that shields heat from the fixing device to the cleaning device. The heat shield includes: a ventilation channel, and a duct including a hollow. The heat shield is disposed between the fixing device and the cleaning device disposed to face each other. The cleaning device, the ventilation channel, the duct, and the fixing device are disposed in this order.