Image Forming Housing Vent Filter for Dust-Blocking Vapor Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dust enters the image forming apparatus through the opening portion provided in the housing, posing a risk of contamination and potential operational issues.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus is designed with a filter covering the opening portion to prevent dust ingress, positioning the discharge port and opening above the nip portion in the vertical direction, and incorporating a filter to cover the opening, ensuring the center of the conveyance path is between the ends of the opening's range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If an opening portion is provided in the housing to discharge water vapor from the fixing portion, then water vapor can be discharged to the outside, but dust can enter the apparatus through the opening portion
Solution Approach 1:
A filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the opening portion and the interior of the housing. The filter allows water vapor to pass through while blocking dust particles, thus resolving the contradiction by mediating between the need for vapor discharge and the need to prevent dust entry
Solution Approach 2:
The filter utilizes porous material structure that permits passage of water vapor molecules while physically blocking larger dust particles. The porous nature of the filter material enables selective permeability based on particle size, allowing harmful vapor to escape while preventing harmful dust from entering
2Productivity
If the opening portion is positioned above the nip portion for effective water vapor discharge, then vapor discharge efficiency is improved, but the risk of dust entry increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter serves as a mediator that enables the opening to be positioned in the optimal location for vapor discharge while simultaneously protecting against dust entry. This allows the system to achieve high vapor discharge efficiency without proportionally increasing dust entry risk
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the discharge port and opening portion are positioned above the upper end position of the nip portion, then water vapor discharge is optimized, but dust protection becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The filter acts as an intermediary protective layer that enables optimal positioning of the opening and discharge port for vapor discharge. It mediates between the conflicting requirements by allowing vapor to pass freely while blocking dust, thus enabling optimized vapor discharge without compromising dust protection
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 dust entry into the apparatus, maintaining operational integrity and preventing contamination, thereby enhancing the reliability and performance of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
a filter disposed to cover the opening portion
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing portion configured to fix a toner image to a recording material, a housing which accommodates the image forming portion and the fixing portion and in which a conveyance path that the recording material passes through is formed, and a discharge portion configured to discharge the recording material. The housing includes a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface. The second exterior surface is provided with an opening portion through which an outside of the housing and an inside of the housing communicate with each other. The image forming apparatus further includes a filter disposed to cover the opening portion. In a width direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the discharge direction, a center of the conveyance path is positioned between one end and an other end of a range where the opening portion is provided.