Image Forming Apparatus Cooling Polygon Motor and Developing Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses are large in size due to separate cooling passages and fans for the exposing and developing portions, which leads to ineffective cooling of components, particularly the polygon motors and developing portions.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed with overlapping projection and developing portions to create a space-saving cooling area, where air is directed through passages between these components to efficiently cool the polygon motors and developing portions using a single cooling system, comprising an intake fan, ducts, and exhaust fan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If separate cooling passages and fans are provided for exposing and developing portions, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling functions for the exposing portion and developing portion into a single integrated cooling passage system. The cooling passage is configured to sequentially cool the polygon motor in the exposing portion and the developing portion, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems and reducing overall apparatus size while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cooling fan and cooling passage serve multiple functions by cooling different components (polygon motor and developing portion) at different times. The cooling system is designed to be universal, handling thermal management for both heat-generating components through a shared infrastructure.
2Temperature
If multiple fans and cooling passages are provided for different components, then component cooling is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cooling functions into a single cooling passage and fan system. Instead of providing separate cooling passages and fans for the exposing and developing portions, a unified cooling system is implemented that sequentially serves both components, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Volume of stationary object
If air is directed through exposing portion first then to developing portion, then space is saved, but cooling effectiveness of developing portion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is designed to first cool the polygon motor in the exposing portion before the air reaches the developing portion. This preliminary cooling action removes the most significant heat source first, allowing the air to then effectively cool the developing portion despite the sequential flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling air flows continuously through the apparatus, first passing through the exposing portion to cool the polygon motor, then continuing to the developing portion. This continuous flow ensures both components receive cooling without interruption, maintaining cooling effectiveness while saving space.
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 allows for effective cooling of all components, reducing the need for separate cooling fans and passages, resulting in a more compact and efficiently cooled image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
an intake fan, ducts, and exhaust fan
Implementation Method 2
air is directed through passages between these components to efficiently cool the polygon motors and developing portions
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a main body, exposing portions each forming a latent image on a photosensitive drum based on image data by driving of a polygon motor, developing portions each developing the latent image formed on each of the exposing portions using toner, and a partition member provided between each of the exposing portions and each of the developing portions. Projecting portions each including the polygon motor projecting from the partition member toward a side of the developing portion. Each of the projection portions is overlapped with at least a part of each of the developing portions on a vertical direction. The cooled air flows to the overlap portion in which the polygon motor of each of the exposing portions and each of the developing portions are overlapped.