Image Forming Apparatus Fan Control for Ozone Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the rapid transition to sleep mode after printing can lead to incomplete discharge of ozone produced by photoconductors, causing material deterioration due to prolonged fan operation being stopped.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a control system that determines the print process and internal environment to adjust fan operation, allowing for extended fan operation to ensure complete ozone discharge through multiple control modes, including a second energy-saving mode that stops the fixing device while continuing to discharge ozone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the fan operation is stopped immediately when switching to sleep mode, then power consumption is reduced, but ozone discharge is incomplete causing material deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The fan operation is made dynamic by adjusting its running time based on the print job characteristics. The control unit determines whether to extend fan operation beyond the standard sleep mode transition time, creating a flexible, adaptive control strategy that balances energy savings with ozone discharge requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors print job information and uses this feedback to determine the appropriate fan operation duration. By evaluating the actual printing conditions and comparing them against predetermined thresholds, the system adjusts fan runtime accordingly to ensure complete ozone discharge while minimizing energy consumption
2Reliability
If the fan operation time is extended to ensure complete ozone discharge, then material deterioration is prevented, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by extending fan operation only when and to the extent necessary based on actual printing conditions. Rather than continuously operating the fan, the control unit determines the minimum required extension time based on print job characteristics, applying just enough action to achieve complete ozone discharge without excessive energy consumption
3Loss of energy
If the fixing device is stopped immediately in sleep mode, then energy saving is achieved, but ozone accumulation occurs leading to component deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by maintaining fan operation during the transition to sleep mode before fully stopping the fixing device. This preliminary fan operation ensures that ozone is discharged during the critical transition period, preventing accumulation while the fixing device is being stopped
Solution Approach 2:
The fan operation is maintained continuously during the sleep mode transition period to ensure uninterrupted ozone discharge. This continuous action bridges the gap between printing operations and sleep mode, ensuring that ozone removal does not cease when the fixing device stops
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 approach effectively prevents ozone-induced material deterioration by ensuring complete ozone discharge, thereby extending the lifespan of apparatus components.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of fans that discharges air containing ozone produced by charging of the charging unit to the outside of the apparatus, by generating the flow of the air from the inside of the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus including: a photo conductor; a charging unit; a plurality of fans; an information acquiring unit acquiring at least any one of print process information, which is information on a print process, or apparatus information, which is information on the internal environment of the apparatus; a reference determining unit that determines whether the print process or the internal environment of the apparatus satisfies the reference by using the print process information or the apparatus information; and an operation control unit including a first control mode that operates and stops the fans and the fixing device when the reference determining unit determines that the reference is not satisfied, and a second control mode that is performed before the first control mode is performed and stops the fixing device while driving the fans, when the reference determining unit determines that the reference is satisfied.