LED Exposure Cooling Duct Sealing to Prevent Toner Scattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the LED exposure device generates heat, requiring cooling, but airflow leaks due to dimensional variations, leading to toner scattering and reduced cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a duct system with sealing members to prevent airflow leaks between the duct, charging, and developing support portions, ensuring effective airflow guidance and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If airflow is sent from air blowing port to introduction port for cooling LED exposure device, then cooling efficiency is improved, but airflow leaks due to dimensional variation causing toner scattering and reduced cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the duct portion and support portions to prevent airflow leakage. The sealing member fills gaps caused by dimensional variations, ensuring that airflow directed at the LED exposure device does not leak and scatter toner, thus maintaining both cooling efficiency and airflow integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on precise mechanical dimensional tolerances with a sealing mechanism. Instead of depending solely on precise alignment between air blowing port and introduction port, the sealing member provides a more reliable method to prevent leakage, substituting mechanical precision requirements with a sealing-based solution
2Adaptability or versatility
If gap is generated between air blowing port and introduction port due to dimensional variation, then assembly flexibility is improved, but airflow leaks leading to toner scattering and image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member acts as an intermediary that allows gaps to exist for assembly flexibility while simultaneously preventing airflow leakage. This mediator enables the system to accommodate dimensional variations without compromising performance, as the sealing member compensates for the gaps rather than requiring precise elimination of them
3Ease of manufacture
If airflow leaks from gap between duct and support portions, then manufacturing tolerance is improved, but cooling efficiency decreases due to reduced airflow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member serves as a mediator that allows manufacturing tolerances to be more lenient while maintaining cooling efficiency. By filling the gaps between duct and support portions, it ensures that airflow reaches the LED exposure device effectively, decoupling cooling performance from tight manufacturing tolerances
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 design maintains airflow integrity, preventing toner scattering and enhancing cooling efficiency by ensuring consistent airflow to the LED exposure device.
Implementation Method 1
a fan that generates an airflow for cooling the exposure portion
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; a charging portion that charges a surface of the photoconductor; an exposure portion including a substrate including a plurality of light emitting portions for exposing the photoconductor; a developing portion that develops a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor with toner; a fan that generates an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; and a duct that communicates with the fan and communicates with the support portion, the duct guiding the airflow generated by the fan to the substrate; in which a part of the duct is formed by a charging support portion that supports the charging portion, a developing support portion that supports the development, and a duct portion, and a space between the duct portion and the charging support portion and a space between the duct portion and the developing support portion are sealed by a sealing member.