Light Irradiator Venting and Axial Fan Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light irradiators used in printers face challenges in achieving both miniaturization and effective heat dissipation, particularly in thin, high-output designs where airflow for cooling is restricted, leading to inadequate heat management and potential overheating of light sources.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an axial fan within a housing with strategically positioned vents and a first plate to enhance airflow velocity and volume, maintaining the heat-dissipating member and drive components at intended temperatures, even in constrained spaces, by optimizing the placement and size of the axial fan and additional plates to improve ventilation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the light source is designed for higher output to achieve faster printing, then printing productivity is improved, but heat generation increases leading to inadequate heat management
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into multiple functional zones with strategically positioned vents (first vent near light-emission opening, second vent at opposite side) to create directed airflow paths. The axial fan is divided into specific size parameters (greater than first dimension, less than second dimension) to optimize air movement through segmented pathways, effectively managing heat from high-output light sources while maintaining printing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a third-dimensional airflow path through the housing by positioning vents on the second surface (top/bottom) rather than only on side surfaces. The axial fan creates vertical or depth-direction airflow that moves heat away from the light source in a dimension perpendicular to the light emission direction, enhancing heat management without compromising printing productivity.
2Volume of moving object
If the light irradiator is miniaturized to save space, then device compactness is improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing incorporates locally optimized features including vents positioned at specific locations (first vent nearer light-emission opening than second vent, second vent opposite to light-emission opening). The axial fan size is precisely controlled (greater than first dimension, less than second dimension) to create localized high-velocity airflow exactly where needed for heat dissipation, achieving effective cooling in the miniaturized device without requiring overall size increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes critical parameters including axial fan size (constrained between first and second dimensions), spacing between axial fan and first plate (less than or equal to first dimension), and vent positioning. These parameter changes enable the miniaturized device to achieve sufficient heat dissipation capability within reduced volume by maximizing airflow efficiency in the constrained space.
3Temperature
If axial fan size is increased to improve airflow volume, then heat dissipation is improved, but device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The axial fan size is precisely parameterized to be greater than the first dimension but less than the second dimension of the housing. This parameter optimization allows the fan to generate sufficient airflow volume for effective heat dissipation while fitting within the constrained housing dimensions, achieving cooling efficiency without increasing overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The axial fan is positioned with specific spacing (less than or equal to first dimension) from the first plate to create a concentrated, high-velocity airflow path. This partial action approach focuses the cooling effect precisely where heat generation occurs near the light source, achieving effective heat dissipation with a smaller fan rather than requiring excessive airflow volume from a larger fan throughout the entire housing.
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 efficient cooling of the light source, maintaining stable operation and preventing overheating, while maintaining a compact and efficient printer design, ensuring reliable performance and extended lifespan of the light emitters.
Implementation Method 1
The light irradiator includes an axial fan at the second vent. The axial fan blows air from inside the housing to outside.
Implementation Method 2
a heat-dissipating member thermally connected to the light source
Data Source
AI summary
A light irradiator includes a light source and its drive, a heat-dissipating member, and a rectangular housing with vents and a light-emission opening. The housing includes a first surface having a first side with a first dimension and a second side with a second dimension, a second surface having the second side and a third side with a third dimension, and a third surface having the first and third sides. The light-emission opening is in the first surface. First and second vents are in the second surface, with the first vent nearer the opening than the second vent, and the second vent opposite to the opening. An axial fan and a first plate are at the second vent. The first plate faces the axial fan with a spacing less than or equal to the first dimension between them. A second plate outside the housing separates the first and second vents.