Light Scanning Apparatus Dustproof Sealing via Connecting Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing light scanning apparatuses in electrophotographic image forming devices suffer from dust and dirt contamination of optical components due to air infiltration through openings for electric cables, leading to image quality degradation and increased maintenance needs, despite attempts to use soft sealing members like foamed materials which fail to provide effective dustproofing and are difficult to work with.
Innovation Solution
A light scanning apparatus design featuring a concave-shaped cut-away portion in the optical box with a connecting wall that includes a dustproof member sandwiched between the cover and side walls, where the cable passes over a connecting wall with a height greater than the base portion, enhancing dustproof performance and workability by sealing the space effectively and simplifying the installation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a small opening is formed for the electric cable, then the amount of outside air entering is minimized, but dust and dirt still contaminate the reflecting surfaces due to airflow generated by the high-speed rotating polygon mirror
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sealing member (grommet) is installed in the opening portion to create a dustproof seal. The grommet has a through hole through which the electric cable passes, and its flexible material allows it to deform and seal around the cable while preventing dust and dirt from entering through the opening, even during high-speed operation
Solution Approach 2:
The dustproof member is installed in advance in the opening portion to prevent dust and dirt from entering before contamination can occur. This preliminary protective measure counteracts the harmful effect of airflow generated by high-speed rotation that would otherwise carry dust onto the reflecting surfaces
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a foamed member is used to seal the opening, then dustproof performance is improved, but the workability and installation verification become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible grommet can be easily installed by simply placing it in the opening portion, where it naturally deforms to seal around the electric cable. This eliminates the need for complex verification work required with foamed members, significantly improving installation workability while maintaining effective dustproof performance
3Quantity of substance
If the opening is made extremely small to reduce air intake, then less outside air enters, but the suction force increases due to negative pressure generated by high-speed rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible grommet seals the opening portion effectively, preventing outside air from being sucked in through the opening even when negative pressure is generated by high-speed rotation. The cable passes through the grommet's through hole, maintaining electrical connectivity while the grommet's flexibility allows it to maintain seal integrity under pressure differential
Data Source
AI summary
A light scanning apparatus, including: an optical box configured to hold a deflector and an optical member; and a cover, the optical box including: a concave-shaped cut-away portion formed from a top portion of a side wall toward a bottom portion; and a connecting wall which stands from the bottom portion of the optical box and is bent and branched from the cut-away portion to an inside of the optical box so as to cross over the cut-away portion, the cover including a dustproof member sandwiched between the cover and the side wall and between the cover and the connecting wall which a cable passes, wherein a height of a distal end of the connecting wall, which the cable passes, from the bottom portion is larger than a height of a base portion of the cut-away portion from the bottom portion.