Light Scanning Housing Airflow Path Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
In light scanning apparatuses, high-temperature air generated by the rotary polygon mirror causes temperature increases in the housing and support portions of the scanning optical system, leading to warping and misregistration of laser beam positions, especially in multi-color image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A light scanning apparatus design featuring a housing with a flow path between the rotary polygon mirror and the scanning optical system, allowing high-temperature air to flow in a direction orthogonal to the scanning optical system, reducing temperature increases and misregistration by guiding air flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the scanning optical system is arranged in the vicinity of the deflector to mount compactly, then the housing size is reduced, but the high-temperature air from the deflector impinges on the scanning optical system and support portions, causing temperature increase and position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The housing internal space is segmented into a high-temperature air flow path and a scanning optical system area using partition walls. This segmentation prevents the high-temperature air from directly reaching the scanning optical system and support portions, thereby maintaining position accuracy while keeping the housing compact.
Solution Approach 2:
Partition walls act as intermediary structures between the deflector and the scanning optical system. These walls guide the high-temperature air flow along a predetermined path, preventing direct contact with the scanning optical system components and maintaining thermal separation.
2Volume of moving object
If the scanning optical system is arranged in the vicinity of the deflector, then the housing size is reduced, but the support portions of the scanning optical system increase in temperature causing attitude changes
Solution Approach 1:
The housing internal space is segmented into a high-temperature air flow path and a scanning optical system area using partition walls. This segmentation prevents the high-temperature air from directly reaching the scanning optical system and support portions, thereby maintaining position accuracy while keeping the housing compact.
Solution Approach 2:
Partition walls act as intermediary structures between the deflector and the scanning optical system. These walls guide the high-temperature air flow along a predetermined path, preventing direct contact with the scanning optical system components and maintaining thermal separation.
3Device complexity
If no air flow path is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the high-temperature air causes warping of the housing and position changes of the laser beam
Solution Approach 1:
The partition walls serve multiple functions: they guide the high-temperature air flow along a predetermined path, prevent direct contact with the scanning optical system, and maintain structural integrity of the housing. This multi-functionality achieves thermal management without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are designed as thin structural elements that effectively guide air flow and provide thermal separation while minimizing impact on the overall housing structure and maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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
The design minimizes temperature-induced changes in laser beam positions and reduces thermal deformation of the housing and support structures, improving the stability and accuracy of the scanning process.
Implementation Method 1
When the rotary polygon mirror rotates at high speed and the deflector has a high temperature, high-temperature air around the deflector flows out to the surroundings
Implementation Method 2
the high-temperature air from the deflector first impinges on the side walls of the housing or support portions supporting the scanning optical system at both ends to increase temperatures of the side walls or the support portions
Implementation Method 3
When the temperatures of the side walls of the housing are increased, the housing is warped. When the temperatures of the support portions of the scanning optical system including the mirrors and the lenses are increased, the scanning optical system including the mirrors and the lenses is changed in attitude
Data Source
AI summary
A light scanning apparatus including: a rotary polygon mirror configured to deflect a laser beam emitted from a light source; optical elements configured to guide the laser beam to a photosensitive member; a housing having a bottom surface and a side wall portion standing from the bottom surface and intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the optical elements; and a plurality of wall portions provided on the bottom surface so as to intersect with the longitudinal direction between the bottom surface and a lens of the optical elements that is closest to the rotary polygon mirror, the plurality of wall portions forming an air flow path for guiding an air flow caused by rotation of the rotary polygon mirror from a first space in which the rotary polygon mirror is arranged to a second space opposite to the first space with respect to the lens.