Louvers for Image Forming Apparatus Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face reduced cooling efficiency due to increased ventilation resistance caused by gaps between louvers, leading to higher fan speeds, increased noise, and power consumption, while existing designs exacerbate noise by directing sound horizontally.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a first louver with inclined rectifier vanes that overlap a second louver on the inner side of the apparatus body, with both sets of vanes angled relative to the fan's axis of rotation, reducing ventilation resistance and noise by optimizing airflow direction and minimizing gap size between 0.1mm to 1mm, thereby enhancing cooling efficiency without high-speed fan operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the gap between the first louver and the second louver is reduced to minimize ventilation resistance, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the risk of vibration and air intrusion from other places increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the gap dimension between the first and second louvers by changing it from a large value to a specific small range (0.1mm to 1mm). This parameter change reduces ventilation resistance and improves cooling efficiency while preventing excessive air intrusion and vibration. The precise control of this dimensional parameter resolves the contradiction between cooling performance and structural stability.
2Productivity
If the fan is rotated at a high speed to increase the volume of airflow and improve cooling effect, then cooling efficiency is improved, but noise and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angle parameter of the rectifier vanes from horizontal (0 degrees) to a specific inclined angle (45 degrees or other optimized angles). This parameter change optimizes airflow direction and reduces turbulence, allowing the fan to operate at lower speeds while maintaining cooling effectiveness, thereby reducing noise and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of air flowing from other places into a beneficial outcome by using the inclined rectifier vanes to guide this air smoothly into the airflow path. Instead of creating turbulence and noise, the inclined vanes integrate this air into the cooling flow, maintaining cooling efficiency without requiring high fan speeds.
3Ease of manufacture
If the rectifier vanes extend horizontally to simplify the structure, then manufacturing is easier, but noise generated by the fan travels straight to the outside of the apparatus body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rectifier vane configuration from a symmetric horizontal extension to an asymmetric inclined structure. The vanes are angled at 45 degrees or other optimized angles relative to the horizontal plane. This asymmetric design redirects noise away from horizontal transmission paths while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard angular configurations.
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 reduces ventilation resistance, increases cooling effectiveness, and decreases noise by directing airflow efficiently and minimizing interference, while maintaining a balance between gap size to prevent vibration and air intrusion, thus improving the overall performance of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The first louver includes a plurality of first rectifier vanes that direct airflow produced by the fan. The second louver includes a plurality of second rectifier vanes that direct the airflow produced by the fan.
Implementation Method 2
The fan pulls outside air into an apparatus body or exhausts air inside the apparatus body to the outside
Implementation Method 3
Air from other places tends to flow into the gap between the first and second louvers. The air flowing from other places acts as a ventilation resistance to the airflow produced by the fan.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a fan, a first louver, and a second louver. The first louver includes first rectifier vanes that direct airflow produced by the fan. The second louver is located on an inner side of an apparatus body with respect to the first louver and faces the first louver in such a manner as to overlap the first louver in a direction of an axis of rotation of the fan. The second louver includes second rectifier vanes that direct the airflow produced by the fan. Each of the first rectifier vanes and a corresponding one of the second rectifier vanes that is adjacent thereto extend in one plane inclining at a specific angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the fan.