Optical Scanning Apparatus Heat Dissipation Projection Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical scanning apparatuses for electrophotographic image forming devices face challenges in downsizing due to heat dissipation issues, which lead to thermal expansion and accuracy deterioration in light irradiation, particularly because conventional heat dissipation guides require increased motor length, hindering miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a casing with a top wall featuring a projection that extends from one side wall to another, creating a recess on the opposite surface, allowing the motor to be mounted closer to the opening while ensuring the free end of the projection is further from the mirror's reflecting surface, facilitating efficient heat dissipation and maintaining compact dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat dissipation guide is provided on the mounting surface to guide high-temperature air flow away from optical members, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but the length of the scanner motor in the casing increases, hindering downsizing
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipation guide is designed to extend in the rotational axis direction of the scanner motor rather than increasing the motor length in the casing. By utilizing the rotational axis dimension, the guide can effectively direct hot air flow away from optical members without increasing the overall scanner motor length, thus resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation performance and compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation guide is strategically positioned and shaped to create localized air flow channels only where needed for heat dissipation. The guide structure includes specific features such as inclined surfaces and openings that direct hot air flow in predetermined paths, ensuring effective heat dissipation at critical areas without requiring a large overall structure.
2Temperature
If the free end portion of the heat dissipation guide is positioned higher than the reflecting surface of the rotatable polygonal mirror, then heat dissipation is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipation guide utilizes the rotational axis direction as the primary dimension for extending the heat dissipation path, rather than extending in the vertical direction above the mirror. This dimensional approach allows hot air to be channeled away effectively without increasing the vertical profile of the apparatus, maintaining compact dimensions while achieving good heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation guide acts as an intermediary structure that redirects hot air flow through predetermined paths using inclined surfaces and openings. By positioning the free end at an appropriate height and using the guide's internal structure to direct flow, effective heat dissipation is achieved without requiring the guide to extend above the mirror surface.
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 effectively suppresses heat-induced deformation and maintains the accuracy of light irradiation, enabling the downsizing of the optical scanning apparatus without compromising image quality or increasing the apparatus's length.
Implementation Method 1
the scanner motor generates heat by energization, and this heat is diffused inside the optical scanning apparatus by an air flow with rotation of the rotatable polygonal mirror
Implementation Method 2
a periphery of optical members such as a lens, a mounting portion on which the optical member is mounted is deformed by thermal expansion
Implementation Method 3
an optical scanning apparatus includes a rotatable polygonal mirror and a scanner motor for rotationally driving the rotatable polygonal mirror and scans a surface of the photosensitive member with the light emitted from a light source and reflected and deflected by a reflecting surface of the rotatable polygonal mirror
Data Source
AI summary
An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light sources, a rotatable polygonal mirror, a motor, first and second mirrors, first and second lenses, and a casing. Within a mounting range, a top wall of an accommodating portion is provided with at least one projection projecting toward an opening of the accommodating portion. The projection extends from a first side wall to a second side wall of the accommodating portion. The top wall includes a recess formed opposite from the projection, and is free from a portion projecting toward the opening over a range from the first side wall to the second side wall, other than the projection in the mounting range. A free end portion of the projection is in a position remoter from the opening than a reflecting surface of the rotatable polygonal mirror is with respect to a rotational axis direction of the motor.