Perpendicular Airflow Divider for Printer Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling devices in image forming apparatuses, such as copiers and printers, face inefficiencies in cooling multiple components while maintaining low power consumption and cost, particularly in directing airflow effectively to prevent heat transfer and ensure uniform cooling.

Innovation Solution

The cooling device incorporates an air blower, airflow divider, and air flowing passages that split airflow perpendicularly to direct air towards cooling target devices, including a developing device and a fixing device, with strategically placed air exhaust openings to optimize airflow and prevent heat transfer, allowing for efficient cooling of multiple components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air is blown directly toward cooling target devices, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but heat transfer from heat generator to cooling targets increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidheat transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air flow is divided into multiple separate flows using partition walls and exhaust openings. The single air flow from the air blower is segmented into first and second air flows that are directed to different cooling targets through separate passages, preventing direct heat transfer while maintaining cooling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Partition walls and air flowing passages act as intermediaries between the air blower and cooling targets. These structures guide the air flow indirectly, allowing cooling air to reach targets without creating direct thermal pathways from the heat generator to the cooling targets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If multiple cooling target devices are cooled by a single cooling device, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but airflow distribution uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of cooling devicesVSAvoidairflow distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different air flowing passages are designed with specific local characteristics tailored to each cooling target. The first and second air flowing passages have different configurations, exhaust opening positions, and flow directions optimized for their respective cooling targets, ensuring uniform airflow distribution to each device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The single cooling device segments its output into multiple specialized air flows using partition walls and separate exhaust openings. Each air flow is independently controlled through its own passage and exhaust opening, allowing precise airflow distribution to multiple cooling targets from a single air blower.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If air flowing passages are extended to reach multiple cooling targets, then cooling coverage is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling coverageVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The air flowing passages extend in directions perpendicular to the air exhaust direction of the air blower. By utilizing vertical or lateral dimensions rather than only horizontal extension, the passages reach multiple cooling targets without significantly increasing the overall footprint of the cooling device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The air flowing passages are integrated within the housing structure of the cooling device. The passages are arranged to nest efficiently within the available space, with partition walls and exhaust openings positioned to maximize cooling coverage while minimizing device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 enhances cooling efficiency, reduces the device's size, and prevents heat transfer, ensuring effective cooling of various components while maintaining a compact design and low power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

an air blower that blows air toward a cooling target device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

cooling air that has passed through the air flowing passage is supplied to the cooling target device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9946223B2Cooling device and image forming apparatus incorporating the cooling device

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A cooling device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a cooling device including an air blower, an airflow divider, an air flowing passage, and an air exhaust opening. The air blower blows air toward a cooling target device. The airflow divider divides the air exhausted from the air blower into at least two airflows such that an air flowing direction of the air is changed to a direction perpendicular to an air exhausting direction of the air. The at least two airflows pass through the air flowing passage. A wall of the air flowing passage is disposed facing the cooling target device. The air exhaust opening is disposed on the wall of the air flowing passage to cause the air to pass through toward the cooling target device disposed in a direction intersecting the air flowing direction in the air flowing passage.