Thermally Conductive Resin Cooling Tube for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently cooling the development sections, which can lead to thermal management issues and affect the quality and reliability of the imaging process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cooling unit with a heat receiving section and a heat radiating section, where the cooling tube is made of a thermally conductive resin with a thermally conductive filler, is fitted into a groove structure of the heat receiving section, allowing for efficient heat transfer from the development sections to a liquid coolant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If metal materials (copper or aluminum) are used for the heat receiving section main body and flow channel, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a resin material (base material) with thermally conductive filler particles to create a cooling tube that achieves metal-level thermal conductivity without the high cost of copper or aluminum. The resin matrix provides structural integrity while the filler particles (such as aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, or boron nitride) provide the thermal conduction pathway, resolving the contradiction between heat transfer efficiency and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting resin materials with specific glass transition temperatures (Tg) and combining them with thermally conductive fillers in optimized ratios. By controlling the filler content (typically 30-90 wt%) and selecting appropriate resin base materials, the cooling tube achieves thermal conductivity comparable to metal while maintaining the cost advantages and ease of manufacturing associated with polymer materials.
2Temperature
If a cooling tube is inserted into the flow channel, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the cooling tube may come into contact with the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum causing image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cooling tube flexible rather than rigid. The cooling tube is designed with elastic properties that allow it to deform and adapt to the space between the heat receiving section and the photosensitive drum, ensuring continuous thermal contact with the heat receiving section while preventing contact with the drum surface that would cause image defects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible cooling tube made of elastomeric material that can bend and conform to the available space in the imaging apparatus. This flexible structure maintains thermal contact with the heat receiving section through elastic deformation while naturally avoiding contact with the photosensitive drum, thereby preventing image quality degradation caused by foreign object contact.
3Reliability
If the cooling tube is made flexible to avoid contact with the photosensitive drum, then image quality is protected, but heat transfer efficiency may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by creating a composite material that combines the flexibility of elastomers with the thermal conductivity of filler particles. The resulting cooling tube maintains sufficient thermal conductivity for effective heat transfer while the elastic nature of the base resin material provides the flexibility needed to avoid contact with the photosensitive drum, thus protecting image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the material parameters by selecting resin materials with appropriate elastic moduli and glass transition temperatures, and by controlling the filler particle size, shape, and distribution. These parameter optimizations ensure that the cooling tube achieves the right balance between flexibility (for avoiding drum contact) and thermal conductivity (for maintaining heat transfer efficiency).
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 enables effective heat transfer and cooling of the development sections, improving the thermal management and reliability of the image forming process while being cost-effective compared to using metal materials.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling tube is made of a thermally conductive resin with a thermally conductive filler, allowing for efficient heat transfer from the development sections to a liquid coolant
Implementation Method 2
The heat receiving section receives heat from the development section
Implementation Method 3
The heat radiating section radiates the heat received by the heat receiving section
Implementation Method 4
The liquid coolant flows through the circulation pipe, enabling effective heat transfer and cooling of the development sections
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development section, and a cooling unit. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum. The development section supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The cooling unit cools the development section. The cooling unit includes a heat receiving section, a heat radiating section, and a cooling tube. The heat receiving section receives heat from the development section. The heat radiating section radiates the heat received by the heat receiving section. The cooling tube returns a liquid coolant sent from the heat radiating section to the heat radiating section by way of the heat receiving section. The heat receiving section has a groove structure into which the cooling tube is fitted.