Rotary Development Unit Gas Discharge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face issues with heat and ozone accumulation due to exposure and charger units, leading to increased size and running costs when conventional air exhaust systems are used for discharge.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a rotary-type development unit with cavities at its periphery for gas discharge, utilizing pivotal members to create volume variations and guide gas flow, allowing for efficient heat and ozone removal without additional air exhaust systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional air exhaust system is used to discharge heat and ozone from the apparatus body, then heat and ozone can be effectively removed, but the apparatus size and running costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary-type development unit performs its normal rotation to supply toners to the image carrier, and simultaneously this rotation causes gas discharge through the cavities. The system uses its own operational motion (rotation) to achieve the secondary function of gas discharge, eliminating the need for a separate air exhaust system with fans and exhaust paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary-type development unit serves dual purposes: (1) supplying toners of different colors to the image carrier by rotating to position developing devices opposite the image carrier, and (2) discharging heat and ozone from the apparatus body through gas cavities formed at its periphery. This multi-functionality removes the need for dedicated exhaust equipment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional air exhaust equipment is installed to remove heat and ozone, then gas discharge effectiveness improves, but the apparatus structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gas discharge function is extracted from the traditional air exhaust system and integrated into the rotary-type development unit. The cavities at the periphery of the development unit serve as gas discharge paths, allowing heat and ozone to be removed through the rotation of the development unit itself, rather than through a separate exhaust system.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas discharge function is merged with the toner supply function in the rotary-type development unit. The same rotating mechanism that positions developing devices to supply toners also drives the discharge of heat and ozone through the cavities, combining two functions into one integrated system.
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 solution enables effective discharge of heat and ozone from the apparatus body without increasing size or running costs, maintaining efficiency in image formation.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary-type development unit being rotatable about an axis thereof and having a plurality of developing devices, which are used for developing the latent images formed on the image carrier
Implementation Method 2
cavities for receiving gas are formed at an outer periphery of the rotary-type development unit, and wherein the gas in the cavities is sequentially advanced by way of the rotation of the rotary-type development unit whereby the gas in the apparatus body is discharged out of the apparatus body
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus according to the invention includes, in an apparatus body, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a rotary-type development unit being rotatable about an axis thereof and having a plurality of developing devices, which are used for developing the latent images formed on the image carrier. The rotary-type development unit is formed with cavities at an outer periphery thereof for receiving gas. The rotary-type development unit is rotated for sequentially advancing the gas in the cavities whereby the gas in the apparatus body is discharged out of the apparatus body.