Scanner Heat Shielding via Airflow Barrier in Copier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses with in-body copy receiving trays fail to effectively prevent heat from reaching the scanner, leading to temperature rises that affect scanner operation, especially when an inner finisher or multiple paper trays are used.
Innovation Solution
An air blow portion is integrated to generate airflow between the maximum sheet loadable position on the copy receiving tray and the scanner, flowing along the scanner's bottom face to create a heat shielding effect, preventing heat from the copy receiving tray from reaching the scanner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If sheets are stacked on the in-body copy receiving tray before heat dissipation, then the apparatus achieves compact design with smaller footprint, but the temperature of air around the copy receiving tray increases and heats the scanner
Solution Approach 1:
An air blow portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the copy receiving tray and the scanner. This air blow portion generates a controlled airflow that acts as a thermal barrier, preventing heat from the stacked sheets from reaching the scanner while maintaining the compact in-body tray design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by employing an air blow portion to generate airflow. This airflow is directed between the copy receiving tray and the scanner to create a convective heat transfer barrier, effectively managing thermal conditions without mechanical intervention.
2Loss of energy
If an intake fan is used to draw heat from sheets on the copy receiving tray, then some heat is removed, but the heat still reaches the scanner and temperature rise cannot be suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heat management function from a simple fan-based approach and implements a dedicated air blow portion positioned specifically between the copy receiving tray and the scanner. This extraction allows for targeted thermal management that directly addresses the heat path to the scanner.
Solution Approach 2:
The air blow portion performs preliminary thermal management by creating a protective airflow barrier before heat can reach the scanner. This preliminary action prevents heat accumulation around the scanner, addressing the thermal issue proactively rather than reactively.
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 temperature rises in the scanner by dissipating heat away from it, ensuring optimal operation while maintaining sheet stacking integrity and preventing electrical charges from adhering to the scanner.
Implementation Method 1
an air blow portion, which generates airflow between a maximum sheet loadable position on the copy receiving tray and the scanner portion so as to flow along an entire bottom face of the scanner portion
Implementation Method 2
a heat shielding layer is formed to prevent heat in the in-body copy receiving portion from reaching the bottom face of the scanner portion
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus prevents heat in an in-body copy receiving portion from reaching a bottom face of a scanner portion disposed above the in-body copy receiving portion. The image forming apparatus includes an in-body copy receiving portion, a scanner portion, and an air blow portion. The in-body copy receiving portion includes a copy receiving tray to stack image-formed sheets thereon. The in-body copy receiving portion is disposed in the image forming apparatus. The scanner portion reads a document. The scanner portion is disposed above the in-body copy receiving portion. The air blow portion generates airflow between a maximum sheet loadable position on the copy receiving tray and the scanner portion so as to flow along a bottom face of the scanner portion.