Scanner Ventilation Passage for Laser Alignment in Image Forming Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In tandem-type image forming apparatuses, heat buildup between the process unit and the scanner unit causes temperature increases in the scanner unit, leading to potential misalignment of colors due to improper laser light irradiation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a scanner-side ventilation passage that channels air from the process unit to the exhaust outlet, preventing heat from being conveyed to the scanner unit, and a charger-side ventilation passage that blows air into the scorotron chargers to remove impurities and mix with scanner-side ventilation passage air, ensuring effective heat dissipation and cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the exhaust duct intake opening is positioned between the fixing device and the process unit, then air around the fixing device and lower process unit can be routed outside, but heat built up around the process unit travels to the scanner unit causing temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is divided into separate passages: a first ventilation passage for air around the fixing device and lower process unit, and a second ventilation passage specifically for air around the scanner unit and upper process unit. This segmentation allows independent control of air flow paths, preventing heat from the process unit from reaching the scanner unit while maintaining effective exhaust for both regions.
2Device complexity
If no additional ventilation passages are provided, then the device structure remains simple, but heat buildup causes laser light misalignment and color positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
A partition wall is introduced as an intermediary structure to separate the first and second ventilation passages. This partition prevents thermal convection between the two passages, ensuring that cool air supplied to the scanner unit does not mix with hot air from the process unit, thereby maintaining laser alignment precision without requiring complex active cooling systems.
3Device complexity
If air is not supplied to the scorotron chargers, then the structure remains simple, but impurities accumulate and affect image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The second ventilation passage serves dual functions: it provides ventilation for the scanner unit and simultaneously supplies air to the scorotron chargers through communication holes in the partition wall. This merging of functions allows the same air flow path to perform both heat dissipation for the scanner and impurity removal for the chargers, improving reliability without adding separate ventilation systems.
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 prevents heat buildup in the scanner unit, maintaining accurate laser light irradiation and color alignment, thereby improving image quality by maintaining the scanner unit's temperature within optimal ranges.
Implementation Method 1
an exhaust fan disposed inside the exhaust duct to remove heat generated in the body casing
Implementation Method 2
a scanner unit that is disposed above the process unit to irradiate the photosensitive drum of each image formation unit with laser light
Implementation Method 3
heat built up around the process unit travels to the scanner unit
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a process unit including image formation units, each of the image formation units having an image carrier, a charger, and a developing device, a scanner unit disposed facing the process unit and configured to expose the image carrier in each of the image formation units to light, and a fixing device disposed in the first direction with respect to the process unit. Also, the image forming device includes a first passage configured to channel air between the process unit and the scanner unit to an outlet in the first direction and a second passage configured to channel air in the vicinity of the fixing device to the outlet in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.