Segmented Cooling Fans for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently cooling various types of recording media and utilizing installation space effectively, leading to inefficiencies in cooling capacity and size constraints.
Innovation Solution
A liquid type cooling device with a configuration that includes multiple air blowing fans and a radiator, allowing for flexible installation and adjustable cooling capacity based on the type of recording media, utilizing a fan unit with eight air blowing fans to enhance heat dissipation and optimize space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single air blowing fan is used in the cooling device, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling capacity is insufficient for various types of recording media
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is segmented into multiple independent air blowing fans (first air blowing fan and second air blowing fan) that can operate independently. Each fan serves specific cooling needs for different types of recording media, allowing the system to provide appropriate cooling capacity without requiring a single overly complex fan unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically selects which air blowing fan(s) to operate based on the type of recording media being processed. This dynamic adaptation allows the cooling capacity to vary according to needs, resolving the contradiction between having sufficient cooling power and maintaining simple device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cooling device is designed to handle various types of recording media, then the adaptability increases, but the installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is divided into functionally independent fan units that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high adaptability for various recording media types while using minimal installation space, as only the necessary fan units are operational at any given time rather than requiring all fans to be permanently installed and active.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple air blowing fans are configured to handle different cooling scenarios for various recording media types. Each fan unit can serve multiple purposes depending on the media type, allowing the cooling device to achieve universal adaptability across different media while maintaining a compact installation footprint through selective deployment of fan units.
3Productivity
If multiple air blowing fans are used to enhance cooling capacity, then the cooling effectiveness improves, but the noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically determines which air blowing fan(s) to operate based on the specific cooling requirements of the recording media. This dynamic control ensures that multiple fans are only activated when necessary for high cooling effectiveness, while quieter single-fan operation is used when sufficient, thereby reducing overall noise levels while maintaining cooling productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by selectively activating different fan units based on cooling needs. This parameter change approach allows the system to achieve high cooling effectiveness when multiple fans operate together for demanding media types, while reducing noise by operating fewer fans at lower power levels for less demanding cooling scenarios.
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
The cooling device efficiently cools recording media according to their type, reduces energy consumption, and effectively utilizes available installation space, improving cooling performance and reducing noise.
Implementation Method 1
a radiator (181) functioning as a heat releasing unit to release the heat absorbed from the sheet P into the air
Implementation Method 2
The liquid type cooling device includes a cooling body (141) functioning as a heat receiver to absorb heat from the sheet P, and a radiator (181) functioning as a heat releasing unit to release the heat absorbed from the sheet P into the air
Implementation Method 3
The fan unit (185) includes a plurality of air blowing fans (186) to blow air to the radiator (181) to enhance a heat releasing effect of the radiator (181)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A liquid type cooling device (100), which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus (300), includes a heat releasing unit (181) to release heat of a coolant that passes therethrough, and multiple air blowing fans (186) disposed facing the heat releasing unit (181) to blow air to the heat releasing unit (181). A cooling capacity of the liquid type cooling device (100) varies according to a type of a recording medium (P) on which an image is formed.