Separation Duct Wall Air Blowing Path for Toner Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing size and effectively cleaning the suction duct due to limited installation space and the inability to detach the suction duct or its side wall, leading to toner scattering and contamination issues.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a replacement unit with a separation duct wall that forms an air blowing path between the separation duct wall and the body interior wall, allowing for easy insertion and extraction, and utilizing the retreat space for the developing unit as a duct space for air flow, enabling efficient toner collection and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a dedicated suction duct is installed in the apparatus body, then toner scattering is reduced, but the apparatus size increases due to limited installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The suction duct is divided into a movable suction duct portion and a fixed duct portion. The suction duct portion can be separated from the apparatus body, allowing the air blowing path to be formed using the installation space of the developing unit rather than requiring dedicated duct space. This segmentation enables toner collection without increasing apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The installation space of the developing unit is utilized dual-purpose: it serves both as the housing space for the developing unit and as the air blowing path for toner collection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate duct space, thereby preventing apparatus size increase while still achieving effective toner scattering prevention.
2Ease of repair
If the suction duct is made detachable, then cleaning becomes easier, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction duct is segmented into a movable suction duct portion and a fixed duct portion connected via a detachable connection. This allows the suction duct portion to be easily removed for cleaning without requiring complex disassembly mechanisms, maintaining structural simplicity while improving cleaning accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction duct portion is extracted as a separable component from the apparatus body, allowing direct access to the air blowing path for cleaning. The detachable connection enables easy removal and reinstallation without complex procedures, balancing cleaning ease with structural simplicity.
3Volume of stationary object
If the developing unit installation space is used for air flow path, then apparatus size is reduced, but the developing unit movement space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The suction duct portion is designed to be movable, changing its position between a stored state within the air blowing path and a removed state for cleaning. This dynamic design allows the air blowing path to occupy the developing unit installation space during operation while enabling easy access for maintenance, resolving the space conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction duct portion is pre-positioned within the air blowing path during apparatus assembly, establishing the air flow path using the developing unit installation space. This preliminary arrangement enables space-efficient design while maintaining sufficient movement space for the developing unit during normal operation.
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 allows for a reduction in apparatus size, facilitates easy cleaning of the duct interior, and prevents toner scattering by providing a dedicated air blowing path for toner collection, thereby improving the overall efficiency and maintenance of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a separation duct wall that forms an air blowing path between the separation duct wall and a body interior wall provided in an installation space for the replacement unit in the apparatus body
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a replacement unit (developing unit) that is provided to be freely inserted into and extracted from an apparatus body, and the replacement unit is provided with a separation duct wall that constitutes a collection path through which powder scattering in the apparatus body is collected.