Sheet Transport Cooling for Image Fixing Heat Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming systems with multiple sections in series face issues with temperature rise and material deterioration, particularly in the downstream image forming apparatus, due to heat transfer from the upstream fixing process.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a sheet-reversing mechanism with specific transporting routes and cooling fans to maintain the leading edge of the sheet and cool it effectively, preventing heat transfer and material degradation by arranging transporting routes such that heated air rises, allowing the sheet to be cooled before reaching the downstream apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sheet is heated by the upstream image forming apparatus to fix the image, then the image is fixed on the sheet, but the downstream image forming apparatus experiences temperature rise causing deterioration of toner and developing materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transporting section as an intermediary between the upstream and downstream image forming apparatuses. This transporting section includes cooling fans that actively cool the sheet after it leaves the upstream apparatus, preventing the heat from reaching the downstream apparatus and causing material deterioration while still allowing the image fixing process to occur
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful thermal effect from the sheet by introducing cooling fans in the transporting section. The cooling fans remove excess heat from the sheet after the fixing process, separating the beneficial image fixing function from the harmful temperature rise that would affect downstream materials
2Productivity
If multiple image forming apparatuses are connected in series for duplex printing, then printing speed is improved, but temperature rise occurs in the downstream apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The transporting section serves as a thermal buffer between the upstream and downstream apparatuses in the series connection. By introducing cooling fans in this intermediary transporting section, the system maintains high productivity through series processing while preventing temperature accumulation in the downstream apparatus
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 temperature rise and material deterioration in the downstream image forming apparatus, ensuring stable operation and extending the lifespan of toner and developing materials.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan to blow air towards the sheet
Implementation Method 2
arranging transporting routes such that heated air rises
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system has a first image forming section to form an image on a sheet, wherein the first image forming section heats the sheet to fix the image on the sheet, a second image forming section to form an image to the sheet on which the image has been formed by the first image forming section, and a transporting section to transport the sheet from first image forming section to the second image forming section. The transporting section has a first transporting part to transport the sheet to a predetermined position, and a second transporting part to reverse a surface of the sheet which has been transported by the first transporting part as transporting the sheet from the predetermined position to an area below the predetermined position.