Shielding Member for Image-Forming Apparatus Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image-forming apparatuses, the use of contactless heating units to control the temperature of recording materials leads to heated air flowing into the image-former, causing inaccuracies in ink landing positions and nozzle clogging, which are not effectively addressed by existing windproof plates, especially with the increasing proximity of heating units and image-formers due to faster material conveyance and downsizing.
Innovation Solution
An image-forming apparatus is designed with a conveyer, image-former, recording-material heating unit, chassis with inlet and outlet, and a shielding member above the conveyance path between the heating unit outlet and image-former to prevent the inflow of heated air, ensuring accurate image formation by isolating the heated air from the image-former.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a contactless heating unit is used to heat the recording material, then the recording material temperature control is improved, but heated air flows into the image-former causing ink landing position inaccuracy and nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into distinct functional zones: a heating unit zone and an image-forming zone. The shielding member creates a physical segmentation that separates the heated air flow path from the ink discharge area, allowing independent optimization of each zone's function.
Solution Approach 2:
A shielding member is introduced as an intermediary element between the heating unit and the image-former. This shield acts as a mediator that blocks the harmful heated air flow from reaching the ink head while allowing the recording material to pass through and be heated.
2Productivity
If the heating unit and image-former are positioned closer together to increase conveyance speed, then productivity is improved, but heated air inflow to the image-former increases causing deterioration in image formation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding member serves as a protective intermediary that enables the heating unit and image-former to be positioned closer together without compromising image formation accuracy. It blocks the heated air flow path while allowing close proximity positioning for faster conveyance.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the spatial conflict by introducing a vertical dimension - the shielding member extends in the vertical direction above the conveyance path, creating a protective barrier that doesn't interfere with the horizontal conveyance speed or the close positioning of components.
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 solution effectively restricts the reduction in image formation accuracy by preventing heated air from entering the image-former, maintaining precise ink landing and preventing nozzle clogging, even with increased conveyance speeds and apparatus miniaturization.
Implementation Method 1
a recording-material heating unit 20 that heats the recording material
Implementation Method 2
the heated air used in the heating unit to dry the ink tend to flow into an image-former
Data Source
AI summary
An image-forming apparatus that can restrict reduction in the accuracy of image formation onto a recording material is provided. An image-forming apparatus includes an image-former that discharges ink to a conveyed recording material; a recording-material heating unit that is disposed in an upstream side of the image-former; a chassis that covers the recording-material heating unit; and a shielding member that is disposed between the chassis and the image-former and shields inflow of air, which is discharged from a recording-material outlet, into the image-former.