Variable Output Air Blowers for Uniform Cooling in Image Formers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices for image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently cooling multiple development devices with limited space, leading to uneven airflow distribution and potential overheating, which can affect image quality and device performance.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with multiple air blowers and a duct system where the air blowers have different outputs based on their positions relative to a shared airflow path, ensuring airflow enters the duct without interference, and the air collection duct is configured to direct high-speed airflows efficiently to each development device, maintaining balanced cooling across all components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple air blowers are used to cool multiple development devices, then cooling coverage is improved, but airflow distribution becomes uneven due to different positions relative to the air collection duct
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring air blowers with different output capacities according to their specific positions. Air blowers closer to the air collection duct have smaller output capacities, while those farther away have larger output capacities. This localized adjustment ensures that each air blower contributes appropriately to the overall airflow, achieving uniform airflow distribution across all development devices despite their different positions.
2Manufacturing precision
If air blowers have different outputs based on position, then airflow balance is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple air blower configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the output capacity parameter of air blowers based on their positional parameters. Specifically, air blowers are selected with different output capacities (e.g., different motor powers or blade configurations) according to their distance from the air collection duct. This systematic parameter adjustment achieves airflow balance while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
3Productivity
If high-speed airflow is directed to development devices, then cooling efficiency is improved, but airflow interference occurs between multiple air blowers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the air collection duct with position-specific airflow collection characteristics. The duct is configured to efficiently collect airflow from air blowers at different positions, with intake openings and internal flow paths optimized for each location. This localized duct design enables high-speed airflow delivery to each development device while preventing airflow interference between adjacent air blowers.
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 ensures balanced and efficient airflow distribution, preventing overheating and maintaining image quality by effectively cooling the development devices, even in monochrome and color modes, thereby extending device lifespan and performance.
Implementation Method 1
multiple air blowers to cool a cooling target and a duct to connect with the multiple air blowers and to flow airflow generated by the multiple air blowers therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes multiple air blowers to cool a cooling target provided to the image forming apparatus and a duct to connect with the multiple air blowers and to flow airflow generated by the multiple air blowers therethrough and to have an opening formed thereon and disposed at a position shifted to a part of the multiple air blowers. Respective outputs of the multiple air blowers are different from each other according to respective positions of the multiple air blowers with respect to the opening.