Wood Components in Image Feeder for Moisture and Noise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a desired environment for ink-jet printers due to moisture and noise issues, and they lack an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly design.
Innovation Solution
The use of wood components in the feeder and ejection units of image forming and reading devices, which provide humidity control, sound absorption, and a warm tactile experience, while being environmentally friendly and reducing the need for additional components like dehumidifiers and noise dampeners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional materials (metal or plastic) are used for feeder and ejection unit components, then structural strength and durability are maintained, but moisture control capability and aesthetic appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional metal or plastic to wood, which inherently possesses hygroscopic properties. This material substitution enables the feeder and ejection unit components to actively absorb and regulate moisture in the environment, eliminating the need for separate dehumidification systems and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wooden components serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support, aesthetic appearance, and moisture regulation. By integrating these functions into a single material choice, the patent eliminates the need for additional dedicated components for each function, particularly for moisture control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If noise dampening components are added to reduce noise, then noise reduction is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter to wood, which inherently possesses sound absorption properties due to its porous structure and natural damping characteristics. This material substitution enables the feeder and ejection unit components to reduce noise without requiring additional dedicated noise dampening components.
Solution Approach 2:
The wooden components serve multiple functions simultaneously: structural support, aesthetic appearance, moisture regulation, and noise reduction. By integrating these functions into a single material choice, the patent eliminates the need for separate noise dampening components, reducing device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wood components are used in feeder and ejection units, then moisture control and noise reduction are achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter to wood, which offers natural moisture control and noise reduction properties. While wood requires different manufacturing techniques compared to metal or plastic, the integration of multiple functions into a single material simplifies the overall system design and reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The wooden components serve multiple functions simultaneously, reducing the total number of parts that need to be manufactured. This functional integration offsets the increased complexity of working with wood material by reducing assembly steps and component count.
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 wood components effectively manage moisture and noise, provide a warm aesthetic, and promote energy savings and carbon neutrality by integrating humidity control and sound absorption without additional power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
if porous wood is used for the above box-shaped component, the use environment of ink-jet printers can easily be maintained in a desired state due to the hygroscopic properties and characteristics of porous wood
Implementation Method 2
The use of wood components in the feeder and ejection units of image forming and reading devices, which provide humidity control, sound absorption, and a warm tactile experience
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus and an image reading device. The image forming apparatus includes a feeder to feed a recording material, an image forming device to form an image on the recording material fed from the feeder, and an ejection unit to which the recording material on which an image is formed by the image forming device is ejected. In the image forming apparatus, the feeder and the ejection unit are made of a plurality of components, and at least one of the plurality of components of the feeder and the ejection unit disposed near the recording material is made of wood. The image reading device includes a to-be-scanned material feeder to feed a to-be-scanned material, and a reader to read an image on the to-be-scanned material fed from the to-be-scanned material feeder. In the image reading device, the to-be-scanned material feeder comprises a plurality of components.