Cooling device for imaging appratus
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsBradley J. Anderson, Bruce L. Johnson, William I. Herrmann, Courtney A. Fortier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for cooling a sheet of media in an imaging apparatus wherein an image is deposited on, and fused to, the sheet of media. The sheet of media is cooled before the media exits the imaging apparatus. The apparatus includes a cooling surface configured to contact the sheet of media whereupon heat energy is transferred from the relatively hot sheet of media to the cooling surface which can act as a heat sink to dissipate heat energy. Other devices such as fans, cooling fins, coolant circulation systems and the like can be employed by the apparatus to further facilitate dissipation of the heat energy from the cooling surface.
Claims20
An imaging apparatus configured to deposit an image onto a sheet of media, and to input heat energy into the sheet of media to fuse the image thereto, the apparatus comprising a cooling surface which is configured to:
- contact the sheet of media after fusing of the image thereto;
- and,
- absorb heat energy from the sheet of media during contact thereof with the cooling surface.
An imaging apparatus configured to deposit an image onto a sheet of media, and to input heat energy into the sheet of media to fuse the image thereto, the apparatus comprising:
- a cooling device configured to absorb heat energy from the sheet of media substantially after fusing of the image thereto;
- a cooling surface defined on the cooling device and configured to contact the sheet of media during absorption of heat energy there from by the cooling device;
- and,
- a fan assembly configured to facilitate dissipation of heat energy from the sheet 9 of media.
A method of cooling a sheet of media before the media exits an imaging apparatus, comprising:
- providing a cooling surface;
- contacting at least a portion of the sheet of media to at least a portion of the cooling surface;
- and,
- transferring heat energy from the sheet of media to the cooling surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.