# US 9,436,070 B2 · Image Projection apparatus

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- Number: US 9,436,070 B2
- Document ID: US9436070B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/671,427
- Filed: 2015-03-27
- Published: 2015-07-16
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-02
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Akihisa Mikawa; Tetsuya Fujioka; Hideo Kanai; Masamichi Yamada; Yasunari Mikutsu; Satoshi Tsuchiya; Naoyuki Ishikawa; Yukimi Nishi
- Inventors: Akihisa Mikawa; Tetsuya Fujioka; Hideo Kanai; Masamichi Yamada; Yasunari Mikutsu; Satoshi Tsuchiya; Naoyuki Ishikawa; Yukimi Nishi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436070B2

## CPC

- G03B 21/16: Cooling; Preventing overheating
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)

## Abstract

An image projection apparatus includes: a light source; an exhaust fan having a rotary shaft provided with at least one blade, the rotary shift being rotated to exhaust air inside the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus; a guide having a sloped face that is sloped toward the exhaust fan, the sloped face having a first side surface facing the light source and a second side surface provided opposite of the first side surface; a first flow path, defined by the first side surface of the guide, to guide air heated by the light source toward the rotary shaft of the exhaust fan; and a second flow path, defined by the second side surface of the guide, to guide air having temperature lower than temperature of the air heated by the light source, toward the rotary shaft of the exhaust fan.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image projection apparatus, comprising:
a light source configured to irradiate light to project a projection image;
an exhaust fan; and
a guide member configured to guide air heated at the light source and air having temperature lower than temperature of the air heated at the light source, toward a rotary shaft of the exhaust fan, wherein,
the guide member is configured such that the air heated at the light source flowing under the guide member flows toward the rotary shaft of the exhaust fan while ascending as ascending airflow,
the guide member is configured such that the air heated at the light source flows along a first surface of the guide member,
the guide member is configured such that the air having temperature lower than temperature of the air heated at the light source flows along a second surface of the guide member, the first surface and the second surface being on reverse sides of the guide member,
the second surface faces a circuit board, and
the second surface becomes gradually closer to the circuit board as the guide member approaches the exhaust fan.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image projection apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the guide member is configured such that the air having temperature lower than temperature of the air heated at the light source flows above the air heated at the light source.

### Claim 3

An image projection apparatus, comprising:
a light source configured to irradiate light to project a projection image;
an exhaust fan; and
a guide member configured to guide air heated at the light source toward the exhaust fan on a first side of the guide member while ascending as ascending airflow, wherein,
the guide member is configured such that the air having temperature lower than temperature of the air heated at the light source flows along a second side of the guide member, the first side and the second side being on reverse sides of the guide member,
the second side faces a circuit board, and
the second side becomes gradually closer to the circuit board as the guide member approaches the exhaust fan.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The image projection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the guide member is arranged at an angle offset from a rotation axis of the exhaust fan.