Pressure diffrentials at printers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11701907-B2
Application number	US-201917417181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2019
Priority date	Jul 29, 2019
Publication date	Jul 18, 2023
Grant date	Jul 18, 2023

Abstract

An example method comprises identifying, by a processor, a gap in a housing of a printing apparatus and positioning an inlet of a conduit inside the housing proximate the gap. The inlet is fluidly connected to a fan, and the fan is powered to create a pressure differential across the housing to minimize the amount of air inside the housing being able to escape the housing via the gap.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
identifying, by a processor, a gap in a housing of a printing apparatus;
positioning, an inlet of a conduit inside the housing;
fluidly connecting the inlet to a fan;
powering the fan to create a pressure differential across the housing to minimize the amount of air inside the housing being able to escape the housing via the gap.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
directing air taken from the housing to a treatment station; and
treating the air at the treatment station.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:
releasing the treated air into the environment.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring, by a sensor, the concentration of a volatile organic compound within the printing apparatus; and
adjusting, by a processor, the air flow rate in the conduit, or positioning the inlet, based on the measured concentration.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring, by a sensor the differential pressure at a location in the printing apparatus; and
adjusting, by a processor, the air flow rate in the conduit, or positioning the inlet, based on the measured differential air pressure.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by a processor, a state of the printing apparatus; and
Adjusting, by a processor, the air flow rate in the conduit, or positioning the inlet, based on the state of the printing apparatus.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
identifying, by a processor, a plurality of gaps in the housing;
positioning each of a plurality of conduit inlets inside the housing;
fluidly connecting each inlet to a respective fan in a plurality of fans;
powering each fan to create a pressure differential across each gap to minimize the amount of air inside the housing being able to escape the housing via the gap.

8. A printing apparatus comprising:
a casing for a printing element of the printing apparatus, the casing comprising a gap through which air may pass from the inside to the outside of the printing apparatus;
a pressure source to create a suction pressure;
a conduit fluidly connected to the pressure source and positioned so as to create a pressure differential across the casing to minimize the amount of air inside the casing being able to escape the casing via the gap.

9. A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , the printing apparatus further comprising:
a controller to determine a state of the printing apparatus and to regulate the suction pressure of the pressure source based on the determined state.

10. A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , the printing apparatus further comprising:
a plurality of conduits connected to the pressure source; and
a controller to regulate the suction pressure in each of the plurality of conduits.

11. A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , the printing apparatus further comprising:
a concentration sensor to determine the concentration of a volatile organic compound within the printing apparatus; and
a controller to regulate the suction pressure in the conduit such that air is drawn from a location with the lowest concentration of volatile organic compounds.

12. A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , the printing apparatus further comprising:
a differential pressure sensor to determine the differential pressure at a location within the printing apparatus; and
a controller to regulate the suction pressure in the conduit based on the determined differential pressure.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor of a printing system cause the processor to:
locate an opening in an exterior casing of a printing system via which air from inside the printing system may escape; and to
create a pressure state within the printing system proximate the opening such that air from outside the printing system is drawn inside the printing system via the opening.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
determine the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the air inside the printing system; and
operate a blower to create the pressure state by drawing air from within the printing system from a location where the concentration of volatile organic compounds is determined to be the lowest.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 13 , when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
determine the differential pressure inside the printing system; and
operate a blower to create the pressure state by drawing air from within the printing system from a location based on the determined differential pressure.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Schlumm Doron
• Sandler Mark
• Pines Assaf
• Amir Gideon

Classifications

• B41J29/377 Primary

  Cooling or ventilating arrangements · CPC title

• B41J29/02

  Framework · CPC title

• B41J29/38 Primary

  Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism · CPC title

• B41J2/17546

  electronically · CPC title

• G03G21/206

  Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone · CPC title