Printer or copier with a refrigerator for generation of cold

• US 7,469,111 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Reihl, Heiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Hoan H
• Application Number:
  US11/398,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20060228128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 399/91, 399/92, 399/93, 399/94, 399/97, 399/98
• US Class Current: 399/91
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/02 using waste heat, e.g. from internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/206 Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/274 using waste energy, e.g. from internal combustion engine

Abstract

In a printer or copier at least one printing unit is provided that generates at least one toner image on at least one page of a carrier material. The printer or copier also has at least one fixing unit that fixes the toner image on the carrier material with aid of a heat generated by the fixing unit. The printer or copier also has a refrigerator to which is supplied at least a part of the heat generated in the fixing unit. The refrigerator uses at least a part of the supplied heat for generation of cold.

Claims

1. A printer or copier, comprising:

at least one printing unit that generates at least one toner image on at least one page of a carrier material;

at least one fixing unit that fixes the toner image on the carrier material with aid of heat generated by the fixing unit;

a refrigerator which generates cold and to which is supplied at least a part of the heat generated in the fixing unit; and

the refrigerator using at least a part of the supplied heat from the fixing unit for generation of the cold.

2. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein at least a part of the supplied heat energy serves as an energy source for the refrigerator.

3. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein the heat is supplied to at least one expeller of an absorption refrigerator or of a diffusion-absorption refrigerator.

4. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein a gas bubble pump is driven with aid of the heat, the gas bubble pump driving a closed fluid loop or a closed gas loop of the refrigerator.

5. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein a system is provided that discharges at least a part of the heat generated to fix the toner image from the fixing unit and supplies it to the refrigerator.

6. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein a warm exhaust is discharged from the fixing unit.

7. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein a vaporizer of the refrigerator emits the cold.

8. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein a heat exchanger arrangement is provided that cools a gas with the generated cold, at least one component of the printer or copier being cooled with aid of the cooled gas.

9. A printer or copier according to claim 8 wherein the cooled gas is supplied to a substantially closed inner chamber of the printer or copier.

10. A printer or copier according to claim 8 wherein a distributor system which distributes the cooled gas is provided that supplies the cooled gas to a plurality of components or structural groups of the printer or copier.

11. A printer or copier according to claim 8 wherein a cooled air channel with at least one exit opening for exit of at least a part of the cooled gas is provided, the gas exiting from the exit opening being fed to a component to be cooled of the printer or copier.

12. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein a heat exchanger system is provided that cools a fluid with the generated cold, at least one component of the printer or copier being cooled with aid of the cooled fluid.

13. A printer or copier according to claim 12 wherein an arrangement for distribution of the cooled fluid is provided that supplies the cooled fluid to a plurality of components or structural groups of the printer or copier.

14. A printer or copier according to claim 12 wherein an open or a closed cooling loop is provided.

15. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein an environment of the printer or copier is cooled with aid of the generated cold.

16. A printer or copier according to claim 1 wherein the refrigerator comprises a one-stage refrigerator.

17. A printer or copier of claim 1 wherein the cold is supplied to the carrier material with the toner image to cool the carrier material after it leaves the fixing unit.

18. A printer or copier, comprising:

at least one printing unit that generates at least one toner image on at least one page of a carrier material;

at least one fixing unit that fixes the toner image on the carrier material with aid of heat generated by the fixing unit;

a refrigerator which generates cold and to which is supplied at least a part of the heat generated in the fixing unit;

the refrigerator using at least a part of the supplied heat from the fixing unit for generation of the cold; and

a heat flow with a power in a range of 2 kW to 35 kW being supplied to the refrigerator.

19. A method for generation of cold with a printer or copier, comprising the steps of:

supplying to a refrigerator at least a part of a heat generated with a fixing unit which fixes at least one toner image on a carrier material; and

generating cold by the refrigerator with at least a part of the supplied heat from the fixing unit.

20. A method of claim 19 including the further step of utilizing cold from the refrigerator to cool the carrier material after a heating by said fixing unit.

21. A method of claim 19 including the step of utilizing said cold from said refrigerator to cool at least one component of the printer or copier.

22. A refrigerator for generation of cold in a printer or copier, comprising:

a refrigerator unit which receives and utilizes a waste heat flow of a fixing unit of the printer or copier to generate cold.

23. A refrigerator of claim 22 wherein the refrigerator comprises an absorption refrigerator.

24. A refrigerator for generation of cold in a printer or copier, comprising:

a refrigerator unit which receives and utilizes a waste heat flow of a fixing unit of the printer or copier to generate cold; and

the refrigerator unit being a diffusion-absorption refrigerator unit.

25. A refrigerator for generation of cold in a printer or copier, comprising:

a refrigerator unit which receives and utilizes a waste heat flow of a fixing unit of the printer or copier to generate cold; and

the refrigerator unit being a Stirling refrigerator unit with a Stirling motor drive.

26. A refrigerator for generation of cold in a printer or copier, comprising:

a refrigerator unit which receives and utilizes a waste heat flow of a fixing unit of the printer or copier to generate cold; and

the refrigerator unit being a Vuilleumier refrigerator unit.

27. A method for generation of cold with a printer or copier, comprising the steps of:

supplying to a refrigerator at least a part of a heat generated with a fixing unit of the printer or copier which fixes at least one toner image on a carrier material;

generating cold by the refrigerator with at least a part of the supplied heat from the fixing unit; and

utilizing the generated cold to cool said carrier material after said carrier material has been heated by said fixing unit, and also using said generated cold to cool at least one component of the printer or copier.