01054364

Component

This paper describes how office products known as copiers, printers, scanners, fax machines and multi-function products are converging in the marketplace under a single product category known as Imaging Technology (IT) products. This product category includes many different marking technologies such as electro-photographic or “laser”, inkjet, dot matrix, thermal transfer and solid ink printing. There is also a diversity of product functions including facsimile machines, low and high volume printing, scanning to file, scanning to email, copying and any combination of the previous list. The common link between all the marking technologies and functions is the use of imaging systems to either scan hardcopy to electronic format or generate hardcopy output. Over the past several years, the Idle or non-operating mode noise emissions of Imaging Technology products has become a great concern to customers, especially in the European Community. The customer concern with non-operating mode noise emissions is especially high in Electro-Photographic (EP) products that need to cool toner fuser mechanisms. The customer’s concern over non-operating mode noise emissions can be traced to several factors. One factor is the increasing use of computer networks to perform distributed printing tasks. Once the product is connected to the computer network, the network administrators desire the product to remain “on” all the time. There has also been a marked decrease in noise emissions from PC equipment, which increases the prominence of Imaging Technology products non-operating noise emissions. A third cause is the widespread implementation of ENERGY STAR® Sleep Modes, which usually place a product in a mode of low power consumption and low noise emissions. Industry has also seen an increased sensitivity by IT customers to noise emissions in general, whether operating or non-operating. The increased interest in non-operating mode noise emissions has presented manufacturers with the challenge to provide Imaging Technology Equipment with an acceptable level of product noise when not performing their designed tasks.

01054353

English

pp 975-982

2004

Noise-Con 04. The 2004 National Conference on Noise Control Engineering

CD-ROM

Figures (1) ; References (13) ; Tables (4)

Acoustics; Noise control; Noise sources; Printers; Products; Scanners; Sound level meters; Sound transmission; Technological innovations

Imaging systems

Energy; Environment; Highways; I15: Environment

TRIS, TRB

Jul 26 2007 2:58PM