| 摘要 |
Small particles suspended in the air are becoming increasingly widely known as causes of ill health and death. Several government reports place the death toll in the thousands every year. These small particles come from a large range of sources, and occur both inside and outside buildings. In large, modern office buildings, exterior pollutants are largely removed by efficient air filtration mechanisms. Thus, the particles in this venue come from interior sources. Experience has shown that one of the major interior sources is office machines - specifically copiers and printers using the xerographic process.1 These machines use fine particles as an integral part of their process. Once this powder escapes the machine, it is so fine that it stays suspended in the air for hours. From that suspended state, it affects the health of office workers in the general area. While it is a fact that the majority of xerographic machines do not release significant amounts of particles, testing over several years has demonstrated that the release of particles does happen with almost all types of xerographic equipment. It is not limited to one make or model. There is no current way to predict which xerographic machine will release particles and which will not. Current xerographic machines do contain filters. However, these filters are for ozone control, and are ineffective against particulates. The objective of this invention is to provide a device to capture escaping particles before they can affect nearby staff. While office and home air cleaners are common, we are not aware of any other inventions that aim to filter out escaping dust before it can escape the xerographic machine. This invention aims to filter one particles originating from xerographic machines before they can enter the general room air. 1 The term "xerographic" is used here to refer to the general process whereby a powdered toner is fixed to a piece of paper through the applications of electrical charges and heat. It is not meant to refer to the specific brand name of photocopiers. Examples of machines that may use xerographic processes are photocopiers, laser printers and fax machines.
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