Adjustable Fixing Roller Force for Diverse Media
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in uniformly fixing developer images onto various types of recording media, such as regular paper and envelopes, due to differences in paper thickness and type, which requires adjustable fixing conditions that current technologies struggle to accommodate effectively.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a removable fixing device that includes a first rotator and a second rotator with an interposition region, where a pressing mechanism is adjusted by a change mechanism to apply varying forces, allowing for different fixing conditions based on the type and thickness of the recording medium, ensuring optimal image fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed pressing force is applied by the pressing mechanism, then the structure is simple, but the fixing quality varies with different recording medium types and thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing mechanism is designed with adjustable pressing force capability, allowing the force applied to the fixing roller and belt to be dynamically changed according to the type and thickness of the recording medium. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling high fixing quality for different media without requiring multiple fixed-structure mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force parameter of the pressing mechanism can be changed according to the recording medium properties. By adjusting this parameter, the system achieves optimal fixing quality for various paper types and thicknesses while maintaining a single versatile mechanism rather than multiple fixed configurations
2Manufacturing precision
If the fixing device is designed for a specific recording medium type, then the fixing quality for that type is optimized, but the adaptability to other media types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device is designed with universal adaptability to handle multiple types of recording media including various paper types and envelopes. The pressing mechanism can adjust its force to accommodate different media thicknesses and properties, making a single device capable of performing optimal fixing for diverse media types rather than requiring separate devices for each media type
3Manufacturing precision
If the pressing force is increased to ensure fixation on thick media, then the fixing quality for thick media improves, but the risk of damage to thin media increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force parameter is dynamically adjusted based on the recording medium type and thickness. For thick media, higher pressing force is applied to ensure proper fixation, while for thin media, the pressing force is reduced to prevent damage. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need to use a fixed high pressing force that would harm thin media
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion and a fixing device. The image forming portion forms a developer image on a recording medium. The fixing device is removably mounted to an image forming apparatus body, and fixes the developer image formed by the image forming portion to the recording medium. The fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, and a pressing mechanism. The second rotator contacts the first rotator to form an interposition region in which the recording medium is interposed between the first rotator and the second rotator. The pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The image forming apparatus further includes a change mechanism that changes a force with which the pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The change mechanism is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.