Heating Belt Guide Member for Uniform Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electromagnetic induction heating type fixing devices face challenges in maintaining optimal temperature across different paper sizes, leading to excessive temperature rise in non-paper-passing regions and image offset issues during printing, especially when transitioning from small to large paper sizes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a belt guide member with temperature-rise corresponding and shielding portions, along with a heat transfer portion, to control magnetic flux and distribute heat uniformly across the heating rotating belt, preventing excessive temperature rise in non-paper-passing regions and ensuring consistent image fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heating rotating belt is used to reduce heat capacity, then heating efficiency is improved, but temperature control in non-paper-passing regions becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The heating rotating belt is divided into a heating portion and a non-heating portion. The heating portion contains the induction heating coil and generates heat, while the non-heating portion is covered with a heat-insulating member to prevent heat generation. This segmentation allows selective heating of only the paper-passing region, solving the temperature control problem in non-paper-passing regions while maintaining high heating efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the heating rotating belt are given different thermal properties. The paper-passing region is designed to generate heat through electromagnetic induction, while the non-paper-passing region is equipped with heat-insulating material to prevent heat generation. This local differentiation of thermal characteristics enables precise temperature control in different zones.
2Temperature
If magnetic flux blocking member is moved to adjust heat generation, then temperature distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic flux blocking member is extracted from the traditional adjustable mechanism and integrated directly onto the heating rotating belt as a fixed heat-insulating member. This eliminates the need for complex moving mechanisms while achieving the same effect of controlling heat generation in non-paper-passing regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-insulating member is merged with the heating rotating belt structure, forming an integrated unit. The heat-insulating member is disposed on the outer periphery of the heating rotating belt in the non-paper-passing region, combining the functions of heat insulation and belt structure into a single component, thereby simplifying the overall device.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If temperature in non-paper-passing regions is reduced, then image offset is prevented, but fixation quality may deteriorate when switching to large paper
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-insulating member is pre-installed on the heating rotating belt to prevent excessive heat generation in non-paper-passing regions before printing occurs. This preliminary thermal control prevents image offset during small paper printing, while the heating portion maintains sufficient temperature for proper fixation when large paper is printed, ensuring consistent fixation quality across different paper sizes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents excessive temperature rise in non-paper-passing regions, reducing image offset and ensuring uniform temperature distribution, thereby improving print quality across various paper sizes.
Implementation Method 1
an induction coil that generates magnetic flux
Implementation Method 2
electromagnetic induction heating type fixing device
Implementation Method 3
a heat transfer portion that has thermal conductivity higher than that of the paper-passing corresponding portions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A fixing device (9) includes a pressing rotating body (9b), a heating rotating belt (9a), an induction coil (71), a magnetic core portion (72), and a belt guide member (91). The belt guide member (91) is disposed on the inner side of the heating rotating belt (9a) and includes a coil side section (94) that is disposed toward the induction coil (71) relative to a rotational axis (J1) of the heating rotating belt (9a) and includes a temperature-rise corresponding portion (941a,942a or 943a) and a non temperature-rise corresponding portion (941d, 942d or 943d), and a nip side section (95) that is disposed toward the pressing rotating body (9b) relative to the rotational axis (J1) and includes a paper-passing corresponding portion (951a, 952a or 953a) and a heat transfer portion (951d, 952d, 953d, 954 or 955) disposed on the outer side of the paper-passing corresponding portion (951a, 952a or 953a) and having thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of the paper-passing corresponding portion (951a, 952a and 953a).