Endless Belt Guide Restriction for Fixing Device Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices for electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges in stabilizing and guiding the endless belt, leading to instability and movement issues during the image forming process, which affects the quality of the printed images.
Innovation Solution
The proposed fixing device incorporates an endless belt, a heating plate, a pressure roller, a first belt guide, and a second belt guide, with a restriction portion to restrict the movement of the endless belt, ensuring it remains stable and aligned between the heating plate and the pressure roller, thereby maintaining consistent tension and reducing friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the endless belt is used in the fixing device, then the image forming process can be performed, but the belt becomes unstable and moves during operation
Solution Approach 1:
A belt guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the endless belt and the heating plate/pressure roller assembly. The belt guide includes a guide portion that contacts the belt and a restriction portion that limits belt movement in the subordination direction, thereby stabilizing the belt during operation without interfering with the image forming process
Solution Approach 2:
The restriction portion is designed with specific dimensional parameters (extending in the subordination direction beyond the guide portion) to change the physical constraints on the belt. This parameter-based approach controls belt movement by creating a mechanical boundary that prevents excessive displacement while maintaining operational flexibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If the endless belt moves in the left-right direction, then the belt can accommodate tension changes, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The belt guide acts as a mediator that allows controlled tension accommodation while preventing harmful lateral movements. The guide portion enables natural belt tension adjustments, while the restriction portion boundaries prevent excessive displacement that would compromise image quality
3Ease of operation
If the endless belt sags or bends, then the belt can flex during rotation, but thermal deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The belt guide serves as a supporting intermediary that provides structural guidance to the belt. The guide portion allows necessary flexibility for belt rotation and flexing, while the restriction portion prevents excessive sagging that would lead to thermal deformation and image quality issues
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 configuration ensures stable rotation of the endless belt, reduces movement in the left-right direction, and prevents sagging or bending, resulting in improved image quality and reduced thermal deformation, enhancing the overall performance of the fixing device.
Implementation Method 1
a heating plate configured to heat the endless belt
Implementation Method 2
a pressure roller configured to press the endless belt
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes an endless belt, a heating plate, a pressure roller, a first belt guide and a second belt guide. The endless belt has a tubular shape and extends in a first direction. The heating plate is disposed inside the endless belt and extends in the first direction. The first belt guide guides an end of the endless belt in the first direction and includes an inner guide and a restriction portion to restrict movement of the endless belt in the first direction. The second belt guide faces the first belt guide in a second direction and extends from a vicinity of the heating plate to a vicinity of the inner guide along the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt. An end of the restriction portion in the second direction closer to the heating plate is located closer to the second belt guide than the inner guide.