Blown-Air Separation Pipe for Fixing Member Glossiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face the challenge of uneven glossiness on toner images due to cooling by air blown to peel off the recording material from the fixing member.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a first rotatable member for heating the toner image, a second rotatable member forming a nip to apply heat and pressure, an air nozzle to blow air downstream of the nip, and a metal-surfaced pipe guiding air to the nozzle, with a portion extending along the widthwise direction of the first rotatable member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air is blown to the recording material to peel it off from the fixing member, then the recording material can be separated from the fixing member, but the toner image is cooled by the air causing uneven glossiness
Solution Approach 1:
A metal pipe is introduced as an intermediary component between the air source and the recording material. The pipe conducts heat from the fixing member to the air before it reaches the toner image, preventing direct cooling while maintaining the peeling function. This mediator resolves the contradiction by transforming the cold air into warmed air that still facilitates peeling without causing temperature drops in the toner image.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameter of the air is changed by passing it through the metal pipe that is thermally coupled to the fixing member. The air temperature is raised from ambient or cooled state to a temperature closer to the fixing member temperature, so that when the air contacts the recording material, it facilitates peeling without causing excessive cooling of the toner image, thus maintaining glossiness uniformity.
2Ease of operation
If a nozzle is used to blow air to the recording material, then peeling is achieved, but the air causes cooling of the toner image resulting in glossiness variations
Solution Approach 1:
The metal pipe serves as a thermal intermediary that transfers heat from the fixing member to the air stream. This ensures the air blowing onto the recording material is warmed, preventing the temperature drop that would otherwise occur with direct air blowing, thereby maintaining toner image temperature uniformity while achieving peeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The air is pre-heated by passing it through the metal pipe before it is directed at the recording material. This preliminary heating action ensures that when the air contacts the toner image, it does not cause cooling, thus preventing glossiness variations while still enabling effective peeling of the recording material.
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 effectively suppresses the occurrence of uneven glossiness on the toner image by ensuring a consistent temperature distribution, thereby improving the visual quality of the images.
Implementation Method 1
a first rotatable member configured to heat a toner image formed on a recording material
Implementation Method 2
the second rotatable member applies heat and pressure to the recording material, on which the toner image is carried, in the nip
Implementation Method 3
an air nozzle configured to blow air toward the recording material and the first rotatable member on a side downstream of the nip
Implementation Method 4
a pipe configured to guide air to the air nozzle and of which surface opposing the first rotatable member is metal
Implementation Method 5
the pipe includes a portion extending along a widthwise direction of the first rotatable member perpendicular to the feeding direction
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, an air nozzle, and a pipe. The pipe includes a portion extending along a widthwise direction of the first rotatable member perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction.