Camshaft Regulating Portion for Fixing Apparatus Pressure Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face issues with cam shaft deformation and instability due to increased pressure requirements for higher speed and image quality, leading to unsatisfactory pressure removal and potential gear disengagement in the fixing apparatus.
Innovation Solution
The image heating apparatus incorporates a cam shaft with a regulating portion that minimizes bowing by using a U-shaped camshaft with a roller and a regulating surface, ensuring stable rotation and preventing gear tooth skipping during pressure removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the amount of pressure applied by the pressing mechanism is increased to improve fixation speed and image quality, then the fixation performance is improved, but the cam shaft bows and vibrates during rotation, causing gear disengagement and unstable pressure removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cam shaft by adding a regulating portion with specific geometric features (regulating surface, roller) that alter its mechanical behavior. This regulating portion contacts the cam shaft at a specific point to control its flexure characteristics, allowing the cam shaft to withstand higher pressing forces without bowing excessively or vibrating during rotation, thus maintaining reliability at higher productivity levels
Solution Approach 2:
The regulating portion acts as an intermediary element between the pressing mechanism and the cam shaft bearings. It provides a controlled interaction point that regulates the cam shaft's flexure, preventing direct transmission of harmful forces that would cause bowing and vibration, while still allowing the pressing mechanism to apply the necessary high pressure for improved fixation performance
2Manufacturing precision
If the pressing mechanism applies higher pressure to ensure reliable fixation at increased speeds, then image quality improves, but the cam shaft deformation causes unsatisfactory pressure removal
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating portion modifies the cam shaft's structural parameters by providing a controlled flexure regulation mechanism. This allows the cam shaft to maintain its rotational stability under high pressing loads, ensuring that the pressure removal function remains reliable even when the pressing mechanism applies higher pressures necessary for improved image quality at increased fixation speeds
3Force
If the cam shaft is designed to handle increased loading for higher pressure application, then fixation performance improves, but the gear train becomes unstable with varying distances between meshing gears
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating portion changes the cam shaft's mechanical parameters by introducing a controlled flexure regulation mechanism. This prevents excessive bowing that would otherwise cause varying distances between meshing gears in the gear train, maintaining stable gear engagement and reliable power transmission even when the cam shaft handles increased loading for higher pressing forces
Data Source
AI summary
An image heating apparatus includes a pressure removal mechanism including a camshaft, first and second cam portions being capable of placing a pressing mechanism at a first position, in which first and second rotatable members form the nip, and a second position, in which the pressing mechanism is moved against an urging force provided by a pressing spring at the first position, a first bearing portion, a second bearing portion, a first supporting portion supporting the first bearing portion, a second supporting portion supporting the first bearing portion, a driving mechanism configured to rotate the camshaft, and a regulating portion configured to regulate flexure of the camshaft by contacting the camshaft at a position between the first bearing portion and the second bearing portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the camshaft, when the pressing mechanism is in the second position.