Cleaning Web Feeding Control for Fixing Roller Oil Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixing devices with web-type cleaning units experience uneven oil distribution across the cleaning web, leading to insufficient or excessive oil on the fixing roller, resulting in toner offset and contamination, due to the oil seeping from the outer-radius portion towards the take-up core, causing non-uniform anti-adhesive properties.
Innovation Solution
A controller is implemented to adjust the feeding length of the cleaning web, increasing it by 10-30% for the leading portion and decreasing it by 10-30% for the trailing portion, relative to the normal feeding length, to ensure the oil distribution falls within the target range, thereby maintaining uniform anti-adhesive properties across the fixing roller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a web-type cleaning unit is used to clean the fixing roller, then cleaning performance is improved, but oil distribution becomes non-uniform causing toner offset and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the feeding length of the cleaning web based on its position. The leading portion (within 2% from the leading end) is fed with a longer length (10-30% more than normal), while the trailing portion (within 2% from the trailing end) is fed with a shorter length (10-30% less than normal). This localized adjustment compensates for the non-uniform oil distribution inherent in rolled-up cleaning webs, ensuring uniform oil application across the fixing roller surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the feeding length adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the feeding length based on the position of the cleaning web portion being fed, allowing the system to adapt to the varying oil content at different locations along the cleaning web. This dynamic adjustment maintains optimal oil distribution despite the non-uniform structure of rolled-up cleaning materials.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning web is fed with a fixed feeding length, then the device operation is simple, but oil distribution is non-uniform leading to toner offset
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback by having the controller monitor the position of the cleaning web and adjust the feeding length accordingly. The controller determines which portion of the cleaning web is being fed (leading, middle, or trailing) and automatically adjusts the feeding length to maintain uniform oil distribution. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent cleaning performance without requiring manual intervention.
3Reliability
If the cleaning web is fed to maintain uniform oil distribution, then toner offset is prevented, but the feeding control becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cleaning web into distinct portions: a leading portion (within 2% from the leading end), a middle portion, and a trailing portion (within 2% from the trailing end). Each segment is fed with different feeding lengths optimized for its specific oil content characteristics. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by handling each portion independently with predetermined feeding parameters.
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 adjustment ensures that the oil distribution is optimized across the fixing roller, preventing toner offset and contamination, and maintaining consistent image quality by equalizing anti-adhesive properties, reducing the risk of toner escaping and damage to the fixing roller.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning web (44) which is brought into sliding contact with a surface of the fixing roller (31)
Implementation Method 2
a heat source (33) which heats the fixing roller (31), and a pressure-applying roller (32) which is in pressure contact with the fixing roller (31)
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a cleaning unit, and a controller. The fixing unit includes a pair of nipping members and a heat source that heats at least one of the pair of nipping members. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning web wound on a supply core to be supplied from the supply core and taken up on a take-up core, and a pressing roller that is pressed against one of the pair of nipping members. The controller causes the take-up core to rotate in such a manner that, when a leading portion of the cleaning web extending up to 2% of an overall length of the cleaning web from a leading end of the cleaning web is fed, a length of the cleaning web to be fed in one feeding is 10-30% larger than when a subsequent portion of the cleaning web is fed.