Thermally Conductive Decurling Belt for Sheet Curl and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses face challenges in effectively removing curl from recording sheets after thermal fixation, as existing decurling methods may not adequately address both upward and downward curl generation, and may not efficiently cool the sheets to desired temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A decurler is designed with an endless decurling belt and a decurling roller, where a thermally conductive synthetic resin support member with a thermal conductivity of 1 W/mK or higher is used to contact the decurling belt, allowing for efficient heat transfer and curl compensation by offsetting curl directions, and air-blowing fans actively cool the decurling belt to manage sheet temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional decurling methods are used, then curl removal is attempted, but the recording sheet cannot be effectively cooled to the desired temperature of 80°C or lower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cooling belt as an intermediary component between the recording sheet and the cooling system. This cooling belt serves as a heat transfer medium that directly contacts the recording sheet surface, efficiently conducting heat away from the sheet to achieve the target temperature of 80°C or lower, thereby resolving the insufficient cooling efficiency of conventional methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional passive cooling mechanisms with an active thermal conduction system using a thermally conductive cooling belt. This substitution enables more effective heat removal through direct thermal contact, achieving the required temperature reduction that passive methods cannot accomplish
2Shape
If existing decurling methods are used, then some curl is addressed, but both upward and downward curl cannot be adequately compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cooling belt with alternating cooled and non-cooled regions that creates differential thermal contraction. By inverting the approach of uniform cooling, the selectively cooled regions generate controlled curl in opposite directions that can compensate for both upward and downward curl, achieving superior flatness control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating zones of different thermal properties along the cooling belt. Specific regions are cooled while others remain at ambient temperature, allowing localized curl induction that can counteract different types of sheet curl in different areas, providing versatile curl compensation
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
The decurler effectively reduces curl amounts and cools the recording sheet to a target temperature of 80°C or lower, improving the output quality and efficiency in image forming processes.
Implementation Method 1
a support member that is made of a thermally conductive synthetic resin having a thermal conductivity of 1 (W/mK) or higher and that directly or indirectly contacts the decurling belt
Implementation Method 2
a decurling roller that contacts the decurling belt so as to form a decurling region between the decurling roller and the decurling belt
Data Source
AI summary
A decurler includes an endless decurling belt that is disposed so as to face an image surface of a recording medium to which an image has been thermally fixed, a decurling roller that contacts the decurling belt so as to form a decurling region between the decurling roller and the decurling belt, and a support member that is made of a thermally conductive synthetic resin having a thermal conductivity of 1 (W/mK) or higher and that directly or indirectly contacts the decurling belt.