Fixation Belt Support Member for Uniform Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixation devices experience deformation and wrinkles due to pressure differences between the end and central portions of the fixation belt when handling thick printing media, leading to potential damage and uneven fixation.
Innovation Solution
A fixation device with a support member that has a varying distance from the reference passage surface to the contact surface, allowing for displacement of the contact member at the end portions, which restricts displacement away from the belt and reduces pressure differences, thereby preventing deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a crown-shaped fixation nip surface is used to prevent wrinkles and reduce stress, then the fixation belt can handle thick printing media, but pressure differences occur between end portions and central portion causing deformation and wrinkles
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with different heights at different locations: the first support portion (central region) has a greater height than the second support portion (end regions). This creates localized support characteristics that compensate for the crown-shaped nip surface, ensuring uniform pressure distribution across the fixation belt width while maintaining the ability to handle thick printing media
2Use of energy by moving object
If the contact surface is made rigid to maintain stable contact with the fixation belt, then heat transfer is efficient, but the contact member cannot adapt to pressure variations at end portions
Solution Approach 1:
The contact member incorporates a resilient (elastic) material that allows the contact surface to dynamically adapt to pressure variations at different locations of the fixation belt. The resilience enables the contact surface to deform and conform to the belt surface while maintaining stable contact, ensuring uniform heat transfer across the entire width including end portions
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 solution effectively reduces pressure differences at the end portions of the fixation belt, preventing deformation and ensuring uniform fixation across the printing medium, extending the belt's lifespan and maintaining print quality.
Implementation Method 1
a heater, an endless fixation belt, and a heat transfer member which is in contact with an inner surface of the fixation belt and transfers heat of the heater to the fixation belt
Data Source
AI summary
A fixation device includes: an endless fixation belt an outer surface of which comes into contact with a printing medium at a fixation position; a contact member which includes a contact surface in contact with an inner surface of the fixation belt at the fixation position, the contact surface being displaceable, in a region corresponding to an end portion in the width direction of the printing medium; and a support member which includes a support surface supporting the contact member. A second distance from a reference passage surface of the printing medium to a widthwise end position on the support surface is larger than a first distance from the reference passage surface of the printing medium to a widthwise center position on the support surface.