Fixing Device Heater Reflector Spacing for Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices in image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in heating and energy usage, leading to increased power consumption and longer warm-up times, with existing solutions either wasting energy or being costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device design featuring a halogen heater with a reflector positioned at a greater interval than the heater, optimizing direct light absorption by the fixing belt while minimizing reflection and reabsorption, and incorporating a movable light shield to prevent overheating, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heater is disposed close to the fixing rotator to improve heating efficiency, then heating efficiency is improved, but the heater may cause direct contact or insufficient spacing issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflector as an intermediary component between the heater and the fixing rotator. The reflector redirects thermal radiation from the heater to the fixing rotator, enabling effective heating while maintaining safe spacing and preventing direct contact between the heater and the fixing rotator surfaces.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a reflector is added to improve heating efficiency, then heating efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector serves as a simple intermediary element that redirects thermal radiation. Despite adding a component, the overall structural complexity remains low because the reflector can be implemented as a straightforward reflective surface integrated into the existing heater assembly, providing significant heating efficiency improvement with minimal added complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the heater is disposed too close to the fixing rotator, then heating efficiency is improved, but uniform heating becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector introduces a spatial dimension to heat distribution by redirecting thermal radiation from the heater. This allows the heater to be positioned at an optimal distance while the reflector ensures uniform heat distribution across the fixing rotator surface, achieving both heating efficiency and temperature uniformity through spatial optimization.
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 reduces power consumption by 3-9% compared to conventional devices, shortens the first print time, and lowers manufacturing costs by improving heating efficiency and reducing waste, while maintaining effective heat conduction to the fixing belt.
Implementation Method 1
a halogen heater with a reflector positioned at a greater interval than the heater, optimizing direct light absorption by the fixing belt
Implementation Method 2
A reflector reflects light emitted by the first heater to the fixing rotator
Implementation Method 3
optimizing direct light absorption by the fixing belt
Implementation Method 4
maintaining effective heat conduction to the fixing belt
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a pressure rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A first heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator with a first interval therebetween to heat the fixing rotator. A reflector reflects light emitted by the first heater to the fixing rotator. The reflector is disposed opposite the first heater with a second interval therebetween that is greater than the first interval.