Fixing Device Pressure Control for RFID Tag Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Recycled paper often results in lower image quality due to the need for manual adjustment of printing conditions, and embedded RFID tags in the paper can be damaged by the fixing device during printing due to heat and pressure.

Innovation Solution

A fixing device with a pressure control mechanism that adjusts the pressure of the press roller based on the position of the RFID tag, applying a lower pressure when the RFID region passes through to prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the press roller applies high pressure during fixing, then the image quality is improved, but the RFID tag embedded in the recording medium is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidRFID tag integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The press roller's pressing force is made dynamically adjustable based on the position of the RFID tag. The pressing force increases when the RFID tag region is not present and decreases when the RFID tag region passes through the nip, preventing tag damage while maintaining image quality in non-tag regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different pressing forces are applied to different regions of the recording medium. The fixing device applies high pressure to regions without RFID tags for optimal image fixation, and low pressure to regions containing RFID tags to prevent damage, creating a spatially varying pressure distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Extent of automation

If the recording medium with RFID tag passes through the fixing device, then automatic printing condition adjustment is enabled, but the RFID tag is damaged by heat and pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic printing condition adjustmentVSAvoidheat and pressure damage to RFID tag

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing force of the fixer is dynamically controlled based on real-time detection of the RFID tag position. When the RFID tag region is detected passing through the nip, the pressing force is automatically reduced to prevent damage, while maintaining normal pressing force for other regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives position information about the RFID tag and adjusts the pressing force accordingly. This intermediary control mechanism enables automatic protection of the RFID tag while maintaining the benefits of automated printing condition adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20200257229A1Fixing device, image forming apparatus and recording medium

Publication Date: 2020.08.13 TOSHIBA TEC KK

AI summary

A fixing device for fixing a toner image to a recording medium, such as a sheet of paper, includes a fixing element, a press roller to press against the fixing element and form a nip through which the sheet passes, and a pressure control mechanism configured to control a pressing of the press roller against the fixing element according to a position of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the sheet such that a pressure of the press roller against the fixing element is at a first pressure when a RFID region of the sheet passes through the nip and at a second pressure otherwise, the first pressure being less than the second pressure.