Fixing Device Air-Floating Support for Stable Toner Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently floating and stabilizing the posture of recording media during heating to fix toner images without complex configurations.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a transport section, heating part, and air discharge part that includes a housing with surface-perforated and internal perforated plates to create an air layer for non-contact heating and stabilize the recording medium posture, using an air supply unit to increase internal pressure and discharge air through ventilation holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex configuration with multiple fans and heaters is used to float and heat the recording medium, then the heating and floating functions are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function and floating function into a single integrated air discharge part. The air supply unit supplies air that simultaneously performs heating (via the heating part) and floating (via the air layer beneath the recording medium). This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate fans and heaters, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable heating and floating performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The air discharge part serves multiple functions: it provides the air layer for floating the recording medium, supplies heated air for heating the toner image, and stabilizes the recording medium posture. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby simplifying the overall device configuration while ensuring reliable operation.
2Device complexity
If the air discharge part uses a simple structure without internal pressure control, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to stabilize recording medium posture and reduce heating unevenness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in air pressure parameters to achieve both simple structure and precise control. By making the internal pressure of the housing higher than atmospheric pressure through the air supply unit, the system creates a controlled air layer that stabilizes the recording medium posture and ensures uniform heating distribution, achieving precise manufacturing results without complex structural additions.
3Device complexity
If the heating part operates without an air layer for floating, then the device complexity is reduced, but the recording medium cannot be stabilized during heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using pressurized air to create a floating air layer beneath the recording medium. The air supply unit generates positive pressure that forms a stable air layer, enabling non-contact support and posture stabilization of the recording medium during heating, while maintaining simple device structure through gas-based mechanics.
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 provides a simple configuration for stabilizing the recording medium posture, reducing heating unevenness and temperature rise, and ensuring consistent fixation of toner images across various media sizes.
Implementation Method 1
an internal pressure of the housing is made higher than an atmospheric pressure by the air supplied from the air supply unit
Implementation Method 2
a heating part that heats, in a non-contact manner, a surface of the recording medium on which an unfixed image is formed
Implementation Method 3
an air discharge part that is disposed at a position facing the heating part across a transport path along which the recording medium is transported, and that discharges air toward the transport path
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a transport section that grasps a leading edge part of a recording medium and transports the recording medium, a heating part that heats, in a non-contact manner, a surface of the recording medium on which an unfixed image is formed, the recording medium being transported by the transport section, and an air discharge part that is disposed at a position facing the heating part across a transport path along which the recording medium is transported, and that discharges air toward the transport path, in which the air discharge part includes a housing that defines the air discharge part, the housing including a surface-perforated plate portion in which multiple ventilation holes for discharging air toward the transport path are formed, and an air supply unit that supplies air to an inside of the housing through an air inlet formed in the housing, and an internal pressure of the housing is made higher than an atmospheric pressure by the air supplied from the air supply unit, and the air is discharged toward the transport path through the ventilation holes of the surface-perforated plate portion.