Fixing Belt Cleaning via Rotation Speed Difference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices face difficulties in effectively removing attached objects from the outer peripheral surface of fixing members with high surface roughness, leading to residual objects being transferred back to the next recording medium.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device is designed with a rotating member that creates a rotation speed difference with the fixing member, utilizing an upstream cleaning roller to remove attached objects from the fixing belt's outer peripheral surface through an S-shape contact configuration, enhancing cleaning properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the removing member rotates at the same speed as the fixing member, then the cleaning mechanism is simple, but attached objects in concave portions of high surface roughness cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The removing member rotates at a different speed than the fixing member to create relative motion. This dynamic speed difference enables the removing member to effectively scrape attached objects from concave portions of the fixing member's outer peripheral surface, resolving the cleaning effectiveness issue without requiring complex additional mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation speed parameter of the removing member is changed to be different from the fixing member's speed. This parameter change creates the necessary relative motion for effective cleaning while maintaining a relatively simple device structure
2Reliability
If the removing member rotates at the same speed as the fixing member, then the device structure is simple, but residual attached objects transfer again to the next recording medium
Solution Approach 1:
By making the removing member rotate at a different speed than the fixing member, the invention creates relative motion that effectively removes residual attached objects from the outer peripheral surface. This prevents re-transfer to the next recording medium, improving image quality without requiring overly complex cleaning mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The removing member performs cleaning action before the fixed image is transferred to the next recording medium. By removing attached objects in advance through differential rotation, the invention prevents potential image defects without interfering with the subsequent transfer process
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 rotation speed difference and S-shape contact configuration improve the cleaning efficiency, reducing residual wax and toner on the fixing belt, thereby preventing image offset during the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
a removing member that is disposed to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, is rotatably provided, and removes an attached object attached to the outer peripheral surface using a rotation speed difference with respect to the fixing member
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a fixing member that has an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, is rotatably provided, comes into contact with, of a recording material on which an image is formed, a surface on which the image is formed, and fixes the image to the recording material, a rotating member that is rotatably provided and includes, at an outer peripheral portion, a contact surface coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing member, and a removing member that is disposed to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, is rotatably provided, and removes an attached object attached to the outer peripheral surface using a rotation speed difference with respect to the fixing member.