Fixing Belt Electrode Positioning to Prevent Meander Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fixing devices with resistive heaters, the electrodes tend to peel off due to stress from meandering, leading to damage and potential smoking or firing, especially when the fixing belt is wound around a roller to reduce heat loss and warm-up time.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a tubular resistive heat layer and electrodes positioned circumferentially on its outer surface, where the first electrode is closer to the meander regulation member and at a distance from the edge of the fixing belt, preventing direct stress and sliding against the regulation plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the fixing belt is wound around the fixing roller to reduce contact area and heat loss, then warm-up time is shortened and power consumption is reduced, but the fixing belt meanders with respect to the fixing roller
Solution Approach 1:
A meander regulation plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the fixing belt and the fixing roller. This plate regulates the meandering of the fixing belt by providing a guiding surface that constrains the belt's lateral movement while allowing it to rotate around the roller, thus maintaining positional stability without increasing contact area or heat loss.
2Stability of the object's composition
If meander regulation plates are provided to regulate fixing belt meandering, then fixing belt position stability is improved, but the electrodes are subjected to stress by sliding against the regulation plates and peel off from the resistive heater
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer layer is introduced as an intermediary between the electrode and the meander regulation plate. This buffer layer absorbs the sliding stress generated when the fixing belt contacts the regulation plate, preventing the stress from being transmitted to the electrode-resistive heater interface, thus preventing electrode peeling while maintaining belt position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer layer is positioned in advance between the electrode and the meander regulation plate to cushion against future sliding stresses. This preventive measure ensures that when the fixing belt meanders and contacts the regulation plate, the electrode is already protected from stress that would otherwise cause peeling.
3Use of energy by moving object
If electrodes are provided circumferentially at the ends of the fixing belt to apply electric current to the resistive heater, then Joule heat generation is enabled for efficient fixing, but the electrodes peel off when the fixing belt meanders and slides against regulation plates
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer layer is placed in advance between the electrode and the meander regulation plate to cushion against future sliding stresses. This protective layer prevents stress transmission to the electrode-resistive heater interface, ensuring reliable electrode attachment while maintaining efficient electric current application for Joule heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer layer serves as an intermediary that decouples the electrode from the mechanical stress caused by meander regulation. This allows the electrode to maintain reliable electrical contact with the resistive heater while the buffer layer absorbs the mechanical sliding stress against the regulation plate.
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
Prevents electrode peeling and ensures reliable heat generation without damage or electrical discharge, maintaining the fixing belt's integrity and reducing heat loss for efficient image fixation.
Implementation Method 1
a resistive heater for a fixing belt, and to apply an electric current to the resistive heater to generate Joule heat
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a fixing device for thermally fixing an unfixed image onto the recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a fixing belt; and a meander regulation member provided adjacent to an edge of the fixing belt in a width direction thereof, and operable to prevent meandering of the fixing belt, wherein the fixing belt includes: a resistive heat layer that is tubular and generates heat when an electric current is applied thereto; and first and second electrodes that are provided circumferentially on an outer circumferential surface of the resistive heat layer, and that receive and apply the electric current to the resistive heat layer, and the first electrode is provided closer to the meander regulation member than to the second electrode, and is at a distance from the edge of the fixing belt in the width direction thereof.