Fixing Belt Guide with Dynamic Contact Force Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fixing devices with small heat capacity, such as those using a flexible fixing belt electromagnetically heated by an exciting coil, often experience slipping and heating failures due to high sliding loads and pressure variations, leading to unstable belt rotation and reduced heating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a flexible rotating fixing belt, a pressing member, a heating part, a guide member, and a contact force changing part, where the guide member supports the belt and adjusts its contact force based on the pressure of the pressing area, using an eccentric cam mechanism to stabilize the belt rotation and maintain efficient heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a flexible fixing belt is used with small heat capacity, then energy consumption is reduced and warm-up time is shortened, but sliding load increases causing belt slipping and heating failure
Solution Approach 1:
The belt guide is designed to dynamically adjust its contact force with the fixing belt based on operating conditions. The contact force changing part modifies the pressing force between the belt guide and fixing belt, allowing the system to adapt to varying pressure conditions and prevent slipping while maintaining small heat capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the contact force parameter between the belt guide and fixing belt dynamically. By adjusting this contact force according to pressing area pressure variations, the system prevents belt slipping and heating failure while maintaining the energy-efficient small heat capacity design
2Use of energy by moving object
If pressure of the pressing area is lowered to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but driving force of the fixing belt is lowered causing slipping and conveying failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the contact force parameter between belt guide and fixing belt to compensate for reduced pressing pressure. This maintains sufficient driving force for reliable conveying while allowing energy-saving low-pressure operation
3Measurement precision
If the heating member is separated from the fixing belt to adjust heating condition, then heating control precision is improved, but rotating orbit stability deteriorates causing conveying failure
Solution Approach 1:
The belt guide is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing it to maintain optimal contact with the fixing belt while permitting controlled separation for heating adjustment. This dynamic design preserves rotating orbit stability while enabling precise heating control
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 stabilizes the fixing belt rotation, prevents slipping, and maintains efficient heating and conveying, even at reduced pressures, thereby preventing heating and conveying failures and ensuring smooth sheet introduction and processing.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible fixing belt to be electromagnetically heated by an exciting coil
Implementation Method 2
A contact force changing part 26 changes the contact force between the belt guide 25 and the fixing belt 21
Data Source
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AI summary
A fixing device (6) includes a flexible rotating fixing belt (21), a pressing member (22), a heating part (24), a guide member (25) and a contact force changing part (26). The pressing member (22) forms a pressing area (N) with the fixing belt (21). The heating part (24) heats the fixing belt (21) from an outside of the fixing belt (21). The guide member (25) comes into contact with an inner circumferential face of the fixing belt (21) to support the fixing belt (21) so as to face the heating part (24). The contact force changing part (26) moves the guide member (25) in directions close to or away from the fixing belt (21) to change a contact force between the guide member (25) and the fixing belt (21) depending on a pressure of the pressing area (N).