Fixing Belt Guide With Elastic Arc Portion For Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately adjusting the gap distance between the fixing belt and the heating portion, affecting the fixation of toner images on recording media.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device comprising an endless fixing belt, a pressing member, a nip forming member, a belt guide, and a frame member, where the belt guide has an arc portion with elastic force acting outward, and a contact portion that interacts with the frame member to maintain proper contact with the fixing belt, allowing for precise adjustment and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an adjustable belt guide mechanism is used to control the gap distance between the fixing belt and heating portion, then the manufacturing precision of the gap distance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional adjusting members and fastening components
Solution Approach 1:
The belt guide is designed with a movable contact portion that can dynamically adjust its position along the arc portion. This allows the gap distance between the fixing belt and heating portion to be precisely controlled by moving the contact portion, eliminating the need for complex fixed adjusting mechanisms while maintaining high manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of the belt guide structure by introducing an arc-shaped guiding surface and a movable contact portion. This parameter change enables continuous adjustment of the gap distance through simple linear movement of the contact portion along the arc, simplifying the overall device structure while improving precision.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the belt guide is made more rigid to maintain stable contact with the fixing belt, then the stability of contact is improved, but the ease of operation for adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The belt guide incorporates a movable contact portion that can dynamically adjust its position along the arc-shaped guiding surface. This dynamic design allows easy adjustment of the belt guide position while maintaining stable contact with the fixing belt through the arc-shaped constraint that guides the movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The arc-shaped guiding surface acts as an intermediary element between the fixed belt guide structure and the movable contact portion. This intermediary arc surface provides both stability by constraining the contact portion to a precise path and ease of operation by allowing simple linear movement along the arc for adjustment.
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
This configuration ensures accurate and consistent fixation of toner images by maintaining the optimal gap distance and contact pressure between the fixing belt and the heating portion, enhancing the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
The arc portion extends from the fastening portion while curving in an arc shape along the inner circumferential face of the fixing belt, and has an elastic force acting outward in the radial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, a belt guide, and a frame member. The belt guide has a fastening portion, an arc portion, and a contact portion. The fastening portion is fastened to the frame member. The arc portion extends from the fastening portion while curving in an arc shape along the inner circumferential face of the fixing belt and has an elastic force acting outward in the radial direction. The contact portion extends from one end of the arc portion in the circumferential direction toward the frame member and has a counter-face facing the inner circumferential face of the arc portion. The frame member has a regulating portion that extends toward the belt guide to make surface contact with, so as to overlap, the counter-face of the contact portion.