Fixing Belt Heat Shield for Image Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in quickly heating the recording medium to reduce print time and overcome heat shortages, while also preventing local overheating and deformation of the fixing belt, which can lead to faulty image fixation and energy inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a rotatable fixing rotator and a heater, where a heat shield is movable to adjust its axial span to control heating, allowing direct heating of the fixing belt and supplemental rotation to distribute residual heat evenly, preventing overheating and ensuring consistent temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heater is disposed inside the fixing belt to heat the belt directly, then the first print time is shortened and heat shortage is overcome, but local overheating and deformation of the fixing belt may occur
Solution Approach 1:
A heat shield is introduced as an intermediary component between the heater and the fixing belt. The heat shield selectively blocks heat radiation to prevent local overheating and deformation of the fixing belt, while still allowing sufficient heating to occur to maintain productivity and reduce first print time.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat shield provides non-uniform heat distribution by blocking heat in specific local areas where the fixing belt is susceptible to deformation, while allowing heat to reach areas that require heating. This creates localized heat protection zones that prevent deformation without compromising overall heating efficiency.
2Productivity
If the fixing belt is heated quickly to shorten first print time, then productivity improves, but temperature variations and energy inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat shield acts as a mediator that directs and controls heat flow to the fixing belt. By preventing heat loss to surrounding components and focusing heat where needed, the heat shield improves heating efficiency and reduces energy waste while maintaining fast heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat shield modifies the thermal parameters of the system by controlling heat distribution patterns. It changes the heat flow characteristics to achieve more efficient heating, reducing the energy required to reach target temperatures while maintaining fast response time.
3Reliability
If a heat shield is used to prevent local overheating, then fixing belt reliability improves, but heating efficiency may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The heat shield provides selective, local heat blocking only in areas where the fixing belt is vulnerable to deformation, rather than blocking heat uniformly across the entire belt. This localized approach maintains heating efficiency in protected areas while preventing deformation, thus improving reliability without significantly compromising heating efficiency.
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 solution enables faster heating of the fixing belt, reduces temperature variations, prevents local deformation, and enhances energy efficiency by effectively utilizing residual heat, resulting in improved image fixation quality and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a heater disposed inside the fixing belt to heat the fixing belt directly
Implementation Method 2
the heater heats the fixing belt directly
Implementation Method 3
A shield plate is interposed between the heater and the fixing belt to shield the fixing belt from the heater
Implementation Method 4
supplemental rotation other than fixing rotation... moves the shield plate to change the width of the slot, thus changing the direct heating area
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a fixing rotator heated by a heater and a pressing rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heat shield interposed between the heater and the fixing rotator is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotator to shield the fixing rotator from the heater in a variable axial shield span of the fixing rotator. The fixing rotator performs fixing rotation to convey the recording medium through the fixing nip while heating the recording medium and supplemental rotation other than fixing rotation. The heat shield moves to a decreased shield span position where the heat shield shields the fixing rotator from the heater in a decreased axial shield span of the fixing rotator during supplemental rotation thereof.