Fixing Belt Thermal Insulator for Uniform Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges in energy efficiency and warm-up time due to uneven heat distribution and thermal losses in the fixing belt, leading to increased energy consumption and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A heating device with a thermal insulator positioned between openings in the housing to reduce heat escape and a configuration that includes a heating member and pressure member forming a nip to efficiently heat the recording medium, while air passes through openings to manage temperature and energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a thin fixing belt with low heat capacity is used for surf fixing, then warm-up time is shortened and energy saving is improved, but thermal uniformity deteriorates and temperature distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple independent heating zones along the longitudinal direction of the fixing belt. Each heating zone can be controlled separately to compensate for thermal non-uniformity in different regions, thereby maintaining overall thermal uniformity while using a thin fixing belt with low heat capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Different heating intensities are applied to different longitudinal positions of the fixing belt based on the specific thermal characteristics of each region. This local quality approach allows the thin fixing belt to achieve uniform temperature distribution by addressing each zone's specific thermal needs
2Temperature
If heating is applied to the fixing belt, then the recording medium is heated effectively, but energy loss increases due to heat escape through the housing
Solution Approach 1:
A heat reflective sheet is introduced as an intermediary element between the heating system and the fixing belt. This reflective sheet redirects heat that would otherwise escape through the housing back onto the fixing belt, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining effective heating of the recording medium
Solution Approach 2:
The heat that would normally be lost through the housing is converted into a beneficial resource by reflecting it back onto the fixing belt. This transforms the harmful heat escape into a useful heating contribution, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining 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
The solution enhances thermal uniformity, reduces energy consumption, shortens warm-up time, and prevents temperature rises in non-sheet passing areas, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the fixing process.
Implementation Method 1
The heating member transfers heat to a recording medium passing through the nip portion
Implementation Method 2
The thermal insulator is disposed inside the housing between the pair of openings and faces an outer peripheral surface of the heating member
Data Source
AI summary
A heating device includes a housing, a heating member, a pressure member, a pair of openings, and a thermal insulator. The heating member and the pressure member extend along a longitudinal direction and press each other to form a nip portion in the housing. The heating member transfers heat to a recording medium passing through the nip portion. The pair of openings is disposed in the housing and opens facing both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the heating member so that air passes through the pair of openings. The thermal insulator is disposed inside the housing between the pair of openings and faces an outer peripheral surface of the heating member.