Fixing Device Cooling With Local Airflow for Small Sheets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The temperature of the fixing belt in a fixing device can excessively increase in non-contact regions when small-sized sheets pass through, leading to potential overheating issues.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device is integrated into the fixing device, featuring a shaft with blade devices and housings that generate an air flow to cool the non-contact regions of the fixing belt, with adjustable shutters controlling airflow based on sheet size to optimize cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If small-sized sheets pass through the fixing device, then productivity is improved by handling smaller documents efficiently, but the temperature of the fixing belt excessively increases in non-contact regions causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing cooling specifically to the non-contact regions of the fixing belt where overheating occurs, rather than cooling the entire belt uniformly. The cooling device includes cooling chambers positioned at the non-contact regions with cooling blades that direct air flow locally to these specific areas, maintaining different temperature zones across the fixing belt surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device is segmented into multiple cooling chambers (first cooling chamber and second cooling chamber) that can independently cool different non-contact regions of the fixing belt. Each cooling chamber has its own air inlet and outlet, allowing separate control of cooling in different segments of the fixing belt.
2Temperature
If cooling is applied to the fixing belt, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional cooling components
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing belt serves multiple functions: it provides the heating surface for fixing toner images and simultaneously acts as a component that can be directly cooled by the cooling blades. The cooling blades are positioned to contact the fixing belt directly, combining the heating and cooling functions in a integrated manner without requiring separate complex cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device utilizes the existing structure of the fixing device components. The cooling chambers are formed using the spaces between the fixing belt and the housing, and the air flow paths are established through the existing structural gaps and openings, reducing the need for additional dedicated cooling structures.
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
Effectively prevents overheating of the fixing belt by selectively cooling non-contact regions, ensuring consistent performance and reducing the risk of thermal damage.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device to cool a non-contact region of the fixing belt
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device includes a shaft that rotatably extends adjacent to a fixing device, a blade device including a blade coupled to the shaft, and a housing to accommodate the blade device, the housing including an inlet to draw in air and an outlet disposed to direct the air toward a heating body of the fixing device.