Fixing Belt Surface Refresh via Degradation Estimator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with maintaining consistent gloss and image quality due to degradation of the fixing belt's outer surface from toner particles and additives, leading to variations in the toner images produced.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a rotatable abutment that contacts the fixing belt to refresh its outer surface, controlled by a degradation estimator to adjust the abutment's position based on the belt's degradation level, ensuring consistent image quality by removing toner particles and additives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fixing belt is used continuously to fix toner images, then productivity is improved, but the outer surface of the fixing belt degrades due to toner particles and additives
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing belt performs self-refreshing by rotating in the opposite direction to its normal rotation, allowing the abutment to contact and refresh its outer surface. This self-service mechanism enables the belt to maintain its own surface quality without external intervention, resolving the contradiction between continuous use and surface degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment contacts the fixing belt periodically to refresh its outer surface during opposite-direction rotation. This periodic refreshing action maintains surface quality over time, allowing the belt to sustain productivity while preventing cumulative degradation from continuous toner exposure.
2Manufacturing precision
If the abutment continuously contacts the fixing belt to refresh its surface, then image quality consistency is improved, but the fixing device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment's contact with the fixing belt is made dynamic rather than static. The abutment rotates in the opposite direction and selectively contacts the belt during specific rotation phases, allowing surface refreshing without requiring constant mechanical pressure or complex positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment serves multiple functions: it supports the fixing belt during opposite-direction rotation and simultaneously refreshes the belt's outer surface through contact. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining image quality consistency.
3Manufacturing precision
If the abutment is moved frequently to refresh the fixing belt surface, then gloss consistency is improved, but the duration of action of the fixing device components decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment refreshes the fixing belt surface periodically during opposite-direction rotation rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains gloss consistency while minimizing the frequency and intensity of contact, thereby reducing wear on both the abutment and the fixing belt and extending their operational lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment contacts only the portion of the fixing belt surface that requires refreshing during opposite-direction rotation, rather than continuously abrading the entire surface. This partial action maintains gloss consistency where needed while minimizing unnecessary wear, extending the duration of action of the components.
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 effectively prolongs the life of the fixing device components, maintains consistent gloss and image quality, and reduces the formation of faulty toner images by regularly refreshing the fixing belt's surface.
Implementation Method 1
a heater disposed opposite to each other and heating at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator
Implementation Method 2
an abutment that separably contacts the first rotator to refresh an outer circumferential surface of the first rotator
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a first rotator rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a second rotator contacting the first rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite and heats at least one of the first rotator and the second rotator. An abutment separably contacts the first rotator to refresh an outer circumferential surface of the first rotator. A mover is connected to the abutment to move the abutment with respect to the first rotator. A degradation estimator is operatively connected to the mover to estimate a degradation level of the outer circumferential surface of the first rotator and control the mover to move the abutment with respect to the first rotator according to the degradation level of the first rotator.