Fixing Belt Thermal Storage for Fast Warm-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses face challenges in shortening warm-up time and first print output time, especially in high-speed operations, due to heat distribution issues in fixing devices, leading to potential fixing failures and energy inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a fixing device with an endless fixing belt that can be directly heated by a heater, along with a thermal storage system and a controller that adjusts heating based on input voltage, ensures consistent temperature and efficient heat transfer, preventing temperature drops and fixing failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a conventional fixing device with indirect heating is used, then heat distribution is achieved, but warm-up time and first print output time are extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal storage function from a separate component and integrates it directly into the fixing belt structure. The fixing belt is constructed with a thermal storage layer containing heat-generating particles, allowing the belt itself to store and release heat directly at the fixing nip, eliminating the need for indirect heating through intermediaries and significantly reducing warm-up time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical/thermal conduction heating system with a chemical/physical heat generation mechanism. Heat-generating particles embedded in the fixing belt undergo exothermic reactions or phase changes to produce heat directly where needed, substituting the traditional heater-belt-conduction mechanism and achieving faster temperature response.
2Loss of time
If heating power is increased to reduce warm-up time, then temperature is raised faster, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic heating cycles where the fixing belt is heated to operating temperature before printing operations begin, then maintains temperature through the thermal storage capacity of embedded particles. This periodic action allows the system to achieve high temperatures quickly when needed while consuming less energy during idle periods, as the thermal storage material releases heat during the printing phase without requiring continuous high-power input.
3Adaptability or versatility
If input voltage varies, then power supply flexibility is improved, but temperature stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the voltage-dependent heating characteristics of the thermal storage particles to adapt to varying input voltages. The heat-generating particles are designed to undergo phase changes or chemical reactions at specific temperature thresholds, allowing the system to self-regulate temperature stability across different voltage conditions. When voltage fluctuates, the inherent thermal properties of the particles maintain consistent heating performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing belt with embedded thermal storage particles performs self-regulation of temperature based on input voltage variations. The particles automatically adjust their heat generation rate according to the power available, eliminating the need for external temperature control mechanisms and maintaining stable fixing temperature despite voltage fluctuations.
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 significantly reduces warm-up time, enhances energy efficiency, and prevents image failures by maintaining a consistent fixing temperature, even with varying input voltages, ensuring reliable and high-speed printing operations.
Implementation Method 1
The heater heats the fixing rotator
Implementation Method 2
The pressure rotator is disposed opposite the pressure pad via the fixing rotator to press the fixing rotator against the pressure pad to form a fixing nip
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device to fix a toner image onto a recording medium, a voltmeter to measure an input voltage from an external source, and a controller operatively connected to the fixing device and the voltmeter. The fixing device includes an endless, fixing rotator formed into a loop, a heater to heat the fixing rotator, a pressure pad disposed inside the loop, and a pressure rotator disposed opposite the pressure pad via the fixing rotator to press the fixing rotator against the pressure pad to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, through which the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed. The controller controls a heating operation of the heater and a fixing operation of the fixing device to fix the toner image onto the recording medium, based on the input voltage measured by the voltmeter.