Fixing Device Belt Friction Control for Wrinkle Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses with wide nip widths in fixing devices are prone to generating wrinkles on sheets due to uneven dynamic frictional forces between the belt and rollers, leading to instability and quality issues during the heat fixing process.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device design featuring a belt and two rotators, where the second rotator is positioned to press the belt against the first rotator, ensuring a dynamic frictional force between the belt's inner surface and the second rotator is equal to or less than 0.98 N, and the belt's surface roughness is maintained between 1 and 3 μm, to minimize wrinkle generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the nip width is increased to improve heat fixing capacity, then the heat fixing efficiency is improved, but wrinkle generation on sheets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the surface roughness of the belt (Ra 0.3-1.5 μm) and controlling the dynamic frictional force (≤0.98 N) to reduce wrinkle generation while maintaining wide nip width for high heat fixing capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific surface roughness profile on the belt contact surface and positioning the press roller to apply localized pressure, ensuring uniform friction distribution across the wide nip width to prevent wrinkles
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the dynamic frictional force between belt and second rotator is reduced to minimize wrinkles, then wrinkle generation decreases, but belt travel stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dynamic frictional force parameter to a specific range (≤0.98 N) that balances wrinkle reduction with sufficient belt grip, and adjusts surface roughness (Ra 0.3-1.5 μm) to achieve optimal friction characteristics for stable belt travel
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a press roller that can dynamically adjust pressure on the belt, allowing the system to maintain optimal friction conditions during operation while accommodating variations in belt tension and speed
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 configuration effectively reduces wrinkle generation rates and maintains stable belt travel, ensuring high-quality image formation even with wider nip widths by optimizing the dynamic frictional force and surface roughness, preventing slip and enhancing interlocking properties.
Implementation Method 1
the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N
Implementation Method 2
the surface roughness of the belt is equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or smaller than 3 in terms of arithmetic average roughness Ra
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.