Fixing Device Chip Contact Stability Against Torque Jumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the increasing torque of the fixing roller due to wear in the bearings causes unstable contact between the chip on the fixing device and the electrical contact on the image forming apparatus, affecting print image quality.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a device main body, a locking element, and a chip, where the locking element is connected to the image forming apparatus and the chip's contact part intersects with the locking element's projection, providing a stable electrical connection through a maintaining force, preventing position jumps and poor electrical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the fixing roller rotates for long-time durable printing, then the bearing wear increases, but the rotation torque increases continuously causing position jumps
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device is segmented into modular components including the fixing roller, pressing roller, and device main body that can be independently replaced. This allows the fixing roller to be replaced when bearings wear out, resetting the torque to initial levels and extending the overall system durability without requiring replacement of the entire fixing device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses parameter changes by allowing the bearing characteristics to change over time through wear, and compensating for this by enabling roller replacement. The system accepts that torque will increase over time due to bearing wear, but provides a mechanism to reset this parameter by replacing the consumable roller components.
2Reliability
If the fixing device main body position jumps due to increased torque, then the chip contact stability deteriorates, but electrical connection is required
Solution Approach 1:
The device main body acts as an intermediary element that isolates the chip and electrical contact system from the mechanical torque variations. By placing the chip on the device main body rather than directly on the fixing roller assembly, the patent creates a mechanical decoupling that protects the electrical connection from position jumps caused by bearing wear and torque increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The device main body serves multiple functions: it houses the heating element, supports the fixing roller assembly, provides a stable mounting surface for the chip, and acts as a structural interface with the image forming apparatus. This multi-functionality consolidates the electrical connection stability function into a component that is not directly affected by the mechanical wear of the fixing roller bearings.
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 stable connection between the chip and the image forming apparatus' electrical contact ensures consistent print image quality by maintaining contact stability despite position jumps of the fixing device.
Implementation Method 1
The heater may be configured to heat the fixing roller
Implementation Method 2
the toner particles may be melted into paper fibers under the action of heat and pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a fixing device and an image forming apparatus. Fixing device includes a device main body, including a heater, where the device main body includes a driving end connected to a power outputting part of the image forming apparatus and a non-driving end opposite to the driving end; a locking element, disposed on the non-driving end of the device main body; and a chip, including a contact part. When the device main body is installed on the image forming apparatus, the locking element is connected to the image forming apparatus, and the contact part of the chip is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus; and a projection of the contact part of the chip in an axial direction of the heater intersects a projection of the locking element in the axial direction of the heater.