Fixing Device Thermal Conductor and Hollow Filler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixing devices in image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in heat distribution and energy consumption due to the lack of effective thermal management, leading to variations in toner image fixation quality and increased power usage.
Innovation Solution
A novel fixing device incorporating a flexible endless belt with a heater and a nip formation assembly featuring a heat-resistant resin pressure pad with a hollow filler and a supplementary thermal conductor to enhance heat transfer and reduce waste energy, ensuring consistent toner image fixation while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional fixing devices use simple heating structures, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal efficiency and heat distribution uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating structure is segmented into multiple independent heating zones along the axial direction of the fixing belt. Each heating zone can be independently controlled to provide localized heating, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across different sections of the fixing belt while maintaining modular structure that doesn't significantly increase overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fixing device are assigned different thermal properties. The pressure pad incorporates heat-resistant resin with hollow fillers in specific areas to provide localized thermal insulation, while thermal conductors are strategically placed in regions requiring heat transfer. This local differentiation optimizes heat distribution without requiring complete redesign of the entire system
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional fixing devices lack thermal insulation, then heat transfer to the recording medium is simplified, but energy consumption increases due to heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure pad made of heat-resistant resin with hollow fillers is introduced as an intermediary between the heating elements and the recording medium. This pressure pad serves dual functions: it provides thermal insulation to reduce heat loss to non-critical areas, and simultaneously conducts heat to the recording medium through controlled thermal contact, thereby improving energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure pad incorporates hollow fillers that create a porous structure with air pockets. Since air is a poor thermal conductor, this porous structure provides effective thermal insulation, reducing heat loss to the surroundings while maintaining the necessary mechanical pressure for fixation, thus lowering overall power consumption
3Strength
If conventional fixing devices use solid pressure pads, then structural strength is maintained, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure pad is constructed as a composite material system combining heat-resistant resin matrix with hollow filler particles. The resin provides structural strength and mechanical properties necessary for maintaining pressure during fixation, while the hollow fillers provide thermal insulation. This composite structure achieves both strength and thermal insulation requirements simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow fillers create a porous internal structure within the pressure pad that traps air pockets. This porous architecture significantly reduces thermal conductivity while maintaining adequate mechanical strength through the resin matrix framework, enabling the pressure pad to function as both a structural support and a thermal insulator
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 achieves improved thermal efficiency, reduced power consumption, and consistent toner image fixation quality by optimizing heat distribution and minimizing unnecessary heat conduction, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a heater to heat the endless belt
Implementation Method 2
The supplementary thermal conductor is interposed between the endless belt and the pressure pad to conduct heat from the heater in an axial direction of the endless belt
Implementation Method 3
a pressure rotator to press against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a flexible endless belt formed into a loop and having an inner circumferential surface, a heater to heat the endless belt, and a nip formation assembly disposed inside the loop formed by the endless belt. The nip formation assembly includes a pressure pad made of heat-resistant resin including a hollow filler, and a supplementary thermal conductor having a belt sliding-contact face over which the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt slides. The supplementary thermal conductor is interposed between the endless belt and the pressure pad to conduct heat from the heater in an axial direction of the endless belt. The fixing device further includes a pressure rotator to press against the nip formation assembly via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressure rotator, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed.