Fixing Device Approach Guide Angle Adjustment for Envelope Wrinkling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming devices struggle to fix images on envelopes without wrinkling them, as existing fixing devices often set angles for plain paper, leading to increased curvature and wrinkling when envelopes are processed, even with reduced pressure.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a fixing device that includes a mechanism to change the approach guide angle in conjunction with adjusting the fixing pressure, allowing for a low-pressure mode to reduce curvature and prevent wrinkling of envelopes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the approach guide angle is set for plain paper to increase curvature and fixability, then fixability is improved, but envelopes wrinkle due to increased curvature difference between front and back sides
Solution Approach 1:
The approach guide angle is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system switches between a first angle for plain paper and a second angle for envelopes, allowing the guide to adapt its geometry to different recording medium types and prevent wrinkling while maintaining fixability
Solution Approach 2:
The approach guide angle parameter is changed based on the type of recording medium being processed. By detecting whether an envelope or plain paper is being fed, the system adjusts the guide angle to optimize both fixability and prevent wrinkling for each medium type
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fixing pressure is reduced to prevent envelope wrinkling, then wrinkling is reduced, but fixability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing pressure is made dynamically adjustable with multiple preset values. The system selects appropriate pressure levels based on the recording medium type, applying lower pressure for envelopes to prevent wrinkling while maintaining sufficient pressure for plain paper to ensure proper fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing pressure parameter is changed according to the recording medium type detected by the system. This allows optimization of both protection against wrinkling and achievement of reliable fixation by matching pressure settings to material properties
3Device complexity
If a single approach guide angle is used for all recording media, then device complexity is reduced, but performance deteriorates for envelopes due to inappropriate curvature
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using multiple fixed guides, the system employs a single approach guide that can dynamically change its angle. This maintains structural simplicity while achieving optimized performance for different media types through active adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The single approach guide serves multiple functions by being able to operate at different angles. It can guide both plain paper and envelopes effectively, replacing what would traditionally require multiple specialized guides for different medium types
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 stabilizes the fixing process for envelopes by reducing curvature and pressure, preventing wrinkling and ensuring successful image fixation without damaging the medium.
Implementation Method 1
the toner image is fixed using heat and pressure that is applied by the fixing device
Implementation Method 2
a fixing-pressure-changing mechanism designed to change the fixing device between a high-pressure mode and a low-pressure mode, thereby modifying the fixing pressure from high to low
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a heating member and a pressing member that form a fixing nip, an approach guide positioned an upstream in a recording-medium conveyance direction of a fixing nip, a fixing-pressure-changing mechanism designed to change the fixing device between a high-pressure mode and a low-pressure mode, and an approach-guide-changing mechanism designed to change an angle of the approach guide in conjunction with the changing by the fixing-pressure-changing mechanism.