Fixing Device Heat Transfer Member Uniform Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving uniform temperature distribution across the heater unit, leading to irregularities that can affect the quality of the printed images.
Innovation Solution
The proposed fixing device incorporates a cylindrical body with a heater unit and a heat transfer member. The heat transfer member has a contact surface that contacts the heater unit and an opposite surface, where both ends of the opposite surface extend beyond the outer edges of the contact surface. This configuration helps in averaging temperature variations and preventing excessive heat transfer from the ends of the heating element group.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heater unit directly heats the cylindrical body without additional components, then the heating efficiency is high, but the temperature distribution becomes non-uniform with irregularities at the ends
Solution Approach 1:
A heat transfer member is introduced as an intermediary component between the heater unit and the cylindrical body. This heat transfer member has a contact surface that contacts the heater unit and an opposite surface whose outer edges extend beyond the outer edges of the contact surface in the longitudinal direction. This intermediary structure distributes heat more uniformly across the cylindrical body, preventing temperature irregularities at the ends while maintaining efficient heating.
2Temperature
If the heat transfer member's opposite surface edges align with the contact surface edges, then the structure is simple, but temperature irregularities occur at the ends of the cylindrical body
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer member is designed with its opposite surface edges extending beyond the contact surface edges in the longitudinal direction. This preliminary extension ensures that heat is distributed to the end regions of the cylindrical body before the heating process completes, preventing temperature irregularities from developing at the ends. The extended portions act as heat distribution zones that pre-condition the thermal flow to the cylindrical body's ends.
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 design ensures a more uniform temperature distribution across the fixing device, preventing temperature irregularities and enhancing the quality of the printed images by maintaining consistent heat levels.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element group (45) disposed on the first surface (41). The heating element group (45) includes a plurality of heating bodies (50)
Implementation Method 2
The heat transfer member has a contact surface that contacts heater unit and an opposite surface on a side opposite the heater unit
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes a cylindrical fixing body, a heater unit, and a heat transfer member. The heater unit is in an interior region surrounded by the cylindrical fixing body and includes a heating element group. The heater unit extends lengthwise in a first direction parallel to an axial direction of the cylindrical fixing. The heat transfer member has a contact surface that contacts heater unit and an opposite surface on a side opposite the heater unit. The outer edges of the opposite surface in the first direction are at positions along the first direction that are beyond the outer edges of the contact surface in the first direction.