Fixing Device Lubricant Groove and Downstream Guide for Uniform Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fixing devices face issues with lubricant retention and distribution, leading to torque rise, paper sheet passing failures, and uneven heating due to temperature and pressure differences between grooved and non-grooved regions, causing image failures.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device design where the paper sheet contacts the fixing belt at a position downstream of the lubricant grooves, ensuring uniform lubricant distribution and consistent temperature and pressure, using a guide that aligns with the non-groove forming portion to stabilize the fixing belt's sliding properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a groove for retaining lubricant is formed in the retention member, then the lubricant can be retained and gradually supplied to maintain sliding property for a long period, but temperature and pressure of the fixing belt differ between the region where the fixing belt is in contact with the lubricant and the region where the fixing belt is in contact with the retention member
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic grooved region from the paper sheet contact path. By positioning the guide to contact the fixing belt at a location downstream of the groove, the paper sheet contacts only the non-groove forming portion where temperature and pressure are uniform, while the groove continues to serve its lubricant retention function in a separate region.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating different functional zones on the fixing belt: the grooved region maintains lubrication for long-term sliding property, while the non-groove forming portion provides uniform temperature and pressure for quality fixing. The guide is positioned to interact only with the non-groove portion.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a groove for retaining lubricant is formed in the retention member, then the lubricant can be retained and gradually supplied to maintain sliding property for a long period, but heating unevenness of the paper sheet or image failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the paper sheet contact point from the grooved region to eliminate the source of heating unevenness and image failure, while preserving the groove's lubricant retention function for maintaining sliding property over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide acts as an intermediary that redirects the paper sheet to contact the fixing belt at a specific location (downstream of the groove), thereby mediating between the need for long-term sliding property maintenance and the need for consistent fixing quality.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a large amount of lubricant is retained between the fixing belt and the heater, then the sliding property can be maintained, but heat transmission from the heater to the fixing belt becomes unstable due to heat resistance by the lubricant
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the fixing belt surface into distinct functional regions: a grooved region for lubricant retention and sliding property maintenance, and a non-groove forming portion for stable heat transmission and quality fixing. This segmentation allows both functions to coexist without interfering with each other.
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
Uniform lubricant distribution and consistent temperature and pressure across the fixing belt surface prevent heating unevenness and image failures, enhancing the stability and quality of the fixing process.
Implementation Method 1
a lubricant such as grease is supplied between the fixing belt and the heater so as to enable the fixing belt to stably slide with respect to the heater
Implementation Method 2
an endless fixing belt which is heated by a heater
Implementation Method 3
heat transmission from the heater to the fixing belt
Implementation Method 4
a pressure member which comes into contact with the fixing belt to form a pressure region. By rotations of the fixing member and the pressure member, a toner image is fixed onto a paper sheet conveyed to the pressure region
Data Source
AI summary
In a fixing device, a heater heats an endless rotatable fixing belt. A retention member includes a groove for retaining a lubricant and retains the heater such that a surface on a front side comes into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt via the lubricant. A pressure member is pressed against the heater while the fixing belt is interposed therebetween and forms, with the fixing belt, a pressure region for heating and pressurizing a paper sheet onto which a toner image has been transferred. A guide guides the paper sheet to the pressure region. The guide causes the paper sheet to come into contact with the fixing belt at a position more on a downstream side of a rotation direction of the fixing belt than the groove, to guide the paper sheet to the pressure region.