Fixing Device Manual Rotation for Jam Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices in image forming systems face challenges in efficiently handling medium jams, particularly when a medium becomes stuck in the transport fixing part, leading to overheating and potential damage due to continued heating even after the device is stopped.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a belt-like transport fixing part that allows manual operation to discharge a jammed medium, featuring a heating fixing part, a pressure fixing part, a drive unit, and an operation unit that enables manual rotation without using the drive unit, along with a cooling unit to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the drive unit is used to transport the medium through the fixing device, then the medium is processed efficiently, but the medium becomes stuck in the transport fixing part causing a jam
Solution Approach 1:
The operation unit enables the user to manually rotate the transport fixing part to discharge jammed media without requiring service intervention or complex disassembly, allowing the device to serve itself in resolving transport failures
Solution Approach 2:
The transport fixing part is designed to be rotatable both by the drive unit during normal operation and manually by the operation unit during jam conditions, providing dynamic adaptability between automated and manual operation modes
2Manufacturing precision
If the heating fixing part continues to heat after the drive unit stops, then the unfixed image is thoroughly fixed, but the medium overheats and causes damage
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors the operational state of the drive unit and automatically adjusts the heating fixing part's operation to stop heating when the medium transport stops, preventing overheating while ensuring complete image fixation during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling unit is activated in advance or simultaneously when the drive unit stops, providing immediate cooling to prevent overheating before it can cause damage to the medium or device
3Ease of operation
If the transport fixing part is designed for automated drive only, then the operation is simplified, but manual dislodging of jammed media becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The transport fixing part is designed with dual functionality: it can be rotated automatically by the drive unit during normal operation and manually by the operation unit during jam conditions, making the same component serve both automated and manual purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The operation unit acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers rotational force from the user to the transport fixing part, enabling manual dislodging of jammed media without requiring direct manipulation of the belt or complex disassembly procedures
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
Enables safe and efficient manual dislodging of jammed media, preventing overheating and ensuring continued operation by allowing manual rotation of the transport fixing part, thus maintaining device integrity and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a heating fixing part that includes a heating source
Implementation Method 2
a cooling unit to prevent overheating
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device that heats and pressurizes a medium on which an unfixed image is held to fix the unfixed image includes a heating fixing part that includes a heating source, a belt-like transport fixing part that is stretched and rotatably provided around the heating fixing part and is in contact with an image surface of the medium to transport the medium, a pressure fixing part that is disposed to face the heating fixing part with the transport fixing part interposed therebetween and is pressurized to form a fixing region between the heating fixing part and the pressure fixing part, a drive unit that drives the transport fixing part to rotate the transport fixing part with a driving force generated from a drive source, and an operation unit that is operated to manually rotate the transport fixing part in a state where the drive unit is not used.