Fixing Device Nip Stability Reinforcement Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixing devices with direct heating of the fixing belt face issues with maintaining a stable nip formation at higher operating speeds, leading to potential falling of the stationary member and subsequent fixing errors or conveyance errors due to unbalanced contact with the reinforcement member.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device configuration where the stationary member is held in a well-balanced position by a reinforcement member, with specific length relationships between the nip portion and abutment portions, and a multi-layered fixing belt structure, ensuring the stationary member remains stationary and the desired nip is maintained even without a pipe-like heating member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the pipe-like heating member is eliminated and the fixing belt is heated directly by a heating unit, then heating efficiency is improved and cost/size are reduced, but the stationary member cannot be held in a well-balanced manner and may fall down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support member as an intermediary structure between the heating unit and the stationary member. This support member provides mechanical support to hold the stationary member in a well-balanced position, preventing it from falling down while allowing direct heating of the fixing belt by the heating unit, thus resolving the contradiction between improved heating efficiency and maintained stationary member stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new structural dimension by introducing the support member that extends from the heating unit to support the stationary member. This dimensional addition allows the system to achieve both direct heating (by eliminating the pipe-like heating member) and stationary member stability (through the support structure), resolving the contradiction
2Volume of stationary object
If the contact area of the reinforcement member with the stationary member is small, then the device size is reduced, but the stationary member may fall down due to unbalanced force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support member that provides support in a different dimensional orientation, allowing the reinforcement member to maintain a small contact area with the stationary member while the support member prevents the stationary member from falling down, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced device size and maintained stability
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 configuration allows for efficient heating, reduced warm-up and first print times, and prevents fixing errors or conveyance issues at higher speeds by maintaining a stable nip formation and preventing the stationary member from falling, thus ensuring accurate image formation.
Implementation Method 1
the fixing belt is heated directly by a heating unit with no intervention of the pipe-like heating member
Implementation Method 2
comes into contact under pressure with a pressing rotational body via the fixing belt to form a nip portion
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiments, provided is a fixing device that includes: an endless fixing belt, heats and melts a toner image, and has flexibility; a stationary member that is set stationary on an inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt and comes into contact under pressure to form a nip portion; and a reinforcement member that is set stationary on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt and comes into abutment with the stationary member. If it is assumed that a length of the nip portion in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium is designated as A; and a length between an upstream-side abutment portion and a downstream-side abutment portion at which the stationary member and the reinforcement member come into abutment with each other is designated as B, following relation is established: A<B, and interval B includes interval A.