Fixing Device Pressure Roll Cooling Airflow Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, conveyance failures can occur when air blown to cool the pressure roll directly hits the recording medium released from the gripping section, leading to instability in the recording medium's conveyance.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device is designed with a conveyance section that grips and releases the recording medium, a heating roll for heating the medium, a pressure roll for pressing the medium against the heating roll, a gripping section for releasing the medium at a specific position, and a blowing section that directs air to cool the pressure roll in a direction different from the released recording medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air is blown to cool the pressure roll, then the pressure roll temperature is reduced, but the recording medium conveyance stability deteriorates when air directly hits the released medium
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary element between the air blowing section and the recording medium. The guide member redirects the cooling air flow path so that air cools the pressure roll indirectly without directly contacting the released recording medium, thus maintaining both cooling effectiveness and conveyance stability
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow path is segmented into separate zones: one zone for cooling the pressure roll and another zone for the recording medium conveyance. This spatial segmentation prevents the cooling air from interfering with the recording medium while still achieving the desired cooling effect on the pressure roll
2Productivity
If the gripping section releases the recording medium at the facing position, then the fixing process is completed, but conveyance failure occurs when cooling air directly hits the released medium
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves as a mediator that separates the cooling air flow from the released recording medium path, allowing the gripping section to release media at the optimal facing position for productivity while preventing conveyance failures through proper air flow management
3Loss of energy
If air blowing is directed toward the released recording medium, then cooling efficiency is improved, but conveyance failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member redirects air flow to cool the pressure roll indirectly, optimizing the cooling efficiency by maintaining close proximity to the pressure roll while using the guide member to prevent direct air-medium contact that would cause conveyance failures
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow direction is changed from a direct linear path toward the medium to a redirected path that contacts the pressure roll from a different spatial angle, achieving effective cooling while avoiding the harmful direct impact on the recording medium
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 suppresses conveyance failures by ensuring that cooling air does not interfere with the released recording medium, thereby stabilizing the conveyance process and preventing sheet jams.
Implementation Method 1
a heating roll that rotates and heats the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyance section
Implementation Method 2
a blowing section that blows air in a direction different from a direction toward the recording medium released from being gripped by the gripping section to cool the pressure roll
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes: a conveyance section that conveys a recording medium; a heating roll that rotates and heats the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyance section; a pressure roll that is disposed to face the heating roll and rotates, around which at least a portion of the recording medium being conveyed is wound, and that pressurizes the wound portion of the recording medium toward the heating roll; a gripping section that is disposed in the conveyance section, grips a leading end of the recording medium being conveyed, and releases the gripping of the leading end of the recording medium when the recording medium passes through a facing position where the pressure roll and the heating roll face each other; and a blowing section that blows air in a direction different from a direction toward the recording medium released from being gripped by the gripping section to cool the pressure roll.