Fixing Device Resin Pad Projected Portions Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices for toner images on recording materials face inefficiencies due to high heat transfer from a metal supporting member, leading to increased electric power consumption and a complex structure with numerous components.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a resin pad member and a metal stay having projected portions that contact the pad, reducing the contact area between the pad and the stay to less than 40% of the stay's surface area, thereby minimizing heat transfer and component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pad member is supported by a metal supporting member with large contact area, then the pad member is sufficiently supported, but heat transfer from the pad to the supporting member increases, causing long heater turn-on time and high electric power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is segmented into multiple stay members arranged in parallel, each providing localized support to the pad member. This segmentation allows reducing the contact area between the pad and each individual stay while maintaining overall support stability through the distributed arrangement of multiple stays.
Solution Approach 2:
The pad member is designed with localized support structures (protrusions) that contact specific points on the stay members. This local quality approach concentrates the support function at discrete contact points rather than requiring large continuous contact areas, thereby reducing heat transfer while maintaining structural support.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the contact area between the pad member and supporting member is reduced to suppress heat transfer, then electric power consumption decreases, but the supporting member may not provide sufficient support to the pad member
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the support function across multiple stay members, each stay only needs to provide localized support through small contact areas. The collective effect of multiple segmented support points achieves sufficient overall support while minimizing total heat transfer compared to a single large contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining resin pad member with metal stay members. The resin material provides thermal insulation properties, reducing heat transfer to the metal stays, while the metal stays provide structural support. This material composite allows small contact areas to suffice for both support and thermal isolation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If projections are provided by penetration through a supporting plate to reduce contact area, then heat transfer is suppressed, but the number of component parts increases and the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The support function and the heat isolation function are merged into a single integrated structure. The stay members are designed with protrusions that are formed as integral parts of the stay body, combining the support protrusion and heat isolation features into one component rather than requiring separate parts for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The stay members serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support to the pad member, reduce heat transfer through their protrusion design, and maintain the necessary spacing. This multi-functionality reduces the number of component parts needed compared to designs requiring separate support plates and isolation elements.
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 reduces heat transfer from the pad to the stay, decreasing electric power consumption and simplifying the structure while maintaining sufficient support for the pad, thus enhancing the fixing device's efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a heating roller including a heater wherein the belt is stretched and entrained around the heating roller to heat the belt
Implementation Method 2
a rotatable pressing member contacting an outer peripheral surface of the belt and pressing against the pressing pad through the belt to form a nip configured to nip and feed the recording material
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a sheet includes a rotatable fixing belt; a heating roller wherein the belt is stretched and entrained around the heating roller to heat the belt; a pressing pad of resin material provided inside of the belt; a rotatable pressing member contacting an outer peripheral surface of the belt and pressing against the pad through the belt to form a nip configured to nip and feed the sheet; a supporting metal stay supporting the pad and including a planar bottom surface faced to the pad; and projected portions integrally molded with the pad and provided along a widthwise direction of the pad, the projected portions projecting and contacting to the bottom surface such that the pad is supported by the stay. A contact area between the projected portions and the bottom surface is not less than 5% and not more than 40% of the area of the bottom surface.