Fixing Device Nip Pressure Control via Rotation Hindering Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices with an endless belt and roller configuration face challenges in maintaining consistent nip pressure and preventing sheet wrapping, which affects transportation speed and image quality.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a rotating roller member and an endless belt, featuring a pressing member and a rotation hindering member that press the belt against the roller on both sides, ensuring consistent nip pressure and preventing the pressing member from rotating due to reaction forces, thus stabilizing the nip region and preventing sheet wrapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the nip pressure at the start of the nip region is set to be low to reduce resistance when the sheet enters, then the sheet can enter smoothly, but the nip pressure at the end of the nip region becomes insufficient to prevent sheet wrapping
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is designed to rotate along with the roller member, enabling dynamic adjustment of nip pressure throughout the rotation cycle. This allows low nip pressure at the start of the nip region for smooth sheet entry and high nip pressure at the end to prevent sheet wrapping, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
2Productivity
If the pressing member rotates along with the roller member to maintain consistent nip pressure, then sheet transportation speed and productivity improve, but the pressing member may rotate due to reaction force affecting stability
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation hindering member acts as a counterbalancing mechanism that receives the reaction force generated when the pressing member presses the endless belt against the roller member. This prevents the pressing member from rotating due to reaction force, maintaining stability while allowing the pressing member to rotate along with the roller member for consistent nip pressure, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and 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 enhances sheet transportation speed, improves productivity, and maintains image quality by ensuring consistent heat and pressure application across the nip region, preventing wrinkles and image defects.
Implementation Method 1
applying heat and pressure to the toner image
Implementation Method 2
applying heat and pressure to the toner image
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a roller member that rotates and a belt member including an endless belt that moves circularly while being in contact with the roller member, a pressing member that is disposed in a space enclosed by the endless belt and that presses the endless belt against the roller member on both a downstream side and an upstream side relative to a direction of rotation of the roller member, and a rotation hindering member that is disposed in the space enclosed by the endless belt and that hinders the pressing member from rotating as a result of receiving a reaction force. The roller member and the endless belt nip a sheet that has been transported while holding a toner image on the sheet and cause the sheet to pass between the roller member and the endless belt, so that the toner image is fixed onto the sheet.