Fixing Device Wax Collection Member for Adhesion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low heat-capacity fixing devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges with vaporized mold release wax components adhering to internal frames due to lower temperatures during standby periods, leading to inefficient collection and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating collection members between nip portion forming members and frames, kept at a temperature between the melting and sublimation points of the mold release wax, to absorb and liquefy vaporized wax components, thereby minimizing adhesion to paper guides and conveyance rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the heater temperature in the fixing device is increased to meet the demand for increased image forming processing speed, then the image forming speed is improved, but the amount of vaporized mold release wax components increases, causing them to adhere to various places in the image forming apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collection member as an intermediary substance between the vaporized wax components and the apparatus surfaces. This collection member has specific physical and chemical properties that enable it to attract, capture, and hold the vaporized wax components, preventing them from adhering to conveyance guides, conveyance rollers, and other apparatus surfaces. The collection member acts as a mediator that transforms the harmful adhesion problem into a manageable collection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the temperature, chemical composition, and physical state of the collection member to optimize its wax-collecting capability. By controlling the temperature of the collection member and adjusting its chemical properties, the system can effectively capture vaporized wax components across different operating conditions and heater temperatures, thereby preventing adhesion issues while maintaining high processing speeds.
2Loss of time
If a low heat-capacity fixing device is used, then the response time is reduced, but the temperature during standby periods is lower, causing vaporized wax components to adhere to internal frames
Solution Approach 1:
The collection member serves as an intermediary that is specifically positioned to intercept vaporized wax components before they reach internal frames. This mediator captures the wax components even at lower standby temperatures, preventing adhesion to frames while preserving the low heat-capacity advantage of the fixing device for rapid response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the parameters of the collection member, including its temperature control and chemical composition, to ensure effective wax component capture across the full temperature range operated by low heat-capacity fixing devices. This allows the system to maintain rapid response times while preventing adhesion issues during both active and standby periods.
3Reliability
If mold release wax is included in the toner to prevent offset phenomenon, then offset resistance is improved, but vaporized wax components adhere to conveyance guides and conveyance rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The collection member acts as an intermediary that specifically targets and captures vaporized wax components in the air path between the fixing device and conveyance components. This mediator prevents the wax components from reaching and adhering to conveyance guides and rollers, thereby maintaining the offset-preventing benefits of mold release wax while eliminating the adhesion problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of vaporized wax components into a beneficial collection process. By positioning the collection member to capture these vaporized components, the system transforms what would be a harmful adhesion problem into a controlled collection mechanism, allowing the continued use of mold release wax for offset prevention.
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
Effectively collects and absorbs vaporized mold release wax, reducing maintenance needs and ensuring stable operation by maintaining the temperature of collection members within the optimal range for wax absorption, preventing adhesion and ensuring efficient image forming processes.
Implementation Method 1
a collection member configured to collect 'a component vaporized from the mold release wax' generated by heat at the nip portion
Implementation Method 2
A component vaporized from the wax, which is cooled immediately after vaporization, is solidified again to be moved along with wind flowing in the image forming apparatus
Implementation Method 3
The mold release wax included in the toner is liquefied in heating and fixing the toner and a part thereof is vaporized
Implementation Method 4
The mold release wax included in the toner is liquefied in heating and fixing the toner
Implementation Method 5
the collection member being provided between the nip portion forming members and the frames and kept at a temperature between the melting point and the sublimation point of the mold release wax
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of minimizing the adhesion of a mold release wax vaporized at the time of heating a toner image to components excluding a fixing device inside the image forming apparatus. The mold release wax vaporized at the time of heating and fixing a toner image to a recording material is collected by a collection member, which is provided between a nip portion forming member and the frame of the fixing device, and kept at a temperature between the melting point and the sublimation point of the mold release wax.