Fixing Film Inner Surface Roughness for Sliding Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing film heating type fixing devices in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses experience increased sliding resistance and noise due to abrasion and viscosity deterioration of lubricating grease, leading to image defects and operating noise, especially when handling color images with high toner amounts and high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The inner surface of the fixing film is roughened with a skewness Rsk less than 0 to reduce sliding noise, achieved by applying a precursor solution of flexible resin material onto a cylindrical mold with a roughened surface and converting it into a cylindrical flexible resin material for use as the innermost layer of the film.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the inner surface of the fixing film is roughened to reduce contact area and sliding resistance, then the frictional resistance decreases, but sliding noise increases due to vibration between the rough surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different surface qualities to different regions: the inner surface has controlled roughness (Rsk < 0) to reduce friction, while the outer surface maintains smoothness to prevent vibration noise. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between reducing sliding resistance and preventing sliding noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates asymmetric surface properties by making the inner surface rougher than the outer surface (Rz inner > Rz outer). This asymmetry allows the inner surface to provide low friction while the smoother outer surface acts as a vibration damper, eliminating the noise problem associated with symmetric roughening.
2Reliability
If the fixing film is used at high temperature and high pressure to fix color toner images, then the fixing quality improves, but the sliding resistance increases due to abrasion and lubricant deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary surface treatment during manufacturing to create a specific roughness profile (Rsk < 0) that reduces friction. This pre-established surface structure provides lasting low-friction performance even under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions during color toner fixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the surface parameter Rsk to be negative, creating a specific roughness distribution that maintains low sliding resistance. This parameter modification ensures stable friction characteristics even when the fixing film operates under demanding high-temperature and high-pressure conditions for color image fixing.
3Force
If a lubricant is applied between the fixing film and heater to reduce sliding resistance, then the friction decreases, but the lubricant viscosity deteriorates at high temperature causing increased friction over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the lubricant component from the system by creating an inherent low-friction surface through controlled roughness (Rsk < 0). This removes the problem of lubricant viscosity deterioration at high temperatures, providing stable low-friction performance throughout the fixing film's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the consumable lubricant with a permanent surface structure that provides lasting low-friction properties. The roughened surface (Rsk < 0) acts as a built-in, non-consumable friction-reduction mechanism that does not deteriorate over time or with temperature cycling.
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 approach effectively reduces sliding noise and frictional resistance between the nip-forming members and the fixing film, enhancing the operational stability and noise reduction in image heating apparatuses, particularly in high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the inner surface of the film is provided with a roughened surface portion in a region in which the nip-forming member slides on the inner surface of the film, and wherein the roughened surface portion has a skewness Rsk satisfying: Rsk < 0
Data Source
AI summary
An image heating apparatus, for heating, in a nip, a recording material for carrying a toner image while conveying the recording material, includes a flexible cylindrical film; a nip-forming member contacting an inner surface of the film; and a pressing member for forming the nip between itself and the film. The inner surface of the film is provided with a roughened surface portion in a region in which the nip-forming member slides on the inner surface of the film. The roughened surface portion has a skewness Rsk satisfying: Rsk<0.