Fixing Device Guide Member with Variable Longitudinal Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing fixing devices, recording media often adhere to the heating member and fail to peel off properly due to inconsistent pressure distribution and curvature along the heating member's longitudinal direction, leading to incomplete toner image fixation.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a heating member and a pressing member, where the guide portion guides the recording medium with varying distances from the exit of the contact portion to its end, differing based on the position along the heating member's longitudinal direction, ensuring the pressure between the heating and pressing members is higher near the center and lower at the ends, facilitating easier peeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the distance from the exit of the contact portion to the end portion of the guide portion is constant at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the heating member, then the guide portion structure is simple, but the recording medium adheres to the heating member and cannot be peeled off properly
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion is designed with different distances from the exit of the contact portion to its end portion at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the heating member. Specifically, the distance is longer at positions where pressure is low and shorter where pressure is high, creating local variations in geometry that optimize peeling conditions at each location along the heating member.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide portion employs an asymmetric configuration where the distance from the contact portion exit to the guide portion end varies along the longitudinal direction. This asymmetric design creates different peeling paths for different regions of the recording medium, allowing proper separation from the heating member surface by utilizing the pressure distribution pattern.
2Ease of operation
If the pressure between the heating member and the pressing member is uniform along the longitudinal direction, then the pressure distribution is simple, but the recording medium adheres strongly and peeling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion geometry is locally adapted to the pressure distribution, with longer distances positioned in low-pressure regions and shorter distances in high-pressure regions. This local variation in geometry compensates for the uniform pressure application, creating optimal peeling conditions across the entire width of 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 ensures that the recording medium is easily peeled from the heating member, preventing adhesion issues and ensuring complete toner image fixation by varying the distance and pressure distribution, thus improving the peeling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating member that heats a toner image
Implementation Method 2
at least a surface of the heating member including an elastic body
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a heating member, a pressing member, and a guide portion. The heating member heats a toner image and includes an elastic body. The pressing member presses a recording medium against the heating member. The guide portion does not contact with the heating member, and guides the recording medium ejected from a nip of the heating member and the pressing member. The distance from an exit of the contact portion to an end portion of the guide portion adjacent the contact portion differs in accordance with the position in the longitudinal direction of the heating member. The distance at a position at which the pressure between the heating member and the pressing member is low is longer than the distance at a position at which the pressure between the heating member and the pressing member is high.