Segmented Fixing Heater Layout for Uniform Heating Across Paper Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing apparatuses in image forming devices face issues with temperature non-uniformity and deformation due to varying paper sizes, leading to potential image defects and reduced productivity, especially when power is excessively supplied to heat generation members.
Innovation Solution
A heater design with multiple heat generation members of varying lengths arranged symmetrically on a substrate, including two longer members and two shorter members, connected in specific configurations to distribute power evenly and reduce temperature gradients, ensuring uniform heating and minimizing substrate deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat generation member with maximum width is used to heat the entire heating area, then uniform temperature is maintained for wide papers (A4), but temperature rise occurs in non-sheet feeding areas for narrow papers (A5)
Solution Approach 1:
The heat generation member is divided into multiple independent heating zones along the width direction, each capable of being controlled separately. This segmentation allows the system to activate only the necessary heating zones based on paper width, preventing temperature rise in non-sheet feeding areas while maintaining uniform temperature in active areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which heating zones are activated based on detected paper width. For narrow papers like A5, only the central heating zones are activated; for wide papers like A4, all heating zones are activated. This dynamic control prevents temperature rise in non-sheet feeding areas while maintaining productivity.
2Speed
If power is excessively supplied to one heat generation member to rapidly heat the substrate, then heating speed increases, but the substrate becomes greatly deformed due to rapid temperature rise
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate heating is segmented into multiple independent heating zones that can be activated simultaneously but independently. This allows distributed power supply across multiple zones rather than concentrating excessive power in a single zone, achieving rapid overall heating while preventing localized overheating and substrate deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different heating zones can receive different power levels based on local requirements. The system applies power locally to each zone rather than uniformly across the entire substrate, enabling controlled rapid heating in specific areas without causing excessive temperature gradients that would lead to substrate deformation.
3Temperature
If multiple heat generation members are used to cover different paper sizes, then temperature rise in non-sheet feeding areas is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple heat generation members are merged into a single integrated heating system with unified control logic. The control unit manages all heating zones through a single control mechanism, coordinating their operation based on paper width detection. This merging approach achieves temperature control for various paper sizes while avoiding the complexity of separate control systems for each heating member.
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 enables rapid heating for any paper size, maintains high productivity, and reduces the risk of substrate deformation even in cases of unexpected power surges, by evenly distributing heat and reducing temperature gradients across the substrate.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat generation member, a second heat generation member having a length substantially a same in a longitudinal direction as a length of the first heat generation member, a third heat generation member having a length shorter than lengths of the first heat generation member and the second heat generation member in the longitudinal direction, and a fourth heat generation member having a length shorter than length of the third heat generation member in the longitudinal direction
Data Source
AI summary
The heater including a substrate, a first heat generation member, a second heat generation member having a length substantially a same in a longitudinal direction as a length of the first heat generation member, a third heat generation member having a length shorter than lengths of the first heat generation member and the second heat generation member in the longitudinal direction, and a fourth heat generation member having a length shorter than length of the third heat generation member in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first heat generation member, the second heat generation member, the third heat generation member and the fourth heat generation member are arranged on the substrate.