Fixing Device Heating Roller With Insulating Ridges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently and effectively fixing toner images onto recording media due to heat transfer inefficiencies and mechanical stability issues, leading to inconsistent image quality and increased noise during operation.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device incorporating a hollow cylindrical heating roller with recesses or projections at its axial ends, supported by ring-shaped heat insulating members and bearings, which enhances heat transfer and mechanical stability by using deformable heat insulating sleeves with ridges that fit into grooves on the heating roller, reducing noise and improving assembly ease.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional heating roller is used without heat insulating members, then the structure is simpler, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates and mechanical stability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Ring-shaped heat insulating members are introduced as intermediary components between the heating roller and bearings. These members feature protrusions that fit into recesses on the heating roller surface, creating an intermediate layer that both insulates heat and provides mechanical coupling, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency to the recording medium while maintaining structural stability.
2Reliability
If heat insulating members without protrusions or recesses are used, then manufacturing is easier, but mechanical stability and noise reduction deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating members are designed with segmented features including protrusions and recesses that divide the contact interface into discrete engagement points. This segmentation provides localized mechanical stability and noise reduction while maintaining overall assembly simplicity, as the modular features can be easily formed during manufacturing.
3Loss of energy
If the heating roller lacks recesses or projections, then manufacturing is simpler, but heat transfer efficiency and mechanical coupling worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than modifying the entire heating roller surface, recesses or projections are provided only at specific axial end portions. This localized modification improves heat transfer efficiency and mechanical coupling at critical interfaces while minimizing manufacturing complexity, as only specific regions require precision features rather than the entire surface.
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 provides improved heat transfer efficiency, mechanical stability, and reduced noise, resulting in consistent image fixation and enhanced operational reliability of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a solid or hollow cylindrical heating member which heats a recording medium
Implementation Method 2
ring-shaped heat insulating members to be fitted to axial ends of the heating member
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a solid or hollow cylindrical heating member that heats a recording medium and has recesses or projections provided at axial ends thereof, over the entire outer circumferences; ring-shaped heat insulating members to be fitted to the axial ends of the heating member, the ring-shaped heat insulating members having, in the inner circumferences thereof, projections or recesses that fit into or receive the recesses or projections provided on the heating member; and bearings that rotatably support the axial ends of the heating member via the heat insulating members.