Fixing Nip Airflow Control for Non-Sheet Region Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the temperature in the non-sheet-passing region of the fixing section rises excessively when smaller sheets are passed through consecutively, leading to potential member deterioration, and existing solutions like cooling fans make the apparatus oversized.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a rotatable fixer, a blower for generating airflow to separate sheets, and a hardware processor that controls airflow direction, directing part of the airflow toward the rotatable fixer in the non-sheet-passing region to prevent temperature rise without increasing the apparatus's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling fan is provided in the fixing section to cool the non-sheet-passing region, then the temperature rise can be prevented, but the image forming apparatus becomes oversize
Solution Approach 1:
The blower, originally designed solely for sheet separation, is made to serve dual purposes: sheet separation and cooling of the non-sheet-passing region. The hardware processor controls the blower to generate airflow that is directed toward the rotatable fixer in the non-sheet-passing region, enabling the same component to perform both functions without adding a dedicated cooling fan.
Solution Approach 2:
The blower serves itself by utilizing its own generated airflow for cooling purposes. Instead of requiring a separate cooling system, the blower's airflow is redirected to cool the non-sheet-passing region, allowing the system to self-regulate temperature without additional dedicated cooling components.
2Temperature
If additional cooling components are added to the fixing section, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blower is designed to perform multiple functions: sheet separation and temperature control in the non-sheet-passing region. This multi-functionality approach reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate cooling components while maintaining effective temperature management.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware processor dynamically adjusts the airflow parameters of the blower to optimize both sheet separation and cooling effects. By controlling airflow amount and direction, the system achieves effective temperature control without adding complex cooling mechanisms.
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 solution effectively prevents excessive temperature rise in the non-sheet-passing region, maintaining optimal temperature conditions for fixation without the need for additional cooling fans, thus preventing apparatus oversizing.
Implementation Method 1
a blower configured to generate airflow toward the fixing nip, the airflow being for separating a sheet from the rotatable fixer
Implementation Method 2
part of the airflow flowing from the blower toward a non-sheet-passing region of the fixing nip is directed toward the rotatable fixer
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a blowing section, and a hard ware processor. The blowing section generates airflow toward the fixing nip, and the airflow is used for separating a sheet from the fixing member. The hardware processor performs a control of the blowing section so that airflow amounts of the blowing section toward the fixing nip are different in an axial direction of the fixing member and part of the airflow flowing from the blowing section toward a non-sheet-passing region of the fixing nip is directed in the moving direction of the fixing member.