Fixing Apparatus Roughening Roller Width Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fixing apparatuses in image forming devices suffer from uneven surface properties and glossiness due to the deterioration of fixing members caused by the edge portions of recording materials, leading to excessive wear and potential cracking, especially when the fixing member reciprocates longitudinally.
Innovation Solution
A fixing apparatus is designed with a rubbing rotatable member that rubs the first fixing rotatable member, and a moving mechanism to cause the first fixing rotatable member to reciprocate, ensuring a specific relationship between the width of the rubbing rotatable member, the image formation area, and the rubbing area, which reduces excessive contact pressure and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the width of the roughening roller is increased to match the reciprocation range of the fixing member, then the rubbing coverage is improved, but the contact pressure becomes excessively high at the ends causing cracking and creases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the contact pressure non-uniform across the rubbing width. The roughening roller is designed with higher contact pressure at the center region and lower contact pressure at the end regions. This localized pressure distribution ensures effective rubbing in the central area while preventing excessive pressure at the ends that would cause cracking and creases in the fixing member.
2Manufacturing precision
If the contact pressure is increased to maintain surface roughness within target range, then the rubbing effectiveness is improved, but the load on the fixing member becomes excessive causing cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating a non-uniform contact pressure distribution where the pressure is highest at the center of the roughening roller and decreases toward the ends. This allows the central region to effectively maintain surface roughness within the target range while the reduced pressure at the ends prevents excessive loading that would lead to cracking and creases in the fixing 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
This configuration effectively suppresses uneven glossiness and prevents excessive wear or cracking of the fixing member, maintaining surface roughness and image quality by optimizing the contact pressure distribution across the rubbing area.
Implementation Method 1
a roughening roller (rubbing rotatable member) which rubs the surface of a fixing member
Implementation Method 2
fixing a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion between two fixing members
Implementation Method 3
fixing a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion between two fixing members
Data Source
AI summary
A relationship X<Y≦Z is satisfied, where X is a width of a roughening roller in a longitudinal direction, Y is a width, in the longitudinal direction, of an area where an image is able to be formed on a sheet having a maximum width usable in an apparatus, and Z is a width, in the longitudinal direction, of an area where a fixing belt is able to be rubbed by the roughening roller.