Fixing Unit Roller Separation Timing for Durability

Solution Overview

Problem

The durability of mechanical parts in roller-separating mechanisms of image-forming apparatuses is compromised when power saving modes are frequently activated, leading to premature failure and inability to use the fixing unit, as the roller-separating action is performed too frequently, limiting the service life of these parts.

Innovation Solution

An image-forming apparatus with a control unit that separates the heating and pressurizing rollers only after a predetermined time in power saving mode, and a counting unit to manage the number of separation actions, allowing for controlled use of the roller-separating mechanism to maintain durability and prevent rubber deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the roller-separating mechanism is activated frequently to prevent rubber layer deformation during power saving mode, then the prevention of rubber deformation is improved, but the durability of the mechanical parts of the separating mechanism deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of rubber layer deformationVSAvoidservice life of separating mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic rotation of the heating roller and pressurizing roller at predetermined time intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes) during power saving mode, instead of continuously separating the rollers. This periodic action prevents rubber layer deformation while significantly reducing the frequency of separating mechanism activation, thereby extending its service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical roller-separating system with a rotational movement system. Instead of using the separating mechanism to physically separate the rollers, the system rotates the rollers in place during power saving mode, achieving the same protective effect with minimal mechanical stress on the separating mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of energy

If the power saving mode is entered after a short time period to reduce power consumption, then the power saving effect is improved, but the frequency of roller-separating action increases, reducing the durability of the separating mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidservice life of separating mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic rotation of the heating roller and pressurizing roller at predetermined time intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes) during power saving mode, instead of continuously separating the rollers. This periodic action prevents rubber layer deformation while significantly reducing the frequency of separating mechanism activation, thereby extending its service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical roller-separating system with a rotational movement system. Instead of using the separating mechanism to physically separate the rollers, the system rotates the rollers in place during power saving mode, achieving the same protective effect with minimal mechanical stress on the separating mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8774663B2State-based control of fixing unit of image-forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2014.07.08 CANON KK

AI summary

An image-forming apparatus capable of satisfactorily maintaining the durability of a separating mechanism while preventing deformation of rubber layers of parts of a fixing unit and at the same time achieving a power saving effect. The image-forming apparatus is shifted into a power saving state without a fixing part and a pressurizing part of the fixing unit being separated. The fixing part and the pressurizing part are separated, if a return condition from the power saving state is not satisfied even after elapse of a predetermined time period from when the apparatus has been shifted into the power saving state.