Fuser Cooling Duct Partitioning for Non-Sheet Heating Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image heating apparatuses of the film heating type, the non-sheet-passing portion temperature rise leads to hot offset and thermal deterioration, and existing solutions like prolonging sheet intervals or using cooling fans face issues such as reduced productivity, non-uniform cooling, and increased device size.
Innovation Solution
An image heating apparatus with a rotatable fixing member and an air-blowing unit that includes a fan, duct, and shutter, where the duct is partitioned to direct air towards the non-sheet-passing region, and the shutter adjusts the outlet width to minimize cooling loss and ensure uniform cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air is blown onto the rotatable heating member to suppress temperature rise, then temperature control is improved, but air volume loss increases and cooling uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling duct is divided into multiple sections by partitions, creating separate air flow paths. This segmentation allows cooling air to be directed precisely to specific regions including the non-sheet-passing portion, preventing air volume loss by eliminating unnecessary cooling in other areas while maintaining effective temperature control where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the rotatable heating member are provided with different cooling characteristics. The non-sheet-passing portion receives targeted cooling through the partitioned duct system, while other regions have adjusted cooling based on their specific thermal requirements, achieving uniform overall cooling with reduced air volume loss.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the air-blowing opening area is changed to adapt to various recording material sizes, then adaptability is improved, but cooling uniformity deteriorates due to duct bending
Solution Approach 1:
The duct is segmented into multiple independent air flow paths through partitions. Each segment can be independently optimized for its specific region, allowing the system to adapt to various recording material sizes while maintaining cooling uniformity in each segment without being compromised by bends in other segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct design incorporates three-dimensional routing with multiple levels and directions. By changing the spatial dimension of air flow paths, the duct can accommodate various recording material widths without creating harmful bends, as each air flow path can be independently routed through space to reach its target region directly.
3Temperature
If sheet interval is prolonged to prevent non-sheet-passing portion temperature rise, then temperature control is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is extracted and concentrated specifically at the non-sheet-passing portion through the partitioned duct system. By directing cooling air precisely where heat accumulation occurs, the system can control temperature without requiring prolonged sheet intervals, thus maintaining productivity while preventing temperature rise.
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 reduces air volume loss and achieves uniform cooling across the non-sheet-passing portion, preventing temperature rises and maintaining productivity while avoiding device size increases.
Implementation Method 1
an air-blowing unit for blowing air onto an end portion of the rotatable fixing member... the air-blowing unit includes a fan, a duct for guiding the air generated by drive of the fan
Implementation Method 2
cooling air blown from the cooling fan is blown toward a downstream side of the rotatable heating member... a cooling efficiency is improved
Data Source
AI summary
An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable fixing member; an air-blowing unit for blowing air onto an end portion of the rotatable fixing member with respect to a generating line direction of the rotatable fixing member, wherein the air-blowing unit includes a fan, a duct for guiding the air generated by drive of the fan, and a shutter, provided at an outlet of the duct, for switching an outlet width of the duct with respect to the generating line direction; and a partition, provided in the duct, for partitioning an air passing region inside the duct into a plurality of regions with respect to the generating line direction, wherein the partition extends to a neighborhood of the shutter with respect to an air-blowing direction.