Fuser Elastic Pad Wall Structure for Uniform Nip Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fusers with elastic pressure pads face issues in uniform deformation and pressure distribution, leading to wrinkles in sheets during the fusing process, as the upstream end surface is exposed and not regulated uniformly.
Innovation Solution
A fuser design incorporating a heater, a rotation body, an endless belt, and an elastic pad with a wall structure that includes specific contact and center portions to regulate deformation and pressure distribution, ensuring uniform nip pressure across the sheet width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the upstream end surface of the pressure pad is exposed without regulation, then the pressure pad can flexibly deform, but the deformation is not uniform leading to wrinkles in the sheet
Solution Approach 1:
The facing surface of the pressure pad is divided into multiple regions: a first contact portion at one end, a second contact portion at the other end, and a center portion between them. This segmentation allows different parts of the pressure pad to have different deformation characteristics, with the contact portions regulated by the wall and the center portion free to deform, achieving both flexibility and uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
A wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between the pressure pad and the surrounding environment. The wall includes contact portions that regulate the deformation of the pressure pad's ends while allowing the center portion to deform freely, thus mediating between the need for flexibility and the need for uniform deformation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If both ends of the pressure pad are positioned upstream to create pressure peaks, then wrinkles are prevented, but the upstream end surface deformation remains unregulated
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the pressure pad are given different functional qualities: the first and second contact portions at the ends are regulated by the wall to maintain contact and create pressure peaks for wrinkle prevention, while the center portion is left unregulated to allow natural deformation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between wrinkle prevention and uniform deformation.
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 design achieves uniform nip pressure distribution, effectively preventing wrinkles and ensuring proper fusing of toner images onto sheets, while reducing production and installation errors.
Implementation Method 1
a heater, a rotation body configured to be heated by the heater
Data Source
AI summary
A fuser includes: a heater; a rotation body which is heated by the heater; an endless belt; an elastic pad which is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt to form a nip portion with the endless belt intervening between the elastic pad and the rotation body; and a wall surrounded by the endless belt and disposed upstream of the elastic pad in a moving direction of the endless belt at the nip portion. The wall has a facing surface facing the elastic pad in the moving direction. The facing surface includes: contact portions positioned at both ends in a width direction of the endless belt and in contact with the elastic pad; and a center portion positioned between the contact portions in the width direction, at an upstream side of the contact portions in the moving direction.