Fuser Heater Conduction Member for Uniform Belt Fusing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electro-photographic printers face issues with local overheating of heating elements due to varying print medium widths, leading to inconsistent fusing temperatures and reduced image quality.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a heat conduction member in contact with the heater substrate to disperse heat from overheated areas, combined with heating elements of varying lengths to match different print medium widths, preventing overheating and maintaining consistent fusing temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single-width heating element is used, then the device complexity is low, but local overheating occurs when processing varying print medium widths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to varying print medium widthsVSAvoidheating element structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is divided into multiple independent heating zones along the width direction, each capable of independent temperature control. This segmentation allows different regions to be optimized for different print medium widths, preventing local overheating while maintaining adaptability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each heating zone is equipped with independent temperature sensing and control mechanisms, allowing local temperature optimization. The heating element structure incorporates varying heating powers and temperature control parameters for different regions, enabling tailored heating for specific print medium widths and preventing localized overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If heating elements of varying lengths are used for different print medium widths, then adaptability improves, but heat distribution consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different print medium widthsVSAvoidfusing temperature consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is segmented into multiple zones with independent control, allowing each zone to be optimized for specific print medium widths. This segmentation enables precise temperature control across different regions, maintaining fusing temperature consistency while adapting to varying medium widths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Temperature sensing elements are integrated into each heating zone to provide real-time feedback on temperature distribution. This feedback mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of heating power in each zone, ensuring consistent fusing temperatures across different print medium widths and preventing temperature variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If a heat conduction member is added to prevent overheating, then temperature uniformity improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature uniformity across heating elementVSAvoidheater substrate structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A heat conduction member is introduced as an intermediary component between the heating element and the print medium. This member facilitates uniform heat distribution across the heating element surface, preventing local overheating while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through its mediating thermal conduction function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat conduction member incorporates materials with optimized thermal conductivity parameters to achieve uniform heat distribution. By carefully selecting and adjusting thermal conduction properties, the structure maintains simplicity while achieving temperature uniformity through parameter optimization rather than complex geometric designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Prevents local overheating of heating elements, ensuring consistent fusing temperatures across varying print medium widths, thereby improving image quality and energy efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a heat conduction member 200 in contact with the first surface 101 of the heater substrate 100 to distribute heat of the heater substrate 100

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS12468246B2Heat conduction member for preventing fuser heater from local overheating

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

An example fuser includes a flexible fusing belt, a backup member located outside the fusing belt to form a fusing nip with the fusing belt, a heater substrate having a first surface including a heating element pattern and a second surface, opposite to the first surface, to heat the fusing belt in the fusing nip, and a heat conduction member in contact with the first surface of the heater substrate to distribute the heat of the heater substrate. The heating element pattern includes a first heating element having a first length greater than a width of a first print medium, and a second heating element having a second length greater than a width of a second print medium and greater than the first length.