Fuser Heater Holder Design for Nip Contact Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing fuser technology faces inefficiencies in heating the part of the rolled film forming the nip, as the heater may not maintain steady contact with the heat-conductive member.

Innovation Solution

The fuser design includes a rotatable heating member with a heater board inside, a heat-conductive member between the heating member and the heater, and a holder that ensures secure contact between the heater and the heat-conductive member, enhancing heat transfer and nip heating efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the heater is not in steady contact with the heat-conductive member, then the structure is simpler, but the heating effectiveness of the nip deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating effectivenessVSAvoidcontact assurance structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holder acts as an intermediary component between the heater and heat-conductive member, providing a stable mounting structure that ensures steady contact. The holder includes a first holder surface that supports the heater and a second holder surface that contacts the heat-conductive member, thereby mediating the contact relationship and solving the heating effectiveness issue without requiring complex external mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution introduces a new spatial dimension by adding the holder structure that extends in the thickness direction. The first holder surface supports the heater from one side while the second holder surface contacts the heat-conductive member, creating a multi-dimensional contact assurance mechanism that resolves the contradiction between simple structure and reliable heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If the heat-conductive member dimension in conveying direction is greater than heater dimension, then heat transfer to nip is improved, but the risk of heat loss to holder increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenip heating temperatureVSAvoidheat loss to holder

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is designed with differentiated local qualities: the second holder surface provides thermal contact with the heat-conductive member while the gap surface and first holder surface are positioned to minimize heat loss. The first holder surface supports the heater without direct thermal contact, creating localized thermal management that allows extended heat-conductive member contact for improved nip heating while controlling heat loss to the holder structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The holder structure is segmented into distinct functional surfaces: the first holder surface for mechanical support, the second holder surface for thermal contact, and the gap surface for thermal isolation. This segmentation allows the heat-conductive member to extend beyond the heater boundaries for improved heat transfer to the nip, while the gap surface prevents excessive heat loss to the holder, resolving the energy loss contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 ensures effective heating of the nip by maintaining secure contact between the heater and the heat-conductive member, leading to improved heat transfer and efficiency in heating the belt and the nip.

Implementation Method 1

a heater (20), in a form of a board, located inside the rotatable heating member (10)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The heat-conductive member (30) is located between an inner circumferential surface of the rotatable heating member (10) and the first surface (20A) of the heater (20)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20250076798A1fuser

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A fuser includes a rotatable heating member, a heater with a first surface and a second surface, a rotatable pressing member, a heat-conductive member, and a holder with a first holder surface and a second holder surface. In a conveying direction, a dimension of the heat-conductive member is greater than a dimension of the heater. The first holder surface supports the second surface of the heater. The second holder surface is located at least either upstream or downstream of the first holder surface in the conveying direction. The second holder surface faces the heat-conductive member and is located closer than the first holder surface to the heat-conductive member in a thickness direction of the heater. The first holder surface and the second holder surface are connected by a gap surface. A thickness of the heater is greater than a length of the gap surface in the thickness direction.