Fuser Heater Support Non-Uniform Wall Stiffness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Printers, especially those used for business and personal purposes, face inefficiencies in energy usage due to components not reaching steady state conditions, leading to increased energy consumption during standby and transition phases, particularly for smaller jobs.
Innovation Solution
A support for the fuser unit heater with non-uniform wall thickness and a low absorbance surface, such as a coated metal, is designed to reduce heat capacity and energy absorption, optimizing stiffness while minimizing energy waste by reflecting thermal radiation back to the fuser sleeve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the support structure is made with uniform thick walls to ensure sufficient stiffness, then structural strength is improved, but heat capacity increases leading to higher energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure implements non-uniform wall thickness where the walls are thinner at the ends and thicker in the middle section. This local variation in geometry provides sufficient stiffness where needed (in the middle) while reducing heat capacity and energy absorption at the ends, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural strength and energy consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support structure absorbs more thermal radiation to maintain stability, then thermal stability is improved, but energy waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure's geometric parameters are changed by implementing non-uniform wall thickness, specifically thinner walls at the ends and thicker walls in the middle. This parameter change reduces the overall heat capacity and thermal mass of the support, allowing it to reach thermal equilibrium faster and reduce energy waste while maintaining sufficient thermal stability through the strategically placed thicker middle section.
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 approach reduces energy consumption and time to reach operating temperature, particularly beneficial for smaller print jobs, by minimizing heat absorption and promoting efficient heating of the fuser sleeve.
Implementation Method 1
a low absorbance surface, such as a coated metal, is designed to reduce heat capacity and energy absorption, optimizing stiffness while minimizing energy waste by reflecting thermal radiation back to the fuser sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A support of a heater in a fuser, the support including: two parallel sides and a back side, the three sides forming a U shaped cross section, the cross section having a non-uniform wall thickness.