Fuser Assembly Overheating Prevention via Print Sheet Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuser assemblies in image forming apparatuses are prone to overheating, leading to deformation due to slow temperature response and sudden temperature rises after printing, as they rely on thick rubber layers for heat and pressure fixation of toner, which results in inefficient heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that monitor the fuser assembly temperature and, if it exceeds a predetermined level, pass a print sheet through the assembly to dissipate heat, either to a sheet-feeding cassette or a standby location for reuse, ensuring the temperature is managed and preventing deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thick rubber layer is used for the heating roller and press roller to guarantee fixing the toner particles, then the fixing reliability is improved, but the temperature response time becomes very long causing overheating and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rubber layer into multiple thickness zones: a thick lower layer for structural stability and fixing reliability, and a thin upper layer for fast heat response. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of both long-term reliability and quick temperature adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the rubber layer have different thicknesses to serve different functions. The upper surface has thin rubber for rapid heat response, while the lower part maintains thick rubber for structural integrity and reliable toner fixing, creating local quality variation to resolve the contradiction.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the heat supplied according to temperature control is switched off, then energy consumption is reduced, but the temperature of the fuser assembly rises suddenly when no print sheet passes through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat sink as an intermediary component that absorbs excess heat from the fuser assembly when no print sheet is present. This mediator prevents sudden temperature rise while allowing the heating element to be switched off, reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the fuser assembly by incorporating materials with specific heat capacity characteristics and designing heat dissipation paths that actively manage temperature transitions, preventing sudden spikes when heating is interrupted.
3Reliability
If the fuser assembly temperature is monitored and print sheets are passed through to dissipate heat, then overheating prevention is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where temperature sensors continuously monitor the fuser assembly temperature and provide signals to the control unit. The control unit adjusts heating power or triggers print sheet passage based on temperature feedback, achieving reliable overheating prevention through closed-loop control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses incoming print sheets for dual purposes: normal printing function and heat dissipation when overheating is detected. This self-service approach leverages existing operational resources (print sheets) to manage temperature, reducing the need for dedicated cooling mechanisms.
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
Effectively prevents overheating and deformation of the fuser assembly by actively dissipating heat through the print sheet, thereby maintaining operational integrity and avoiding erroneous error messages related to paper jamming.
Implementation Method 1
The heating roller generates heat of about 180° C. An exemplary press roller melts the toner particles stuck onto the print sheet by heat
Implementation Method 2
a print sheet functioning as a medium taking the heat from the fuser assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method of preventing overheating of a fuser assembly and an apparatus using the same. The method of preventing overheating of a fuser assembly includes inspecting whether a temperature of a fuser assembly is higher than a predetermined temperature. If the temperature of the fuser assembly is higher than the predetermined temperature it is determined whether there is a print command. A print sheet is passed through the fuser assembly, and conveyed to a predetermined location when there is no print command. The temperature is again inspected if there is no print command. If the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature it is determined whether a predetermined time has lapsed. The temperature is again inspected if the predetermined time did not lapse.