Fuser Slidable Sheet with Dents and Projections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fusers with endless belts face challenges in reducing sliding resistance and effectively retaining lubricant agents, which can lead to decreased image quality and increased frictional resistance, particularly in areas outside the nipping portion.
Innovation Solution
A fuser design incorporating a slidable sheet with a first part featuring dents for lubricant retention and a second part with projections to reduce sliding resistance, strategically located within and outside the nipping portion to manage friction and lubricant distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a slidable sheet with dents is used in the nipping portion to retain lubricant agent, then lubricant retention is improved, but sliding resistance increases in non-nipping areas
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable sheet is divided into two distinct parts: a first part with dents located in the nipping portion range to retain lubricant agent, and a second part with projections located in the non-nipping portion range to reduce sliding resistance. This local differentiation allows each region to have optimized properties for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable sheet is segmented into functionally distinct regions (first part and second part) with different surface structures. The first part contains dents for lubricant storage while the second part contains projections for friction reduction, allowing independent optimization of each segment's characteristics.
2Force
If projections are added to reduce sliding resistance, then frictional resistance decreases, but lubricant retention capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Projections are placed only in the second part of the slidable sheet corresponding to the non-nipping portion, while the first part in the nipping portion maintains dents for lubricant retention. This localized application ensures friction reduction without compromising lubricant storage in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable sheet structure is segmented such that the first part retains dents for lubricant storage and the second part introduces projections for friction reduction, allowing both functions to coexist without interfering with each other's performance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the slidable sheet surface is made smooth to reduce sliding resistance, then belt movement stability improves, but lubricant agent distribution becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable sheet exhibits different surface qualities in different regions: the first part has dents to concentrate and retain lubricant agent for effective distribution, while the second part has projections to reduce sliding resistance and maintain belt stability in non-nipping areas.
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 effectively reduces sliding resistance and maintains lubricant agent retention, stabilizing the endless belt movement and preventing image quality degradation, while minimizing frictional resistance in non-nipping areas.
Implementation Method 1
a heater, a rotating body configured to be heated by the heater
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of dents are arranged... so that a lubricant agent may be stored in the dents
Data Source
AI summary
A fuser has a heater, a heat roller, an endless belt, a pressure pad, and a slidable sheet. The pressure pad forms a nipping portion to nip the endless belt between the pressure pad and the heat roller. The slidable sheet is interposed between an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and the pressure pad in the nipping portion. The slidable sheet includes a plurality of dents and a plurality of projections on a surface contacting the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The plurality of dents are arranged in a first part of the surface of the slidable sheet. The first part is located in a range corresponding to the nipping portion. The plurality of projections are arranged in a second part of the surface of the slidable sheet. The second part is located in a range corresponding to a portion different from the nipping portion.