Fusing Belt Lubricant Leakage Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lubricant leakage from fusing belts in image forming apparatuses leads to contamination and malfunction, as the reduced viscosity and high temperatures cause lubricant to leak and flow into other parts, contaminating the paper and causing deteriorated output quality.
Innovation Solution
A fusing apparatus with a housing, a fusing belt, and a receiving portion positioned downwardly apart from the fusing belt in the gravity direction, which includes an impregnation member, such as a felt fabric, to absorb and contain the leaking lubricant, preventing it from falling onto the paper or contaminating other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lubricant is applied between the pressing member and the fusing belt to reduce frictional resistance, then the rotational torque of the fusing belt is maintained, but the lubricant leaks through both sides of the fusing belt due to reduced viscosity and high temperatures, causing contamination and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
A receiving portion is introduced as an intermediary component between the fusing belt and the external environment. This receiving portion captures and contains the leaking lubricant, preventing it from contaminating other parts or falling onto paper, thus resolving the harmful effect while maintaining the necessary lubrication function
Solution Approach 2:
The leaking lubricant, which was previously a harmful factor causing contamination, is redirected and contained within the receiving portion. The lubricant that would otherwise cause malfunction is now captured and potentially reused or properly disposed of, converting the harmful leakage into a controlled situation
2Manufacturing precision
If the fusing belt operates at high temperatures to fix toner onto paper, then the toner fixation is achieved, but the lubricant viscosity is reduced causing it to leak and contaminate the paper, deteriorating output quality
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving portion serves as a protective intermediary that intercepts the leaking lubricant before it can reach the paper. This mediator component allows the high-temperature toner fixation process to continue while preventing the harmful lubricant from contaminating the output paper
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving portion is positioned in advance to anticipate and capture the lubricant leakage path. By having this protective structure ready before the lubricant can reach the paper, the system prevents contamination without interfering with the necessary high-temperature fixation process
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 solution effectively captures and contains the lubricant, preventing contamination and improving output quality by ensuring the lubricant does not interfere with the image forming process or damage other parts within the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a receiving portion disposed to face the fusing belt at a position spaced downwardly apart from the fusing belt in a gravity direction... The receiving portion may include an impregnation member
Data Source
AI summary
A fusing unit and an image forming apparatus includes a housing, a fusing belt disposed inside the housing and a pressing roller forming a nip with the fusing belt, and a receiving portion disposed to face the fusing belt at a position spaced downwardly apart from the fusing belt in a gravity direction.