Heat Accumulating Member for Laminate Processing in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses with low thermal capacity and fixing devices face challenges in performing laminate processing efficiently, especially with sponge layers as pressure members, as they struggle to maintain heat accumulation and prevent wrinkles and warpages due to temperature differences between laminate films.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a heat accumulating member and a pressure contact/separation mechanism that allows the heat accumulating roller to contact and separate from the pressure member during idle rotation, ensuring adequate heat accumulation and distribution for laminate processing, even with low thermal conductivity and capacity pressure rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a sponge layer is adopted as an elastic layer of the pressure member to improve power saving property, then energy consumption is reduced, but heat accumulation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure member is divided into multiple layers: a sponge layer (first elastic layer) for power saving and a gel layer (second elastic layer) for heat accumulation. This segmentation allows each layer to fulfill its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between power saving and heat accumulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure member uses a composite structure combining sponge material and gel material. The sponge layer provides low thermal conductivity for power saving, while the gel layer provides high heat retention capability, creating a composite material system that achieves both contradictory requirements
2Ease of manufacture
If the pressure roller has low thermal conductivity to save cost and power, then manufacturing cost and energy consumption are reduced, but temperature distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure roller applies different thermal properties to different regions: the sponge layer provides insulation while the gel layer specifically in the heat accumulation region provides thermal retention. This local differentiation of material properties allows cost-effective manufacturing while maintaining temperature uniformity where needed
3Ease of manufacture
If the pressure roller has low thermal capacity to reduce weight and cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but heat retention for laminate processing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure roller combines sponge material (low cost, low density) with gel material (high heat retention). This composite material approach achieves cost-effective manufacturing while ensuring sufficient heat retention capability for laminate processing through the gel layer's high specific heat capacity
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 solution enables stable laminate processing across various film sizes and basis weights by compensating for the heat shortage in the pressure roller, reducing temperature differences and preventing adhesion failures, wrinkles, and warpages.
Implementation Method 1
a heat accumulating member provided to be capable of contacting with and separating from an outer peripheral surface of the pressure member... when accepting the laminate processing mode, the hardware processor performs control to idle the heating rotator for a predetermined time in a state where the heat accumulating member is brought into pressure contact with the pressure member to accumulate heat in the heat accumulating member
Implementation Method 2
the heat accumulating member and a pressure contact/separation mechanism which makes the heat accumulating member have contact with or be separated from the pressure member... ensuring adequate heat accumulation and distribution for laminate processing
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device that forms a fixing nip by bringing a pressure member into pressure contact with a peripheral surface of a heating rotator and fixes an unfixed toner image; an acceptor that accepts a specified laminate processing mode for performing laminate processing by feeding a laminate; and a hardware processor that controls a heating rotator to idle for a predetermined time and then controls to perform the laminate processing, wherein a heat accumulating member provided to be capable of contacting with and separating from an outer peripheral surface of the pressure member and a pressure contact/separation mechanism are further included, and the hardware processor performs control to idle the heating rotator for a predetermined time in a state where the heat accumulating member is brought into pressure contact with the pressure member to accumulate heat in the heat accumulating member.