Heat Pipe Fixation Roller for Uniform Temperature Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image heating apparatuses suffer from uneven temperature distribution and heat dissipation issues due to protruded heat pipes and rotation axes, leading to energy wastage and inefficiencies in heating processes.
Innovation Solution
An image heating apparatus incorporating a heat pipe with a cover portion at its end to reduce temperature unevenness and prevent direct heat dissipation from the longitudinal end surface, utilizing latent heat to maintain consistent temperature across the heating member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat pipe end portion is protruded from the fixation roller end surface, then heat is efficiently conducted to the protruded end portion which is more coolable, but energy for heating is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heat pipe from the protruding configuration and integrates it fully within the fixation roller body. The heat pipe ends are covered by the roller body material, eliminating the protruding portions that caused heat loss. This extraction of the problematic geometric feature resolves the energy waste issue while maintaining temperature uniformity through the heat pipe's internal heat conduction function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses the fixation roller body material as a covering shell that encapsulates the heat pipe. This shell structure prevents direct heat loss from the heat pipe ends by integrating them into the roller body, while the heat pipe continues to function internally to uniformize temperature distribution across the roller surface.
2Device complexity
If the heat pipe and fixation roller have the same length with the heat pipe contacting the end surface, then the structure is simplified, but heat escapes through the protruded rotation axis
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heat pipe from the configuration where it contacts the rotation axis. By making the heat pipe shorter than the fixation roller length, the heat pipe no longer extends to contact the rotation axis, thereby eliminating the heat loss pathway through the axis while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different length characteristics to different parts of the heating system. The heat pipe is intentionally made shorter than the fixation roller, creating a local geometric difference that prevents heat loss at the rotation axis area while the heat pipe still provides adequate heat distribution across the roller surface.
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 reduces heat loss and enhances temperature uniformity, improving the efficiency of the heating process and reducing energy wastage, thereby enhancing the image fixing process in image forming apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
a heat pipe, disposed inwardly of the heating member, for decreasing unevenness in temperature distribution of the heating member in a longitudinal direction of the heating member
Implementation Method 2
a heat pipe, disposed inwardly of the heating member, for decreasing unevenness in temperature distribution of the heating member in a longitudinal direction of the heating member
Implementation Method 3
a cover portion, disposed at an end portion of the heat pipe with a spacing in the longitudinal direction, for covering the end portion of the heat pipe
Data Source
AI summary
In a fixing apparatus capable of reducing unevenness in temperature distribution in an axial direction while reducing heat loss at an end portion, a fixing belt 11 extended around a fixation roller 13 and a fixation tension roller 14 is heated by a coil unit 28 for effecting induction heating. The fixation tension roller 14 is assembled by inserting a heat pipe 15 into a hollow roller 14a. At both end portions, the hollow roller 14a is covered with a cover portion having small holes.