Heater Heat Equalization Member Thermal Deformation Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing heating apparatuses in image forming devices face challenges in suppressing thermal deformation of heat conductive members, which affects the uniformity of heat distribution and the fixability of images.

Innovation Solution

The proposed heating apparatus includes a heat equalization member arranged between the heater and the holding member in the thickness direction, featuring first and second abutment regions and a non-abutment region. The non-abutment region is bent towards the holding member, allowing for thermal expansion absorption and preventing deformation of the heat conductive member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a heat conductive member is arranged on the heater to equalize heat distribution, then heat uniformity is improved, but thermal deformation of the heat conductive member occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat uniformityVSAvoidthermal deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The heat conductive member is divided into multiple independent heat conductive units arranged in the longitudinal direction. Each unit can independently expand and contract without causing overall deformation, thus resolving the contradiction between heat equalization and thermal deformation stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the heat conductive member have different properties: the abutment regions maintain rigid contact with the heater for effective heat transfer, while the non-abutment regions allow thermal expansion and contraction. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between heat uniformity and thermal stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by moving object

If the heat conductive member is made rigid to maintain contact with the heater, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but thermal expansion causes deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidthermal expansion deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The heat conductive member is segmented into multiple units with non-abutment regions between them. These segments can independently expand and contract while maintaining overall contact with the heater, resolving the contradiction between rigid heat transfer and thermal expansion accommodation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat conductive member incorporates flexible non-abutment regions that can deform elastically to accommodate thermal expansion while maintaining functional contact. This flexibility allows the structure to adapt to temperature changes without compromising heat transfer efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 configuration effectively suppresses thermal deformation of the heat conductive member, ensuring uniform heat distribution across the heater and maintaining fixability of images, even with varying sheet widths.

Implementation Method 1

The heater includes a resistance heating element on a ceramic substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a heat equalization member arranged in contact with a second surface of the elongated substrate that is opposite to the first surface and configured to equalize heat across the elongated substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

the first non-abutment region is formed by being bent from the first abutment region and the second abutment region toward the holding member in the thickness direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS12321115B2Heating apparatus and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 CANON KK

AI summary

A heating apparatus includes a heater, a holding member, and a heat equalization member. In a case where a direction of a long side of a first surface of the heater is defined as a longitudinal direction, a direction of the first surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is defined as a transverse direction, and a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction is defined as a thickness direction, the heat equalization member is between the heater and the holding member in the thickness direction and includes, in the longitudinal direction, first and second abutment regions that abut against the heater and a first non-abutment region that does not abut against the heater. The first abutment region, the first non-abutment region, and the second abutment region are arranged in this order as viewed from one end toward another end of the heater in the longitudinal direction.