Heater Fixing Holder for Uniform Heating and Easy Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing heat fixing systems in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face difficulties in handling and assembling multiple heat generation sources, leading to complications in attaching and detaching heaters, which can result in damage to the heaters due to contact with the heating roller's inner wall during maintenance or replacement.
Innovation Solution
A heater fixing holder is designed to be detachably attached to the heating roller, featuring a fitting portion to secure the heater's end portion and gripping portions to hold the outer peripheral surface of the roller, preventing the heater from contacting the inner wall and simplifying the handling of harnesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple heat generation sources are disposed in proximity around the central axis to uniformly heat the heating roller, then the heating uniformity is improved, but the handling of lead wires becomes complicated and assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heater support structure into modular segments, with each heater having its own independent support portion. This segmentation allows lead wires to be routed separately for each heater, simplifying the handling and assembly process while maintaining multiple heaters in proximity for uniform heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a holder as an intermediary component that supports multiple heaters and manages lead wires. The holder acts as a mediator between the heaters and the external wiring system, providing organized pathways for lead wires and simplifying connection processes.
2Temperature
If multiple heat generation sources are disposed in proximity around the central axis, then the heating uniformity is improved, but the attachment and detachment operations become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Each heater is equipped with an independent support portion that can be attached or detached individually. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access and replace specific heaters without having to handle all heaters simultaneously, significantly simplifying attachment and detachment operations while maintaining multiple heaters for uniform heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portions are designed with movable and adjustable characteristics, allowing them to be easily positioned and secured. This dynamic design enables quick attachment and detachment of heaters without complex fastening procedures, improving ease of operation while maintaining the multiple heater configuration.
3Ease of repair
If the heater is detached from the heating roller during maintenance, then the heater can be replaced, but the attachment and detachment operations become complicated and work efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is designed as a removable module that can be detached from the holder without removing the entire heater assembly. This allows maintenance personnel to access and replace heaters quickly by only detaching the necessary support portion, improving work efficiency while maintaining full replacement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portions are pre-configured with attachment mechanisms that facilitate quick connection and disconnection. This preliminary design of easy-attach/detach features enables rapid heater replacement without complicated operations, improving productivity while maintaining ease of repair.
4Ease of manufacture
If the heater is allowed to contact the inner wall of the heating roller during attachment, then the installation is simpler, but the heater surface may be scratched or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion acts as an intermediary between the heater and the heating roller inner wall. It provides a controlled interface that guides the heater into the correct position without allowing direct contact with the roller surface, preventing scratches and damage while maintaining simple installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portion is designed to prevent heater contact with the heating roller inner wall before the heater is properly positioned. This beforehand protection mechanism ensures the heater surface is never exposed to potential damage during the installation process, maintaining both simplicity and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A heater fixing holder is configured to be detachably attached on a heating roller and a heater inside the heating roller. The heating roller constitutes part of a fixing device configured to fix an image onto a recording medium. The heater fixing holder includes a fitting portion configured to be penetrated with and fit with an end portion of the heater and a gripping portion configured to hold an outer peripheral surface of the heating roller. The heater fixing holder is configured to hold and fix the heater at a position at which the heater does not contact an inner wall of the heating roller.