Laminated Heater Positioner for Thermal Expansion Shift
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing laminated heaters in image forming apparatuses experience faulty contact due to thermal expansion, leading to uneven temperature distribution and potential fixing failures in the fixing device, which affects the quality of toner image fixation on recording media.
Innovation Solution
A laminated heater design with a base layer, heat generator, electrode, and feeder, where a positioner is used to maintain accurate positioning between the heater and its holder, preventing shifting and ensuring consistent electrical connection, thereby stabilizing the heater's position and temperature distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the laminated heater is installed in the fixing device, then heating function is provided, but thermal expansion causes position shift and faulty contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a positioner as an intermediary component between the heater and the holder. This positioner maintains the positional relationship between the heater and holder even when the heater expands thermally, preventing the electrode from shifting away from the connector and ensuring continuous electrical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the heater assembly into separate functional components: the heater element, the holder, and the positioner. This segmentation allows the positioner to specifically address the positioning problem without affecting the heating function, enabling independent optimization of each component's role.
2Reliability
If the heater position shifts due to thermal expansion, then electrode-connector contact is lost, but adding positioning mechanism increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The positioner serves as a simple intermediary component that maintains the positional relationship between the heater and holder. It is a straightforward mechanical element that does not add significant complexity while effectively preventing position shift and ensuring continuous electrical contact.
3Reliability
If the heater is constrained to prevent position shift, then electrical contact is maintained, but thermal expansion is restricted causing stress
Solution Approach 1:
The positioner acts as a mediator that maintains the positional relationship between the heater and holder while accommodating thermal expansion. It allows the heater to expand without generating excessive stress by maintaining the geometric relationship rather than rigidly constraining the heater.
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 enhances the accuracy of heater positioning, prevents faulty contacts, and maintains consistent temperature distribution across the fixing belt, improving the reliability and quality of toner image fixation on recording media.
Implementation Method 1
the laminated heater includes an electrode electrically connected to a connector that supplies power from a power supply to the resistive heat generator. As power is supplied to the resistive heat generator, the laminated heater generates heat.
Implementation Method 2
As the laminated heater thermally expands, a total length of the laminated heater changes. Accordingly, a position of the electrode of the laminated heater relative to the connector may shift
Data Source
AI summary
A heater for being attached to a heating device includes a base layer, a heat generator mounted on the base layer, an electrode mounted on the base layer, and a feeder mounted on the base layer. The feeder is interposed between the electrode and the heat generator. The feeder is configured to electrically connect the electrode to the heat generator. A positioner is configured to engage a counterpart of the heating device. The positioner is configured to position the heater in a longitudinal direction of the heater when the heater is attached to the heating device.