Image Heating Apparatus Rotary Member Rotation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image heating apparatuses fail to effectively protect components from thermal damage due to excessive temperature rises, which can occur from drive element failures, leading to potential damage to components like pressure rollers and gears.
Innovation Solution
An image heating apparatus with a rotary member, a heating member, a temperature detecting element, and a protection element that interrupts power supply to the heating member, with a control portion that stops the rotary member's rotation when abnormal temperatures are detected, thereby preventing thermal damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protection element interrupts power supply to the heater when abnormal temperature is detected, then the heater is protected from overheating, but the rotary member continues to rotate and causes thermal damage to contact components through continued heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion stops the rotary member's rotation before the protection element activates, preventing heat transfer to contact components. This preliminary action of stopping rotation eliminates the harmful heat transfer pathway that would otherwise occur during the protection element's activation delay period.
Solution Approach 2:
The control portion acts as an intermediary between the temperature detection and the protection element activation. It receives temperature information and mediates the response by stopping rotation, providing an additional protective layer that acts faster than the mechanical protection element alone.
2Temperature
If the mechanical drive of the rotary member is maintained until the protection element activates, then natural heat dissipation is maintained, but heat accumulates in contact components causing thermal damage
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion stops the rotary member's rotation before the protection element activates, preventing heat transfer to contact components. This preliminary action of stopping rotation eliminates the harmful heat transfer pathway that would otherwise occur during the protection element's activation delay period.
Solution Approach 2:
By stopping rotation in advance when abnormal temperature is detected, the system cushions against the potential thermal damage that would occur during the protection element's activation delay. This prior action prevents the harmful effect from manifesting in the first place.
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 interrupts power supply and rotation of the rotary member to prevent thermal damage to components, ensuring safe operation and reducing the risk of component failure.
Implementation Method 1
a heating member configured to heat the rotary member, the heating member being held in contact with the rotary member
Implementation Method 2
a temperature detecting element configured to detect the temperature of the rotary member or the heating member
Implementation Method 3
a protection element configured to interrupt power supply to the heating member, the protection element being activated when sensing an abnormal rise in temperature of the heating member
Data Source
AI summary
An image heating apparatus includes a rotary member, a heating member configured to heat the rotary member, the heating member being held in contact with the rotary member, a temperature detecting element configured to detect the temperature of the rotary member or the heating member, a protection element configured to interrupt power supply to the heating member, the protection element being activated when sensing an abnormal rise in the temperature of the heating member, and a control portion configured to control the image heating apparatus. When the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element exceeds a threshold value, the control portion stops rotation of the rotary member.