Heating Belt Reciprocation for Uniform Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining consistent fixation temperature and preventing damage to the heating belt when processing thick or large-sized sheets, leading to uneven glossiness and potential image quality deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device incorporating an endless heating belt and a rotating member with a position detecting unit and controller, which controls the rotational movement of the heating belt to distribute damage evenly and maintain consistent temperature, using multiple heating sources and a reciprocating mechanism to adjust for sheet size and type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the heating belt is used to process thick or large-sized sheets, then the fixation capability is improved, but the heating belt may be damaged and temperature consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heating belt is configured to reciprocate in the axial direction of the internal heating roller, changing from a static to a dynamic configuration. This reciprocating motion distributes mechanical stress and thermal load across different sections of the heating belt over time, preventing localized damage accumulation when processing thick or large-sized sheets, thereby improving reliability while maintaining fixation capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the heating belt processes thick or large-sized sheets, then the fixation capability is improved, but uneven glossiness occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The reciprocating motion of the heating belt in the axial direction creates varying contact pressure and thermal distribution patterns during the fixing process. This dynamic adjustment ensures more uniform heat transfer and pressure application across thick or large-sized sheets, eliminating the uneven glossiness that would occur with a static heating belt configuration
3Device complexity
If the heating belt is stationary, then the device complexity is reduced, but the lifespan of the heating belt decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By making the heating belt reciprocate in the axial direction rather than remain completely stationary, the system distributes wear and thermal stress across multiple sections of the belt over time. This dynamic configuration, controlled by the rotation of the internal heating roller, extends the overall lifespan of the heating belt while adding only minimal complexity through the interaction between the roller and belt
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 ensures consistent fixation temperature, reduces the risk of heating belt damage, and prevents uneven glossiness, thereby improving image quality and extending the lifespan of the fixing device.
Implementation Method 1
The endless heating belt is wrapped around the heating member in a rotatable manner in a circumferential direction of the endless heating belt and heats the recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a heating member heating a recording medium to fix a developer image thereto; an endless heating belt rotatably wrapped around the heating member and heating the medium; a rotating member around which the belt is wrapped and having a fixed first axial end; a position detecting unit detecting a position of the belt when moved in first and second opposite directions parallel to an axial direction of the rotating member; and a controller controlling a rotational movement angle by which a second axial end of the rotating member is rotationally moved about the first end in an axis-intersecting direction based on information from the position detecting unit when the belt is moved in the first and second directions so that first and second speeds for respectively moving the belt in the first and second directions are made equal to or close to each other.