Heating Device Contact Mechanism for Temperature Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temperature unevenness occurs in the rotation axis direction of a rotating body in heating devices, such as pressure rollers, due to differences in temperature distribution between the central and end portions, leading to issues like wrinkle formation and fixing unevenness in recording media during the image forming process.
Innovation Solution
A heating device configuration where the rotating body is in contact with the heating body only at the central portion of the rotation axis direction during the job interval after the material passes through, with reduced contact area at the end portions, allowing for faster recovery from temperature unevenness by adjusting the contact mechanism to maintain heating only at the central portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the rotating body is in contact with the heating body at both end portions and central portion throughout the rotation axis direction, then the heating coverage is sufficient, but the temperature unevenness in the rotation axis direction increases due to continuous heating at end portions
Solution Approach 1:
The contact mechanism is configured to dynamically adjust the contact area between the rotating body and heating body based on the operational state. During the job interval, the contact area is reduced to only the central portion, allowing the end portions to cool down and equalize temperature with the central portion, thereby reducing temperature unevenness and improving heating recovery speed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the rotating body are treated differently in terms of heating contact. The central portion maintains full contact with the heating body for continuous heating, while the end portions have reduced contact area, allowing them to be less heated and thus equalize temperature with the central portion, reducing overall temperature unevenness.
2Temperature
If the contact area between rotating body and heating body is reduced at end portions, then temperature unevenness is reduced, but the heating efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The central portion of the rotating body maintains continuous contact with the heating body throughout the job interval, ensuring continuous and efficient heating at the most critical area. This continuous heating action at the central portion compensates for the reduced heating at the end portions, maintaining overall heating efficiency while achieving temperature uniformity.
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 reduces temperature unevenness in the rotating body in a shorter time, preventing wrinkles and fixing unevenness in the recording media, thereby improving the quality of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
a heating body configured to rotate together with the rotating body, and heat a material to be heated while sandwiching and transporting the material to be heated between the heating body and the rotating body
Data Source
AI summary
A heating device includes: a rotating body; a heating body as defined herein; and a contact mechanism, in a non-existence state where a material to be heated does not exist between the rotating body and the heating body after the material to be heated passes between the rotating body and the heating body, configured to cause the rotating body to be in contact with the heating body at a central portion of the rotating body in a rotation axis direction of the rotating body, so that an area of the rotating body in contact with the heating body is smaller at each of both end portions of the rotating body than at the central portion of the rotating body in the rotation axis direction, or configured to switch the rotating body between a first contact state and a second contact state as defined herein.