Image Heating Device With Multi-Block Heater And Extended Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image heating devices for electrophotographic recording, temperature rises in non-passing regions can damage components or cause toner offset, especially when handling different paper sizes, and existing solutions with multiple heat generating blocks increase the number of temperature detecting elements needed.
Innovation Solution
An image heating device with a heater having two heat generating blocks and a temperature detecting element that extends across both, allowing the controller to adjust power distribution to maintain uniform temperature and prevent overheating, reducing the need for multiple temperature detecting elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat generating resistor is divided into multiple heat generating blocks to suppress temperature rise in sheet non-passing portions, then temperature distribution uniformity is improved, but the number of temperature detecting elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single temperature detecting element is designed to monitor multiple heat generating blocks simultaneously. The element detects temperatures at different positions along the heater's longitudinal direction, enabling one component to perform the function of multiple detecting elements and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple temperature detection functions are merged into a single temperature detecting element. By positioning this element to extend across multiple heat generating blocks, the patent combines several monitoring tasks into one integrated solution, reducing the total number of components required.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of heat generating blocks increases to improve temperature control precision, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature detecting element is designed with multi-functional capability to monitor multiple heat generating blocks. This allows the system to maintain high temperature control precision through multiple monitoring points while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from having separate detecting elements for each block.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature detecting element is positioned to extend across specific regions of multiple heat generating blocks, enabling localized temperature monitoring at critical positions. This selective positioning allows precise temperature control in different areas without requiring a detecting element at every possible location.
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 effectively manages temperature distribution across the heater, preventing overheating and damage, while reducing the complexity and cost of temperature monitoring systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat generating block which is formed on the substrate and generates heat by supplied power
Implementation Method 2
a temperature detecting element and a controller to which a signal from the temperature detecting element is input
Data Source
AI summary
An image heating device includes a heater having a substrate, a first heat generating block which is formed on the substrate and generates heat by supplied power, and a second heat generating block which is arranged at a position different from a position at which the first heat generating block is arranged in a longitudinal direction of the substrate. The device also includes a temperature detecting element and a controller to which a signal from the temperature detecting element is input. The controller controls a ratio of power supplied to the first heat generating block to power supplied to the second heat generating block to thereby switch heat generation distribution of the heater, and the temperature detecting element is arranged so as to extend across both of the first heat generating block and the second heat generating block.