Heating Element Segmentation for Image Fixing Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image heating apparatuses face instability in recording material conveyance due to uneven temperature distribution in the longitudinal direction of the fixing film and pressure roller, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The image heating apparatus includes a tubular film, a heater with multiple heating elements, a roller, a temperature detecting portion, an acquiring portion for recording material information, and a control portion that individually controls the heating elements based on the recording material information to maintain a stable temperature distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple heating regions are controlled at different temperatures based on recording material size, then heating efficiency is improved, but temperature distribution uniformity deteriorates causing unstable conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is divided into multiple heating regions (first heating region, second heating region, third heating region) along the conveyance direction. Each region can be independently controlled to match the actual recording material size, preventing heat accumulation in unused regions while maintaining efficient heating in active regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control portion dynamically adjusts the temperature of each heating region based on the detected recording material size. When material size changes, the system reconfigures which heating regions are active and at what temperatures, allowing flexible adaptation to different material dimensions while maintaining uniform temperature distribution across the active heating zones.
2Speed
If high temperature is applied to all heating regions, then heating speed is improved, but heat accumulation in non-passing regions causes conveyance instability
Solution Approach 1:
Different heating regions are assigned different temperature levels based on whether they are actually passed by the recording material. The first heating region (where material passes) is heated to a higher temperature for efficient processing, while the second heating region (where material does not pass) is heated to a lower temperature to prevent heat accumulation and maintain conveyance stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature detecting portion continuously monitors the temperature of heating regions, and the control portion uses this feedback information to adjust heating power. When the recording material size is detected to be smaller than expected, the system reduces power to heating regions that will not be passed, preventing overheating while maintaining adequate heating for the actual material size.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If low temperature is applied to heating regions, then heat accumulation is prevented, but heating insufficientness in passing regions reduces processing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion determines in advance which heating regions will be passed by the recording material based on the detected material size, and pre-configures the temperature settings accordingly. This preliminary identification allows the system to apply high temperature only to regions that will actually be passed, ensuring adequate heating for processing quality while avoiding heat accumulation in regions that will not be passed.
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 solution stabilizes the conveyance of recording materials and prevents damage to the apparatus by accurately determining whether a heating region is a passing or non-passing zone, thereby preventing overheating or underheating.
Implementation Method 1
a heater that is disposed in an inner space of the film and includes a plurality of heating elements arranged in a longitudinal direction of the heater
Implementation Method 2
a temperature detecting portion configured to detect temperature of a plurality of heating regions which are heated by the plurality of heating elements respectively
Data Source
AI summary
Whether a first heating region is actually a passing heating region or a non-passing heating region which a recording material does not pass through, is detected by the temperature detected by a temperature detecting portion, based on a difference between a detected temperature by a temperature detecting portion in a reference heating region, which is specified to a heating region including a conveyance reference position of the recording material, and a detected temperature in a first heating region which does not include the conveyance reference position and is specified to a passing heating region which the recording material passing through. In a case where it is determined that the first heating region is the non-passing heating region, a prevention control, to prevent overheat of the first heating region is performed in the heating processing of the recording material that passes the nip portion after the determination.