Heating Member Contact Pressure Control for Fixing Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with fixing failures due to temperature differences between heating and pressure members during warm-up, leading to potential durability issues in the heating member.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a control mechanism that adjusts the contact pressure between the heating and pressure members based on temperature and elapsed time, using sensors to ensure the heating member and pressure member contact at a lower pressure during warm-up to prevent temperature drops and reduce durability degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the pressure member is pressed against the heating member during warm-up operation, then the temperature of the pressure member rises, but the temperature of the heating member drops significantly causing fixing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The heating member is heated to a predetermined temperature before the pressure member is pressed against it. This preliminary heating action ensures that when the pressure member contacts the heating member, the heating member maintains sufficient temperature to prevent fixing failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs periodic warm-up operations where the heating member is heated in advance, then the pressure member is pressed against it for a predetermined time period. This periodic cycling of heating and pressing actions maintains optimal temperatures for reliable fixing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the heating member and pressure member are always pressed against each other during warm-up, then the temperature uniformity improves, but permanent deformation occurs in the heating member and durability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure member is pressed against the heating member for a predetermined time period during warm-up, then separated. This periodic contact rather than continuous contact allows the heating member to maintain temperature uniformity while avoiding permanent deformation and durability deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating member is heated to the target temperature before the pressure member is pressed against it. This preliminary heating ensures temperature uniformity is achieved without requiring prolonged or repeated pressing operations that would cause deformation.
3Power
If the contact pressure between heating member and pressure member is high during warm-up, then heat transfer efficiency improves, but the heating member temperature drops and fixing failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The heating member is heated to a higher temperature before the pressure member is pressed against it. This preliminary heating compensates for the temperature drop that occurs during contact, allowing efficient heat transfer without causing fixing failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system alternates between heating the heating member and pressing the pressure member against it. This periodic operation allows the heating member to recover temperature between pressing cycles, maintaining both heat transfer efficiency and sufficient operating temperature.
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 effectively prevents fixing failures by maintaining optimal temperature differences and reducing the risk of durability deterioration in the heating member, ensuring reliable image formation.
Implementation Method 1
a heating member that heats a recording sheet
Implementation Method 2
a pressure member that presses the recording sheet between the heating member and the pressure member
Implementation Method 3
controls the adjustment mechanism so as to cause the heating member and the pressure member to contact at a contact pressure that is lower than a contact pressure between the heating member and the pressure member at a time of image formation
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is provided that includes: a heating member that heats a recording sheet; a pressure member that presses the recording sheet between the heating member and the pressure member; an adjustment mechanism that causes the heating member and the pressure member to contact or to separate; and a control section that, at a time of a warm-up operation or an idling operation, based on a predetermined condition, controls the adjustment mechanism so as to cause the heating member and the pressure member to contact at a contact pressure that is lower than a contact pressure between the heating member and the pressure member at a time of image formation or is approximately identical to the contact pressure at a time of image formation.