Heating System with Adjustable Holder for Non-Contact Toner Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing non-contact heating systems for fixing toner images on three-dimensional objects do not adjust the distance between the heat source and the object based on the object's thickness and material, leading to temperature deviations and potential fixing failures.
Innovation Solution
A heating system with a heat source, a holder, and an adjustment mechanism controlled by processors to adjust the height between the heat source and the object based on its thickness and material, ensuring optimal temperature control during the fixing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the distance between the heat source and the object is kept constant in the fixing step, then the device structure is simple, but the temperature of the object deviates from the ideal temperature depending on the thickness and material of the object, causing fixing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The holder height is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the distance between the heat source and object to be dynamically changed based on object characteristics. The adjustment mechanism enables the system to adapt to different object thicknesses and materials, ensuring optimal heating conditions for reliable fixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of holder height based on object thickness and material properties. By adjusting this parameter, the distance between the heat source and object is optimized for each specific case, preventing temperature deviation and ensuring consistent fixing performance across various objects.
2Manufacturing precision
If the holder height is adjusted based on object thickness and material, then the temperature control is optimized for each object, but the device complexity increases due to the adjustment mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The holder height is adjusted before the heating process begins, based on pre-measured object thickness and material characteristics. This preliminary adjustment ensures that the optimal distance is established in advance, allowing precise temperature control during heating without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex real-time mechanical adjustment systems with a simpler approach: pre-determining the optimal holder height based on object characteristics and setting it before heating. This substitution reduces the complexity of the control system while maintaining precise temperature control.
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 improves toner image fixing performance by maintaining ideal temperatures across various object thicknesses and materials, preventing fixing failures and enhancing the reliability of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
a heat source configured to heat, in a non-contact manner, an object onto which a toner image has been transferred
Data Source
AI summary
A heating system includes a heat source configured to heat, in a non-contact manner, an object onto which a toner image has been transferred, a holder configured to hold the object, an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a distance in a height direction between the heat source and the object, and one or more processors configured to control the adjustment mechanism. The one or more processors are configured to control a height of the holder based on at least one of a thickness or a material of the object prior to heating of the object by the heat source.