Heating Unit Chassis Pressurizer for Image Forming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image-forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining heating stability of recording materials due to air inflow into the heating unit, particularly at higher conveyance velocities, leading to reduced temperature uniformity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An image-forming apparatus with a chassis that includes a pressurizer to increase air pressure within the heating unit, restricting air inflow and featuring a recording-material inlet with a larger opening area than the outlet, which helps maintain stable temperature control by preventing air cooling of the heating units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a contactless heating unit using a sheathed heater is used to avoid surface damage, then the recording material surface is not damaged, but heating stability is lowered due to air inflow
Solution Approach 1:
A chassis is introduced as an intermediary structure that encloses the heating unit and recording material. The chassis creates a controlled environment that prevents air inflow while allowing the heating unit to function contactlessly, thus maintaining both surface integrity and heating stability
Solution Approach 2:
The chassis creates a sealed environment around the heating unit, effectively creating an inert atmosphere that prevents unstable air currents from interfering with the heating process. This sealed environment maintains consistent thermal conditions without requiring direct contact
2Productivity
If the conveyance velocity of the recording material is increased to improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but heating stability is reduced due to air inflow into the heating unit
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis acts as a mediator that decouples the relationship between conveyance velocity and heating stability. By enclosing the heating zone, the chassis allows faster conveyance without compromising thermal stability, as the sealed environment prevents air inflow regardless of material speed
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the environmental parameters within the heating unit by sealing it with a chassis. This parameter change (from open to enclosed environment) allows the system to maintain heating stability across a wider range of conveyance velocities
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 enhances the heating stability and temperature uniformity of the recording material, ensuring accurate temperature control and improved heating efficiency even at increased conveyance velocities.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurizer that is provided in the chassis and increases the air pressure in the chassis
Implementation Method 2
a recording-material heating unit that heats the recording material disposed in an upstream side in the direction of conveyance of the recording material by the conveyer with respect to the image-former
Data Source
AI summary
An image-forming apparatus which can improve the heating stability of the recording material in the heating unit is provided. An image-forming apparatus constitutes an image forming apparatus having: a recording-material heating unit disposed in an upstream side of an image-former; a chassis that covers the recording-material heating unit; a pressurizer that is provided in the chassis and increases an air pressure in the chassis; and a gas inflow opening that is provided in the chassis and supplies air to the pressurizer from outside the chassis.