Heating Unit Circuit Topology for Heat Fixing Miniaturization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat fixing units in image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving both high heat generation performance and miniaturization, as increasing printing speed and energy efficiency require improved heat generation while preventing overheating-induced breakage of resistance heating elements and conductor patterns.
Innovation Solution
A heating unit comprising a metal board with insulating and protective layers, a heating element, and strategically positioned power supplying electrodes and conductor patterns that form an electric circuit, allowing for efficient heat generation while minimizing the circuit's footprint by utilizing the metal board as a conductive element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pattern widths of the resistance heating element and conductor pattern are thickened to prevent breakage due to overheating, then reliability is improved, but the heater cannot be miniaturized
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the conductor pattern and resistance heating element into a unified pattern structure where the same conductive material serves both functions. The pattern includes a first portion (conductor) and a second portion (heating element) with different resistance values, allowing the heater to be miniaturized without compromising reliability, as the thickened pattern design prevents breakage while maintaining compact dimensions
2Power
If the pattern widths are increased to improve heat generation performance, then power is improved, but the heater area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating different pattern portions with distinct electrical properties within the same heater structure. The first pattern portion has lower resistance for efficient power conduction, while the second pattern portion has higher resistance for heat generation. This allows optimized heat generation performance in specific localized areas without requiring overall pattern thickening that would increase the total heater area
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 ensures both high heat generation performance and miniaturization of the heating unit, preventing overheating-induced breakage and enabling efficient energy use in image forming apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element disposed on the insulating layer and configured to generate heat by passing an electric current through the heating element
Data Source
AI summary
A heating unit includes a board including metal, an insulating layer including insulating material and formed on a surface of the board, a heating element disposed on the insulating layer to generate heat by passing an electric current through the heating element, and a conductive portion electrically connecting the heating element and the board to each other. The heating unit further includes a first power supplying electrode electrically connected to the heating element and a second power supplying electrode electrically connected to the board. The heating element, the conductive portion and the board constitute an electric circuit between the first power supplying electrode and the second power supplying electrode. The heating element generates the heat in a case where the first power supplying electrode and the second power supplying electrode are electrically connected to a power source and the electric current is passed through the electric circuit.