Heating Unit Cylinder Ribs for Temperature Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing temperature unevenness in the heating unit, which affects the quality of the printed images and the reliability of the fixing process.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a heating unit with a rotating cylinder having a heater with spaced heating elements, supported by upstream and downstream ribs and a guide member, which helps in maintaining uniform temperature distribution by guiding the rotation and reducing contact areas that could cause temperature drops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heater with continuous heating surface is used, then heating efficiency is improved, but temperature unevenness increases due to contact areas with support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is divided into multiple independent heating elements arranged in a matrix pattern, which segments the continuous heating surface into discrete zones. This segmentation prevents localized temperature drops at contact points while maintaining overall heating efficiency through the distributed array of heating elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are positioned to contact the rotating cylinder at locations that minimize interference with the heating elements. The heating elements are strategically arranged to provide local heating quality where needed while avoiding contact zones, creating non-uniform local heating distribution that results in uniform overall temperature.
2Stability of the object's composition
If support members with large contact area are used, then structural stability is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates due to increased heat conduction losses
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are segmented into multiple discrete support points rather than continuous contact surfaces. This segmentation reduces the total contact area while maintaining structural stability through distributed support, thereby minimizing heat conduction losses to the support structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members provide just enough contact area to maintain structural stability without excessive contact that would cause significant heat loss. The heating elements are provided in excess to compensate for the reduced contact area, ensuring sufficient heating coverage.
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 temperature uniformity within the heating unit, improving the printing quality and reducing the likelihood of temperature-related issues, thereby increasing the reliability and efficiency of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
A heater has a length in the first direction and a width in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The second direction is aligned with a rotational direction of the rotating cylinder.
Data Source
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AI summary
A heating unit includes a rotating cylinder rotating about an axis parallel to a first direction. A heater having a width in a second direction is on the inner surface of the cylinder. A support member holds the heater fixed relative to the cylinder and includes an upstream member adjacent to the heater in the second direction and a downstream member adj acent to the heater in the second direction. The support member has upstream ribs on the upstream member and downstream ribs on the downstream member, each rib having a curved shape facing the inner surface of the rotating cylinder and being spaced from each other in the first direction.