Heating Unit Length vs Facing Portion in Image Forming
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heating devices used for image forming apparatuses, temperature distribution in facing portions can occur when the length of the heating unit is equal to or less than the facing portion, leading to inefficiencies and potential contact issues with transported materials.
Innovation Solution
A heating device configuration where the length of the heating unit in the transport direction is longer than the facing portion, and the heating unit's length in an intersecting direction is also longer than the facing portion's length, preventing temperature distribution and ensuring consistent heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the length of the heating unit in the transport direction is equal to or less than the length of the facing portion in the transport direction, then the device complexity is reduced, but temperature distribution occurs in the facing portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the heating unit, specifically making its length in the transport direction longer than the facing portion length. This parameter change eliminates temperature distribution in the facing portion while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
2Device complexity
If the length of the heating unit in the intersecting direction is equal to or less than the length of the facing portion in the intersecting direction, then the device complexity is reduced, but temperature distribution occurs in the facing portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the heating unit in the intersecting direction, making its length longer than the facing portion length. This parameter change prevents temperature distribution while keeping the device structure manageable.
3Device complexity
If the heating unit length is insufficient relative to the facing portion, then the device complexity is reduced, but the risk of material contact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent increases the heating unit length in both transport and intersecting directions relative to the facing portion. This dimensional adjustment prevents transported material from contacting the facing portion while avoiding excessive device complexity.
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 prevents temperature distribution in the facing portion, reducing the risk of material contact and maintaining efficient heating, thus enhancing the reliability and performance of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device that performs fixing, drying, and pre-fixing preheating on an unfixed print image formed on a transfer material such as a printing sheet using an infrared radiation heater
Data Source
AI summary
A heating device includes: a heating unit configured to heat a transported material being transported in a transport direction in a non-contact manner with respect to the transported material; and a facing portion that is disposed on a side opposite to the heating unit with respect to the transported material and faces the heating unit in a facing direction intersecting the transport direction, wherein a length of the heating unit in the transport direction is longer than a length of the facing portion in the transport direction, or a length of the heating unit in an intersecting direction intersecting the transport direction and the facing direction is longer than a length of the facing portion in the intersecting direction.