Image Heating Shutter Control for Small Paper Temperature Rise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image heating apparatuses experience excessive temperature rise in non-sheet passing areas when processing small-size recording materials, leading to potential cooling fan degradation and increased maintenance costs, due to inefficient heat management and limited compatibility with various paper sizes.
Innovation Solution
An image heating apparatus with an air blowing mechanism and a shutter system that controls air flow to the non-sheet passing area, keeping the shutter closed until the temperature reaches a predetermined level or a specific number of small-size recording materials have passed, thereby preventing excessive heat buildup and protecting the cooling fan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the heating rotary member is configured for large-size recording materials, then compatibility with various paper sizes is improved, but the non-sheet passing area becomes larger causing excessive temperature rise
Solution Approach 1:
The heating rotary member is divided into multiple heating zones with independent temperature control. Each zone can be controlled separately, allowing the system to heat only the areas where recording materials pass through, while maintaining lower temperatures in non-sheet passing areas. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling large-size material compatibility while preventing excessive temperature rise in unused areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the heating rotary member are assigned different thermal properties and control strategies. The sheet passing areas maintain high temperature for effective fixing, while non-sheet passing areas use cooling mechanisms or reduced heating to prevent excessive temperature rise. This local differentiation allows the system to accommodate various paper sizes without suffering from uniform overheating.
2Temperature
If cooling air is continuously blown to prevent temperature rise, then temperature control is improved, but the cooling fan degrades due to excessive ambient temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling air supply to the non-sheet passing area is activated periodically or on-demand based on temperature sensors, rather than continuously. When the temperature in non-sheet passing areas exceeds a threshold, cooling is activated; when temperatures are normal, cooling is stopped. This periodic operation maintains effective temperature control while significantly reducing the ambient temperature exposure of the cooling fan, thereby extending its lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors in the non-sheet passing areas provide feedback to the control system, which adjusts the cooling air supply accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures cooling is applied only when necessary, preventing both overheating and unnecessary continuous operation of the cooling fan. The feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by optimizing the balance between temperature control and fan reliability.
3Temperature
If heat supply is stopped between recording materials to cool the heating rotary member, then temperature control is improved, but productivity is lowered due to idling time
Solution Approach 1:
The heating rotary member is divided into multiple independently controlled heating zones. While one zone is actively heating a recording material, other zones can be cooled or maintained at lower temperatures. This allows continuous operation without requiring complete idling of the heating system, thereby maintaining productivity while achieving effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the heating rotary member have different operational states simultaneously - some zones are heating while others are cooling or idle. This localized differentiation allows the system to maintain overall productivity by ensuring at least one zone is always ready for the next recording material, while preventing excessive temperature rise in non-active areas through targeted cooling.
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 effectively suppresses temperature rise in non-sheet passing areas, prolongs the lifespan of the cooling fan, and maintains productivity by optimizing air cooling only when necessary, reducing maintenance costs and ensuring compatibility with diverse paper sizes.
Implementation Method 1
air blowing means for blowing air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the image heating member
Data Source
AI summary
An image heating apparatus including: an image heating member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blower, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the image heating member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, in which the shutter is kept at a closed position when a temperature of the predetermined area of the image heating member is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, whereby a temperature rise in a non-sheet passing portion can be efficiently reduced by using the small air blower without lowering the productivity when small-size recording materials are continuously passed nor reducing the lifetime of the air blower.