Induction Heating Coil Positioning for Fixer Warming Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixing devices with induction heating coils experience long warming-up times, leading to wastage of electric power due to heat radiation before the heated belt reaches the nip, necessitating a reduction in warming-up time to enhance energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An image forming device with a fixing device that incorporates an induction heating coil unit positioned to generate magnetic flux, where the coil is integrated with a mold and the heating element is on an endless belt, allowing direct heating of the nip portion between rollers, controlled by a controller to optimize heating time and reduce waste heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the induction heating coil is positioned away from the nip to secure the sheet transport path, then the sheet transport is secured, but the warming-up time becomes long and electric power is wasted due to heat radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the induction heating coil in the width direction (lateral dimension) rather than only in the rotation direction, allowing the coil to be placed at positions that do not interfere with sheet transport while still effectively heating the belt portions that will reach the nip
2Reliability
If the induction heating coil is positioned away from the nip to secure the sheet transport path, then the sheet transport is secured, but electric power is wasted due to continuous heating and heat radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the belt portions at upstream positions before they reach the nip, so that when these heated portions arrive at the nip, the fixing process can occur efficiently without requiring continuous heating throughout the entire belt
Solution Approach 2:
The induction heating coil operates periodically or intermittently to heat specific belt portions rather than continuously heating the entire belt, reducing energy consumption by activating heating only when and where needed
3Loss of time
If continuous heating is applied to reach fixing temperature quickly, then the warming-up time is reduced, but electric power consumption increases due to heat radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The induction heating coil heats only specific local portions of the belt rather than the entire belt uniformly, concentrating heating energy on the portions that will soon reach the nip while leaving other portions unheated or less heated
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
The solution enables rapid heating of the fixing device to the necessary temperature for image fixation, reducing warming-up time and minimizing power consumption, thereby improving the efficiency and productivity of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
a coil configured to have a coil hole facing the nip with a gap therebetween and generate the magnetic flux
Implementation Method 2
generate heat by magnetic flux
Data Source
AI summary
Certain embodiments provide an image forming device including: a print portion; a first roller provided in a sheet transportation direction; a heating element provided in either the first roller or an endless belt wound around the first roller and generates heat by magnetic flux; a second roller that forms a nip together with the heating element; a coil that has a coil hole facing the nip with a gap therebetween and generates the magnetic flux; an induction heating circuit that supplies the coil with a drive signal; an insulating mold that has a through hole facing the coil hole and supports the coil; a mechanism that transports the sheet through the through hole to the nip; and a controller that causes the mechanism to transport the sheet to the nip and the induction heating circuit to perform the induction-heating.