Induction Heating Fixer with Composite Rotator Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Induction heating fixers face a trade-off between achieving optimal eddy-current load for rapid heating and maintaining mechanical strength, as a thinner induction heating layer enhances heating efficiency but reduces flexural rigidity, leading to potential damage and difficulty in forming a sufficient fixing nip.
Innovation Solution
A fixer design incorporating a holder with an elastic layer and a fixing rotator with a heating layer, where the pressurizer's length matches or exceeds the heating layer's length in the width direction, ensuring adequate mechanical strength and flexibility to prevent damage and maintain a proper fixing nip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the induction heating layer is made thinner to enhance heating efficiency and reduce warm-up time, then the eddy-current load increases and heating performance improves, but the flexural rigidity of the fixing rotator decreases, leading to potential damage and difficulty in forming a sufficient fixing nip
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing rotator is constructed as a composite structure with an induction heating layer having different material properties than the base material. The heating layer has lower flexural rigidity for efficient induction heating, while the base material provides the necessary mechanical strength. This composite construction allows the thin heating layer (optimal for eddy-current heating) to be supported by the stronger base structure, resolving the contradiction between heating efficiency and mechanical strength.
2Loss of time
If the induction heating layer is made thinner to reduce heat capacity and save energy, then the warm-up time is shortened, but the mechanical strength and durability of the fixing rotator are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure separates the thermal function (thin induction heating layer for rapid heating) from the structural function (thicker base material for mechanical strength). This allows the heating layer to be thin enough for rapid warm-up and low energy consumption, while the base material compensates for the reduced mechanical strength, maintaining reliability and durability.
3Power
If the induction heating layer is made thinner to optimize eddy-current load, then the heating value increases, but the fixing rotator becomes more susceptible to damage from shearing forces and elastic repulsion
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction protects the thin, high-performance induction heating layer from mechanical damage. The base material with higher mechanical strength absorbs and distributes shearing forces and elastic repulsion, preventing damage to the fragile but high-efficiency heating layer. This allows optimization of eddy-current load without compromising durability.
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 balances heating efficiency with mechanical strength, preventing damage to the fixing rotator while maintaining an effective fixing nip for image fixation, thus enhancing the fixer's operational reliability and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
When electric current is applied to the induction coil 5 (shown in FIG. 1), a magnetic field of high-frequency waves is induced. Induction current occurs at a side near the induction coil 5 in the induction heating layer 2a. An outer surface of the fixing roller 3 is heated with joule heating.
Implementation Method 2
An outer surface of the fixing roller 3 is heated with joule heating.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixer configured to fix an image on an recording medium passing through a fixing nip includes a holder including an elastic layer, a fixing rotator including a heating layer, provided overlying the holder, and a pressurizer configured to pressurize the holder via the fixing rotator to form the fixing nip. A part of the pressurizer, which forms the fixing nip, has a length not less than a length of the heating layer in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium.