Infrared Preheating Glossiness Control in Image Forming Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming devices, the temperature rise of the conveying unit due to preheating causes variations in glossiness among images formed on multiple recording media, leading to differences in image quality.

Innovation Solution

The conveying unit is designed with a material that maintains a maximum temperature equal to or lower than the recording medium when heated by the preheating unit, preventing heat transfer and ensuring consistent image formation across multiple sheets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the preheating unit heats the recording medium, then the toner image can be fixed properly, but the conveying unit temperature rises causing glossiness variation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner image fixationVSAvoidglossiness consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A reflective member is introduced as an intermediary between the preheating unit and the conveying unit. This reflective member redirects the infrared radiation away from the conveying unit while allowing it to continue heating the recording medium, thus preventing unwanted heat transfer to the conveying unit that causes glossiness variation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The preheating unit continues to operate continuously to maintain proper toner image fixation, while the reflective member ensures that the heat application remains effective for the recording medium without causing harmful side effects on the conveying unit temperature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Manufacturing precision

If the conveying unit is made of heat-resistant material to prevent temperature rise, then glossiness consistency is maintained, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglossiness consistencyVSAvoidconveying unit material selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than requiring the conveying unit to be made from special heat-resistant materials, a reflective member is placed between the preheating unit and conveying unit to block heat transfer. This allows the use of conventional, easier-to-manufacture conveying unit materials while maintaining glossiness consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution replaces the need for special material selection (mechanical/material property approach) with a structural arrangement using a reflective member (geometric/optical approach) to achieve the same goal of preventing temperature rise in the conveying unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 prevents temperature-induced variations in glossiness between the first and subsequent images, maintaining consistent image quality throughout the process.

Implementation Method 1

a preheating unit disposed upstream of the main heating unit in a conveying direction of the recording medium and configured to heat, in a non-contact state, the recording medium being conveyed by the conveying unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation heating: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

When the preheating unit heats the recording medium, if a temperature of a portion of the conveying unit that is in contact with the recording medium is higher than a temperature of the recording medium, heat of the conveying unit is transferred to the recording medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11467518B2Image forming device with infrared heater and reflective conveying unit

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

Provided is an image forming device including: a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium while rotating, in a state of being in contact with a back surface of the recording medium having a front surface on which a toner image is transferred; a main heating unit configured to heat the conveyed recording medium to fix the toner image on the recording medium; and a preheating unit disposed upstream of the main heating unit in a conveying direction of the recording medium and configured to heat, in a non-contact state, the recording medium being conveyed by the conveying unit, a portion of the conveying unit that is in contact with the recording medium being formed of a material that makes a maximum temperature of the portion be equal to or lower than a temperature of the recording medium when the recording medium is heated by the preheating unit.