Ink Jet Recording Apparatus Guide Member Pre-heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ink jet image forming apparatus consumes a significant amount of power when the heating device applies heat only at the fixing nip portion, leading to inefficient energy usage.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a guide member that pre-heats the recording medium before it enters the fixing nip portion, reducing the heat application intensity at the nip portion and thus lowering power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If heat is applied only at the fixing nip portion, then the structure is simple, but power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented into two distinct components: the guide member that performs preliminary heating before the nip portion, and the heating rotary member that performs final heating at the nip portion. This segmentation allows each component to operate at lower power levels, reducing total power consumption while maintaining effective curl prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member performs preliminary heating of the recording medium before it reaches the fixing nip portion. This preliminary action reduces the temperature differential that must be overcome at the nip portion, thereby reducing the power required by the main heating device and overall power consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If heat is applied only at the fixing nip portion, then the heating device structure is simple, but the heating efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The heating process is divided into two stages performed by different components: preliminary heating by the guide member and final heating by the heating rotary member at the nip portion. This segmentation improves heating efficiency by distributing the thermal load across multiple components rather than concentrating all heating requirements at a single point
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member performs preliminary heating before the recording medium enters the fixing nip portion, preparing the medium for more efficient final heating. This preliminary action increases overall heating efficiency by reducing the energy required at the critical nip portion where curl prevention occurs
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
By pre-heating the recording medium with the guide member, the apparatus reduces power consumption while maintaining effective heat and pressure application to prevent curling of the recording medium.
Implementation Method 1
a heating rotary member configured to heat the recording medium and a pressing rotary member configured to press the heating rotary member, the pressing rotary member and the heating rotary member forming a nip portion configured to transmit heat and a pressure at the nip portion to the recording medium being conveyed
Implementation Method 2
the guide member is located between the nip portion and the drying device on the conveyance path and the downstream end portion of the guide member is disposed on a heating rotary member side with respect to a tangent line of the pressing rotary member drawn from a center of the nip portion
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet recording apparatus includes an image forming unit, a drying device, a heating device to heat a recording medium, and a guide member having a downstream end portion. The image forming unit discharges ink to form an image on the recording medium. The drying device dries the recording medium on which the ink has been discharged. The heating device includes a heating rotary member and a pressing rotary member to form a nip portion to transmit heat and pressure at the nip portion to the recording medium being conveyed on a conveyance path. The guide member is located between the nip portion and the drying device on the conveyance path and the downstream end portion of the guide member is disposed on a heating rotary member side with respect to a tangent line of the pressing rotary member drawn from a center of the nip portion.