Laser Fixing Lens with Light-Blocking Contact Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in effectively fixing toner to a recording medium using laser light, particularly in ensuring efficient energy transfer and preventing laser light leakage, which can lead to component deformation and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device incorporating a transparent tube, a counter roller, and a lens pad with a light emerging surface coated to block laser light, where the lens pad condenses and applies laser light to the toner image, ensuring efficient energy transfer and minimizing light leakage by using a material that does not transmit laser light in the contact area with the counter roller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a lens is used to condense laser light for toner fixation, then the efficiency of energy transfer is improved, but laser light may leak from the contact area causing component deformation and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The lens surface in the contact area is selectively coated with a light-blocking material to create different optical properties in different regions. The coating is applied only to the peripheral surface that contacts the roller, while the central optical surface remains transparent to allow light transmission. This local differentiation prevents light leakage at the contact interface while maintaining condensing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful effect of light leakage into a beneficial sealing function. By coating the contact surface with light-blocking material, the same area that could cause leakage is transformed into a light-tight seal, preventing harmful radiation while maintaining the mechanical contact necessary for toner fixation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the lens surface is coated to block laser light, then light leakage is prevented, but the transmission of laser light through the lens may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is applied selectively only to the peripheral contact surface of the lens, while the central optical transmission surface remains uncoated and transparent. This spatial differentiation ensures that light blocking occurs only where contact with the roller prevents transmission anyway, while the main optical path remains clear for efficient energy transfer.
3Reliability
If the contact area between roller and condensing member is increased, then toner fixation reliability is improved, but the area susceptible to light leakage and component damage is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the contact interface, which could be a source of light leakage and component damage, into a light-tight seal. By coating the contact surface with light-blocking material, the increased contact area becomes advantageous for toner fixation reliability while simultaneously preventing harmful light leakage, thus converting a potential harm into a benefit.
4Use of energy by moving object
If a transparent tube is used to guide laser light, then light transmission is maintained, but the tube may deform under laser heat affecting positioning precision
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the light transmission function from the transparent tube and relocates it to the uncoated central surface of the lens. The tube is then freed from its light-guiding role and can be made of heat-resistant material focused solely on mechanical support and positioning, eliminating the conflict between transparency and heat resistance.
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 efficient fixation of toner images with controlled temperature profiles, reducing light leakage and preventing component damage, while ensuring safe operation by effectively utilizing laser energy for toner fixation.
Implementation Method 1
the lens condensing the laser light that has entered from the first surface and emitting the laser light from the second surface
Implementation Method 2
A portion of the second surface is made of a material that blocks the laser light
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a light source that emits laser light; a condensing member including a lens having a first surface from which the laser light enters and a second surface from which the laser light emerges, the lens condensing the laser light that has entered from the first surface and emitting the laser light from the second surface; and a roller provided in contact with the condensing member and that transports a recording medium advanced into a position between the roller and the condensing member. A portion of the second surface is made of a material that blocks the laser light. In a section perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the roller, a plane of contact between the roller and the condensing member includes at least a part of the portion made of the material that blocks the laser light.