Movable Guide Bushing for Fixing Belt Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fixing apparatuses in image forming devices suffer from wear and damage due to the meandering motion of the fixing belt, which causes scratches or grooves on the guide bushing, leading to stress and potential damage to the belt.
Innovation Solution
The proposed fixing apparatus incorporates movable guide bushings with a moving member that aligns with the rotation trajectory of the fixing belt, reducing stress and wear by allowing the belt to move smoothly without interference, thus minimizing contact with the guide bushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed guide bushing is used to support the fixing belt, then the belt rotation trajectory is constrained, but the belt experiences stress and wear due to meandering motion causing scratches or grooves on the guide bushing
Solution Approach 1:
The guide bushing is divided into a fixed member and a moving member. The moving member can move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the fixing belt, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to accommodate the meandering motion of the belt while maintaining support functionality.
2Reliability
If the guide bushing is made movable to reduce stress on the fixing belt, then belt wear is reduced, but the guide bushing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guide bushing is segmented into a fixed member (support portion) and a moving member. The moving member includes a receiving groove that accommodates the end of the fixing belt, allowing localized movement without requiring the entire guide bushing structure to be complex.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes: a fixing belt; a pressure roller configured to face the fixing belt; a nip forming member configured to be disposed inside the fixing belt and press the fixing belt to the pressure roller to form a nip; and first and second guide bushings configured to be disposed at both ends of the nip forming member, respectively, in which the first and second guide bushings each support both end supports both ends of the fixing belt in a state in which a part thereof is movable.