Movable Heating Roller for Thermal Transfer Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing thermal transfer apparatus experiences unnecessary or excessive heating of the film due to the heat roller remaining in contact with it before a sheet is inserted for foil layer transfer onto a toner image.
Innovation Solution
A thermal transfer apparatus with a movable heating roller that changes positions based on the cover's open or closed state, ensuring the roller is separated from the film when not in use to prevent excessive heating, utilizing a cam mechanism and gear system to control the roller's position relative to the film.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat roller remains in contact with the film when the cover is closed, then the film is continuously heated, but this causes unnecessary or excessive heating of the film before a sheet is inserted for transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The heating roller is made movable between a film contact position and a retracted position, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on operational needs. When the cover is closed and no sheet is present, the roller retracts to avoid contact with the film, preventing excessive heating. When a sheet is inserted, the roller moves to the contact position to perform the heating function.
Solution Approach 2:
A cam mechanism is introduced as an intermediary device to control the heating roller's position. The cam, driven by a cam gear that meshes with the cover's gear, automatically moves the heating roller between contact and retracted positions in response to cover opening and closing actions, eliminating the need for direct manual control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the heating roller is moved to contact the film only when needed, then excessive heating is prevented, but this requires additional mechanical components to control the roller position
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism for the heating roller is merged with the existing cover opening/closing mechanism. The cam gear meshes with the cover's gear, so that the single rotational motion of the cover simultaneously performs two functions: opening/closing the cover and actuating the cam to position the heating roller. This integration avoids adding an independent control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating roller positioning system is designed to be self-actuating through the cam mechanism. As the cover is opened or closed by user action, the cam automatically converts this motion into the corresponding movement of the heating roller, eliminating the need for separate actuators, sensors, or control systems.
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 effectively reduces unnecessary heating of the film by ensuring the heating roller is only in contact with the film when necessary, optimizing the transfer process and preventing damage or inefficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The cam is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The first roller is contacting a portion of the film when the cam is at the first position. The first roller is spaced from the film when the cam is at the second position.
Implementation Method 2
The cam gear has teeth on entire circumference of the cam gear and rotatable together with the cam on the same axis as the cam. The partially toothless gear comprises a first diameter gear. The first diameter gear comprises a toothed portion on a portion of circumference of the first diameter gear and a toothless portion on the other portion of circumference of the first diameter gear.
Implementation Method 3
The first roller is configured to heat both the film and the toner.
Implementation Method 4
the heat roller remains in contact with a portion the film, thereby causing unnecessary or excessive heating of the film by the heat roller
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal transfer apparatus is disclosed. The thermal transfer apparatus has a heating roller movable between a film contact position and a retracted position. The thermal transfer apparatus also includes a nip roller positioned opposed to the heating roller when the heating roller is in the film contact position. The heating roller is moved from the film contact position to the retracted position in response to opening of the cover and is not moved from the retracted position to the film contact position during closing of the cover.