Planar Heating Element Gloss Processing for Bubble-Free Toner Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging apparatuses face challenges in achieving smooth toner images due to bubble formation and roughness caused by excessive heating, which deteriorates image quality and requires a trade-off between heating time and printing speed.
Innovation Solution
The imaging apparatus incorporates a gloss processing device with a planar heating element and a pressing roller, where the heated surface is longer than the pressing region, allowing for extended heating time without reducing conveying speed, and includes additional heating rollers and an assisting roller to improve heating efficiency and prevent bubble formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If heating temperature is increased to improve toner image smoothness, then melting effect is enhanced, but bubble formation increases causing image deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the heating parameter from high temperature to extended heating time at controlled temperature. The heating unit heats the toner image over a prolonged period rather than using high temperature, which prevents bubble formation while achieving sufficient melting for smoothness.
2Manufacturing precision
If heating time is extended to improve toner image smoothness, then melting is more complete, but printing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the heating process in the time dimension by using a heating unit that operates over an extended period. This allows complete melting and smoothness without requiring high temperature that would necessitate longer heating time, thereby maintaining printing speed.
3Productivity
If heating temperature is increased to maintain printing speed, then processing time is reduced, but toner image roughness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the heating parameters from high temperature/short time to controlled temperature/extended time. The heating unit maintains a temperature that prevents roughness while extending the heating duration to achieve complete melting, thus maintaining both printing speed and image quality.
4Device complexity
If conventional heating method is used to simplify device structure, then device complexity is low, but bubble generation occurs deteriorating image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a heating unit with controlled temperature parameters that prevent bubble generation. By maintaining temperature within a specific range and extending heating time, the system achieves complete toner melting without bubble formation, improving image quality without requiring complex device structures.
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 configuration enables smoother toner images by suppressing bubble generation and improving image quality while maintaining high printing efficiency, as the toner image is heated and melted over a longer distance without increasing the heating temperature or reducing the number of printed sheets per hour.
Implementation Method 1
a planar heating element 74...heating the toner image
Implementation Method 2
the toner image is heated and melted over a longer distance
Implementation Method 3
includes a cooling device 76...cooling the heated toner image
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system includes: a conveyor belt that conveys a medium having a toner image fixed thereto, along a conveying route; a heating element to heat the conveyor belt; and a pressing roller to press the conveyor belt against the heating element. The heating element may have a planar surface adjacent to an inner peripheral surface of the conveyor belt.