Porous Silver Fixing Rotating Member for Resistance Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The resistance of a fixing rotating member using a silver nano-ink heat generating layer increases in the paper non-passing portion when a high temperature state continues for a long time, leading to uneven heat generation and deteriorated fixing properties for larger-sized paper.
Innovation Solution
A fixing rotating member is designed with a heat generating layer comprising silver, partially filled with silicon dioxide, and having pores, along with a silicon dioxide layer on its outer peripheral surface to reduce resistance and enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a silver nano-ink heat generating layer is used to reduce uneven heat generation, then heat distribution is improved, but resistance increases in high-temperature environments leading to deteriorated fixing properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines silver particles with a resin matrix to form a composite heat generating layer. The silver particles (0.1-10 μm) are dispersed in the resin, creating a composite material that maintains low resistance even at high temperatures while providing uniform heat generation. This composite structure prevents the resistance increase issue of pure silver layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the particle size of silver within 0.1-10 μm and adjusts the silver content (1-50 mass%) to optimize both heat generation uniformity and resistance stability. By changing these parameters, the heat generating layer achieves consistent performance in high-temperature environments without resistance increase.
2Reliability
If the heat generating layer is made thin to improve bending resistance, then durability is improved, but heat generation uniformity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin heat generating layer (1-10 μm) made of silver particles dispersed in resin, which provides excellent flexibility and bending resistance. The resin matrix allows the thin layer to flex without cracking, while the particle dispersion ensures uniform heat generation throughout the thin structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat generating layer has a porous structure with the silver particles distributed within the resin matrix. This porous configuration allows the layer to be thin yet maintain structural integrity and heat generation uniformity, as the particles are distributed throughout the volume rather than requiring a thick continuous layer.
3Reliability
If continuous heating is applied to maintain fixing temperature, then fixing reliability is improved, but temperature becomes excessively high in paper non-passing portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the thermal properties of the heat generating layer by using silver particles in a resin matrix, which changes the heat distribution pattern. This allows the layer to generate heat more uniformly and dissipate it effectively, preventing excessive temperature buildup in areas where paper does not pass through, while still maintaining adequate fixing temperature where needed.
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 design maintains durability and prevents resistance increase, ensuring consistent heat generation and improved fixing properties even in high-temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
A fixing device of an electromagnetic induction heating system has been developed and put into practical use, the fixing device having a heat generating layer on a fixing rotating member and being able to directly heat the heat generating layer.
Implementation Method 2
the heat generating layer has approximately submicron pores. For this reason, pores exhibit damper effects even for stress in a compression direction due to pressurization and heating
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing rotating member, containing a resin base material, a heat generating layer extending on an outer peripheral surface of the resin base material, a silicon dioxide layer on an outer peripheral surface of the heat generating layer and on the outer peripheral surface of the resin base material in a region where the heat generating layer is not provided, and a resin layer on an outer peripheral surface of the silicon dioxide layer. The heat generating layer includes silver, the heat generating layer has a hole having an opening at a surface thereof facing the resin layer, the hole being at least partially filled with silicon dioxide, and the heat generating layer has pores.