Removable Polishing Unit for Fixing Belt Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices require service personnel to replace or polish scratched fixing belts, leading to downtime and high replacement costs, and result in the unnecessary upsizing of the image forming apparatus due to the need for a dedicated polishing unit.
Innovation Solution
A portable rubbing unit with a rotary and pivoting member configuration that allows users to attach and detach a rubbing member to polish the fixing belt without requiring service intervention, enabling on-site maintenance and downsizing of the fixing device by only adding the polishing unit during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a polishing unit is permanently provided in the fixing device to automatically restore scratched belts, then service personnel are not needed and maintenance can be performed automatically, but the fixing device becomes upsized and requires additional components like motors and polishing rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The polishing function is extracted from the fixed device and implemented as a separate, removable rubbing unit. This allows the polishing capability to be available when needed while not permanently increasing the size of the fixing device. The rubbing unit can be detached and stored when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The rubbing unit is designed to be dynamically attachable and detachable from the fixing device. The support member can be attached to the pivoting member when maintenance is needed and removed when not needed, allowing the system to adapt between maintenance mode and normal operation mode.
2Reliability
If service personnel replace the entire fixing device when the belt is scratched, then a new functional unit is provided, but the apparatus stops working during replacement and incurs high replacement costs
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system is segmented into the main fixing device and the separate rubbing unit. This allows the rubbing unit to be independently attached and detached without affecting the core fixing functionality. The fixing belt can be restored in place without removing or replacing the entire fixing device.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire fixing device when the belt is scratched, the invention recovers the belt's functionality by attaching the rubbing unit to polish and restore the scratched surface. This preserves the existing fixing device and belt while restoring their function.
3Ease of manufacture
If service personnel manually polish the belt using tools, then replacement costs are reduced, but proper contact pressure setting requires service person expertise and cannot be performed by users
Solution Approach 1:
The rubbing unit is designed to be easily attachable and detachable by users without requiring service personnel expertise. The support member can be简单地 attached to the pivoting member, and the rubbing member automatically contacts the fixing belt when the pivoting member is closed, allowing users to perform maintenance themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting member acts as an intermediary that automatically transmits the closing force to the rubbing member, ensuring proper contact pressure between the rubbing member and the fixing belt. This eliminates the need for users to manually adjust contact pressure settings.
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
Enables users to perform maintenance on the fixing device without service personnel, reducing downtime and costs, and prevents the need for a permanent polishing unit, thus downsizing the fixing device.
Implementation Method 1
a rubbing member that is held by the support member and that makes contact with the rotary member so as to polish a surface of the rotary member
Data Source
AI summary
A polishing unit is attached to an opening/closing cover included in a fixing device so as to polish a fixing belt. The polishing unit includes: a polishing unit body support member that is detachably attached to the opening/closing cover; and a polishing section that is held by the polishing unit body support member and that makes contact with the fixing belt so as to polish the fixing belt when the opening/closing cover is closed.