Segmented Heat Conduction Member for Fuser Heater Overheating

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Solution Overview

Problem

In electrophotographic printers, the fuser's heating member with high heat capacity leads to slow temperature ramp-up and potential overheating, affecting printing speed and energy efficiency, while existing designs may cause temperature unevenness and glossiness irregularities in the printed images.

Innovation Solution

A fuser design incorporating a flexible fixing belt with a heat conduction member having a small heat capacity, where the heat conduction member includes multiple segments with overlapping boundary portions to facilitate rapid and uniform heating, reducing overheating and temperature differences across the fixing belt.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a heating member with high heat capacity is used in the fuser, then the fuser can maintain stable temperature, but the temperature ramp-up becomes slow and printing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidprinting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating member is divided into multiple heating zones with independent heating elements, allowing selective and rapid heating of different areas. This segmentation enables faster temperature ramp-up while maintaining overall temperature stability through coordinated control of individual zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fuser employs dynamic temperature control where the heating power is adjusted based on real-time temperature feedback and printing conditions. This allows the system to rapidly increase temperature when needed while preventing overheating, thus improving both printing speed and temperature stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Temperature

If a heating member with high heat capacity is used, then temperature stability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the heating member into multiple independently controllable zones, energy is only applied to areas that require heating at any given time. This reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining temperature stability in the active printing regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heating elements are controlled in periodic cycles with duty cycles adjusted based on thermal feedback. Heating is applied intermittently rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining stable operating temperature through thermal inertia and controlled heating pulses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If the heating member is designed for rapid heating, then printing speed improves, but temperature unevenness and glossiness irregularities occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidtemperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the heating member are equipped with heating elements of varying power levels based on local thermal requirements. This local quality adjustment ensures uniform temperature distribution across the heating surface, preventing glossiness irregularities while enabling rapid overall heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 design allows for rapid heating of the fixing belt to a uniform temperature, reducing energy consumption, increasing printing speed, and minimizing glossiness irregularities by ensuring consistent image fixation across the print medium.

Implementation Method 1

a heat conduction member (200) contacting a first surface (101) of the heater substrate (100)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11815833B2Heat conduction member for preventing fuser heater from overheating

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

An example fuser includes a flexible fixing belt, a back-up to form a fixing nip with the fixing belt, a heater substrate having a first surface on which a heating element pattern is located and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the heater substrate to heat the fixing belt at the fixing nip, and a heat conduction member having a plurality of heat conduction segments contacting the first surface of the heater substrate.