Segmented Heating Member Layout for Uniform Fixing Across Paper Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating members in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses experience temperature unevenness and reduced durability due to the mixing of recording-medium passing and non-passing areas in heat generation blocks, leading to thermal damage and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
The heating member is designed with heat generation blocks arranged side by side in the width direction, with their lengths equal to or shorter than the minimum difference between adjacent standard paper sizes, reducing the number of non-passing areas and improving temperature uniformity and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heat generation blocks are arranged side by side in the width direction, then the heating coverage for various recording media sizes is improved, but temperature unevenness occurs at the ends of the recording medium passing through the heating member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the heat generation blocks have different lengths in the width direction. Specifically, the heat generation blocks are configured so that their lengths correspond to the minimum difference in width between adjacent standard recording media sizes. This creates localized heating zones that are optimized for different media sizes, allowing the system to maintain uniform temperature distribution across the heating member surface regardless of which media size is being processed.
2Temperature
If the length of heat generation blocks is reduced to match the minimum difference between recording media sizes, then temperature unevenness is reduced, but the total heating area may be insufficient for larger media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating member into multiple heat generation blocks arranged side by side in the width direction. Each block has a length corresponding to the minimum difference between adjacent recording media sizes. By segmenting the heating function into discrete blocks rather than using a single continuous heating element, the system can optimize each block's dimensions to prevent temperature unevenness while collectively covering the entire heating area required for various media sizes.
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 enhances temperature control accuracy and durability by minimizing temperature unevenness and non-passing areas, ensuring consistent heating and extended lifespan of the heating member.
Implementation Method 1
plural heat generation blocks, each of which generates heat when being energized
Data Source
AI summary
A heating member for heating a fixing member includes plural heat generation blocks, each of which generates heat when being energized. The plural heat generation blocks are provided side by side along a width direction that is orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and a length in the width direction of at least one of the plural heat generation blocks is equal to or shorter than a minimum difference of a length in the width direction between the recording media in adjacent standard sizes in an order of length in the width direction among the recording media to be conveyed in plural types of the standard sizes.