Reciprocating Separating Claw Mechanism for Fixing Belt Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices for image forming apparatuses require complex control systems and additional motors to manage the separating claw's speed, increasing manufacturing costs and device size due to the need for specialized components and intricate control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a moving mechanism using a biasing member, input gears with different tooth counts, a bearing depression, and a shaft protrusion to reciprocally move the separating claw in the axial direction, allowing for stabilization of contact with the heating roller without the need for a special motor, thereby reducing costs and simplifying control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a special motor and control system are used to change the moving speed of the separating claw, then the separating operation stability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and the device size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the separating claw's contact condition with the heating roller changeable through reciprocating motion. The claw moves between a first position (contacting the heating roller) and a second position (separated from the heating roller), allowing the contact condition to be dynamically adjusted without complex control systems. This resolves the contradiction by achieving separating operation stability through mechanical motion rather than electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by making the separating claw reciprocate between contacting and separating from the heating roller in a cyclic manner. This periodic reciprocating motion stabilizes the separating operation by ensuring consistent contact conditions during the fixing process, while avoiding the need for special motors and control systems that would increase device complexity.
2Speed
If a special motor and control system are installed to move the separating claw, then the moving speed control is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by making the same driving mechanism serve multiple functions: it drives both the fixing roller and the separating claw reciprocating mechanism. The driving mechanism is coupled to both the fixing roller and the input gears, allowing one system to perform multiple functions without requiring separate special motors. This reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining proper speed control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the driving functions by combining the motor that drives the fixing roller with the mechanism that reciprocates the separating claw. The driving mechanism is integrated with both the fixing roller drive system and the separating claw reciprocating system through gear connections, eliminating the need for separate special motors and reducing manufacturing cost.
3Reliability
If the separating claw continuously contacts the heating roller, then the separating function is maintained, but wear of the heating roller surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by making the separating claw reciprocate between contacting the heating roller during fixing and separating from it during the next cycle. This periodic contact-separate pattern maintains the separating function when needed while reducing cumulative wear on the heating roller surface compared to continuous contact, thereby extending the roller's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamics by transitioning the separating claw from a static continuous contact state to a dynamic reciprocating state. The claw dynamically adjusts its position between contacting and separating from the heating roller, maintaining separating function during fixing operations while minimizing wear during non-operational phases, thus extending the heating roller's durability.
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 reduces manufacturing costs, minimizes device size, and stabilizes the contact between the separating claw and the heating roller, effectively restraining wear on the fixing belt while maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member biases the separating claw from one side to the other side in the axial direction
Implementation Method 2
The two input gears have different numbers of teeth from each other, are arranged side by side on the same axis as each other, are meshed with one output gear driven and rotated by a driving source driving and rotating the fixing member or the pressuring member, and rotate around an axis while shifting by a difference of the numbers of teeth for each rotation in a rotation direction
Implementation Method 3
The bearing depression is formed in one input gear of the input gears in a depressed condition, and has a contact face inclined with respect to the axial direction in a bottom face of the bearing depression. The shaft protrusion is protruded from the other input gear to the one input gear of the input gears, and is supported by the bearing depression in a condition that a distal end face inclined with respect to the axial direction in the shaft protrusion is made contact with the contact face
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressuring member, a separating claw separating a recording medium from the fixing member and a moving mechanism of the separating claw. The moving mechanism includes a biasing member, coaxial two input gears having different numbers of teeth, a bearing depression and a shaft protrusion. The two input gears rotate according to rotation the fixing or pressuring member while shifting by a difference of the numbers of teeth for each rotation. The bearing depression is depressed in one input gear, and has an inclined contact face. The shaft protrusion is protruded from the other input gear, and has an inclined distal end face contact with the contact face. The two input gears rotate to repeat coincidence of inclination directions of the contact face and the distal end face and shifting the inclination directions, and reciprocatingly move the separating claw.