Separation Plate Positioning in Image Heating Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image heating apparatuses face issues with uneven glossiness due to scratches from recording material edges and instability in the separation of recording materials caused by grinding dust and toner offset, leading to inaccurate positioning of the separation plate.
Innovation Solution
An image heating apparatus with a heat rotary member, a nip forming member, a rubbing rotary member, and a separation plate with contact members positioned to prevent grinding dust adherence and maintain a stable gap, ensuring accurate separation and uniform surface roughness of the heat rotary member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contact members are used to position the separation plate, then the separation plate position can be determined, but grinding dust from the rubbing member adheres to the contact members causing position instability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the contact members from the rubbing area by positioning them outside the width direction range where the rubbing rotary member contacts the heat rotary member. This separation prevents grinding dust generated during rubbing from adhering to the contact members, thereby maintaining stable separation plate positioning without compromising the rubbing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the contact members into two groups: first contact members positioned inside the rubbing area range and second contact members positioned outside the rubbing area range. This segmentation allows the first contact members to determine separation plate position while the second contact members prevent dust adherence, solving the contradiction between positioning precision and stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the rubbing rotary member rubs the heat rotary member, then surface roughness is improved, but grinding dust is generated and adheres to contact members
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful effect by positioning contact members outside the rubbing area, separating the dust generation zone from the contact zone. This allows the rubbing rotary member to effectively roughen the heat rotary member surface while preventing grinding dust from adhering to the contact members used for separation plate positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary spatial arrangement where the rubbing area and contact member positions are deliberately separated in the width direction. This spatial intermediary prevents direct contact between grinding dust and contact members, allowing the rubbing function to proceed without contaminating the positioning system.
3Productivity
If recording materials pass through the nip, then imaging is enabled, but edges of recording materials scratch the heat rotary member
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful scratches into a beneficial control mechanism by using the scratch-prone areas to define the rubbing area. The rubbing rotary member is positioned to rub the heat rotary member specifically in the width direction ranges where scratches occur, transforming the harmful edge contact into a controlled surface treatment process that maintains imaging function while preventing further damage.
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 solution effectively prevents grinding dust from adhering to contact members, maintains a stable gap between the separation plate and heat rotary member, and ensures stable separation of recording materials, resulting in uniform image glossiness and accurate positioning.
Implementation Method 1
a heat rotary member configured to heat an image on a recording material at a nip
Implementation Method 2
a rubbing rotary member configured to rub the heat rotary member
Data Source
AI summary
An image heating apparatus, including: a heat rotary member configured to heat an image on a recording material; a rubbing rotary member configured to rub the heat rotary member; a separation plate configured to separate the recording material from the heat rotary member; and a first and a second contact member which are in contact with the heat rotary member to position the separation plate with a predetermined gap from the heat rotary member, wherein, in a width direction of the heat rotary member, the first and second contact members are out of contact with the heat rotary member within a range in which the rubbing rotary member rubs the heat rotary member, and are in contact with the heat rotary member outside the range, and wherein the first and second contact members are in contact with on one end and the other end of the heat rotary member, respectively.