Image-Heating Heater With Shared Sensor Wiring for Heat Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image heating devices experience temperature rise in non-paper-passing regions, leading to potential damage and hot offset of toner, especially when switching between small and large-sized paper, and adding more temperature sensors increases heater size.
Innovation Solution
A heater design with independently controlled heating blocks, reduced wiring, and shared temperature sensors to monitor and control temperature, minimizing heater size and preventing overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are provided for each heating block to monitor temperature independently, then temperature control precision is improved, but heater size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple temperature sensors are electrically connected in parallel to a single common signal line, allowing multiple sensors to share a common connection path. This merging approach maintains the temperature monitoring capability of multiple sensors while reducing the complexity of wiring and the overall space required for connections, thereby preventing heater size increase despite using multiple sensors for precise temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The common signal line serves multiple temperature sensors simultaneously, making it a multi-functional connection path. This universal connection approach allows a single signal line to perform the function of multiple individual connection lines, reducing the total number of wiring paths needed and consequently reducing the heater size while maintaining precise temperature monitoring across all heating blocks.
2Stability of the object's composition
If heating blocks are separately controlled to prevent temperature rise in non-paper-passing regions, then temperature distribution uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independently controllable heating blocks along the longitudinal direction. Each heating block can be controlled separately based on local temperature requirements, allowing precise control of temperature distribution. This segmentation enables different regions to be heated independently, preventing temperature rise in non-paper-passing regions while maintaining uniform temperature where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different heating blocks are controlled with different power levels according to their specific operational requirements. Regions requiring heating receive appropriate power, while non-paper-passing regions have reduced or zero power supply. This local quality approach optimizes temperature distribution uniformity by tailoring the heating characteristics to the specific needs of each region, preventing overheating in areas where paper does not pass.
3Reliability
If wiring for multiple temperature sensors is provided separately, then signal reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple temperature sensor signal lines are merged into a single common signal line through parallel connection. This merging reduces the number of separate wiring paths from multiple individual lines to one shared line, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process. The parallel connection architecture maintains signal reliability by allowing independent sensor operation while reducing wiring complexity for assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The common signal line performs the function of multiple individual signal lines simultaneously, serving as a universal connection path for all temperature sensors. This multi-functional wiring approach maintains the reliability of individual sensor signals while greatly reducing the total wiring required, making the manufacturing process simpler and more cost-effective.
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 suppresses temperature rise in non-paper-passing regions, preventing damage and hot offset while maintaining compact size and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating block provided on the substrate and configured to generate heat from electric power supplied thereto
Data Source
AI summary
In an image heating device having a plurality of heating blocks which are controllable independently in a longitudinal direction of a heater, an increase of the size of the heater can be suppressed, and temperatures of a plurality of heating block can be detected. The heater has a first temperature sensor corresponding to a first heating block, a second temperature sensor corresponding to a second heating block, a first electric conductor electrically coupled to the first temperature sensor, a second electric conductor electrically coupled to the second temperature sensor, and a common electric conductor electrically coupled to the first and second temperature sensors.