Swingable Temperature Sensor for Image Formers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature sensors for image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining responsiveness and durability due to creep deformation and dimensional tolerance issues when in contact with heat sources, particularly in applications where ceramic paper is not used.
Innovation Solution
A temperature sensor design featuring a heat collection member with swingable leg portions and a thermally joined abutting portion, which includes a thermosensitive element and is held by a housing member with insulation films to enhance heat transfer and insulation, allowing for precise temperature detection despite creep deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a temperature sensor uses ceramic paper as a heat-resistant elastic body to maintain contact with the temperature measurement object, then the sensor maintains following capability and contact stability, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the ceramic paper heat-resistant elastic body from the sensor structure, extracting this component that caused manufacturing complexity while maintaining contact stability through alternative means (direct elastic force from the sensor body)
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor body is designed with localized elastic properties in specific regions to provide both heat resistance and elastic force for maintaining contact, eliminating the need for separate ceramic paper components while achieving the same functional outcome
2Ease of manufacture
If the temperature sensor structure is simplified by removing ceramic paper, then manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture improve, but the sensor may lose following capability to the temperature measurement object
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor body is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, generates elastic force for contact maintenance, and offers heat resistance, eliminating the need for separate specialized components while maintaining following capability
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor incorporates dynamic elastic deformation capabilities in the sensor body that allow it to adapt to dimensional tolerances and assembly variations, maintaining continuous contact with the temperature measurement object without requiring rigid precision components
3Volume of moving object
If the temperature sensor is designed to be compact and small, then the device size decreases and assembly becomes easier, but heat collection capability and responsiveness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thermal conduction path by arranging heat collection elements in three-dimensional space efficiently, achieving adequate heat collection capability in a compact footprint by utilizing spatial dimensionality rather than increasing planar size
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 design provides a small, durable temperature sensor with improved responsiveness to temperature variations, maintaining contact with the measurement object and reducing heat loss, thus offering performance comparable to or exceeding that of sensors using ceramic paper.
Implementation Method 1
a heat collection member (30) thermally joined with the thermosensitive element (11)
Implementation Method 2
housing member (20) with insulation films
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a temperature sensor that has following capability to a temperature measurement object and has excellent responsiveness, and a temperature detection device and an image forming apparatus each including the temperature sensor. A temperature sensor used in contact with a temperature measurement object, includes: a thermosensitive element configured to detect a temperature of the temperature measurement object; a heat collection member including an abutting portion configured to abut on the temperature measurement object, and configured to be thermally joined with the thermosensitive element; and a holding member including a housing portion configured to house the heat collection member. The heat collection member is swingably held by the holding member, to maintain a state where the abutting portion abuts on the temperature measurement object.