Terminal Plate Nested in Heating Roller for Compact Fixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing devices for sheet-type recording media are bulky and consume high power, requiring compact components and efficient power supply solutions to reduce size and warm-up time.
Innovation Solution
A compact fixing device design featuring a cylindrical heating roller with a roller through-hole for the heater, a power supply terminal, and a terminal plate with engaging portions for secure electrical connection, allowing for stable heater support and power supply while minimizing component size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the heating roller diameter is reduced to lower power consumption and warm-up time, then energy efficiency is improved, but the space available for components is reduced making compact design more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal plate is nested within the heating roller structure, with the engaging portion fitting into a recess of the heating roller body and the engaging terminal portion inserted into the cable connector. This nesting arrangement allows the power supply components to occupy minimal space within the compact heating roller, enabling small diameter while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
2Reliability
If the terminal plate is fixed to the frame by soldering, then electrical connection is stable, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional soldering process with a mechanical engagement system. The terminal plate includes an engaging terminal portion that is resiliently engaged with the cable connector through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for soldering while maintaining reliable electrical connection and simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the heater is fixedly supported to the frame, then the heater position is stable, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heater support function with the terminal plate structure. The terminal plate serves dual purposes: providing electrical connection through the engaging terminal portion and mechanically supporting the heater through the engaging portion that fits into the heating roller body recess. This integration eliminates separate support structures and simplifies the overall design.
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 enables reliable power supply to the heater, supports stable operation, and reduces the size of components, achieving a more compact and energy-efficient fixing device.
Implementation Method 1
a heater that is disposed in the internal space... The heater is inserted into the roller through-hole and is configured to generate a heat
Implementation Method 2
The heating roller body is a cylindrical member configured to be capable of rotating about a first axis... a sheet on which a toner image is formed is heated and pressed by the pressure roller and the heating roller to fix the toner image onto the sheet while conveyed in the sheet conveying direction
Implementation Method 3
The terminal plate is attached to the power supply terminal to supply electric power to the heater... The engaging terminal portion is inserted into a connector connected to an end portion of a cable for supplying the electric power to the heater
Data Source
AI summary
A heater is inserted into a roller through-hole of a heating roller body. An attached portion of a terminal plate is attached to a power supply terminal provided on one end of the heater. An engaging portion is a plate member extending from the attached portion in a first radial direction of the heating roller body and arranged in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the heater. The engaging portion is engaged with the fixing frame. An engaging terminal portion is a plate member extending from the attached portion in a second radial direction of the heating roller body and intersects with the longitudinal direction of the heater. The second radial direction is a direction the same as the first radial direction.