Tubular Fixing Member Elastic Interlayer Wrinkle Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tubular fixing members in image forming apparatuses are prone to wrinkles on the surface layer, leading to image defects due to stress and strain accumulation during the image formation process, which is exacerbated by the thinner surface layer required for quick heat conduction.
Innovation Solution
A tubular fixing member comprising a substrate, an elastic layer, an interlayer, and a surface layer, where the storage elastic modulus of the interlayer is higher than that of the elastic layer (E1 < E2), suppressing strain accumulation and wrinkles, with specific thermal conductivity and thickness ratios optimized to enhance fixing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the surface layer is made thinner to enable quick heat conduction, then thermal conductivity is improved, but wrinkles occur more easily on the surface layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining an elastic layer with high elasticity and an interlayer with high rigidity. The elastic layer provides thermal conductivity while the interlayer suppresses wrinkles through its rigid properties, creating a composite material system that achieves both thermal performance and surface smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing member is divided into multiple functional layers: the elastic layer for thermal conduction and the interlayer for wrinkle suppression. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in its function, with the elastic layer handling heat transfer and the interlayer maintaining surface integrity.
2Speed
If the surface layer is made thinner for quick heat conduction, then thermal response is improved, but strain accumulation leads to wrinkles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the elastic layer (providing thermal response) with the interlayer (providing structural stability). The interlayer's high rigidity compensates for the reduced thickness of the elastic layer, preventing strain accumulation while maintaining thermal speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlayer acts as an intermediary between the elastic layer and the surface layer. It mediates the mechanical stress and prevents wrinkle formation, allowing the surface layer to remain thin for thermal efficiency without sacrificing stability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a thinner surface layer is used to improve heat conduction, then thermal efficiency is improved, but image defects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of elastic layer plus interlayer provides both thermal efficiency (through the elastic layer) and image fixing reliability (through the interlayer's wrinkle suppression), resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and quality stability.
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 reduces wrinkles on the surface layer, improves image fixing properties, and maintains thermal conductivity, ensuring uniform heat distribution and reduced image defects.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic layer... with a thermal conductivity of 1.6 W/m·K or more
Implementation Method 2
the storage elastic modulus of the interlayer is higher than that of the elastic layer (E1 < E2), suppressing strain accumulation and wrinkles
Data Source
AI summary
A tubular fixing member including a substrate, an elastic layer, an interlayer, and a surface layer are laminated in this order, in which “E1<E2” is satisfied in a case where a storage elastic modulus of the elastic layer is denoted by E1 and a storage elastic modulus of the interlayer is denoted by E2.