UV Mirror Cooling for Image Fixing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses with inkjet type fixing apparatuses, the mirror member used to reflect UV light for ink fixation can deform due to excessive UV light absorption, leading to uneven ink curing and potential image quality issues.
Innovation Solution
A fixing apparatus is designed with a cooler that cools the mirror member from its outer surface, preventing deformation and ensuring uniform UV light reflection without cooling the recording medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the integrated light amount of UV light emitted toward the sheet is increased to increase printing speed, then productivity is improved, but the mirror member absorbs excessive UV light causing temperature increase and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple cooling sections positioned at different locations around the mirror member. Each cooling section independently cools specific regions of the mirror member, allowing targeted heat removal from high-temperature zones while maintaining overall mirror member temperature control during high-intensity UV irradiation
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling medium (air or gas) is introduced as an intermediary between the UV light source and the mirror member's thermal management system. The cooling medium flows through channels formed by the cooling sections, absorbing heat from the mirror member's back surface and transporting it away, thus preventing temperature-induced deformation
2Stability of the object's composition
If a cooling section is added to cool the mirror member, then mirror member deformation is suppressed, but the recording medium may be cooled affecting ink curing
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling sections are positioned to contact only the back surface of the mirror member, creating localized cooling zones. The cooling effect is confined to the mirror member's non-reflective surface, while the front surface maintaining uniform temperature for consistent UV reflection and ink curing on the recording medium
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling is applied in a different spatial dimension - cooling the mirror member from its back surface (opposite side) rather than from the front surface facing the recording medium. This dimensional separation ensures thermal management of the mirror member does not directly affect the recording medium temperature
3Manufacturing precision
If the mirror member is cooled from the front surface facing the conveyance space, then UV light reflection uniformity is maintained, but the recording medium is cooled affecting the cured state of ink
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of cooling the mirror member from the front surface (conventional approach), the cooling sections are positioned to cool the back surface of the mirror member. This inverted cooling approach maintains the front surface temperature for uniform UV reflection while removing heat from the rear side, preventing interference with ink curing on the recording medium
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 allows for pinpoint cooling of the mirror member, maintaining uniform UV irradiation and preventing uneven ink curing, thus ensuring high image quality and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a mirror member that is disposed so as to surround at least a part of a conveyance space, which is formed between a light emission surface of the light emitter and the conveyance surface of the conveyor, and reflects the UV light, which travels from the conveyance space outward, toward the recording medium
Implementation Method 2
a cooler that cools the mirror member from an outer-side surface of the mirror member as viewed from the conveyance space
Implementation Method 3
a cooler that cools the mirror member from an outer-side surface of the mirror member as viewed from the conveyance space
Implementation Method 4
a light emitter that is disposed so as to face a conveyance surface of the conveyor and irradiates the recording medium, on which an image has been formed, with UV light
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is fixing apparatus of image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Fixing apparatus includes: conveyance section that conveys a recording medium; light emitting section that is disposed so as to face conveyance surface of conveyance section and irradiates the recording medium with UV light, the recording medium being a recording medium on which an image has been formed; mirror member that is disposed so as to surround at least a part of conveyance space formed between a light emission surface of light emitting section and conveyance surface of conveyance section and reflects the UV light, which travels from conveyance space outward, toward a front-surface side of the recording medium; and cooling section that cools mirror member from an outer-side surface of mirror member as viewed from conveyance space.