CN104614964B - Fixing device and its roller - Google Patents

Fixing device and its roller Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN104614964B
CN104614964B CN201310538321.2A CN201310538321A CN104614964B CN 104614964 B CN104614964 B CN 104614964B CN 201310538321 A CN201310538321 A CN 201310538321A CN 104614964 B CN104614964 B CN 104614964B
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
hollow body
heating element
element heater
roller
fixing device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CN201310538321.2A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Other versions
CN104614964A (en
Inventor
陈加伟
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Teco Image Systems Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Teco Image Systems Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Teco Image Systems Co Ltd filed Critical Teco Image Systems Co Ltd
Priority to CN201310538321.2A priority Critical patent/CN104614964B/en
Publication of CN104614964A publication Critical patent/CN104614964A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN104614964B publication Critical patent/CN104614964B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G03PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03GELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/20Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
    • G03G15/2003Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
    • G03G15/2014Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
    • G03G15/2053Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating
    • GPHYSICS
    • G03PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03GELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/20Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
    • G03G15/2003Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
    • G03G15/2014Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
    • G03G15/2039Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat with means for controlling the fixing temperature
    • G03G15/2042Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat with means for controlling the fixing temperature specially for the axial heat partition

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Resistance Heating (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention proposes a kind of fixing device, including heating element heater and roller, and heating element heater framework is in sending a heat energy, and roller includes hollow body and air disturbance structure.Wherein, hollow body is located on the outside of heating element heater, and heating element heater is coated at least in part, to define annular section between hollow body and heating element heater, and air disturbance structure is formed at the inwall of hollow body, and framework disturbs air in convection current in annular section when hollow body rotates, to promote heat energy to be transferred to the hot transfer efficiency of hollow body.Whereby, the present invention can reach the hot transfer efficiency of lifting and make roller surface uniformity of temperature profile, and then effectively reduce heater element power wattage and energy expenditure and other effects.

Description

Fixing device and its roller
Technical field
The present invention relates to a kind of fixing device, more particularly to a kind of fixing device and its roller.
Background technology
Laser printer is the most widely used printing device of current enterprise and school, and it is in paper that it, which is imaged generating principle, After importing, with laser diode unit by the laser light projection imaging containing image document on photosensitive roller, while individual toner cartridges Carbon dust is attached to the imaging region of photosensitive roller by roller, being rotated further by photosensitive roller can be attached by the carbon dust on imaging region In on paper.Finally, then by a fixing device heating and pressurization to make carbon dust determine really on paper.
In other words, the main imaging method of laser printer, it is to be reached using fixing device in a manner of heating and pressurizeing The purpose determined into carbon dust.Wherein, mode of heating is more is used as heating source by halogen lamp tube or ceramic heating flake etc., big according to form Cause can be divided into two types such as internal heating and external heat, and to use the roller of internal heating to be large.
In general, the roller of internal heating is mainly made up of hollow roller and halogen lamp tube, i.e., in hollow roller Portion provides heat using halogen lamp tube;And the mode of external heat, generally directly contacted by the surface of one or more rollers To be heated, such a mode is found in United States Patent (USP) case US5, and 450,183, United States Patent (USP) case US4,984,027, United States Patent (USP) Case US6,567,641 and United States Patent (USP) case US6, in the cases such as 490,430, and it is widely known in the art know, repeated no more in this.
However, prior art or traditional fixing device used in the prior art, still have shortcomings, such as heating effect Rate is too low and temperature distributing disproportionation etc..Figure 1A and Figure 1B is referred to, wherein Figure 1A is the local openings structure of traditional fixing device Schematic diagram, and the front view that Figure 1B is traditional fixing device shown in Figure 1A.As illustrated in figures 1A and ib, traditional fixing device In 1 configuration, halogen lamp tube 11 and hollow roller 12 with halogen lamp tube 11 inside and the coaxial manner group of hollow roller 12 outside Conjunction forms, and using air as Transfer Medium between halogen lamp tube 11 and hollow roller 12, therefore its major heat pipeline is heat Conduction and heat radiation, right air are hot non-conductor, and because the inner wall surface of hollow roller 12 of prior art is all smooth table Face, flow perturbation can not be also caused in rotation process, i.e., can not carry out pressure thermal convection current, it can thus be appreciated that traditional fixing device 1 Hot transfer efficiency it is extremely low.In view of this, prior art is to be rapidly achieved fixing required operating temperature, more to increase Halogen lamp LED The power wattage of pipe corresponds to, and production cost and energy-output ratio also increase therewith.
In addition, after the surface of the hollow roller 12 of traditional fixing device 1 reaches operating temperature, and if ambient room temperature The temperature difference it is larger when be also easy to produce heat waste phenomenon, and be serious compared with centre using the both ends of hollow roller 12, and work as type size It is bigger, that is, hollow roller 12 size it is bigger when, this heat waste phenomenon is obvious increasingly so that the surface temperature of hollow roller 12 point Cloth is more in the low phenomenon in the high both ends in center.To improve this phenomenon, industry is empty by installing multiple temperature-sensitive sticker sensings mostly Surface temperature distribution on heart roller 12, and then change the density distribution of heating element heater in halogen lamp tube, so that thermal homogenization, But this mode will cause manufacturing cost and manufacture difficulty to greatly improve, and be still unable to reach make temperature it is equally distributed it is preferable into Effect.
In view of this, how to develop a kind of fixing device and its roller, with improve the hot transfer efficiency of known techniques it is too low and rolling The shortcomings of wheel surface temperature distributing disproportionation, and overall performance is improved under laser printer agent structure in not changing, then as mesh The important topic of preceding development in science and technology.
The content of the invention
The main object of the present invention is too low to solve the hot transfer efficiency of known techniques to provide a kind of fixing device and its roller And roller surface temperature distributing disproportionation, derivative mass energy consumption, and processing surface temperature distribution cause manufacturing cost And the shortcomings of manufacture difficulty raising.
Another object of the present invention is provides a kind of fixing device and its roller, by formation air disturbance structure in roller Hollow body inwall, the hot transfer efficiency that the heat energy that heating element heater is sent is transferred to the hollow body can be effectively facilitated, reached Lift hot transfer efficiency and make roller surface uniformity of temperature profile, and then effectively reduce heater element power wattage and energy expenditure etc. Effect.
Another object of the present invention passes through various implementation of air disturbance structure to provide a kind of fixing device and its roller The introducing of aspect, the thermal convection current thermal resistance of the annular section between hollow body and heating element heater can be greatly reduced, thermal convection mechanism Change and existing free convection is substituted by forced convertion, effectively lift hot transfer efficiency up to more than ten times.
For the above-mentioned purpose, a wider embodiment aspect of the invention is a kind of fixing device of offer, including:One heating unit Part, framework is in sending a heat energy;And a roller, including:One hollow body, the outside of the heating element heater is located on, and at least The heating element heater is partly coated, to define an annular section between the hollow body and the heating element heater;An and air Perturbations, an inwall of the hollow body is formed at, and framework disturbs air in the ring-shaped area when hollow body rotates Convection current in domain, to promote the heat energy to be transferred to the hot transfer efficiency of the hollow body.
For the above-mentioned purpose, another wider embodiment aspect of the invention is provides a kind of roller, suitable for including a heating One fixing device of element, in sending a heat energy, the roller includes the heating element heater framework:One hollow body, it is located on this and adds The outside of thermal element, and the heating element heater is coated at least in part, to define one between the hollow body and the heating element heater Annular section;And an air disturbance structure, an inwall of the hollow body is formed at, and framework is when the hollow body rotates Air is disturbed in convection current in the annular section, to promote the heat energy to be transferred to the hot transfer efficiency of the hollow body.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electric energy is converted to the heat energy and sent by the heating element heater, the roller For a heating roller, the heating element heater is a halogen lamp tube, a tungsten filament heats fluorescent tube or a ceramic heating flake, and the air agitation Structure is formed at the inwall and extended at least in part to the annular section.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air disturbance structure includes multiple first fins, and the plurality of the One fin equally spaced or unequal interval be formed at the inwall of the hollow body.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air disturbance structure includes multiple second fins and multiple 3rd fins Piece, the wherein height of second fin are more than or equal to the height of the 3rd fin, and the plurality of second fin and the plurality of the Three fins equally spaced or unequal interval be staggered to form the inwall in the hollow body.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air disturbance structure includes a spiral groove lines, is formed at The inwall of the hollow body, and the spiral groove lines is divided into multiple spiral walls with every 360 degree of angular regions of spiral, and it is the plurality of Spiral wall equally spaced or unequal interval arrange.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1A is the local openings structural representation of traditional fixing device.
Figure 1B is the front view of traditional fixing device shown in Figure 1A.
Fig. 2A is the front view of the fixing device of present pre-ferred embodiments.
Fig. 2 B are the local openings structural representation of the roller shown in Fig. 2A.
Fig. 3 A are the front view of the fixing device of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 B are the local openings structural representation of the roller shown in Fig. 3 A.
Fig. 4 A are the front view of the fixing device of another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 B are the local openings structural representation of the roller shown in Fig. 4 A.
Wherein, description of reference numerals is as follows:
1:Traditional fixing device
11:Halogen lamp tube
12:Hollow roller
2:Fixing device
21:Heating element heater
22:Roller
221:Hollow body
222:Air disturbance structure
2221:First fin
2222:Second fin
2223:3rd fin
2224:Spiral groove lines
h、H:Highly
R:Annular section
W:Inwall
Embodiment
Embodying some exemplary embodiments of feature of present invention and advantage will describe in detail in the explanation of back segment.It should be understood that It is that the present invention can have various changes in different aspects, it is neither departed from the scope of the present invention, and explanation therein And accompanying drawing is illustrated as being used in itself, and nand architecture is in the limitation present invention.
Fig. 2A is referred to, it is the front view of the fixing device of present pre-ferred embodiments.As shown in Figure 2 A, the present invention compared with The fixing device 2 of good embodiment includes heating element heater 21 and roller 22, and the framework of heating element heater 21 is in sending heat energy, and roller 22 wraps Include hollow body 221 and air disturbance structure 222.Wherein, hollow body 221 is located on the outside of heating element heater 21, and at least Heating element heater 21 is partly coated, to define an annular section R between hollow body 221 and heating element heater 21.Air agitation Structure 222 is formed at the inwall W of hollow body 221, and framework disturbs air in annular section R when hollow body 221 rotates Interior convection current, to promote heat energy to be transferred to the hot transfer efficiency of hollow body 221.In other words, heating element heater 21 can be but be not limited to Hollow body 221 is set in a manner of coaxial or be concentric, and the framework of heating element heater 21 is in the inwall W for being arranged at hollow body 221 When internal, go out annular section R with the common definition of hollow body 221, wherein heating element heater 21 with hollow body 221 is non-each other connects Touch and set.When the imaging that the fixing device 2 of the present invention is applied to printing device such as laser printer is fixing, in response to roller 22 Rotation makes 221 related rotation of hollow body, and then it is uniform in being carried out in annular section R to make air disturbance structure 222 disturb air Circulative convection so that in annular section R hot transfer efficiency lifting and thermal resistance decline.Whereby, fixing device 2 of the invention is reachable To the effect of lifting hot transfer efficiency and make the surface temperature distribution of roller 22 uniform.Meanwhile compared to known techniques, of the invention determines The heating element heater 21 of lower-wattage can be selected in image device 2, and then the effect of reduction power wattage and energy expenditure.
In some embodiments, the heating element heater 21 of fixing device 2 of the present invention be convert electrical energy into heat energy and send or Output, that is, a heat energy is produced when being powered, and heating element heater 21 is halogen lamp tube, tungsten filament heats fluorescent tube or ceramic heating flake, But it is not limited.In addition, heating roller or fixing roller of the application of roller 22 of the present invention for printing device, and hollow body 221 be metal or other Heat Conduction Materials, is so also not limited.
Fig. 2 B are referred to, it is the local openings structural representation of the roller shown in Fig. 2A.As shown in Figure 2 B, the present invention is fixed The air disturbance structure 222 of the roller 22 of image device 2 is formed at the inwall W of hollow body 221, and at least in part to ring-shaped area Domain R extends, the generation type can be such as, but not limited to be integrally formed, roll forming or crowded type.In this embodiment, air is disturbed Dynamic structure 222 includes multiple first fins 2221, and multiple first fins 2221 equally spaced or unequal interval be formed at sky The inwall W of heart body 221.
Fig. 3 A and Fig. 3 B are referred to, wherein Fig. 3 A are the front view of the fixing device of another preferred embodiment of the present invention, with And the local openings structural representation that Fig. 3 B are the roller shown in Fig. 3 A.As shown in Fig. 3 A and Fig. 3 B, the present invention is another preferably real The air disturbance structure 222 for applying the roller 22 of the fixing device 2 of example is formed at the inwall W of hollow body 221, and at least in part Extend to annular section R, the generation type can be such as, but not limited to be integrally formed, roll forming or crowded type.In the present embodiment In, air disturbance structure 222 includes multiple second fins 2222 and multiple 3rd fins 2223, wherein the height of the second fin 2222 The height h that H is more than or equal to the 3rd fin 2223 is spent, and multiple second fins 2222 and multiple 3rd fins 2223 are equally spaced Or unequal interval be staggered to form inwall W in hollow body 221, be so all not limited, multiple in some embodiments Two fins 2222 and multiple 3rd fins random number can also arrange at random.
Fig. 4 A and Fig. 4 B are referred to, wherein Fig. 4 A are the front view of the fixing device of another embodiment of the present invention, with And the local openings structural representation that Fig. 4 B are the roller shown in Fig. 4 A.As shown in fig. 4 a and fig. 4b, the present invention is another preferably real The air disturbance structure 222 for applying the roller 22 of the fixing device 2 of example is formed at the inwall W of hollow body 221, and at least in part Extend to annular section R, the generation type can be such as, but not limited to be integrally formed, roll forming or crowded type.In these implementations In aspect, air disturbance structure 222 includes spiral groove lines 2224, is formed at the inwall W of hollow body 221.Wherein, spiral shell Shape ditch slot texture 2224 is revolved using every 360 degree of angles as a spiral or a spiral wall, therefore entirety can divide into the multiple of arranged at equal intervals Spiral wall, it is not limited with equally spaced arrangement mode only.
The various embodiments of comprehensive foregoing fixing device 2 of the present invention can be learnt, pass through various reality of air disturbance structure 222 The introducing of aspect is applied, the thermal resistance of the annular section R between hollow body 221 and heating element heater 21 can be greatly reduced, hot biography mechanism The form of forced convertion is changed to by the free convection of script, so that the hot resistance of heat transfer of gaseous exchange is reduced to 1/10th left sides of script The right side, therefore the fixing device 2 of the present invention effectively lifts hot transfer efficiency up to more than ten times, and the air disturbance structure and the hollow body It can be made with identical or different material.
In summary, the present invention provides a kind of fixing device and its roller, by formation air disturbance structure in roller The inwall of hollow body, the hot transfer efficiency that the heat energy that heating element heater is sent is transferred to the hollow body can be effectively facilitated, reaches and carries Rise hot transfer efficiency and make roller surface uniformity of temperature profile, and then effectively reduce the work(such as heater element power wattage and energy expenditure Effect.In addition, the introducing for the various embodiment aspect for passing through air disturbance structure, can make the ring-shaped area between hollow body and heating element heater The thermal resistance in domain is reduced to 1/10th, that is, effectively lifts hot transfer efficiency up to more than ten times.
Even if the present invention has been described and craftsman can be applied to think by those skilled in the art times and be all in detail by the above embodiments As modification, the right neither de- scope to be protected of appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. a kind of fixing device, including:
One heating element heater, framework is in sending a heat energy;And
One roller, including:
One hollow body, the outside of the heating element heater is located on, and coats the heating element heater at least in part, with the hollow pipe An annular section is defined between body and the heating element heater;And
One air disturbance structure, it is formed at an inwall of the hollow body and extends at least in part to the annular section, and frame Structure disturbs air in convection current in the annular section when hollow body rotates, to promote the heat energy to be transferred to the hollow body Hot transfer efficiency, the wherein air disturbance structure include multiple first fins, and the plurality of first fin equally spaced or not etc. between The inwall of the hollow body is formed at every ground.
2. fixing device as claimed in claim 1, the wherein roller are a heating roller, and the heating element heater is a Halogen lamp LED Pipe, tungsten filament heating fluorescent tube or a ceramic heating flake.
3. fixing device as claimed in claim 1, the wherein air disturbance structure include multiple second fins and the multiple 3rd Fin, the wherein height of second fin are more than or equal to the height of the 3rd fin.
4. fixing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of second fin and the plurality of 3rd fin equally spaced or It is staggered to form the inwall in the hollow body unequal interval.
5. fixing device as claimed in claim 1, the wherein air disturbance structure include a spiral groove lines, it is formed at The inwall of the hollow body.
6. fixing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spiral groove lines are divided into multiple with every 360 degree of angular regions of spiral Spiral wall, and the plurality of spiral wall equally spaced or unequal interval arrange.
7. a kind of roller, suitable for the fixing device including a heating element heater, the heating element heater framework, should in sending a heat energy Roller includes:
One hollow body, the outside of the heating element heater is located on, and coats the heating element heater at least in part, with the hollow pipe An annular section is defined between body and the heating element heater;And
One air disturbance structure, it is formed at an inwall of the hollow body and extends at least in part to the annular section, and frame Structure disturbs air in convection current in the annular section when hollow body rotates, to promote the heat energy to be transferred to the hollow body Hot transfer efficiency, the wherein air disturbance structure include multiple first fins, and the plurality of first fin equally spaced or not etc. between The inwall of the hollow body is formed at every ground.
8. roller as claimed in claim 7, the wherein air disturbance structure are with the hollow body with identical or different material It is made, the air disturbance structure includes at least one fin, and the fin is formed at the inwall of the hollow body.
CN201310538321.2A 2013-11-01 2013-11-01 Fixing device and its roller Active CN104614964B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201310538321.2A CN104614964B (en) 2013-11-01 2013-11-01 Fixing device and its roller

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201310538321.2A CN104614964B (en) 2013-11-01 2013-11-01 Fixing device and its roller

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN104614964A CN104614964A (en) 2015-05-13
CN104614964B true CN104614964B (en) 2017-11-24

Family

ID=53149470

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN201310538321.2A Active CN104614964B (en) 2013-11-01 2013-11-01 Fixing device and its roller

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN104614964B (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107422621A (en) * 2017-09-18 2017-12-01 夏卓 A kind of highly endothermic fixing roller of high speed engineering duplicator and its manufacture method

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1218207A (en) * 1997-11-06 1999-06-02 松下电器产业株式会社 Fixing apparatus
TW200602821A (en) * 2004-03-31 2006-01-16 Eastman Kodak Co High heat transfer fuser roller
CN1955862A (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-02 富士施乐株式会社 Fixing device and image forming apparatus
CN102023551A (en) * 2009-09-22 2011-04-20 株式会社东芝 Temperature equalizing roller and fixing device
CN102629097A (en) * 2011-02-03 2012-08-08 夏普株式会社 Fixing device and image forming apparatus including the same

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1218207A (en) * 1997-11-06 1999-06-02 松下电器产业株式会社 Fixing apparatus
TW200602821A (en) * 2004-03-31 2006-01-16 Eastman Kodak Co High heat transfer fuser roller
CN1955862A (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-02 富士施乐株式会社 Fixing device and image forming apparatus
CN102023551A (en) * 2009-09-22 2011-04-20 株式会社东芝 Temperature equalizing roller and fixing device
CN102629097A (en) * 2011-02-03 2012-08-08 夏普株式会社 Fixing device and image forming apparatus including the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN104614964A (en) 2015-05-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5519239B2 (en) Nanomaterial heating element for fixing
JP2006279008A5 (en)
Wang et al. Enhanced ionic wind generation by graphene for LED heat dissipation
CN104614964B (en) Fixing device and its roller
JP2011107264A (en) Uv ray irradiation device
JP2002328559A5 (en)
CN203298484U (en) Air heater
CN1499313A (en) Fixing roller device for electronic photographic imaging device
TWI514095B (en) Fixing device and roller thereof
WO2013143435A1 (en) High frequency electric heating material pipe
CN203313587U (en) Heat dissipating film producing device
WO2013073289A1 (en) Tubular heater and heating device
CN103251197B (en) A kind of energy-saving electric hair drying blower
CN202709842U (en) Corrugation heat exchanger pipe with T-shaped channel groove and spiral groove
TWI514096B (en) Roller and fixing device using same
CN213873477U (en) Printing plate material drying device
CN205991619U (en) A kind of heating tube with heat insulation structural
CN105423790A (en) Heat absorption and dissipation device
CN204027309U (en) For the heater of metal bar heating
KR20200019359A (en) Hair dryer using planar heater
JP2021009003A (en) Near infrared heating device
JP2015087019A (en) Radiant tube type heating device
CN209355340U (en) Explosion-proof electric heater fin
KR20100010404U (en) Lamp pipe heater and thermal exchanger using the same
CN102681407A (en) Heater for fusing apparatus and fusing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
C06 Publication
PB01 Publication
C10 Entry into substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
GR01 Patent grant
GR01 Patent grant