A fixing control method, an image forming apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium.

Abstract

This application provides a fixing control method, an image forming apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The method includes: in response to a issued image forming task, first controlling the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to a first rotational speed; when the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets a preset condition, controlling the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to a second rotational speed. It can be understood that after the image forming task is issued, the fixing component controls the pressure roller and the heating roller to maintain a low rotational speed, i.e., the first rotational speed; since the preset condition indicates that the imaging medium is about to enter the fixing component, when the position of the imaging medium is detected to meet the preset condition, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to change to the second rotational speed, thereby avoiding the pressure roller and the heating roller from operating at a high rotational speed for a long time, and to a certain extent, improving the service life of the fixing component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of image forming technology, specifically to a fixing control method, an image forming apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] An image forming apparatus is a device that forms an image on an imaging medium using imaging principles. It typically includes a fixing unit. The fixing unit heats and fixes the toner pattern corresponding to the image forming task onto the imaging medium.

[0003] Under high temperature and pressure, the material life of the fusing component will be affected. It is understandable that as the number of printing and fusing cycles of the fusing component in the image forming apparatus increases, the fusing component will suffer a certain degree of wear and tear.

[0004] Furthermore, during the process from when the image forming apparatus receives the image forming job task to when it completes printing the first page of the image forming job task, the fixing unit is in an idling state most of the time, which will cause wear and tear on the life of the fixing unit.

[0005] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section of this application is intended only to enhance the understanding of the general background of this application, and should not be construed as an admission or in any way implying that the information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, this application provides a fixing control method, an image forming apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium to solve the problem in the prior art that during the process from when the image forming apparatus receives an image forming task to when it completes printing the first page of the image forming task, the fixing component is in an idling state for most of the time, which leads to the wear and tear of the fixing component.

[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a fixing control method applied to an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a fixing component, the fixing component including a pressure roller and a heating roller, the method comprising:

[0008] In response to the issued image forming task, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing unit is controlled to a first rotational speed;

[0009] When the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets the preset conditions, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotation speed. The preset conditions are used to characterize that the imaging medium is about to enter the fixing component. The second rotation speed is the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller under normal working conditions of the fixing component. The first rotation speed is less than the second rotation speed.

[0010] In this embodiment, in response to the issued image forming task, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is first controlled to a first rotation speed; when the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets a preset condition, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotation speed. It can be understood that after the image forming task is issued, the fixing component controls the pressure roller and heating roller to maintain a low rotation speed, i.e., the first rotation speed. Since the preset condition indicates that the imaging medium is about to enter the fixing component, when the position of the imaging medium is detected to meet the preset condition, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to change from the first rotation speed to the second rotation speed. This avoids the pressure roller and heating roller being in a high-speed working state for a long time, thereby improving the service life of the fixing component to a certain extent.

[0011] In one possible implementation, controlling the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to a second rotational speed when the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets a preset condition includes:

[0012] Obtain a first distance corresponding to the imaging medium, wherein the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium is the distance from the current position of the imaging medium to the imaging medium input port of the fixing component along the motion trajectory of the imaging medium;

[0013] Determine whether the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance;

[0014] When the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to the second rotation speed.

[0015] In this embodiment, a first distance corresponding to the imaging medium is first obtained; then, it is determined whether the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches a preset distance; finally, when the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotation speed. It can be understood that since the first distance is the distance from the current position of the imaging medium to the imaging medium input port of the fixing component along the movement trajectory of the imaging medium, controlling the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component based on the relationship between the first distance and the preset distance can effectively prevent the pressure roller and the heating roller from operating at high rotation speeds for extended periods, thereby improving the service life of the fixing component to a certain extent.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the image forming apparatus includes a transfer roller for transferring a toner pattern corresponding to the image forming task onto the imaging medium.

[0017] The preset distance is the distance between the transfer roller and the imaging medium input port of the fixing component along the motion trajectory of the imaging medium.

[0018] In this embodiment, the preset distance is the distance between the transfer roller and the imaging medium input port of the fixing unit along the movement trajectory of the imaging medium. It can be understood that when the toner pattern corresponding to the image forming task is detected to begin transferring to the imaging medium, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing unit is accelerated to a second rotational speed. This ensures that while improving the service life of the fixing unit, each imaging medium with a toner pattern transferred onto it can be fully fixed.

[0019] In one possible implementation, when the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets a preset condition, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotational speed, including:

[0020] After a preset time has elapsed since the image forming task was issued, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotation speed. The preset time indicates that the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets the preset conditions.

[0021] In this embodiment, after a preset time has elapsed since the image forming task was issued, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotation speed. It can be understood that since the time it takes for the ink dots on the transfer belt corresponding to the image forming task to reach the fixed position can be evaluated, setting the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component to the second rotation speed after a preset time has elapsed since the image forming task was issued can prevent the pressure roller and heating roller from working at a high rotation speed for a long time, thereby improving the service life of the fixing component. At the same time, since the adjustment of the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller is achieved by timing, there is no need to use a position sensor, thereby saving components and costs.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0023] The compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is determined based on the fixing influencing factors; the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is adjusted based on the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task.

[0024] In this embodiment, the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is first determined based on fixing influencing factors. Then, the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is adjusted based on the compensation spacing. It is understood that fixing influencing factors can reflect the lifespan of the fixing device. Adjusting the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task based on these factors ensures that the adjusted spacing adapts to the lifespan of the fixing component, thereby reducing wear on the pressure roller and heating roller, improving the lifespan of the fixing component, and to some extent avoiding ghosting in the fixed image, thus improving image quality.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0026] Determine the target fixing temperature based on factors affecting fixing;

[0027] The fixing temperature of the heating roller is controlled to the target fixing temperature.

[0028] In this embodiment, the target fixing temperature is first determined based on fixing influencing factors; then, the fixing temperature of the heating roller is controlled to the target fixing temperature. It is understood that fixing influencing factors can reflect the lifespan of the fixing device. Adjusting the fixing temperature based on these factors reduces wear on the pressure roller and heating roller, improves the lifespan of the fixing components, and to a certain extent avoids image ghosting on the imaging medium, thus improving image quality.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the fixing influencing factors include at least one of the following: cumulative fixing pages, external ambient temperature, and imaging medium type.

[0030] In this embodiment, the factors affecting fixing include at least one of the following: cumulative fixing pages, external ambient temperature, and imaging medium type. It is understood that by fully considering the environmental factors affecting the fixing operation of the fixing component, the compensation distance between adjacent imaging media and the fixing temperature can be determined more accurately, thereby reducing the wear of the pressure roller and heating roller, improving the service life of the fixing component, and to a certain extent avoiding the problem of ghosting in the fixed image, thus improving image quality.

[0031] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a fixing component, the fixing component including a pressure roller and a heating roller, the apparatus comprising:

[0032] The first speed control module is used to control the speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing unit to a first speed in response to the issued image forming task;

[0033] The second speed control module is used to control the speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to a second speed when the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets the preset conditions. The preset conditions are used to indicate that the imaging medium is about to enter the fixing component. The second speed is the speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller under normal working conditions of the fixing component. The first speed is less than the second speed.

[0034] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide an electronic device, characterized in that it includes:

[0035] processor;

[0036] Memory;

[0037] And a computer program, wherein the computer program is stored in the memory, the computer program including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to perform the method described in any one of the first aspects.

[0038] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium includes a stored program, wherein, when the program is executed, it controls the device where the computer-readable storage medium is located to perform the method described in any one of the first aspects.

[0039] It is understood that the fixing control device provided in the second aspect, the electronic device provided in the third aspect, and the computer-readable storage medium provided in the fourth aspect are all used to perform the method provided in this application. Therefore, the beneficial effects they can achieve can be referred to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0040] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an application scenario provided by an embodiment of this application.

[0042] Figure 2 A scene diagram illustrating a fixing process for related technologies.

[0043] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a fixing component provided for related technologies.

[0044] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a fixing control method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0045] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another fixing process provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0046] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating another fixing control method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0047] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating another fixing control method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0048] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a fixing control device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0049] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0050] To better understand the technical solution of this application, the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] It should be understood that the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments in this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0052] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0053] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0054] To facilitate understanding, specific application scenarios will be illustrated below.

[0055] See Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario provided by an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 1As shown, this application scenario includes an image forming apparatus 101. The image forming apparatus 101 includes a fixing unit 102, printing paper 103, an intermediate transfer belt 104, and a paper tray 105. Specifically, after the intermediate transfer belt 104 on the image forming apparatus 101 transfers the toner corresponding to the target image onto the printing paper 103, the fixing unit 102 performs a fixing operation on the transferred imaging medium, thereby ensuring that the toner corresponding to the target image melts and is fixed onto the imaging medium. For example... Figure 1 The image forming apparatus shown also includes other functional structures, such as ink cartridges, photosensitive drums, and charging rollers, which will not be described in detail here for the sake of brevity.

[0056] It should be pointed out that, Figure 1 The image forming apparatus 101 and printing paper 103 shown are merely exemplary descriptions and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application. For example, the image forming apparatus 101 includes, but is not limited to, printers, copiers, fax machines, multi-function image making and copying apparatuses, electrostatic printing apparatuses, and any other similar apparatuses. The printing paper 103 includes, but is not limited to, photographs, paper, promotional posters, and any other similar media.

[0057] For a better understanding of the fixing operation of the fixing unit, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 2 This is a scene diagram illustrating a fixing process for related technologies. For example... Figure 2 As shown, this application scenario includes: a heating roller 201, a pressure roller 202, printing paper 203, cured toner 204, and unmelted toner 205. Specifically, the printing paper 203 moves to the left, and the unmelted toner 205 on the printing paper 203 is melted by the heating roller 201 and pressed by the pressure roller 202, causing the toner to melt and be fixed onto the imaging medium 203.

[0058] To better understand the fixing component, this application also provides a structural schematic diagram of the fixing component. Specifically, see [link to schematic diagram]. Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the structure of a fixing component for related technologies. As shown, the figure illustrates a heating roller 302 and a pressure roller 308. Specifically, the heating roller 302 includes: a supporting sheet metal 305, a supporting bracket 307, a ceramic heating element 304, a thermistor 306, a fixing film 303, and a fixing film bushing 301. Specifically, the heating roller is the source of heat for fixing, and the pressure roller, in conjunction with the elastic component, provides pressure. The supporting sheet metal and supporting bracket primarily support the heating roller, the ceramic heating element is the source of heat generated by the heating roller, the fixing film is used to conduct the heat from the ceramic heating element to the medium, and the fixing film bushing supports the fixing film.

[0059] In related technologies, the material lifespan of the fusing component is affected by high temperature and high pressure. As the number of printing and fusing cycles of the fusing component in the image forming apparatus increases, the fusing component will experience a certain degree of wear and tear.

[0060] Furthermore, during the process from when the image forming apparatus receives the image forming job task to when it completes printing the first page of the image forming job task, the fixing unit is in an idling state most of the time, which will cause wear and tear on the life of the fixing unit.

[0061] When the pressure roller reaches the end of its lifespan, the sponge material of the pressure roller deteriorates, its support weakens, and consequently, the outer diameter profile of the pressure roller is disrupted. Continuing to fix the imaging medium at this point will lead to paper wrinkling. It is understandable that, at the end of its lifespan, under long-term high-temperature and high-pressure operating conditions, the support of the silicone material in the pressure roller is compromised, resulting in paper wrinkling. Therefore, in practical use, ineffective wear and tear on the fixing components should be avoided as much as possible.

[0062] To address the aforementioned issues, in this embodiment, in response to an image forming task, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is first controlled to a first rotational speed. When the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets a preset condition, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotational speed. It can be understood that after the image forming task is issued, the fixing component controls the pressure roller and heating roller to maintain a low rotational speed, i.e., the first rotational speed. Since the preset condition indicates that the imaging medium is about to enter the fixing component, when the position of the imaging medium is detected to meet the preset condition, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to change to the second rotational speed. This avoids the pressure roller and heating roller operating at a high rotational speed for an extended period, thereby improving the service life of the fixing component to a certain extent. Specifically, a detailed description is provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0063] See Figure 4 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a fixing control method provided in an embodiment of this application. This method can be applied to... Figure 1 In the application scenarios shown, such as Figure 4 As shown, it mainly includes the following steps.

[0064] Step S401: In response to the issued image forming job task, control the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing unit to the first rotation speed.

[0065] In this embodiment, in response to an image forming task, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing unit is controlled to a first rotational speed. Specifically, when the image forming apparatus detects an image forming task, it controls the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing unit to the first rotational speed.

[0066] It is understood that the first rotational speed is less than the speed of the imaging medium under normal operating conditions of the image forming apparatus, i.e., the second rotational speed. Of course, in one possible implementation, the first rotational speed can be 0, and this application does not impose any specific restrictions on this.

[0067] Step S402: When the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets the preset conditions, control the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to the second rotation speed.

[0068] In this embodiment, when the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets preset conditions, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotational speed. The preset conditions characterize that the imaging medium is about to enter the fixing component; the second rotational speed is the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller under normal operating conditions of the fixing component; the first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed.

[0069] Understandably, after the image forming task is assigned, the fixing unit controls the pressure roller and heating roller to maintain a low speed, i.e., the first speed. Since the preset conditions indicate that the imaging medium is about to enter the fixing unit, when the position of the imaging medium is detected to meet the preset conditions, the speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing unit is controlled to change from the first speed to the second speed. This avoids the pressure roller and heating roller from being in a high-speed working state for a long time, and to a certain extent, improves the service life of the fixing unit.

[0070] Of course, in practical applications, in order to accurately control the rotational speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing unit, it is first necessary to accurately determine whether the imaging medium has moved to a position that meets the preset conditions. Specifically, the current position of the imaging medium can be directly detected by a sensor to determine whether the current position of the imaging medium meets the preset conditions; or the current position of the imaging medium can be predicted based on existing conditions to determine whether the current position of the imaging medium meets the preset conditions, etc.

[0071] Therefore, in one possible implementation, step S402 specifically includes steps S4021-S4023, as detailed below.

[0072] Step S4021: Obtain the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium.

[0073] In this embodiment, when the image forming apparatus detects an image forming task, it acquires a first distance corresponding to the imaging medium. The first distance is the distance along the motion trajectory of the imaging medium from its current position to the imaging medium input port of the fixing unit.

[0074] For example, when the current position of the imaging medium is in the paper tray, the corresponding first distance is the distance from the paper outlet of the paper tray to the imaging medium input port of the fixing unit along the movement trajectory of the imaging medium; when the current position of the imaging medium is at position A, the corresponding first distance is the distance from position A to the imaging medium input port of the fixing unit along the movement trajectory of the imaging medium.

[0075] It should be noted that the current position of the imaging medium mentioned above, i.e., position A, can specifically be the paper tray exit position, the transfer position between the secondary transfer roller and the imaging medium, any position on the trajectory of the imaging medium from the paper tray exit position to the transfer position between the secondary transfer roller and the imaging medium, or any position on the trajectory of the imaging medium from the transfer position between the secondary transfer roller and the imaging medium to the imaging medium input port of the fixing unit, etc. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments according to the actual situation, and this application does not impose specific limitations in this regard.

[0076] Step S4022: Determine whether the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance.

[0077] In this embodiment, after obtaining the first distance, it is determined whether the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches a preset distance. It is understood that when the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance, step S4023 is executed, as described in the following embodiments.

[0078] In one possible implementation, when the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium does not match the preset distance, the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium is reacquired in order to match the first distance with the preset distance again.

[0079] The “preset distance” mentioned above refers to a distance pre-set by the user. In one possible implementation, when the image forming apparatus is a color printer, the preset distance can be the distance between the secondary transfer roller and the imaging medium input port of the fixing unit along the movement trajectory of the imaging medium; when the image forming apparatus is a monochrome printer, the preset distance can be the distance between the transfer roller and the imaging medium input port of the fixing unit along the movement trajectory of the imaging medium.

[0080] Understandably, when the toner pattern corresponding to the image forming task is detected to begin transferring to the imaging medium, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing unit is accelerated to a second rotation speed. This ensures that each imaging medium with the toner pattern transferred can be fully fixed while improving the service life of the fixing unit.

[0081] Step S4023: When the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance, control the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to the second rotation speed.

[0082] In this embodiment, when the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches a preset distance, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotational speed. The second rotational speed is the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller under normal operating conditions of the fixing component, and the first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed.

[0083] Specifically, along the movement trajectory of the imaging medium, a corresponding sensor can be installed at a preset distance from the fixing component. When the imaging medium is detected to have passed by, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to the second rotation speed.

[0084] It is understandable that, since the first distance is the distance between the current position of the imaging medium and the imaging medium input port of the fixing component along the motion trajectory of the imaging medium, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component can be controlled based on the relationship between the first distance and the preset distance. This can effectively prevent the pressure roller and the heating roller from being in a high-speed working state for a long time, and to a certain extent, improve the service life of the fixing component.

[0085] In practical applications, since the position of the photosensitive drum in the Y-color toner cartridge receiving the laser scanning unit's emitted beam, the transfer position of the secondary transfer roller and the imaging medium, and the actual mechanical distance of the fixing component are determined during the manufacturing of the image forming apparatus, and the speed of the transfer belt is generally constant, the time corresponding to the ink droplet reaching the position of the transfer roller for the image forming task can be evaluated.

[0086] Therefore, in one possible implementation, after a preset time has elapsed since the image forming task was issued, the rotational speeds of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing unit are controlled to a second rotational speed. The preset time indicates that the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets a preset condition.

[0087] Specifically, when the Y-color toner cartridge receives the laser beam emitted by the laser scanning unit, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a first rotation speed; after a preset time, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is then controlled to a second rotation speed. Specifically, the preset time can be the time from the moment the Y-color toner cartridge receives the laser beam emitted by the laser scanning unit to the moment the ink droplet reaches the transfer position between the secondary transfer roller and the imaging medium. For example, when performing an image forming task, timing begins at the moment the Y-color toner cartridge receives the laser beam emitted by the laser scanning unit, and the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to the first rotation speed. After a preset time T1, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to the second rotation speed. Here, T1 can be determined by the mechanical distance from the position of the Y-color toner cartridge receiving the laser beam emitted by the laser scanning unit to the transfer position between the secondary transfer roller and the imaging medium. Specifically, during the image forming task, the laser scanning unit emits a light beam, and the Y-color toner cartridge receives the beam. The actual mechanical distance between the position where the Y-color toner cartridge receives the beam and the secondary transfer roller and fixing unit is determined during the manufacturing of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, by dividing the corresponding mechanical distance by the speed of the transfer belt, the time it takes for the ink dot corresponding to the image forming task to reach the corresponding position can be estimated. The above scheme uses one toner cartridge for illustration. In addition to the Y-color toner cartridge, the starting point can also be the position where the photosensitive drum of any of the other three color toner cartridges (C / M / K) receives the light beam emitted by the LSU. This application does not specifically limit this. The preset time can also be the time from the point when the Y-color toner cartridge receives the light beam emitted by the laser scanning unit to the point when the ink dot corresponding to the image forming task reaches any other position. It should be noted that the LSU is the laser scanning unit, which will not be elaborated further below.

[0088] In another possible implementation, a corresponding sensor can be installed at the Y-color imaging position. When toner is detected on the transfer belt, the sensor detects the presence of toner. The secondary transfer roller and the four color toner cartridges (Y / M / C / K) mentioned above are all components of a color printer. Of course, the method described in this application can also be applied to a monochrome printer, and this application does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0089] It should be noted that the above method embodiments are typically applied in scenarios where the image forming apparatus performs intermittent printing. Intermittent printing refers to the image forming apparatus executing a new image forming job task after at least a certain time interval.

[0090] In practical applications, the hardness of the pressure roller in the fixing unit gradually decreases as the cumulative number of pages fixed increases, thereby increasing the width of the pressure zone between the pressure roller and the heating roller. For ease of understanding, in... Figure 2 Based on this, see Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of another fixing process provided in an embodiment of this application. The figure also shows the width 501 of the pressure area between the pressure roller and the heating roller. It can be understood that, in general, during the operation of an image forming apparatus, the pressure between the pressure roller and the heating roller remains constant, but the hardness of the pressure roller changes. When the hardness of the pressure roller changes, the pressure roller will be pressed further downward, and the area under pressure will be larger.

[0091] In practical applications, when the width of the pressure zone between the pressure roller and the heating roller increases while the fixing speed remains constant, the fixing heating time of the imaging medium will increase, which can easily lead to image ghosting problems.

[0092] To address the aforementioned issues, in this embodiment, the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is determined based on fixing influencing factors; and the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is adjusted according to the compensation spacing. It should be noted that adjusting the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task refers to the spacing between each page printed in the image forming task. For example, if a user issues a 100-page print job in a certain image forming task, then the spacing between each page in this image forming task needs to be adjusted according to the compensation spacing.

[0093] In one specific implementation, the fixing influencing factor can be the cumulative fixing page count. Specifically, before controlling imaging, it is first determined whether the cumulative fixing page count is greater than or equal to a preset fixing page count. Then, when the cumulative fixing page count is greater than or equal to the preset fixing page count, the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is determined. Finally, based on the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task, the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is adjusted. It can be understood that the cumulative fixing page count reflects the lifespan of the fixing device. By adjusting the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task based on the relationship between the cumulative fixing page count and the preset fixing page count, the wear of the pressure roller and heating roller is reduced, the lifespan of the fixing component is improved, and to a certain extent, the problem of ghosting in the fixing image is avoided, thus improving image quality. A detailed description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0094] See Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating another fixing control method provided in an embodiment of this application. This method can be applied to... Figure 1 In the application scenarios shown, such as Figure 6 As shown, prior to controlling the imaging, the embodiments of this application further include the following steps.

[0095] Step S601: Determine whether the cumulative number of fixing pages is greater than or equal to the preset number of fixing pages.

[0096] In this embodiment, after receiving an image forming task, the image forming apparatus first obtains the cumulative number of fixing pages; then, it determines whether the cumulative number of fixing pages is greater than or equal to a preset number of fixing pages. The cumulative number of fixing pages refers to the total number of pages of the imaging medium processed by the fixing unit.

[0097] To ensure accurate counting of the cumulative fixing pages, a power-loss protected buffer can be incorporated into the image forming apparatus to store the cumulative fixing page count. Even if the image forming apparatus experiences a sudden power outage, it will resume counting from the previous cumulative fixing page count upon restarting.

[0098] Step S602: When the cumulative number of fixing pages is greater than or equal to the preset number of fixing pages, determine the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task.

[0099] In this embodiment, when the cumulative number of fixing pages is greater than or equal to a preset number of fixing pages, the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is determined. It can be understood that a cumulative number of fixing pages greater than or equal to a preset number of fixing pages indicates that the wear between the pressure roller and the heating roller may be severe at this time, and in this case, the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task can be determined.

[0100] In one possible implementation, the user can preset a compensation interval. When the cumulative number of fixing pages is greater than or equal to the preset number of fixing pages, the compensation interval between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is determined to be the preset compensation interval.

[0101] In this embodiment, fixing influencing factors are first obtained. Then, based on the fixing influencing factors, the compensation distance between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the fixing influencing factors can be determined more accurately, thereby reducing the wear of the pressure roller and heating roller, improving the service life of the fixing component, and avoiding the problem of ghosting of the fixing image to a certain extent, thus improving the imaging quality.

[0102] It should be noted that, in one possible implementation, factors affecting fixing include: the cumulative number of pages fixed, the external ambient temperature, and the type of imaging medium. Understandably, fully considering the environmental factors affecting the fixing unit's operation allows for a more accurate determination of the compensation distance between adjacent imaging media and the fixing temperature. This reduces wear on the pressure roller and heating roller, increases the service life of the fixing unit, and to some extent avoids ghosting issues in the fixed image, thus improving image quality.

[0103] Furthermore, in one possible implementation, the compensation distance between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the fixing influencing factors is determined based on the fixing influencing factors and a first preset relationship table. The first preset relationship table is a preset correspondence table between fixing influencing factors and compensation distances.

[0104] For example, Table 1 shows a first preset relationship table provided by this application. When the fixing influencing factor is fixing influencing factor B, the compensation interval can be determined as compensation interval B according to fixing influencing factor B and Table 1; similarly, when the fixing influencing factor is fixing influencing factor A, the compensation interval can be determined as compensation interval A according to fixing influencing factor A and Table 1; and so on. This application does not impose any specific restrictions on this.

[0105] Table 1:

[0106]

[0107] In this embodiment of the application, based on the fixing influencing factors and the first preset relationship table, the compensation distance between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the fixing influencing factors can be determined more accurately, thereby reducing the wear of the pressure roller and heating roller, improving the service life of the fixing component, and to a certain extent avoiding the problem of ghosting of the fixing image, thus improving the imaging quality.

[0108] Since factors affecting fixing can include cumulative fixing page count P, external ambient temperature H, and imaging medium type T, the compensation distance can also be determined based on multiple factors. Table 2 shows another first preset relationship table provided in this application. When the cumulative fixing page count is P1, the external ambient temperature is H1, and the imaging medium type is T1, the compensation distance can be determined as compensation distance a according to Table 2; similarly, when the cumulative fixing page count is P2, the external ambient temperature is H2, and the imaging medium type is T3, the compensation distance can be determined as compensation distance l according to Table 2; and so on. This application does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0109] Table 2:

[0110]

[0111] Step S603: Adjust the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task according to the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task.

[0112] In this embodiment, the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is adjusted according to the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task.

[0113] Specifically, the image forming apparatus uses the retrieved compensation gap to compensate for the paper spacing initially set in the image forming apparatus. During the compensation process, the engine firmware in the image forming apparatus controls the opening and closing of the paper feed clutch. The clutch controls the rotation of the paper feed roller, causing the paper feed roller to pause for a period of time after rotating one revolution. By extending the time interval between the opening and closing of the paper feed clutch, the spacing of the imaging medium is increased.

[0114] In this embodiment, the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is determined based on fixing influencing factors; then, the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is adjusted based on the compensation spacing. It is understood that fixing influencing factors can reflect the lifespan of the fixing device. Adjusting the spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task based on these factors reduces wear on the pressure roller and heating roller, improves the lifespan of the fixing components, and to a certain extent avoids ghosting issues in the fixed image, thus improving image quality.

[0115] In practical applications, when the width of the pressure zone between the pressure roller and the heating roller increases while the fixing speed remains constant, the fixing heating time of the imaging medium will increase, which in turn makes the heating time more likely to increase, causing ghosting in the imaging medium and ultimately resulting in lower image quality.

[0116] To address the aforementioned issues, in this embodiment, before controlling imaging, a target fixing temperature is determined based on fixing influencing factors; then, the fixing temperature of the heating roller is controlled to the target fixing temperature. It is understood that fixing influencing factors can reflect the lifespan of the fixing device. Adjusting the fixing temperature based on these factors reduces wear on the pressure roller and heating roller, improves the lifespan of the fixing components, and to a certain extent avoids image ghosting on the imaging medium, thus improving image quality.

[0117] In one specific implementation, the fixing factor can be the cumulative number of fixing pages.

[0118] The following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0119] See Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating another fixing control method provided in an embodiment of this application. This method can be applied to... Figure 1 In the application scenarios shown, such as Figure 7 As shown, prior to controlling the imaging, the embodiments of this application further include the following steps.

[0120] Step S701: Determine whether the cumulative number of pages for fixing is greater than or equal to the preset number of pages for fixing.

[0121] In this embodiment, after receiving an image forming task, the image forming apparatus first obtains the cumulative number of fixing pages; then, it determines whether the cumulative number of fixing pages is greater than or equal to a preset number of fixing pages. The cumulative number of fixing pages refers to the total number of pages of the imaging medium processed by the fixing unit.

[0122] Step S702: When the cumulative number of fixing pages is greater than or equal to the preset number of fixing pages, determine the target fixing temperature.

[0123] In this embodiment, the target fixing temperature is determined when the cumulative number of fixing pages is greater than or equal to the preset number of fixing pages. It is understood that a cumulative number of fixing pages greater than or equal to the preset number of fixing pages indicates that the wear between the pressure roller and the heating roller may be severe, and the pressure zone between the pressure roller and the heating roller is wider, thus increasing the heating time of the imaging medium. In this case, the target fixing temperature can be determined.

[0124] In one possible implementation, the user can preset a target fixing temperature. When the cumulative number of fixing pages is greater than or equal to the preset number of fixing pages, the target fixing temperature is determined to be the preset target fixing temperature.

[0125] In one possible implementation, the factors affecting fixing can be obtained first; then, based on these factors, a more accurate target fixing temperature can be determined, thereby reducing the wear of the pressure roller and heating roller, increasing the service life of the fixing components, and to some extent avoiding image ghosting on the imaging medium, thus improving image quality.

[0126] Furthermore, in one possible implementation, the target fixing temperature corresponding to the fixing influencing factors is determined based on the fixing influencing factors and a second preset relationship table. The second preset relationship table is a table showing the correspondence between the fixing influencing factors and the target fixing temperature.

[0127] For example, Table 3 shows a second preset relationship table provided in this application. When the fixing influencing factor is fixing influencing factor B, the target fixing temperature can be determined as target fixing temperature B based on fixing influencing factor B and Table 3; similarly, when the fixing influencing factor is fixing influencing factor A, the fixing temperature can be determined as target fixing temperature A based on fixing influencing factor A and Table 3; and so on. This application does not impose any specific limitations on this.

[0128] Table 3:

[0129]

[0130] Since factors affecting fixing can include cumulative fixing page count P, ambient temperature H, and imaging medium type T, the target fixing temperature can also be determined based on a combination of these factors. Table 4 shows another second preset relationship table provided in this application. When the cumulative fixing page count is P1, the ambient temperature is H1, and the imaging medium type is T1, the target fixing temperature can be determined as target fixing temperature a according to Table 4. Similarly, when the cumulative fixing page count is P2, the ambient temperature is H2, and the imaging medium type is T3, the target fixing temperature can be determined as target fixing temperature l according to Table 4. This application does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0131] Table 4:

[0132]

[0133] In this embodiment of the application, based on the fixing influencing factors and the second preset relationship table, a more accurate target fixing temperature corresponding to the fixing influencing factors can be determined, thereby reducing the wear of the pressure roller and heating roller, improving the service life of the fixing component, and to a certain extent avoiding image ghosting of the imaging medium, thus improving the imaging quality.

[0134] Step S703: Control the fixing temperature of the heating roller to the target fixing temperature.

[0135] In this embodiment of the application, once the target fixing temperature is determined, the fixing temperature of the heating roller is controlled to be the target fixing temperature.

[0136] Specifically, after determining the target fixing temperature, the engine firmware of the image forming device reads the real-time temperature feedback from the thermistor on the fuser; then, based on the real-time temperature feedback from the thermistor, it controls the heating power of the ceramic sheet on the fuser to control the heating temperature of the heating roller, so as to ensure that when the imaging medium reaches the fixing component, the temperature of the heating roller reaches the target fixing temperature, thereby completing the control of the fixing temperature.

[0137] In this embodiment, the cumulative number of fixing pages can reflect the lifespan of the fixing device. Based on the relationship between the cumulative number of fixing pages and the preset number of fixing pages, the fixing temperature is adjusted, thereby reducing the wear of the pressure roller and the heating roller, improving the service life of the fixing component, and to a certain extent avoiding image ghosting of the imaging medium, thus improving the imaging quality.

[0138] Corresponding to the above embodiments, this application also provides an image forming apparatus. Specifically, see... Figure 8This is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in the figure, a first speed control module 801 and a second speed control module 802 are illustrated. The first speed control module controls the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component to a first speed in response to a issued image forming task. The second speed control module controls the rotation speed of the pressure roller and heating roller in the fixing component to a second speed when the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets preset conditions.

[0139] Corresponding to the above embodiments, this application also provides an electronic device. See also Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application. The electronic device 900 may include a processor 901, a memory 902, and a communication unit 903. These components communicate through one or more buses. Those skilled in the art will understand that the structure of the electronic device shown in the figure does not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of the present invention. It may be a bus-shaped structure or a star-shaped structure, and may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0140] The communication unit 903 is used to establish a communication channel, enabling the electronic device to communicate with other devices. It can receive user data sent by other devices or send user data to other devices.

[0141] The processor 901 serves as the control center of the electronic device, connecting various parts of the device via interfaces and lines. It executes software programs, instructions, and / or modules stored in the memory 902, and calls data stored in the memory to perform various functions and / or process data. The processor can be composed of integrated circuits (ICs), such as a single packaged IC or multiple packaged ICs with the same or different functions connected together. For example, the processor 901 may consist only of a central processing unit (CPU). In this embodiment, the CPU may have a single processing core or include multiple processing cores.

[0142] The memory 902 is used to store the execution instructions of the processor 901. The memory 902 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk or optical disk.

[0143] When the execution instructions in memory 902 are executed by processor 901, the electronic device 900 is able to perform operations. Figure 1 Some or all of the steps in the illustrated embodiments.

[0144] In a specific implementation, this application also provides a computer storage medium, wherein the computer storage medium may store a program, and when the program is executed, it may include some or all of the steps in the various embodiments of the simulation scene generation method provided by this invention. The storage medium may be a magnetic disk, optical disk, read-only memory (ROM), or random access memory (RAM), etc.

[0145] In a specific implementation, this application also provides a computer program product, wherein the computer program product includes executable instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform some or all of the steps in various embodiments of the simulation scene generation method provided by the present invention.

[0146] In this application embodiment, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more than one" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the existence of A alone, the simultaneous existence of A and B, or the existence of B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" and similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, and c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0147] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of electronic hardware and software. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0148] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0149] In the several embodiments provided in this application, any function, if implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0150] The same or similar parts between the various embodiments in this specification can be referred to mutually. In particular, the device embodiments and terminal embodiments are basically similar to the method embodiments, so the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts can be referred to the description in the method embodiments.

Claims

1. A fixing control method, characterized in that, Applied to an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a fixing component, the fixing component including a pressure roller and a heating roller, the method includes: In response to the issued image forming task, the rotational speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing unit is controlled to a first rotational speed; When the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets the preset conditions, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotation speed. The preset conditions are used to characterize that the imaging medium is about to enter the fixing component. The second rotation speed is the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller under normal working conditions of the fixing component. The first rotation speed is less than the second rotation speed. When the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image formation task meets a preset condition, controlling the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to a second rotation speed includes: Obtain a first distance corresponding to the imaging medium, wherein the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium is the distance from the current position of the imaging medium to the imaging medium input port of the fixing component along the motion trajectory of the imaging medium; Determine whether the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance; When the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to the second rotation speed.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image forming apparatus includes a transfer roller, which is used to transfer a toner pattern corresponding to the image forming task onto the imaging medium; The preset distance is the distance between the transfer roller and the imaging medium input port of the fixing component along the motion trajectory of the imaging medium.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image formation task meets a preset condition, controlling the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to a second rotation speed includes: After a preset time has elapsed since the image forming task was issued, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to a second rotation speed. The preset time indicates that the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets the preset conditions.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is determined based on the fixing influencing factors. The spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task is adjusted according to the compensation spacing between adjacent imaging media corresponding to the image forming task.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Determine the target fixing temperature based on factors affecting fixing; The fixing temperature of the heating roller is controlled to the target fixing temperature.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The factors affecting fixing include at least one of the following: cumulative fixing pages, external ambient temperature, and imaging medium type.

7. An image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising a fixing component, the fixing component comprising a pressure roller and a heating roller, the apparatus comprising: The first speed control module is used to control the speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing unit to a first speed in response to the issued image forming task; The second speed control module is used to control the speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to a second speed when the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image forming task meets a preset condition. The preset condition is used to indicate that the imaging medium is about to enter the fixing component. The second speed is the speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller under normal operating conditions of the fixing component. The first speed is less than the second speed. When the position of the imaging medium corresponding to the image formation task meets a preset condition, controlling the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component to a second rotation speed includes: Obtain a first distance corresponding to the imaging medium, wherein the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium is the distance from the current position of the imaging medium to the imaging medium input port of the fixing component along the motion trajectory of the imaging medium; Determine whether the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance; When the first distance corresponding to the imaging medium matches the preset distance, the rotation speed of the pressure roller and the heating roller in the fixing component is controlled to the second rotation speed.

8. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: processor; Memory; And a computer program, wherein the computer program is stored in the memory, the computer program including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium includes a stored program, wherein, when the program is executed, it controls the device on which the computer-readable storage medium is located to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images