Endless Belt Heating Control for Fuser Standby
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixing devices face challenges in reducing startup time and maintaining productivity due to the need for the fixation belt to be heated and rotated during standby mode, which can lead to belt deterioration from friction and inconsistent image fixation temperatures.
Innovation Solution
An image heating apparatus with an endless belt, a driving rotatable member, a pressing pad, and a controller that executes intermittent heating operations while rotating the belt, maintaining temperature within specific ranges to balance productivity and belt longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fixation belt is rotated during standby mode to keep the pressure roller warm, then productivity is maintained, but the fixation belt deteriorates due to friction with the pressure pad
Solution Approach 1:
The controller executes intermittent heating operations with varying rest periods - a first rest period followed by a second rest period that is longer than the first. This periodic action allows the belt to rotate during heating while providing extended rest intervals to reduce cumulative friction wear, thereby maintaining productivity while extending belt service life
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the heating parameters by implementing two different rest period durations. The controller adjusts the heating cycle parameters dynamically, using shorter first rest periods for initial heating and longer second rest periods to allow belt recovery and reduce friction wear, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining temperature and reducing wear
2Reliability
If the fixation belt is not heated during standby mode to extend belt life, then belt deterioration is reduced, but the pressure roller becomes too cold for effective image fixation when operation resumes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating actions during standby mode by executing intermittent heating operations. The controller activates the heating device periodically even when no print command is received, preparing the belt and pressure roller in advance so that when operation resumes, the fixation temperature is already adequate, ensuring both belt longevity and temperature consistency
3Manufacturing precision
If continuous heating is applied to maintain pressure roller temperature during standby mode, then image fixation temperature consistency is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous heating, the system employs periodic intermittent heating operations with defined rest periods. The controller switches the heating device on and off in cycles, maintaining the pressure roller temperature within acceptable ranges while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous heating operations
Solution Approach 2:
The intermittent heating strategy maintains the useful thermal action continuously enough to keep the pressure roller warm sufficient for fixation, while introducing rest periods to eliminate wasteful energy consumption. This ensures temperature consistency is maintained at the minimum necessary level without excessive energy use
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces startup time, maintains consistent image fixation temperatures, and prolongs the service life of the fixation belt by strategically controlling heating and rotation during standby mode, ensuring efficient and reliable image formation.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device configured and positioned to heat said endless belt; and a controller configured to execute, in a stand-by mode following a warming-up mode, intermittent heating operation of said heating device for said endless belt
Implementation Method 2
it is possible that as the fixation belt is rotated, it is deteriorated by the friction between the fixation belt and pressure pad
Data Source
AI summary
An image heating apparatus includes: an endless belt for heating a toner image on a sheet in a nip; a driving rotatable member for cooperating with the belt to form the nip and for rotating the belt; a pressing pad for pressing the belt from an inside of the belt toward the driving rotatable member; a heating device for heating the belt; and a controller configured to execute, in a stand-by mode following a warming-up mode, an intermittent heating operation of the heating device for the belt while rotating the belt by the driving rotatable member. The controller is capable of executing, after executing the intermittent heating operation in a first rest period in the stand-by mode, the intermittent heating operation in a second rest period, which is longer than the first rest period.