Fixing Apparatus Toner Control for Mixed Grammage Jobs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing apparatuses experience a decrease in productivity when handling a mixture of recording materials with different grammages, as they require frequent changes in fixing temperature, leading to downtime and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed fixing apparatus includes a control unit that adjusts the maximum toner amount and grammage information acquisition to operate in either a productivity priority mode or an image quality priority mode, allowing for consistent fixing temperatures across different grammages, thereby minimizing temperature changes and maintaining productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the fixing temperature is changed for each recording material type, then the image quality is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes (image quality priority mode and productivity priority mode) based on the job type. In image quality priority mode, the fixing temperature is changed for each recording material type. In productivity priority mode, the fixing temperature is maintained constant for mixture jobs, allowing continuous processing without temperature changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fixing temperature parameter based on recording material type when image quality is prioritized. However, when productivity is prioritized in mixture jobs, the temperature parameter is kept constant despite changes in recording material grammage, trading some image quality optimization for continuous operation.
2Productivity
If the maximum toner amount is controlled based on grammage in productivity priority mode, then the productivity is improved, but the image quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
In productivity priority mode, the system controls the maximum toner amount parameter based on recording material grammage to enable continuous fixing at constant temperature. This parameter control allows mixture jobs to be processed without temperature changes, improving productivity while maintaining acceptable image quality through toner amount management.
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
This approach enables efficient fixing of mixed grammage materials without changing the fixing temperature, enhancing productivity by maintaining consistent toner application and image quality across varying sheet types.
Implementation Method 1
a heating rotary member configured to apply heat to a recording material
Implementation Method 2
a pressing rotary member configured to press the heating rotary member, the pressing rotary member and the heating rotary member forming a nip portion, at which heat and pressure is applied to the recording material
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing apparatus includes a heating rotary member and a pressing rotary member, which form a nip portion, at which a toner image is fixed to a recording material, a mixture job is a job with a mixture of recording materials including a recording material with a first grammage and a recording material with a second grammage greater than the first grammage, one of a plurality of modes is performable in the mixture job, in which a maximum value of an amount of toner on the recording material with the first grammage is greater than a maximum value of the amount of toner on the recording material with the second grammage in the first mode whereas the maximum value on the recording material with the first grammage is equal to the maximum value on the recording material with the second grammage in the second mode.