Fixing Assembly Heating Timing for Energy-Efficient Toner Fusing

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heating methods in image forming technologies face challenges in accurately controlling the starting time of heating, leading to inefficient energy consumption due to slow heating speeds or excessive energy waste, particularly with halogen lamps and ceramic sheets.

Innovation Solution

A heating control method that determines the time required for a fixing assembly to reach a target temperature and calculates the optimal starting point of heating based on the distance to the assembly, traveling speed of the printing medium, and current temperature, ensuring precise timing to minimize energy waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If halogen lamps are used for heating, then the heating assembly can be heated in advance to ensure sufficient fixing temperature, but the heating speed is slow and energy consumption increases due to prolonged heating time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing assembly temperatureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heating of the fixing assembly before the printing medium arrives, but optimizes the timing by calculating the exact moment when heating should start based on the distance and speed parameters. This ensures the fixing assembly reaches the required temperature just in time, avoiding both premature and prolonged heating that would waste energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heating control system dynamically adjusts the heating start time based on real-time parameters including the distance from the preset location to the central position of the fixing assembly and the traveling speed of the printing medium. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the heating process to match the actual operational conditions, reducing energy waste while ensuring sufficient temperature is achieved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If ceramic sheets are used for heating with higher heating rate, then the heating speed increases, but energy consumption increases due to excessively long heating time when heated in advance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heating of the fixing assembly before the printing medium arrives, but optimizes the timing by calculating the exact moment when heating should start based on the distance and speed parameters. This ensures the fixing assembly reaches the required temperature just in time, avoiding both premature and prolonged heating that would waste energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heating control system dynamically adjusts the heating start time based on real-time parameters including the distance from the preset location to the central position of the fixing assembly and the traveling speed of the printing medium. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the heating process to match the actual operational conditions, reducing energy waste while ensuring sufficient temperature is achieved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the fixing assembly is heated in advance to ensure sufficient fixing temperature, then the toner can be fully fixed on the paper, but the starting time of heating is difficult to control accurately leading to energy waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing qualityVSAvoidheating start time precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from detected parameters (distance from preset location to central position of fixing assembly, traveling speed of printing medium) to calculate and determine the optimal heating start time. This closed-loop control ensures accurate timing of the heating process, maintaining reliable fixing quality while minimizing energy consumption through precise control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary heating of the fixing assembly before the printing medium arrives, but optimizes the timing by calculating the exact moment when heating should start based on the distance and speed parameters. This ensures the fixing assembly reaches the required temperature just in time, avoiding both premature and prolonged heating that would waste energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method accurately determines the heating start time, reducing energy consumption and preventing overheating or underheating, thereby optimizing the fixing process and improving energy efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the term fixing means to fix unstable and erasable toner on the paper through heating by a heating element of a fixing assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS12560880B2Heating control method and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 ZHUHAI PANTUM ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a heating control method and image forming apparatus. The heating control method includes: when an image forming apparatus is in a printing state, determining a time duration t1 required for the fixing assembly to rise from a current temperature or a temperature at a set moment to a preset target temperature; and determining a time point of the fixing assembly to start heating based on a distance from a preset location to a central position of the fixing assembly, a travelling speed of a printing medium, and the time t1.