Fixing Belt Heating Timing Control for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the warming-up time of the fixing device is often shorter than the start-up times of other operating units, leading to unnecessary power consumption as the fixing device maintains its temperature until other units are ready, especially noticeable in black-and-white mode where the target fixing temperature is lower.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with an information acquiring unit to estimate warming-up time and a heating control unit to adjust the heating start timing of the fixing device based on this information, ensuring the fixing device's temperature is maintained only until other units are operational, thereby reducing power waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the warming-up time of the fixing device is shortened by using a thin fixing belt with low heat capacity, then the first print time is reduced, but the fixing device maintains temperature unnecessarily longer than other operating units, causing wasted power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit starts the heating operation in advance based on predicted warming-up time, allowing the fixing device to reach target temperature just in time for image forming operations. This prevents both excessive waiting and unnecessary energy consumption by synchronizing heating completion with operational readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors actual warming-up progress and adjusts heating operations dynamically. By comparing predicted warming-up time with actual temperature rise rates, the system optimizes heating duration to match the start-up timing of other operating units, eliminating wasted power consumption while ensuring timely readiness.
2Productivity
If the fixing device is heated to target temperature quickly, then the first print time is shortened, but the fixing device must maintain temperature until other operating units start up, resulting in wasted power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The heating operation is made dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts heating start timing and duration based on real-time status of other operating units, allowing the fixing device to reach target temperature at the optimal moment and maintain it only as long as necessary, thereby reducing energy waste while preserving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (heating start time, target temperature, maintenance duration) based on the startup status of other operating units. By flexibly adjusting these parameters, the fixing device achieves target temperature quickly for high productivity while minimizing the time it maintains temperature unnecessarily, thus reducing power consumption.
3Reliability
If the heating operation starts immediately upon power source activation, then the fixing device is ready quickly, but power is wasted maintaining temperature when other operating units are not yet operational
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary assessment of warming-up time and schedules heating operations accordingly. By predicting how long heating will take and coordinating with the startup timing of other operating units, the system ensures the fixing device is ready when needed without initiating heating too early that would cause unnecessary energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit autonomously manages the heating operation by monitoring the startup status of other operating units and automatically adjusting heating timing and duration. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention while ensuring the fixing device reaches target temperature at the optimal moment, preventing both premature and excessive heating that would waste energy.
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 reduces power consumption by synchronizing the warming-up time of the fixing device with the start-up times of other units, optimizing energy usage and shortening the time the fixing device needs to maintain elevated temperatures unnecessarily.
Implementation Method 1
a heating member 10, a fixing device that applies heat of the heated heating member 10 to the image formed on the recording medium P by the image forming unit 1 so as to fix the image to the recording medium P
Data Source
AI summary
In the present invention, upon return from a standby mode or sleep mode, image data is acquired as warming-up time estimate information for estimating the warming-up time to increase the temperature of a fixing belt to a target fixing temperature and, if the acquired image data is the data on a black-and-white image, control is performed to delay the heating start timing of the fixing belt.