Fixing Belt Temperature Control for Image Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with temperature nonuniformity in the fixation belt, leading to potential buckling and unsatisfactory image formation when power is turned off or the apparatus is switched to sleep mode, especially when the heat roller has a higher thermal capacity than the belt.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a temperature detecting member and a control portion that continues belt rotation until a predetermined temperature condition is met, ensuring the belt is not stopped while high in temperature, and then turns off the power, thereby maintaining belt uniformity and preventing distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the belt rotation is simply stopped in response to a power OFF signal or sleep mode signal, then the power consumption is reduced and the apparatus enters standby mode, but the belt temperature becomes nonuniform and the belt deteriorates significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion checks the belt temperature before stopping rotation. If the temperature is below a predetermined threshold, the belt rotation is stopped immediately. If the temperature is above the threshold, the rotation continues until the temperature condition is met. This preliminary temperature check prevents harmful thermal stress on the belt while allowing power savings when conditions permit.
Solution Approach 2:
A temperature detecting member continuously monitors the belt temperature and provides feedback to the control portion. The control portion uses this real-time temperature information to decide whether to stop or continue belt rotation, creating a closed-loop control system that balances power consumption with belt protection.
2Loss of energy
If the heater is turned off immediately when a power OFF signal is received, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the belt temperature becomes nonuniform causing distortion and buckling
Solution Approach 1:
Before stopping the belt rotation and turning off the heater, the control portion performs a preliminary temperature check to ensure the belt temperature is below the predetermined threshold. This prevents the thermal nonuniformity that would occur if the heater were turned off while the belt was still hot, thereby avoiding distortion and buckling.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature detecting member provides continuous feedback on belt temperature to the control portion. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor thermal conditions and make informed decisions about when to stop heating and rotation, ensuring energy efficiency while maintaining belt temperature uniformity.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the belt is stopped while high in temperature, then the power consumption is reduced, but the belt becomes distorted and buckled
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion performs a preliminary temperature assessment before stopping belt rotation. Only when the temperature is confirmed to be below the predetermined threshold does the system stop the belt. This prevents stopping the belt in a high-temperature state that would cause thermal distortion and buckling.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature detecting member continuously monitors belt temperature and provides feedback to the control portion, enabling real-time decision-making about belt rotation status. This feedback ensures the belt is only stopped when temperature conditions are safe, preventing shape distortion while allowing power savings.
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
Prevents belt distortion and buckling by maintaining temperature uniformity during power transitions, ensuring consistent image quality and extending belt lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a heating roller including a heater inside and configured to suspend and tension, and heat said belt
Implementation Method 2
a temperature detecting member configured to detect a temperature of said heating roller or a temperature of said belt
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a heater, heating roller heated by the heater and a fixing belt heated by the heating roller. A thermistor detects a temperature of the fixing belt at an area where the belt is stretched by the heating roller. When a CPU receives a signal which instructs the stop of rotation of the fixing belt, the CPU continues rotation of the fixing belt until the detected temperature detected by the thermistor decreases a predetermined temperature in a case in which the detected temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature.