Fixing Control for Mixed-Basis-Weight Image Forming Jobs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses experience productivity loss due to temporary stops when switching conveying speed and/or fixing temperature, especially during mixed jobs with varying recording material basis weights.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a controller that adjusts conveying speed and fixing temperature based on acquired basis weights, allowing continuous operation by switching to appropriate modes when a specific number of sheets with different basis weights are present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the conveying speed and fixing temperature are switched to accommodate different basis weights of recording materials, then the fixing quality is improved, but the productivity is lowered due to temporary stops
Solution Approach 1:
The controller predicts the basis weight of the next recording material in advance and proactively adjusts the conveying speed and fixing temperature before the actual material change occurs. This preliminary adjustment eliminates the need for temporary stops during material transitions, as the system is already configured for the upcoming material type when it arrives at the fixing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the conveying speed and fixing temperature based on the detected basis weight of the recording material. By making these parameters variable rather than fixed, the system can adapt to different material types (e.g., thin paper vs. thick paper) and optimize fixing quality for each material while maintaining continuous operation through predictive adjustments.
2Device complexity
If a common fixing temperature is used for all recording materials, then the device complexity is reduced, but the fixing quality deteriorates for materials with different basis weights
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the fixing temperature parameter based on the basis weight of the recording material. Instead of using a single fixed temperature, the controller adjusts the temperature parameter dynamically according to the detected material properties, allowing optimal fixing for different basis weights (e.g., lower temperature for thin paper, higher temperature for thick paper) while maintaining relatively simple hardware.
3Productivity
If the conveying speed is increased for thin paper, then the productivity is improved, but the fixing quality deteriorates due to insufficient heat application time
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts both the conveying speed and fixing temperature parameters based on the basis weight of the recording material. For thin paper, the system uses higher conveying speed to improve productivity while simultaneously adjusting the fixing temperature to ensure adequate heat application time and quality. This coordinated parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize both speed and quality for different material types.
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 minimizes temporary stops and maintains productivity by optimizing speed and temperature settings for mixed jobs with varying materials, ensuring consistent image quality and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating portion configured to heat the first rotatable member
Implementation Method 2
a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member configured to form a fixing nip, in contact with the first rotatable member, in which the recording material is nipped and conveyed therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
When a first mode that a recording material conveying speed is a first speed is inputted to an input portion when a controller executes a continuous image forming job in which first recording materials each having the first basis weight and second recording materials each having the second basis weight are present in mixture, in a case where the continuous image forming job is such that the first recording materials are not continuous in a first number of sheets or more and that the second recording materials are continuous in a second number of sheets or more after the first recording material, the controller executes the continuous image forming job in a setting such that the recording material conveying speed is the first speed and a fixing temperature is a second temperature, for the second basis weight, lower than a first temperature for the first basis weight.