Fixing Heater Temperature Detection Circuit for False Shutdown Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face issues with abnormal temperature detection, leading to unnecessary shutdowns and maintenance delays due to incorrect identification of heating abnormalities, which can result in wasted time and inconvenience for users.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a temperature detection system with an abnormality detection circuit and a calculation processing portion that differentiate between abnormal and normal temperature conditions, allowing for controlled power cycling to determine if the fixing member can recover from an abnormally heated state, thereby reducing unnecessary shutdowns and improving user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the abnormality detection circuit forcibly stops power supply to the fixing heater when abnormally heated temperature is detected, then safety is improved, but false shutdowns occur due to incorrect abnormality identification
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by comparing the detected temperature with the calculated temperature from the temperature detection portion. The abnormality determination portion uses this feedback loop to verify whether the detected abnormal temperature is genuine or caused by input errors, thereby reducing false shutdowns while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The abnormality determination portion acts as an intermediary between the temperature detection portion and the driving circuit. It mediates by validating temperature readings through comparison with calculated values before triggering shutdown, preventing false positives while ensuring real abnormalities are caught
2Reliability
If the system shuts down immediately upon detecting abnormal temperature, then safety is improved, but maintenance time increases due to unnecessary service calls
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation by comparing detected temperature with calculated temperature before initiating shutdown. This preliminary action filters out false abnormalities, preventing unnecessary service calls and reducing maintenance time while maintaining safety for genuine issues
3Measurement precision
If the temperature detection portion continuously monitors the fixing member temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the temperature detection function with the abnormality determination function in a single integrated control process. The temperature detection portion and abnormality determination portion work together as a unified system, reducing overall complexity while maintaining continuous monitoring and high measurement precision
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 solution enables the apparatus to determine if the abnormally heated state can be resolved by power cycling, reducing the need for service engineer intervention and minimizing downtime, thus enhancing user convenience and reducing economic losses from defective prints.
Implementation Method 1
The fixing heater heats the fixing member
Implementation Method 2
The temperature detection portion detects a temperature of the fixing member
Data Source
AI summary
In an image forming apparatus, a calculation processing portion includes an input portion and an input-portion abnormality determining portion. The input portion is connected to a temperature detection portion. When an abnormality detection circuit has detected that a temperature detected by the temperature detection portion is an abnormally heated temperature, the input-portion abnormality determining portion determines whether or not a first temperature calculated as a temperature of a fixing member is lower than a predetermined second temperature, and upon determining that the first temperature is lower than the second temperature, determines that the input portion is abnormal.