Fixing Device Heater Synchronization to Reduce Voltage Drops
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fixing device technology experiences momentary voltage drops during continuous energization control, leading to potential flicker issues, with these drops occurring twice in a control period due to non-overlapping execution periods of phase control for two heaters.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device with a heating member, two heaters, and temperature detectors, where the controller adjusts energization based on detected temperatures to ensure the second continuous energization starts immediately after the first, optimizing the control period to minimize voltage drops by synchronizing the execution of energization patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If phase control execution periods for two heaters are made non-overlapping to suppress harmonic current, then harmonic current is suppressed, but momentary voltage drop occurs twice in a control period causing flicker
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the execution periods of continuous energization control for both heaters by making them overlap. This is achieved by setting the control period T and energization periods T1 and T2 such that T1 + T2 ≤ T, allowing both heaters to undergo continuous energization control simultaneously or with overlapping time windows, thereby reducing momentary voltage drop occurrences from twice to once per control period while still suppressing harmonic current through coordinated phase control.
2Reliability
If continuous energization control is applied to both heaters simultaneously, then momentary voltage drop frequency is reduced, but harmonic current suppression becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic phase control actions with specific timing relationships. By structuring the control period T to contain phased energization sequences where T1 and T2 are coordinated within the periodic cycle, the system achieves overlapping continuous energization control that suppresses momentary voltage drop while maintaining harmonic current suppression through the periodic synchronization of phase control execution.
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 the frequency of momentary voltage drops within the control period, ensuring stable heating and preventing flicker issues by synchronizing the energization of both heaters, thus enhancing the operational efficiency of the fixing device.
Implementation Method 1
a first heater H1 having an output peak in a first area 81A of the heating member 81 and configured to heat the heating member 81, a second heater H2 having an output peak in a second area 81B different from the first area 81A of the heating member 81 and configured to heat the heating member 81
Data Source
AI summary
An fixing device comprises a heating member, a first heater, a second heater, and the heating member, a first temperature detector, a second temperature detector, and a controller configured to control energization to the first heater and the second heater based on an energization pattern for each control period. In a case where a length of the control period is T, a length of a period during which a first continuous energization control is T1, and a length of a period during which a second continuous energization control is T2, when a first condition represented by T1+T2<T is satisfied, the controller starts the second continuous energization control just after an end of the first continuous energization control.