Fixing Member Temperature Transition for Paper Type Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately determining paper type in a short time due to small temperature changes during paper processing, which can lead to incorrect paper type identification and prolonged stabilization times.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus equipped with a temperature sensor, heater, and determination unit that measures the temperature transition of a fixing member to determine paper type based on elapsed time and temperature difference after the start of the image forming operation, allowing for precise classification and control parameter adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the temperature change when one paper passes through the fixing unit is measured, then the measurement time is short, but the paper type cannot be determined correctly due to small temperature change
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the fixing unit before the actual measurement begins. This preliminary action brings the fixing unit to a known initial temperature state, ensuring that subsequent temperature changes during paper passage are measurable and meaningful for paper type determination, thus resolving the contradiction between quick measurement and accurate detection
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters by using multiple papers for measurement instead of one paper, and by controlling the fixing unit to reach specific temperature states before measurement. This parameter change amplifies the temperature difference signal, enabling accurate paper type determination while maintaining reasonable measurement time
2Measurement precision
If the temperature change when a plurality of papers pass through the fixing unit is measured, then the paper type can be determined more accurately, but the time for determining the paper type becomes too long
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing unit is preliminarily heated to a target temperature before the measurement sequence begins. This preliminary action ensures that the fixing unit starts in a stable, known thermal state, allowing accurate paper type determination to be achieved in fewer paper passages and thus reducing the overall determination time
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic heating cycles with controlled duration and intensity. By applying heat in optimized periodic cycles rather than continuous heating, the system achieves the necessary temperature changes for accurate measurement while minimizing the total time required for paper type determination
3Measurement precision
If a long time is allowed for paper type determination, then the measurement accuracy improves, but the stabilization time of the fixing unit becomes too long
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing unit undergoes preliminary heating to reach the target temperature before actual paper type determination begins. This preliminary action establishes thermal stability in advance, allowing subsequent measurements to be performed quickly without compromising accuracy, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and stabilization speed
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
Enables accurate and rapid determination of paper type, improving image quality by optimizing heating and fixing processes based on paper type, reducing the risk of incorrect identification and prolonged stabilization times.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat the fixing member
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the fixing member
Implementation Method 3
a fixing member configured to heat and fix the toner image formed by the image forming unit onto the paper
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus detects that the temperature of a fixing member reaches a lower limit value at which the temperature once reduced by the start of a heating and fixing process to a paper turns to rise, after an image forming operation starts, and determines the type of the paper based on at least one of an elapsed time from a predetermined reference time point after the image forming operation starts to a time point at which it is detected that the temperature reaches the lower limit value, and a temperature difference between the temperature of the fixing member at the reference time point and the lower limit value.