Fixing Temperature Memory Control for High-Temperature Offset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with high-temperature offset when forming images on sheets of varying widths, leading to toner transfer defects due to inconsistent temperature management during the fixing process.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a control system that stores width size information in volatile and non-volatile memory to determine the need for temperature lowering processes, ensuring accurate temperature adjustments based on previous sheet sizes, even during power interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the fixing portion maintains high temperature for efficient toner fixing, then fixing speed and efficiency are improved, but high-temperature offset occurs when processing larger sheets causing toner transfer defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing speedVSAvoidhigh-temperature offset

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing temperature is made dynamic rather than static. The control portion adjusts the fixing temperature based on the sheet width: maintaining a higher temperature for narrow sheets to ensure efficient fixing, and lowering the temperature for wide sheets to prevent high-temperature offset. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between fixing efficiency and defect prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing temperature parameter is changed according to sheet width. The control portion stores width size information and uses it to determine appropriate temperature settings. By changing the temperature parameter based on the sheet width parameter, the system optimizes fixing performance for different sheet sizes while preventing offset defects on wider sheets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the apparatus prohibits image forming operations to execute temperature lowering processes, then high-temperature offset is prevented, but productivity and operational efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh-temperature offset preventionVSAvoidimage forming efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of statically prohibiting operations, the system dynamically adjusts the fixing temperature based on detected sheet width. The control portion continuously monitors sheet width information and real-time temperature, making dynamic decisions about whether to lower temperature or proceed with fixing. This allows continuous operation while preventing offset defects through real-time parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control portion implements a feedback mechanism that monitors both sheet width information and real-time fixing portion temperature. Based on this feedback, the system intelligently determines whether temperature lowering is necessary, allowing image forming operations to proceed when safe and preventing them when offset risk is detected. This feedback-based control maintains productivity while preventing defects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If width size information is stored only in volatile memory, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to data loss during power interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage system complexityVSAvoiddata retention reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is segmented into two distinct portions: volatile memory for fast access during operation and non-volatile memory for persistent data retention. The control portion manages both storage portions, using volatile memory for active width size information and non-volatile memory for backup. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing functions across different storage types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control portion acts as an intermediary between the volatile and non-volatile storage portions. It manages data transfer and synchronization between the two storage types, ensuring that width size information is reliably preserved across power interruptions while maintaining efficient access during operation. This intermediary management enables reliable data retention without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250355387A1Image forming apparatus and storage method capable of suppressing occurrence of high-temperature offset

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a first storage processing portion, a second storage processing portion, a third storage processing portion, and a fourth storage processing portion. The first storage processing portion stores, in a volatile first storage portion, width size information corresponding to a width of a sheet in contact with a fixing portion. The second storage processing portion stores, in a non-volatile second storage portion, the width size information last stored in the first storage portion before power supply to the first storage portion is stopped. The third storage processing portion stores, in the first storage portion, the width size information last stored in the second storage portion after power supply to the first storage portion is restarted. The fourth storage processing portion stores, in the second storage portion, the width size information corresponding to a predetermined size after processing by the third storage processing portion.