Fixing Unit Power Control for Faster Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming devices face challenges in reducing energy consumption during standby mode, leading to longer waiting times for users when transitioning to image forming mode, as maintaining a lower fixing roller temperature increases heating time and using higher voltage power sources is not always practical.
Innovation Solution
A fixing unit with a controller that adjusts power supply to the heating source, providing a higher average power before rotating the fixing member and a lower average power after rotation, allowing for faster heating and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the fixing roller is maintained at a temperature slightly lower than fixing temperature during stand-by mode, then the heating time to fixing temperature is reduced, but energy consumption increases due to continuous heating
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing roller is preheated to a temperature slightly lower than the fixing temperature (e.g., 180°C) during stand-by mode. This preliminary heating action reduces the heating time required when transitioning to image forming mode, while the temperature is controlled to be just sufficient to minimize energy consumption during stand-by.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating control system dynamically adjusts the power supply to the heating source based on the operational state. During stand-by mode, a lower power level maintains a reduced temperature, while during image forming mode, full power is supplied to rapidly achieve the required fixing temperature, optimizing the balance between heating time and energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If energy supply to the fixing unit is set to zero during stand-by mode, then energy consumption is reduced to zero, but the heating time increases to several minutes
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely shutting down the heating system during stand-by mode, the system performs a preliminary heating action to maintain a temperature close to the fixing temperature. This ensures that when image forming mode is activated, the heating time is minimized to just a few seconds rather than several minutes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter during stand-by mode from the full fixing temperature (e.g., 200°C) to a slightly lower temperature (e.g., 180°C). This parameter adjustment reduces the energy consumption during stand-by while keeping the heating time acceptable, as the temperature difference is small and can be quickly bridged when needed.
3Loss of time
If a higher voltage power source is used to increase heating power, then the heating time is shortened, but the system becomes less adaptable to areas with lower commercial voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The heating control system dynamically adjusts the power supply level based on the operational requirements. During stand-by mode, a reduced power level is used to maintain a slightly lower temperature, and during image forming mode, full power is supplied. This dynamic control allows the system to achieve short heating times without requiring a higher voltage power source, maintaining adaptability to different commercial voltage environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power supply parameter from a fixed high voltage requirement to a variable power level that can be adjusted based on the operational state and available commercial voltage. This allows the system to optimize heating performance within the constraints of the available power source, making it adaptable to both 100-voltage and 200-voltage regions.
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 shortens the heating time of the fixing unit, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes waiting times for users while maintaining energy efficiency, even in areas with lower commercial voltage power sources.
Implementation Method 1
a heating source such as a halogen heater heats a fixing roller
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a heating source, and a controller. The fixing member is supported rotatably. The heating source heats the fixing member. The controller controls power supply to the heating source. The controller controls a first average power supply, supplied to the heating source before rotating the fixing member, to be larger than a second average power supply, supplied to the heating source after rotating the fixing member.