Fixing Unit Temperature Control for Page Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately adjusting the fixing temperature of a fixing unit when performing page aggregation, as the amount of applied toner varies across multiple pages, leading to inadequate temperature control and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that acquires and determines the color material amount for each page, and controls the fixing unit's temperature based on the determined amount, ensuring appropriate fixing temperatures are set for each page, even during page aggregation, by using an acquisition unit, a setting determination unit, and a control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If fixing temperature is adjusted according to the amount of applied toner for each page, then power consumption is reduced and fixing quality is improved, but when performing page aggregation with pages having different toner amounts, the temperature adjustment becomes inadequate and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the page aggregation process by identifying individual pages within the aggregated set and calculating toner amounts separately for each page. This allows the fixing temperature to be appropriately adjusted for each page's specific toner amount, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and fixing quality for aggregated pages with different toner characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the fixing temperature parameter based on the calculated toner amount for each page in the aggregation. By adjusting the temperature parameter according to the actual toner amount rather than using a fixed temperature or inappropriate average, the system achieves both energy savings and reliable fixing quality across pages with varying toner amounts.
2Reliability
If a fixed high fixing temperature is used for all pages in page aggregation, then fixing quality is ensured for pages with high toner amount, but power consumption increases unnecessarily for pages with low toner amount
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic fixing temperature control by calculating the toner amount for each page in the aggregation and adjusting the fixing temperature accordingly. This dynamic approach replaces the static high-temperature setting with an adaptive temperature that matches each page's actual toner amount, ensuring reliable fixing quality while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing temperature parameter is changed based on the toner amount calculation for each page. Pages with low toner amount receive lower fixing temperatures to save energy, while pages with high toner amount receive higher temperatures to ensure proper fixing quality, thus resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and fixing reliability.
3Loss of energy
If the fixing temperature is adjusted based on average toner amount of aggregated pages, then power consumption is reduced, but fixing failures occur for individual pages with higher toner amount
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the toner amount calculation by processing each page individually within the aggregation rather than calculating a single average for all pages. This segmentation ensures that each page's specific toner amount is captured and used to determine the appropriate fixing temperature, preventing fixing failures while still allowing energy savings for pages with lower toner amounts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the toner amount calculation for each page to adjust the fixing temperature dynamically. By incorporating the actual toner amount information of each page into the temperature control decision, the system avoids fixing failures that would occur with average-based temperature setting, while still achieving energy efficiency through appropriate temperature reduction for low-toner pages.
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 allows for precise temperature adjustment according to the amount of color material used, reducing power consumption and preventing fixing failures, while maintaining productivity during page aggregation.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing unit configured to fix a color material on a printing sheet
Data Source
AI summary
To appropriately adjust a fixing temperature according to the amount of applied toner, an image forming apparatus for controlling a temperature of a fixing unit configured to fix a color material on a printing sheet, acquires a color material amount of each page of image data of a plurality of pages, determines whether a setting for printing image data of the plurality of pages on a printing sheet has been performed, determines one color material amount out of a plurality of acquired color material amounts if it is determined that the setting for printing image data of the plurality of pages on one printing sheet has been performed, and controls the temperature of the fixing unit using a fixing temperature corresponding to the determined color material amount.