Fuser Heater Output Control for Low-Particle Image Fixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses generate excessive fine particles during the initial stages of printing, exceeding environmental standards such as Blue Angel certification requirements, due to the volatilization of wax in toner during image fixation.
Innovation Solution
A controller adjusts the turn-on duty of the halogen heater based on image data and temperature sensing to maintain optimal heating conditions, reducing the generation of fine particles by limiting the heat input during the initial printing stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heater output is increased to ensure proper image fixation, then the fixation reliability is improved, but the fine particle generation increases exceeding environmental standards
Solution Approach 1:
The heater output is dynamically adjusted based on the printing stage. During the initial printing stage (first three minutes), the heater output is limited to below the reference value to reduce fine particle generation. After three minutes, the heater output can be increased to ensure proper image fixation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between fixation reliability and fine particle generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater output parameter is changed based on time conditions. The control unit sets the heater output to a first value (below reference value) during the initial three-minute period, and may adjust to a second value (at or above reference value) after three minutes. This parameter change allows the system to meet environmental standards while ensuring proper fixation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the heater output is limited during initial printing to reduce fine particles, then environmental compliance is improved, but the image fixation quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts heater output based on printing stage. During the initial three minutes, limited heater output prevents fine particle generation while the system accepts that fixation may not be optimal. After three minutes, when fine particle generation is reduced, the heater output is increased to ensure proper image fixation quality. This temporal differentiation resolves the contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary heating at reduced power during the first three minutes to pre-heat the nip region without causing excessive wax volatilization. This preliminary action prepares the system for subsequent high-power heating that will ensure proper fixation, while the limited initial heating prevents fine particle generation during the critical initial period.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If additional components are added to remove fine particles from exhaust gas, then environmental compliance is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding components to remove harmful fine particles after generation, the invention converts the harmful effect (wax volatilization) into a beneficial control mechanism by limiting the heater output during the initial three minutes. This preventive approach eliminates the need for additional particle removal components, resolving the contradiction between environmental compliance and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the root cause of fine particle generation (excessive heater output during initial printing) rather than addressing the symptoms through additional removal components. By removing the harmful action at its source through control logic, the system achieves environmental compliance without adding complex particle removal hardware.
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
The solution effectively reduces the generation of fine particles by preventing wax volatilization, meeting stringent environmental standards without additional components, thus minimizing component count and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The heater heats at least one of the pair of rotators to fix images printed on the recording media
Implementation Method 2
The pair of rotators forms a nip through which recording media pass in a conveyance direction
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and circuitry. The fixing device includes a pair of rotators and a heater. The pair of rotators forms a nip through which recording media pass in a conveyance direction. The heater heats at least one of the pair of rotators to fix images printed on the recording media. The circuitry is configured to acquire image data of the images to be printed on the recording media within three minutes after a start of printing the images on the recording media and set an output of the heater to be lower than a predetermined reference value within the three minutes after the start of printing based on the image data.