Heater Element Energization Control for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-function peripherals (MFPs) with multiple heater elements face issues with inaccurate printing due to misalignment or degradation, leading to inefficient power consumption and suboptimal heating patterns, as only a portion of the heater elements corresponding to the actual printing area generate heat.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a plurality of heater elements and temperature sensors, controlled by a processor to determine and adjust the energization positions based on temperature changes, ensuring that only the necessary heater elements are activated along the sheet's transport path, optimizing heating and reducing power wastage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If multiple heater elements are used to heat only the printing area, then power consumption is reduced, but printing accuracy deteriorates when sheet transport path deviates from the correct path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the heater element selection adaptive rather than fixed. The controller dynamically determines which heater elements to energize based on real-time temperature sensor feedback, allowing the system to compensate for sheet transport path deviations and maintain printing accuracy while optimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using temperature sensors to monitor the actual heating effect and feeding this information back to the controller. The controller adjusts heater element selection based on this feedback, ensuring that heating occurs only where needed even when sheet transport deviates from the expected path.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If a predetermined number of heater elements are activated, then power consumption is optimized, but the system becomes vulnerable to assembly errors and component degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the system to automatically detect and compensate for its own deviations. The temperature sensors monitor the actual heating performance, and the controller autonomously adjusts heater element selection without external intervention, allowing the system to self-correct for assembly errors or component degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism allows the system to continuously monitor its own performance through temperature sensors and automatically adjust its operation. This feedback loop provides tolerance to assembly errors and component degradation by adapting the heating pattern based on actual thermal response rather than relying on predetermined configurations.
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 solution ensures accurate printing by aligning the energization positions with the sheet's path, reducing power consumption by only activating heater elements where the sheet passes, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the image forming process.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of temperature sensors, each of which is configured to detect a temperature of one of the heater elements
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of heater elements arranged in a direction perpendicular to a sheet transport direction to heat the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in a direction perpendicular to a sheet transport direction to heat the sheet, a plurality of temperature sensors, each of which is configured to detect a temperature of one of the heater elements, and a controller configured to control each of the sensors to detect a first temperature before the sheet is passed by the corresponding heater element and a second temperature of the heater element after the sheet is passed by the corresponding heater element, and determine one or more of the heater elements to be energized based on the first temperatures and the second temperatures detected by the sensors.