Heating Element Boundary Control for Image Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image heating apparatuses face challenges in achieving power saving while preventing fixing failures and gloss drops at the edges of images, due to temperature gradients caused by differences in heating control across divided heating regions.
Innovation Solution
An image heating apparatus with a control method that divides the heating regions into boundary and non-boundary areas, setting higher control target temperatures for boundary regions and lower temperatures for non-boundary regions based on acquired image information, to optimize heating control across multiple heating elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the heating regions are divided into multiple regions with different control temperatures for power saving, then energy consumption is reduced, but temperature gradients are generated at boundary positions causing fixing failures and gloss drops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating temperature control strategies for different regions: boundary regions receive higher control temperatures to prevent fixing failures, while non-boundary regions use lower control temperatures for power saving. This spatial differentiation of heating control resolves the contradiction between energy efficiency and fixing reliability at different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating regions are segmented into boundary regions and non-boundary regions based on their functional requirements. This segmentation allows independent temperature control for each type of region, enabling the system to optimize power consumption in non-boundary areas while maintaining reliable fixing performance in boundary areas where temperature gradients could cause defects.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the control temperature for non-image heating portions is reduced, then power consumption decreases, but fixing performance at image edges may deteriorate due to temperature gradients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by setting different control target temperatures for boundary regions versus non-boundary regions. Non-boundary regions use lower temperatures for power saving, while boundary regions maintain higher temperatures to ensure uniform gloss and prevent fixing failures at image edges, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption and gloss uniformity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If heating elements are divided and controlled independently, then selective heating for power saving is enabled, but temperature distribution uniformity deteriorates at region boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction between selective heating control and temperature uniformity by applying local quality principles: boundary regions are assigned higher control target temperatures to compensate for potential temperature drops at interfaces, while non-boundary regions use lower temperatures for selective power saving. This ensures both adaptability and temperature distribution stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively setting higher control target temperatures for boundary regions before temperature gradients can cause fixing failures or gloss drops. This preventive measure counteracts the potential harmful effects of temperature distribution non-uniformity at heating element boundaries.
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 achieves further power saving while maintaining fixing performance and preventing gloss drops at the edges of images by dynamically adjusting temperatures based on image information and region types.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of heating elements which heats the heating regions respectively
Data Source
AI summary
In an image heating apparatus, a region of a recording material, on which an image can be formed, is divided into a boundary region and a non-boundary region so as to correspond to a plurality of heating elements. The boundary region includes a boundary between one heating element out of the plurality of heating elements and an adjacent heating element thereof, and overlap with the one heating element and the adjacent heating element overlap in a predetermined range in the orthogonal direction. The non-boundary region overlaps with the one heating element in a range other than the boundary region. A control target temperature of a heating region that is heated by the one heating element is set to a higher temperature of a first temperature based on information corresponding to the boundary region, and a second temperature based on information corresponding to the non-boundary region.