Heating Element Control for Image Fixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image heating apparatuses for electrophotographic image forming devices face challenges in accurately predicting heat storage amounts in heating regions, leading to inefficient power usage and potential image defects.
Innovation Solution
The image heating apparatus incorporates a control portion that adjusts the heating conditions for each heating element based on the thermal history of both the heating region itself and the adjacent regions, allowing for precise control of heat generation and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If heating conditions are adjusted according to image information for each heating region, then power consumption is reduced, but heat storage amount prediction accuracy deteriorates due to thermal influence from adjacent regions
Solution Approach 1:
The heating apparatus is divided into multiple heating regions (first heating region, second heating region, etc.) that can be independently controlled. Each region has its own heating element and control mechanism, allowing selective heating based on image information while enabling independent prediction of heat storage amounts for each region without interference from other regions.
Solution Approach 2:
A prediction unit is introduced as an intermediary component that calculates the heat storage amount for each heating region by considering both the thermal history of the region itself and the thermal history of adjacent regions. This intermediary calculation mechanism enables accurate prediction while maintaining the benefits of selective heating.
2Loss of energy
If selective heating is performed based on image information, then power saving is achieved, but image defects may occur due to improper heat supply to unfixed toner images
Solution Approach 1:
The prediction unit performs preliminary calculation of the heat storage amount for each heating region before actual heating occurs. By predicting the heat storage amount in advance based on thermal history and image information, the system can prepare appropriate heating conditions beforehand, ensuring that sufficient heat is supplied to unfixed toner images while avoiding overheating in regions without images, thus preventing image defects.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses the predicted heat storage amount as feedback information to adjust heating conditions. The system continuously monitors thermal history and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust power supply to heating elements, ensuring optimal heating that prevents both power waste and image defects.
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 enables more accurate prediction of heat storage amounts, leading to improved power saving effects and reduced risk of image defects by ensuring proper heat supply to unfixed toner images.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of heating elements arranged in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image heating apparatus including: a heater having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording material; and a control portion that controls electric power to be supplied to the plurality of heating elements and is capable of individually controlling the plurality of heating elements, the image heating apparatus heating an image formed on the recording material with heat by the heater, wherein the control portion sets a heating condition when controlling each of the plurality of heating elements, according to the thermal history of a heating region heated by one heating element and the thermal history of a heating region heated by a heating element adjacent to the one heating element.