Heating Roller Temperature Control via Periodic Heater Cycling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing apparatuses with multiple heaters in the heating roller face significant variations in electric power consumption, leading to increased load on power supply circuits and uneven temperature distribution, affecting the fixation of toner images on recording sheets.
Innovation Solution
A fixing apparatus with a heating roller equipped with a first heater for the center and a second heater for the peripheral part, where the temperature control unit alternates the on/off states of these heaters to maintain constant total power consumption and ensure even temperature distribution along the axial and movement directions of the fixing belt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple heaters are provided in the heating roller and their on/off periods are controlled to equalize temperature, then temperature uniformity is improved, but electric power consumption varies significantly causing large load on power supply circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by controlling the on/off periods of multiple heaters in a cyclic manner. The temperature control unit alternates the operation periods of heaters so that they do not operate simultaneously, creating a periodic heating pattern that maintains temperature uniformity while preventing peak power consumption. This periodic control ensures that at least one heater is always operating to maintain temperature, while avoiding the simultaneous operation that would cause large power consumption variations.
2Temperature
If multiple heaters are controlled with overlapping on periods to maintain temperature, then temperature uniformity is improved, but the load on power supply circuits increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by designing the control method where heaters operate in alternating periods rather than simultaneously. The temperature control unit manages the operation timing so that when one heater is on, others are off, creating a periodic pattern that maintains continuous heating coverage while limiting peak power demand. This approach ensures temperature uniformity is achieved through sequential heating rather than simultaneous heating of all heaters.
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 stabilizes electric power consumption, reduces the load on power supply systems, and ensures uniform fixation by equalizing temperatures across the heating roller and fixing belt, preventing uneven temperature and poor fixation quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first heater (15) to heat mainly a center part of the heating roller (11) and a second heater (16) to heat mainly a peripheral part of the heating roller (11)
Implementation Method 2
the fixing belt is heated when it moves on the heating roller
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing apparatus includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.