Image Forming Apparatus Sleep Mode Heater Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses experience unnecessary power consumption due to the warming-up of heaters even when the device is not in use, as they transition from a sleep state to a ready state based on the approach of an individual, without confirming if the individual intends to use the apparatus for printing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a detection unit, individual specifying unit, and control unit that determine the presence of an individual and the presence of a printing job, only warming up the heater when a valid printing job is detected, and maintaining the heater in a sleep state otherwise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the heater is warmed up when an individual approaches the image forming apparatus, then the apparatus is ready for printing operations, but unnecessary power consumption occurs when the individual does not intend to use the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary warming-up of the heater only when a printing job is detected in the queue, not merely when an individual approaches. This preliminary action is conditioned on the presence of actual printing work, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption while ensuring readiness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the printing job detection mechanism to control the heater operation. When printing jobs are detected in the queue, the system activates the heater; when no jobs are present, the heater remains inactive. This feedback-based control resolves the contradiction between readiness and energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the heater is kept in sleep state to save power, then energy consumption is reduced, but printing operations cannot be performed when an individual approaches
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary warming-up of the heater in advance when printing jobs are detected in the queue, ensuring that the apparatus is fully ready for immediate printing operations when the individual approaches, while maintaining energy savings during periods of no printing demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the heater state based on the presence of printing jobs in the queue. The heater transitions between sleep and active states according to the dynamic condition of pending printing work, optimizing both energy consumption and printing productivity.
3Reliability
If individual authentication is performed upon approach, then security is improved, but the heater warms up unnecessarily when the individual is not a user
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checking of the printing job queue before activating the heater or initiating authentication. This preliminary action determines whether warming-up is necessary, preventing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining security controls for actual users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the printing job detection system to control both the heater operation and authentication process. Authentication and heater activation are conditioned on the presence of printing jobs, ensuring that security measures and energy consumption are aligned with actual printing needs.
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 reduces unnecessary power consumption by ensuring the heater only warms up when a printing job is confirmed, thereby optimizing energy usage and preventing wastage.
Implementation Method 1
The fixers form the images on the printing media by fixing the toner images formed on the printing media, with the printing media on which the toner images are formed nipped between the fixing rollers heated at a high temperature by the heater
Data Source
AI summary
A detection unit detects a presence of an individual near an image forming apparatus during a sleep mode in which an image forming unit, an image reading unit, and a user interface unit enter a sleep state of non-conduction. An individual specifying unit specifies the individual detected by the detection unit. A determination unit determines whether there is a printing job corresponding to the individual specified by the individual specifying unit. A control unit warms up a heater by causing the fixer to transition from the sleep state to a ready state when the determination unit determines that there is the printing job corresponding to the individual specified by the individual specifying unit. Conversely, the control unit maintains the fixer in the sleep state when the determination unit determines that there is no printing job corresponding to the individual specified by the individual specifying unit.