Image Forming Apparatus Power Supply Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in power management, particularly in transitioning between power-saving modes and ensuring efficient heating for image fixing processes, leading to increased power consumption during standby periods.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a predicting unit that estimates processing time and a supply controller to manage power supply, starting the heat source's power in the 'process execution mode' only when necessary, optimizing power usage by timing the heating of the heat source based on predicted processing times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat source is continuously supplied with electric power in the first mode to ensure immediate image fixing capability, then the reliability of the fixing process is improved, but the power consumption during standby periods increases
Solution Approach 1:
The predicting unit calculates the processing time required for image formation in advance, and the supply controller uses this prediction to determine the optimal timing to switch from the second mode to the first mode. This preliminary calculation allows the heat source to be activated only when necessary, ensuring fixing reliability while minimizing standby power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply mode is made dynamic rather than static. The supply controller continuously monitors the processing time and dynamically switches between the first mode (high power consumption with heat source active) and the second mode (low power consumption with heat source inactive), optimizing the balance between reliability and energy efficiency based on actual operational needs.
2Manufacturing precision
If the heat source is activated early to ensure sufficient heating time for image fixing, then the manufacturing precision of the fixing process is improved, but the loss of time during mode transition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing time is calculated in advance using the predicting unit, which considers the image data characteristics and forming speed. This preliminary calculation determines the exact moment when the heat source should be activated, ensuring that heating is completed just in time for the fixing process without unnecessary early activation that would waste time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the processing time calculation to adjust the mode switching timing. The supply controller receives information about the required processing time and uses this feedback to optimize when to transition from the second mode to the first mode, ensuring precise timing that maintains fixing quality while minimizing time loss.
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 reduces power consumption during standby periods by ensuring the heat source is only activated when needed, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing unnecessary heating costs.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing unit that includes a heat source that generates heat by receiving supply of electric power corresponding to the first mode, and performs a fixing process of fixing the image to the medium using the heat generated by the heat source
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a communication unit that receives first mode electric power to perform communication; an image forming unit that receives first mode electric power to form an image on a medium; a fixing unit that generates heat by receiving first mode electric power, and performs a fixing process of fixing the image to the medium; a predicting unit that predicts a processing time required for a process of forming the image; and a supply controller that controls supply of electric power according to a first mode or a second mode in which power consumption is smaller than that of the first mode. The supply controller starts the supply of first mode electric power to the fixing unit at a timing based on the predicted processing time when the image forming apparatus transitions from the second mode to the first mode.