Image Forming Apparatus Temperature Control Fixing Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face issues with temperature control near the ends of the paper passing region, leading to excessive temperature rises and potential fixing failures due to sequential start and end of printing medium conveyance, which existing temperature suppression controls fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a second temperature suppression control that dynamically adjusts the heating section's set temperature based on detected temperatures, prioritizing prevention of excessive temperature rises at the ends by lowering the set temperature when specific conditions are met, such as the start of conveyance, to prevent fixing failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the set temperature is kept at a predetermined temperature to prevent fixing failures, then the temperature near both the ends excessively rises causing fixing failures, but if the set temperature is lowered to prevent excessive temperature rise, then fixing failures occur when conveyance starts or ends sequentially in short time
Solution Approach 1:
The set temperature is changed dynamically based on the conveyance state of the printing medium. When conveyance is detected, the set temperature is lowered to prevent excessive temperature rise at the ends. When conveyance ends, the set temperature is restored to the predetermined value. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between preventing excessive temperature rise and maintaining fixing quality during sequential conveyance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control section detects the conveyance state of the printing medium and uses this feedback to adjust the set temperature accordingly. When conveyance is detected, the system lowers the set temperature; when conveyance ends, it restores the set temperature. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to changing conditions and prevent both excessive temperature rise and fixing failures.
2Temperature
If conventional temperature suppression control is used, then the set temperature is lowered according to passage of printing medium, but the lowered set temperature is reset to predetermined temperature when end of conveyance and start of conveyance are performed sequentially in short time
Solution Approach 1:
The control section determines whether conveyance has actually ended before resetting the set temperature to the predetermined value. By checking the conveyance state beforehand, the system avoids premature temperature restoration that would cause excessive temperature rise at the ends during sequential conveyance operations, thereby maintaining temperature stability.
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 effectively prevents temperature extremes at the paper passing region ends, thereby reducing the occurrence of fixing failures and ensuring stable printing operations.
Implementation Method 1
a heating section HT that heats a paper passing region RG where a printing medium passes between the fixing roller and the pressurizing roller
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor configured to convey a printing medium, an image forming station that forms an image on the printing medium, a fixing device including a fixing roller, a pressurizing roller positioned opposite the fixing roller, and a heater configured to heat a paper passing region between the fixing roller and the pressurizing roller, a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a first region, the first region including an end of the paper passing region in a paper width direction, and a controller. The controller is configured to lower a set temperature of the heater in response to a determination that (a) a determination condition is satisfied, the determination condition relating to a start of the conveyance of the printing medium to the fixing device by the conveyor and (b) the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is higher than a threshold temperature.