Image Forming Apparatus Voltage Diagnosis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in identifying the failed unit causing an abnormality, leading to prolonged repair times, especially when multiple units need to be replaced or when the faulty unit is located at the end of a replacement procedure.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus employs a control system that includes power supply boards, controller boards, and driver boards with detection units and FUSEs to monitor and diagnose power supply voltages, determining whether abnormalities are within predetermined thresholds, thereby identifying faulty components quickly and accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If service engineers replace units one by one according to service manual, then repair can be performed systematically, but repair time becomes excessively long when failed unit is at end of replacement procedure or when many units need replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary diagnostic actions by automatically testing each unit and storing test results before service engineer intervention. Test signals are circulated through each unit to detect abnormalities in advance, so when an error occurs, the failed unit is already identified through pre-performed tests rather than requiring systematic replacement and testing of each unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The image forming apparatus performs self-diagnosis by automatically circulating test signals through its own units and detecting abnormalities without external assistance. The control unit autonomously identifies which unit has failed by analyzing test results, enabling the system to service itself rather than requiring manual replacement of each unit by a service engineer.
2Productivity
If multiple units are equipped with detection circuits and control logic, then failed unit identification becomes accurate and rapid, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each unit is equipped with a universal test signal circulation capability that can be applied to any unit in the system. The same control unit and test signal mechanism are used across all units, providing a multi-functional diagnostic approach that identifies failures in any unit without requiring different diagnostic equipment or procedures for each unit type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by circulating test signals through each unit and using detection circuits to provide feedback information about the state of each unit to the control unit. This feedback mechanism allows the control unit to automatically identify which unit has failed based on the test results, enabling rapid failure identification without complex manual diagnostic procedures.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The image forming apparatus includes the power supply board (200) for generating a +24V power supply voltage and a driver board (230) for driving a load (2331) for forming an image, and an engine control board (220) for controlling an operation of a driver board (230). The driver board (230) includes a fuse (FUSE1) which receives the 24V power supply voltage supplied from the power supply board (200). The driver board (230) drives the load (2331) by +24V_FU1 voltage output from the fuse (FUSE1). The engine control board (220) identifies, when an abnormality occurs in an operation of the load (2331), a board that is a cause of the abnormality according to a voltage value of the +24V_FU1 voltage and the voltage value of the power supply voltage.