Induction Heating Fixing Unit Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the power consumption of fixing units fluctuates near the current limit, leading to inefficient power usage and potential exceedance of the upper threshold, causing ripples in power supply and reducing productivity.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a power control unit that determines the power increase for the fixing unit and a current limiting unit that adjusts the power supply to prevent current consumption from exceeding the limit, using a combination of pulse width modulation (PWM) and pulse frequency modulation (PFM) to optimize power control and current management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the power to the fixing unit is increased to improve productivity, then the processing speed increases, but the current consumption exceeds the upper limit value causing power ripples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power control by continuously monitoring current consumption and adjusting the power to the fixing unit in real-time. The control unit varies power supply levels based on detected current values, enabling the system to adapt to changing load conditions and maintain stability while maximizing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the control unit detects current consumption values and uses this information to regulate power supply to the fixing unit. The control unit adjusts power levels based on feedback from current measurements, ensuring that power consumption remains within acceptable limits while maintaining optimal processing speed.
2Reliability
If the power control continuously adjusts power to maintain current within limits, then current stability improves, but power utilization efficiency decreases due to frequent adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by adjusting power only when necessary to maintain current within limits. Rather than continuous modulation, the control unit intervenes selectively based on detected current levels, allowing the system to operate at optimal power levels during normal conditions while making targeted adjustments only when threshold approaches are detected.
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 ensures stable power usage within the current limit, preventing excessive consumption and maintaining productivity by dynamically adjusting the power supply to the fixing unit, thereby efficiently utilizing available power and preventing current threshold exceedance.
Implementation Method 1
an induction heating fixing unit in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a toner image on a sheet of paper; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image formed on the sheet of paper by heat; a power control unit for, when power to be supplied to the fixing unit is increased, determining an amount of increase of the power; and a current limiting unit for determining whether current consumption of the image forming apparatus exceeds an upper limit value in response to an increase of the amount of increase determined by the power control unit and, if it is determined that the current consumption exceeds the upper limit value, decreasing the amount of increase of the power determined by the power control unit.