Printer Fixing Unit Virus Removal Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses do not effectively address the risk of virus infection from sheets stored in the sheet feeding tray, as they primarily focus on removing viruses in the air rather than those attached to the sheets.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes a hardware processor capable of selecting between a normal mode and a virus removal mode based on the presence of a possible carrier, with the virus removal mode involving a higher fixing temperature and extended heating time for sheets to effectively kill viruses attached to them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fixing temperature and heating time are increased to kill viruses on sheets, then the virus removal effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption and printing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing unit dynamically adjusts its operating mode based on detected virus risk levels. When a possible carrier is detected, the system switches to virus removal mode with elevated temperature and extended heating time. When no carrier is present, it returns to normal printing mode, thereby adaptively managing energy consumption while ensuring virus removal effectiveness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters (temperature and heating time) of the fixing unit based on the presence of possible carriers. In virus removal mode, the temperature is raised above normal fixing temperature and heating time is extended, while in normal mode, standard parameters are used, thus optimizing the balance between virus removal and energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If the fixing temperature and heating time are increased to kill viruses on sheets, then the virus removal effectiveness is improved, but the printing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between normal printing mode and virus removal mode based on real-time detection of possible carriers. This dynamic adjustment ensures that extended heating times are only applied when virus removal is necessary, thereby maintaining printing speed during normal operation while ensuring virus removal effectiveness when carriers are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing parameters (temperature and heating time) are conditionally changed based on the presence of possible carriers. In virus removal mode, parameters are adjusted to ensure thorough virus elimination. In normal mode, standard parameters maintain printing speed, thus resolving the contradiction between virus removal effectiveness and printing productivity.
3Reliability
If virus removal mode is always active to ensure safety, then the virus removal effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption increases continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback from carrier detection to control the fixing unit's operating mode. When a possible carrier is detected, the system activates virus removal mode. When no carrier is detected, it switches to normal mode. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy-intensive virus removal operations are performed only when necessary, optimizing the balance between safety and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing unit operates dynamically, switching between normal and virus removal modes based on real-time carrier detection feedback. This dynamic operation ensures that the high-energy virus removal function is activated only when carriers are present, thereby maintaining virus removal effectiveness while avoiding continuous energy consumption.
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
The solution significantly reduces the risk of virus infection by ensuring that sheets are adequately heated to kill viruses attached to them, even when a possible carrier is present in the vicinity.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing temperature of the fixing part is set to a predetermined temperature, and a heating time for the sheet in the fixing part is made longer than a heating time in the normal mode
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: sheet feeding trays; an image forming part that includes a fixing part and forms an image on a sheet fed from each of the sheet feeding trays based on a print job; and an acquisition part that acquires information indicating “presence” or “absence” of a possible carrier having a possibility of virus infection in a region where an apparatus main body is installed; and a hardware processor that is able to select an operation mode of the print job from a normal mode and a virus removal mode, and sets an operation mode of the print job to the virus removal mode, wherein in the virus removal mode, a fixing temperature of the fixing part is set to a predetermined temperature, and a heating time for the sheet in the fixing part is made longer than a heating time in the normal mode.