Printer Sheet Support Plate Temperature Control via Power Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature control systems for sheet support plates in printers require high initial heating power to reach operating temperature, leading to inefficient power usage and peak consumption, as they often rely on dedicated and underutilized power supplies during the warming-up process.
Innovation Solution
A power management system that utilizes spare capacities of multiple power supplies to control heating power, allowing heaters to operate at varying levels and sharing power between sub-systems to balance load and reduce peak consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a dedicated power supply is provided for the heater to enable quick warming-up, then the heating speed is improved, but the power supply capacity is underutilized most of the time and power consumption peaks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple power supplies (including spare power supplies from other subsystems) to provide heating power during warm-up. Instead of using a dedicated power supply that sits idle most of the time, the system merges available power capacities from multiple sources to efficiently deliver the required heating power without creating excessive peak consumption on any single power supply.
2Productivity
If the heater operates at high power continuously, then the sheet support plate reaches operating temperature quickly, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management where the heater power is adjusted based on real-time temperature feedback and available power supply capacities. The power management system dynamically allocates power from multiple sources, increasing heating power when needed for rapid warm-up and reducing power when the plate approaches operating temperature or when power supplies are under load, thus optimizing both heating efficiency and overall power consumption.
3Power
If an extra power supply is added to handle heating loads, then the heating power requirement is met, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing power supplies multi-functional by enabling them to serve both their original subsystems and the heating function during warm-up. The power management system allows power supplies to dynamically switch between different load configurations, providing heating power during warm-up while maintaining their primary functions during normal operation, thereby eliminating the need for dedicated extra power supply hardware.
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 efficiently brings the sheet support plate to operating temperature quickly while minimizing power consumption peaks and reducing the need for additional power supplies, utilizing spare capacities for efficient heating and balancing load across power supplies.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature control system for a sheet support plate of a printer which has at least two power supplies for powering different sub-systems of the printer, the temperature control system including at least one heater
Implementation Method 2
a temperature control fluid, e.g. a liquid, may be passed through a cavity in the plate in order to control the temperature of the plate
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature control system for a sheet support plate of a printer which has at least two power supplies for powering different sub-systems of the printer, the temperature control system containing at least one heater and a power management system adapted to use spare power capacities of the two power supplies by controlling the power supplied to said at least one heater in accordance with the load conditions of said power supplies.