Printer Heating Component Power Sequencing and Stacking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heated systems in printers experience uneven power delivery due to high and zero power events, leading to flicker and negative effects on power line harmonics and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) emissions, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A processor selects a sequencing and stacking group to control the application of power to heating components based on temperature variance, minimizing warm-up time and smoothing power delivery, thereby reducing flicker and ensuring compliance with international flicker testing standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If high power is applied to heating components to minimize warm-up time, then temperature reaches target quickly, but power delivery becomes uneven causing flicker and EMC emissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewarm-up timeVSAvoidflicker and EMC emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating components are divided into multiple groups (first heating components and second heating components) with different power application patterns. The processor applies power to different groups at different times and at different power levels, segmenting the total heating load to smooth overall power delivery while maintaining effective warm-up speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The processor dynamically adjusts power application based on real-time temperature feedback. Power levels and timing patterns are continuously modified during warm-up and maintenance phases to optimize both warm-up speed and power delivery smoothness, adapting the heating strategy to current system conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Temperature

If power is cycled with zero power events to maintain temperature, then temperature stability is improved, but power delivery becomes choppy causing flicker

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidflicker

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple heating components are combined into groups that operate simultaneously or in sequence. By stacking power application across multiple components, the system maintains temperature stability while the distributed power delivery pattern reduces flicker compared to single-component cycling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The processor implements periodic power application patterns with optimized timing. During maintenance phase, power is applied in controlled cycles to different heating component groups, creating a rhythm that maintains temperature while distributing power delivery to minimize flicker and EMC emissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If multiple heating components are operated simultaneously, then heating efficiency is improved, but power delivery smoothness deteriorates due to cumulative power events

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidpower delivery smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Heating components are segmented into multiple groups that can be activated independently. The processor applies power to different groups at different times, maintaining overall heating efficiency while distributing power delivery to preserve smoothness and reduce flicker.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The processor pre-plans power application sequences for multiple heating components. By determining the optimal sequence and timing of power application to different groups in advance, the system maximizes heating efficiency while ensuring smooth power delivery patterns that minimize flicker and EMC emissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively minimizes flicker and improves power delivery smoothness, allowing heated systems to pass flicker testing requirements and maintain temperatures within desired ranges, enhancing the overall performance and compatibility of printer systems.

Implementation Method 1

resistive heating elements, fusers, pressure rollers, calendaring rollers, etc.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11269275B2Sequencing and stacking group selection for heating components

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor and a nontransitory computer readable medium storing machine readable instructions that when executed by the processor may cause the processor to receive a requested power demand from a first heating component and a second heating component, compare the requested power demand to a first threshold, and select a sequencing and stacking group of a plurality of sequencing and stacking groups for the first heating component and the second heating component corresponding to a result of the requested power demand being compared to the first threshold. The instructions may also cause the processor to control application of power to the first heating component and the second heating component according to the selected sequencing and stacking group.