Rotating Body Temperature Control for Image Formation Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image formation apparatuses face challenges in controlling the temperature of rotating bodies like fixing rollers and pressure application rollers during standby states, leading to either excessive heating or unnecessary cooling, which can result in deterioration of the rollers and peripheral parts, and prolonged wait times for printing to start.
Innovation Solution
An image formation apparatus that transitions from a fixing state to a standby state by causing the rotating bodies to rotate and regulate their temperature within a predetermined transition temperature range, ensuring it remains higher than the lowest permissible fixing temperature and lower than the upper limit, thereby preventing overheating and unnecessary cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rotating bodies are stopped in standby state to suppress deterioration and reduce noise, then the reliability and ease of operation are improved, but the temperature control becomes difficult leading to temperature rise that causes deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action during the transition from fixing state to standby state. Before the rotating bodies are stopped, the temperature is actively reduced to a predetermined temperature that is lower than the fixing temperature. This preliminary cooling ensures that when the bodies are stopped, the temperature rise due to heat conduction does not exceed safe limits, thus preventing deterioration while maintaining the benefits of stopping rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the temperature control strategy based on the operational state. During transition to standby, the control shifts from maintaining high fixing temperature to active cooling to a lower predetermined temperature. This dynamic temperature adjustment allows the system to optimize between maintaining reliability through temperature control and the benefits of stopping rotation in standby mode.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the thermal power is completely turned OFF in standby state to achieve energy conservation, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the waiting time for temperature rise becomes prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating action during the transition from standby state to fixing state. Before the rotating bodies start rotating and before printing begins, the temperature is actively raised to a predetermined temperature that is higher than the standby temperature but lower than the full fixing temperature. This preliminary heating reduces the time required for temperature rise after printing is requested, thus reducing waiting time while still achieving energy conservation during standby by having stopped the rotating bodies.
3Productivity
If the temperature is regulated to a high standby temperature to reduce waiting time, then the productivity is improved, but the temperature overshoot causes deterioration of rotating bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary temperature adjustment in both directions depending on the transition. When transitioning to standby, it preliminarily cools to a lower temperature to prevent future overshoot. When transitioning from standby, it preliminarily heats to an intermediate temperature before full operation. These preliminary actions ensure that subsequent temperature changes stay within safe ranges, preventing deterioration while optimizing waiting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the standby temperature based on the previous fixing temperature. The predetermined temperature for transition is calculated to be lower than the actual fixing temperature, creating a buffer that prevents temperature overshoot. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain productivity by keeping temperatures optimized while preventing the harmful effects of temperature overshoot that would cause deterioration.
4Reliability
If the temperature is regulated to a low standby temperature to prevent overheating, then the reliability is improved, but the waiting time for temperature rise is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating action when transitioning from standby to fixing state. Instead of simply waiting for the temperature to rise naturally after stopping, the system actively heats to a predetermined intermediate temperature before full printing operation begins. This preliminary heating action significantly reduces the waiting time while the temperature is still below the full fixing temperature, thus maintaining reliability by preventing overheating while improving responsiveness.
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 effectively controls the temperature of the rotating bodies, preventing overheating and unnecessary cooling, reducing the risk of deterioration and shortening the time to start printing by maintaining the temperature within optimal ranges.
Implementation Method 1
a heater operable to heat the at least one rotating body
Implementation Method 2
since the heat conductivity sharply decreases when the rotation of the rotating bodies is stopped
Data Source
AI summary
A standby state is where a pair of rotating bodies stops rotating, and temperature control is performed so that a rotating body reaches a standby temperature. A fixing state is where the rotating bodies are rotating and temperature control is performed so that a rotating body reaches a fixing temperature that changes in accordance with a setting. An image formation apparatus includes a judgment part for judging whether to transition from the fixing state to the standby state, and a fixing controller for, upon a judgment by the judgment part to transition to the standby state, prior to performing temperature control to reach the standby temperature, causing the pair of rotating bodies to rotate, and performing temperature control so that the temperature of a rotating body reaches a predetermined transition temperature range including temperatures higher than a lowest fixing temperature setting, and lower than a highest fixing temperature setting.