Shutter Motor Recovery for Image Heating Apparatus Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image heating devices in image forming apparatuses face issues with temperature control, particularly when handling sheets of varying widths, leading to potential overheating of non-contact portions of the fixing member, and existing solutions like shutter mechanisms can malfunction, causing the entire device to shut down unnecessarily.
Innovation Solution
An image heating apparatus with a shutter mechanism controlled by a motor and detector system that adjusts air flow to prevent overheating, allowing the device to continue operating even if the shutter mechanism experiences anomalies, by implementing a recovery sequence to restore functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a shutter mechanism is used to control air flow to cool noncontact portions of the fixing member, then temperature control precision is improved, but device reliability deteriorates due to potential mechanism failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recovery mechanism that is activated beforehand when shutter position anomalies are detected. The controller monitors shutter position and, upon detecting that the shutter has not reached its target position within a predetermined time, automatically initiates a recovery sequence. This cushioning approach ensures that potential mechanism failures do not lead to complete device shutdown, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving temperature control precision through the shutter mechanism.
2Reliability
If the shutter mechanism is disabled due to detected malfunctions, then device reliability is improved by preventing harmful operation, but productivity deteriorates due to complete shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recovery mechanism that is activated beforehand when shutter position anomalies are detected. The controller monitors shutter position and, upon detecting that the shutter has not reached its target position within a predetermined time, automatically initiates a recovery sequence. This cushioning approach ensures that potential mechanism failures do not lead to complete device shutdown, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving temperature control precision through the shutter mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a recovery sequence that attempts to restore shutter functionality after detecting an anomaly. The controller drives the shutter in the opposite direction and then re-attempts to move it to the target position, effectively discarding the failed state and recovering normal operation. This allows the device to maintain productivity by automatically recovering from minor malfunctions without requiring complete shutdown or manual intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the shutter mechanism is made more complex to handle various sheet widths, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal shutter mechanism that can handle various sheet widths by adjusting its position. The same shutter structure and motor assembly are used across different operating conditions, with the controller adapting the shutter position based on detected sheet width. This multi-functional approach maintains adaptability while avoiding the need for multiple specialized mechanisms, thereby controlling device complexity.
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 ensures stable temperature control across the fixing member, reducing user downtime and improving device usability by allowing the apparatus to continue operating despite occasional shutter mechanism malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
a motor (300) for moving the shutter (44)
Implementation Method 2
a fan (41a, 41b)
Implementation Method 3
a detector (46) for detecting that the shutter (44) is in a predetermined position
Implementation Method 4
a fixing member (5a) for heating a toner image on a sheet (P) of a recording medium
Implementation Method 5
air is blown at the noncontact portions of the fixing member (5a) through air ducts (42a, 42b)
Data Source
AI summary
An image heating apparatus includes a heating member for heating a toner image on a sheet; a fan; a duct provided with an opening for discharging air supplied by the fan, toward the heating member; a shutter for the opening; a motor for moving the shutter; a detector for detecting that the shutter is in a predetermined position; and a controller for controlling the motor; wherein when the detector does not detect the shutter after a predetermined time elapses from production of first instruction for moving the shutter toward the predetermined position, the controller produces second instruction for moving the shutter in a direction away from the predetermined position.