Fixing Portion Temperature Control for Toner Image End Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in power consumption due to temperature differences between the center and ends of recording materials during the fixing process, leading to either excessive heating or insufficient fixation, which affects the target temperature selection.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes an acquisition portion to determine the image end position, a determination portion to set a target temperature based on this position, and a control portion to adjust the fixing portion's temperature accordingly, ensuring proper fixation while reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high target temperature is selected to ensure proper fixation at the end position of the toner image, then fixation reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different target temperatures for different regions of the toner image. Specifically, the determination portion sets a first target temperature for the central portion of the toner image and a second target temperature (higher than the first) for the end position of the toner image. This regional differentiation ensures proper fixation where needed (at the end position where temperature is lower) while avoiding excessive heating in the central portion, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining fixation reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If a high target temperature is selected to ensure proper fixation at the end position of the toner image, then fixation quality is improved, but thermal energy waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different target temperatures for different regions of the toner image. Specifically, the determination portion sets a first target temperature for the central portion of the toner image and a second target temperature (higher than the first) for the end position of the toner image. This regional differentiation ensures proper fixation where needed (at the end position where temperature is lower) while avoiding excessive heating in the central portion, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining fixation reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If uniform heating is applied across the entire toner image, then fixation consistency is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different target temperatures for different regions of the toner image. Specifically, the determination portion sets a first target temperature for the central portion of the toner image and a second target temperature (higher than the first) for the end position of the toner image. This regional differentiation ensures proper fixation where needed (at the end position where temperature is lower) while avoiding excessive heating in the central portion, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining fixation reliability.
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 solution allows for reduced power consumption by determining a proper target temperature based on the image end position, addressing the temperature differences and improving the fixation process.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing portion configured to fix the toner image on the recording material by heating the recording material having thereon the toner image
Implementation Method 2
a fixing portion (heating/fixing apparatus) for thermally fixing an unfixed toner image on the recording material
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus, includes: an image forming portion configured to form a toner image on a recording material according to image information on a predetermined image; a fixing portion configured to fix the toner image on the recording material by heating the recording material having thereon the toner image while conveying the recording material by a nip portion; an acquisition portion configured to acquire an image end position that is a position of one end of the toner image in a main scanning direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording material; a determination portion configured to determine a target temperature based on the image end position; and a control portion configured to control the fixing portion based on the target temperature.