Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080199198 | FIXING DEVICE, HEATING CONTROL METHOD - A technique is provided that enables extension of the life of an auxiliary power source by efficiently using the power of the auxiliary power source and thereby reducing the fixing temperature raising time and effectively restraining the lowering of the fixing temperature in an image forming apparatus having a fixing device. A fixing device is provided in an image forming apparatus and it can switch execution of a first heating mode for performing heating processing using a regular power source and a second heating mode for performing heating processing with a larger quantity of heating per unit time than in the first heating mode by using an auxiliary power source in addition to the regular power source. The fixing device includes: a heating mode determining unit configured to determine whether the heating processing in the second heating mode needs to be performed when performing heating processing, on the basis of predetermined information related to processing executed in the image forming apparatus; and a heating mode control unit configured to cause the heating processing in the first heating mode to be executed when it is determined by the heating mode determining unit that the heating processing in the second heating mode is not necessary, and to cause the heating processing in the second heating mode to be executed when it is determined that the heating processing in the second heating mode is necessary. | 08-21-2008 |
20080212990 | Energy Conserving Induction-Heated Fuser, Method, and Controller For Image Forming - A developer fuser, method, and controller are disclosed. The developer fuser may include a first coil for inductively transferring energy to a heating roller for fusing a developer to a media during a copy process. A controller may set the electrical power provided to the first coil to a first set-up power level upon initiation of the copy process, the first set-up power level determined, at least in part, by a physical characteristic of the media. The controller may vary the electrical power provided to the first coil in response to an input from a first temperature sensor to maintain a fixing temperature during the copy process, the fixing temperature determined, at least in part, by the physical characteristic of the media. | 09-04-2008 |
20080226324 | Heating device, fixing device, and image forming device - A heating device includes a magnetic field generating unit, and a heat generating body having a heat generating layer generating heat due to electromagnetic induction, and a temperature-sensitive layer. The heat generating layer is disposed opposing the magnetic field generating unit. The temperature-sensitive layer has a Curie temperature greater than or equal to a set temperature of the heat generating layer and less than or equal to a heat-resistant temperature of the heat generating layer, and is disposed at a side of heat generating layer opposite a side where the magnetic field generating unit is disposed such that heat from the heat generating layer is conducted. At temperatures lower than the Curie temperature, the temperature-sensitive layer causes the magnetic field to penetrate in from the heat generating layer, and at temperatures greater than or equal to the Curie temperature, causes magnetic flux of the magnetic field to pass therethrough. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226325 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, a paper separation claw is separated from a surface of a pressure roller by a drive source being turned ON at a time t | 09-18-2008 |
20080226326 | Fixing device, image forming apparatus including the fixing device, and fixing method - A fixing device includes an excitation coil, a heat-generating layer, a magnetic shunt layer, and a degaussing member. The excitation coil generates a magnetic flux. The heat-generating layer generates heat using the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil. The magnetic shunt layer transmits heat generated by the heat-generating layer. The degaussing member sandwiches the magnetic shunt layer together with the excitation coil, and selectively performs degaussing by generating a repelling magnetic flux for canceling the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil so as to activate a self-temperature-control function. The degaussing member selectively refrains from degaussing so as to deactivate the self-temperature-control function. | 09-18-2008 |
20080232838 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD TO CONTROL THE SAME - An image forming apparatus and method includes a controller to set a reference fusing temperature according to the print pattern of an input image received from an image input unit. The input image is converted to bitmap data to recognize the print pattern. The reference fusing temperature is set higher as the transition rate of the converted bitmap data increases. When printing an image whose print pattern has a low transition rate, the apparatus reduces the time required to print the first page of the image, thereby improving the print speed over the conventional apparatus. | 09-25-2008 |
20080253786 | Image forming apparatus - In an image forming apparatus having a process correction mode wherein when a temperature of a fixing device in an image formation system in a power-on state is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the image forming apparatus makes the fixing temperature to increase to the predetermined value. The apparatus sets the process correction mode based on power-on information output from a first detector which detects presence of the power-on state for the fixing device and fixing temperature information output from a second detector which detects a fixing temperature in the fixing device, and sets a priority level for performing the correction processing of the color misregistration to be lower than the correction processing of the process other than the correction processing of color the misregistration. | 10-16-2008 |
20080253787 | Image forming apparatus - A controller is operative to heat a first fixing heater by an electric power from a commercial power source, and to heat a second fixing heater by an electric power from an electric storage device in a state that driving of a voltage boosting device is suspended by a PWM controller and an MOS transistor in an initial stage of driving a fixing heater unit. The controller is also operative to drive the second fixing heater by an electric power from the electric storage device which is boosted by the voltage boosting device by driving the voltage boosting device by the PWM controller and the MOS transistor after an inrush current to the second fixing heater has dropped to a certain level. | 10-16-2008 |
20080253788 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus using the same - A fixing device including a fixing member to melt a toner so as to fix a toner image onto a recording medium, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the fixing member, and a heater to heat the fixing member based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A driving speed of the fixing member is reduced after printing is completed, and subsequently the fixing member stops driving. The fixing member is controlled to have a desired temperature (Ts) after the fixing member stops driving that is lower than a desired temperature (Tp) during printing. | 10-16-2008 |
20080253789 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a fixer including a heating member and a pressure member, a reverse transport part to forward a recording medium transported from the fixer to the image forming part, a toner image sensor to detect presence of a toner image on the recording medium, and a controller. When a glossy image formation mode is selected and no toner image is detected on the recording medium, the image forming part does not form a toner image on the recording medium, the fixer performs a first heating and pressing process and transports the recording medium to the reverse transport part, the reverse transport part transports the recording medium to the image forming part, the image forming part forms a toner image on the recording medium transported from the reverse transport part, and the fixer performs a second heating and pressing process and fixes the toner image thereon. | 10-16-2008 |
20080260406 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a heating roller for providing heat to a developer holding medium holding a developer image, a pressurizing roller which comes in contact with the heating roller, a heater having heating members for heating the heating roller, a non-contact temperature detector which includes a non-contact temperature detection element for detecting a first temperature of the heating roller in an area between a position heated by the heater and a position to contact the pressurizing roller with heating the heater, from detection positions in the longitudinal direction of the heating roller, and a detection range adjustment member which is placed between the non-contact temperature detection element and the heating roller, and has openings to set a detection range wider for far detection positions, compared with a range for near detection positions. | 10-23-2008 |
20080260407 | FIXING DEVICE FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A fixing device of this invention enables variable control of power to be supplied to a heat roller side or a press roller side in accordance with the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller while each mode is carried out. A secondary battery is used in addition to a commercial power source, thus enabling supply of power to the heat roller side or the press roller side. The secondary battery is used when necessary, thus increasing the power supply. In a copy mode, the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller is controlled in detail. In a non-copy state, the power supply to the fixing device is stopped. | 10-23-2008 |
20080260408 | FIXING DEVICE FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A fixing device of this invention enables variable control of power to be supplied to a heat roller side or a press roller side in accordance with the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller while each mode is carried out. The heating range of a first induction heating coil on the heat roller side and the heating range of a first halogen lamp heater on the press roller side are set differently. In a copy mode, the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller is controlled in detail, and also controlled in accordance with the size of a sheet paper. In a copy standby mode, only the power required for maintaining a set temperature is supplied. | 10-23-2008 |
20080260409 | Image forming apparatus - When the temperature of a fixing roller detected by a temperature detecting section is less than a predetermined fixing temperature, and a determining portion determines that an image forming unit forms a color image, a control portion stops electric power supply from an electric double layer capacitor to a second fixing heater and allows a commercial power source to supply electric power to a first fixing heater to heat the fixing roller. When the determining portion determines that the image forming unit forms a monochromatic image, the control portion allows the commercial power source to supply electric power to the first fixing heater to heat the fixing roller and allows the electric double layer capacitor to supply electric power to the second fixing heater to heat the fixing roller. | 10-23-2008 |
20080267651 | ELECTROSTATIC PRINTER ROLLER COOLING DEVICE - A electrostatic printer including a fuser configured to heat an receiver to a fusing temperature and a cooling device comprising one or more cooling rollers configured to cool the cooling roller from the fusing temperature to a desired temperature wherein the cooling device is configured to provide a varying rate of heat transfer across the roller so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient. | 10-30-2008 |
20080273890 | FIXING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off. | 11-06-2008 |
20080279576 | IMAGE FIXING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND IMAGE FIXING TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image fixing apparatus that senses temperature of a heater and controls the temperature accurately includes a pair of fixing rollers, a heater housed inside at least one of the pair of fixing rollers, and a sensor integrally formed with the heater to detect temperatures of the heater from a plurality of sensing positions. The sensor includes an array of sensing units connected in parallel to the plurality of sensing positions, and generates one sensing signal. An image forming apparatus includes the image forming apparatus. An image fixing temperature control method includes generating average temperature information of a heater; and controlling the driving of the heater based on the temperature information. | 11-13-2008 |
20080279577 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing member having an outer peripheral surface brought in pressure contact with a sheet, an induction coil along the member, and a high frequency power source section that heats the heat generating layer of the fixing member by supplying an alternating current to the induction coil. A magnetic flux regulating section that restricts the generation of heat in a specified region of the fixing member in the widthwise direction of the sheet is provided. Image regions occupied by the image to be fixed are detected in the widthwise direction of the sheet. Control of specifying the region in which the generation of heat should be restricted for the magnetic flux regulating section is executed so that only regions corresponding to the image regions of the fixing member are substantially heated in the widthwise direction of the sheet, sheet-by-sheet according to the result of detection. | 11-13-2008 |
20080285996 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND HEATING CONTROL METHOD FOR FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes a heat roller having a degaussing alloy material, an induction heating member for exciting the heat roller, an inverter circuit for giving power at a predetermined frequency to the induction heating member, and a control unit, and when driving at a first drive frequency and fixing small size sheets by continuous passing, a local temperature rise occurs at an end part of the heat roller, and the end part approaches the Curie temperature, and when impedance of the inverter circuit reduces and an excessive current flows in the circuit, the fixing device drives at a higher second drive frequency, thereby increases a resistance of the heat roller by an epidermal effect of magnetic flux, increases an apparent resistance of the inverter circuit, makes it possible to use a flowing current within a normal range, heating a central part of the heat roller, and continues the fixing. | 11-20-2008 |
20080292347 | FIXING APPARATUS AND AN IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus and an image formation apparatus are disclosed. The fixing apparatus includes two or more heaters with temperature detecting function that generate heat with electric current and detect temperature; a heating unit that includes the heater with the temperature detecting function; a film, a surface of which slides on the heating unit; a thermal fixing unit that is heated by the heating unit through the film for fusing a toner image that is yet-to-be fixed on a recording paper at a predetermined fixing temperature; a pressurization roller for pressing the recording paper to the thermal fixing unit; and a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the heater to be a predetermined temperature based on the temperature of the heater detected by the heater with the temperature detecting function. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292348 | FIXING APPARATUS AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD - A technique is provided that enables restraining temperature fall in a heating roller and a pressurizing roller due to passage of paper or the like at the time of fixing processing without greatly increasing overall power consumption by a fixing apparatus. | 11-27-2008 |
20080304848 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fixing device includes a pressing member, a belt member which rotates in contact with the pressing member and forms a nip with the pressing member, a first roller member and a second roller member to guide a rotation of the belt member, and a heating member which is mounted in one of the first roller member or the second roller member to heat the belt member, the heating member including at least two heaters to respectively heat at least two areas on the belt member corresponding to at least two width dimensions substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the one of the first roller member and the second roller member, and a sensor member to control a temperature of the belt member. The heating member includes a first heater to heat a central portion of the one of the first roller member and the second roller member, and a second heater to heat opposite ends of the one of the first roller member and the second roller member. | 12-11-2008 |
20090003867 | HEATING DEVICE, FIXING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - A heating device includes a heat applying member heated by a heat source, a pressure applying member pressure contacting the heat applying member with a prescribed pressure, and a temperature detection device that detects temperature of the heat applying member. A timing device is provided to count time elapsing from when the heat source starts heating the heat-applying member. A control device is provided to determine that heat application as a start up operation to the heating member is completed when the temperature detected by the temperature detection device reaches a prescribed threshold and the elapsing time counted by the timing device reaches a prescribed threshold. | 01-01-2009 |
20090003868 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes a current detection circuit for detecting an input current from the commercial power supply to the apparatus, in which: when a current detected by the current detection circuit exceeds a predetermined value, a maximum current suppliable to a fixing portion is restricted; and when a temperature of the fixing portion falls below, in a situation where the maximum current suppliable to the fixing portion is restricted, the predetermined temperature lower than a control target temperature, a conveyance interval of a recording material conveyed to the fixing portion is extended. In the image forming apparatus, even when a consumption current of the image forming apparatus is increased during successive image formation, it is capable of controlling the consumption current so as not to exceed a maximum current of a commercial power supply, securing desired fixability, and minimizing decline of image forming performance. | 01-01-2009 |
20090016760 | Fixing device capable of providing stable quality of fixed image - A fixing device fixes an image on a recording medium by applying heat and pressure. In the fixing device, a belt is looped over a heating roller and a first roller provided inside a loop formed by the belt. A belt tensioner is provided outside the loop formed by the belt to apply tension to the belt. A second roller presses the first roller via the belt to form a nip between the first roller and the second roller via the belt. A holder holds the first roller and the second roller to maintain a distance between the first roller and the second roller. A detector detects a position of the belt tensioner. A controller changes a control parameter for fixing the image on the recording medium at the nip when the recording medium passes through the nip according to a detection result provided by the detector. | 01-15-2009 |
20090028595 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING CONTACTLESS TYPE TEMPERATURE SENSOR - A sealing member which is compressed by a contactless temperature sensor and a cover member of a fixing unit is provided between the sensor and the cover member. An opening portion for temperature detection is shut off from a space around the fixing unit by the sealing member, thereby preventing the air from flowing from the opening portion into the fixing unit. | 01-29-2009 |
20090035004 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus which is capable of accurately detecting the temperature of a fixing roller by a simple circuit configuration without causing a scratch on the surface of the fixing roller. A detection sensor is disposed in a state not in contact with a heating-type fixing roller, for detecting the temperature of the fixing roller. A compensation sensor is provided for detecting an ambient temperature of the detection sensor. A computing section of a copy controller calculates the surface temperature of the fixing roller, using computing equations, based on information from the sensors. The copy controller controls the temperature of the fixing roller such that the surface temperature of the fixing roller, calculated by the computing section, becomes equal to a target temperature. The computing section uses different computing equations depending on the target temperature. | 02-05-2009 |
20090047033 | FIXING DEVICE FOR COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - A fixing device of the invention switches ON a heater lamp of the press roller in a fixing device in a color print mode. In a monochromatic mode, power comparable to the power consumption of the heater lamp can be supplied additionally to an exciting coil on the heat roller side when a heater lamp 3 stays OFF. An amount needed for the heat roller can be therefore added flexibly to the exciting coil. During a warm-up, power comparable to power consumption of the option can be supplied additionally to the exciting coil on the heat roller side. | 02-19-2009 |
20090052927 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE FIXING DEVICE, AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device, an image forming apparatus using the fixing device, and a temperature control method therefor. The fixing device includes a fixing roller, a heat roller including first and second heat sources, a fixing belt, a pressure roller including a pressure heat source, a first temperature detector, a second temperature detector, and a pressure temperature detector. The heat sources are regularly on and off according to a duty cycle, and at least one of the heat sources is controlled by the duty cycle during paper feed. A wattage of one of the heat sources is added to a wattage of at least one of the other heat sources when the temperature detected by the first or second temperature detector corresponding to the one of the heat sources reaches the set temperature such that a duty ratio of the at least one of the other heat sources is increased. | 02-26-2009 |
20090060549 | FUSING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A fusing system includes: a fusing unit which comprises a fusing belt which rotates around outer surfaces of at least two rollers which are distanced from each other, and a pressing roller which presses a printing medium together with the fusing belts and fuses an image which is transferred to the printing medium; a heat source which receives power to generate heat, and is mounted inside at least one of the two rollers; a driving source which drives at least one of the two rollers; a sensing unit which senses a surface temperature of the fusing belt; and a control unit which controls the heat source and the driving source so that the fusing belt can be driven when the temperature of the fusing unit increases if a printing order is applied. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060550 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, FIXING DEVICE, AND HEAT-GENERATING ROTARY MEMBER USING INDUCTION HEATING - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a sheet by applying heat, and including an exciting coil and a heat-generating rotary member. The exciting coil generates a magnetic flux. The heat-generating rotary member performs self-temperature control using a repulsive magnetic flux, and includes a degaussing member, a heat-generating layer, a magnetic shunt alloy layer, and a magnetic flux adjuster. The degaussing member generates the repulsive magnetic flux using the magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil. The heat-generating layer generates heat using the magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil. The magnetic shunt alloy layer is disposed between the exciting coil and the degaussing member, and receives heat generated by the heat-generating layer. The magnetic flux adjuster adjusts an amount of the repulsive magnetic flux generated by the degaussing member. | 03-05-2009 |
20090067869 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus for allowing a surface of a heated toner image borne on a recording material to be glossed without generating a batter in the heated toner image is provided. In an image heating apparatus ( | 03-12-2009 |
20090074441 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided that has a first pressurizing member, a heating member, a belt member laid across the heating member and the first pressurizing member in a tensioned state, the belt member being heated by the heating member, a second pressurizing member arranged at such position that the second pressurizing member is pressed against the first pressurizing member via the belt member, a fixing unit for fixing a developer image on a medium between the belt member and the second pressurizing member, a heating control unit for controlling heating of the heating member to drive a temperature of the heating member toward a predetermined target temperature, and a first temperature detection unit for detecting a temperature of the first pressurizing member, wherein the heating control unit determines the targeted temperature based on the temperature of the first pressurizing member detected by the first temperature detection unit. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074442 | Image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same - A control unit controls supply of power to a plurality of heating units at predetermined control period T | 03-19-2009 |
20090080925 | Fuser Life Extension - A method for extending the operating life of a fuser used in an electrophotographic imaging apparatus is disclosed. A control algorithm monitors the number of substrates processed over the lifetime of the fuser and adjusts the fusing temperature of the fuser to compensate for changes occurring in the nip forming members of the fuser. The useful lifetime of the fuser is extended while fusing quality is maintained. A corresponding fuser assembly is also disclosed. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080926 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is supplied that can obtain a correct temperature inside an image forming section and can perform an optimum temperature control so that it is possible to prevent remainder toner on the surface of the image carrying body from solidifying. In the image forming apparatus, in order to heat and fix toner image onto print medium, an image forming section forms the toner image on surface of an image carrying body; a conveying section conveys the print medium; a transferring section transfers the toner image on the image carrying body onto the print medium conveyed by the conveying section; a fixing section heats and fixes the toner image transferred on the print medium; a fixing section temperature detection section detects a temperature of the fixing section; an apparatus controlling section controls the temperature of the fixing section on the basis of a detection result of the fixing section temperature detection section; and an inner temperature detection section detects an image forming apparatus inner temperature, wherein the inner temperature detection section is set up in a location outside the image forming section, where temperature changes due to a heat influence from the fixing section as that a toner accommodating portion inside the image forming section has the same heat influence, and the apparatus controlling section sets a temperature setting value of the fixing section on the basis of a detection result of the inner temperature detection section. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080927 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus has: an intermediate transfer body which carries an image; a transfer mechanism which transfers the image carried on the intermediate transfer body, onto a transfer surface of a recording medium fixed to a surface of a rotating body; and a fixing mechanism which is disposed so as to oppose the surface of the rotating body to a downstream side of the transfer mechanism in terms of a direction of rotation of the rotating body, and which fixes the image that has been transferred to the transfer surface of the recording medium, onto the recording medium. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080928 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS INCLUDING HOT-ROLL TYPE FIXING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING MALFUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE SAME - A control portion determines whether a malfunction occurs or not in a roller temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor by comparing a trajectory (temporal behavior) actually created by two-dimensional data on a temperature table with a target trajectory. In other words, the control portion successively integrates a prescribed weight for each transition from one element to the adjacent element corresponding to a trajectory of two-dimensional data on the temperature table, and determines whether or not a malfunction occurs in the roller temperature sensor and the ambient temperature sensor, based on the integrated weight. | 03-26-2009 |
20090097873 | INTERMEDIATE ROLLER FOR SENSING TEMPERATURE OF PASSING SURFACES - A temperature sensing system for use in an electrographic printing machine senses temperature on a surface of a moving member. An intermediate roller is placed in operative contact with the surface of the moving member at a first location. A temperature sensor is then placed in operative connection with the intermediate roller at a location distanced and/or isolated from the moving member. A bias member is placed in operative contact with the temperature sensor to provide a force to the temperature sensor, resulting in the temperature sensor being biased against the intermediate roller, the temperature sensor thereby sensing the surface temperature of the moving member indirectly through the intermediate roller. | 04-16-2009 |
20090123171 | Information Forming Apparatus - An invented image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a developer image transferred onto a conveyed medium; a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of said fixing unit, a first power supply controller for controlling power supply to said fixing unit based on the detected result of the temperature detecting unit, a second power supply controller for controlling power supply to said fixing unit based on a preset value, a medium detection unit for detecting a medium to be conveyed, and a power supply operation controller for switching control done between said first power supply controller and said second power supply controller based on a position of the medium detected with said medium detection unit. The image forming apparatus can reduce impairment of settling rate of the developer images at the second half of the recording paper during the fixing process. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123172 | HEATER, FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heater is operable with a main power supply unit and a chargeable auxiliary power supplying unit. The heater includes a heater part having one or a plurality of heater elements to receive power from the main and auxiliary power supplying units, a detecting part to detect information related to the heater part, and a controller to vary an amount of power supplied from the auxiliary power supply unit to the heater part per unit time based on the information detected by the detecting part. | 05-14-2009 |
20090142086 | Fuser Assembly Heater Setpoint Control - A fuser assembly and a method of controlling a temperature in a fuser assembly are provided. The fuser assembly comprises a heat transfer member, a heater to heat the heat transfer member, and a backup member. The heat transfer member and the backup member define a fusing nip. A first temperature setpoint corresponding to a first thermal load for the heat transfer member is defined. A second temperature setpoint corresponding to a second thermal load for the heat transfer member is defined. The heater is maintained at or near the first temperature setpoint during at least a substantial portion of the time when the heat transfer member is operating at the first thermal load. The heater is maintained at or near the second temperature setpoint during at least a substantial portion of the time when the heat transfer member is operating at the second thermal load. | 06-04-2009 |
20090154948 | ENHANCED FUSER OFFSET LATITUDE METHOD - Electrophotographic printing of one or more layers of toner using a method of enhancing fuser offset latitude to enable the printing of a wide range of toner mass laydown using electrophotography. This method encompasses the steps of forming multicolor toner images, determining the amount of clear overcoat mass laydown as a function of the color mass laydown or non-raised mass laydown and fusing the clear toner overcoat and the multicolor toner image at a fusing temperature determined by the maximum total mass laydown and the nip width to provide good adhesion to the receiver member while optimizing fuser offset latitude. | 06-18-2009 |
20090169231 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus of the present invention includes a heating element which has an NTC characteristic in which an electric resistance value decreases as a temperature increases, which extends (i) in a direction parallel to a recording paper and (ii) in a width direction perpendicular to a carrying direction of the recording paper, and which has a longer length, in the width direction, than a width of the recording paper. The fixing apparatus further includes electrode sections provided in close proximity to both ends of the heating element in the width direction (on areas where the recording paper does not pass), the electrode sections being connected to the heating element, so that a current flows in the heating element in a direction substantially perpendicular to the carrying direction of the recording paper. This makes it possible to restrain excessive increase in temperature at the both ends of the heating element and to obtain a uniform temperature distribution. As a result, it is possible to improve endurances of members provided in the areas where the recording paper does not pass and to obtain a uniform and high-quality fixed image on a wide-width recording paper that is processed immediately after processing of narrow-width recording papers at high throughput. | 07-02-2009 |
20090175644 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has an image forming station and a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a coil for generating a magnetic field for induction heating the heating member. A first core made of a magnetic material is arranged fixedly around the coil. A second core made of a magnetic material is between the first core and the heating member in a generation direction of the magnetic field to form a magnetic path in cooperation with the first core and capable of changing a posture thereof. A shield made of a nonmagnetic metal is arranged along the outer surface of the second core to shield magnetism in the magnetic field and a magnetic shielding portion for changing the posture of the second core between a first posture where the shield shields the magnetism and a second posture where the shield does not shield the magnetism. | 07-09-2009 |
20090175645 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, FUSING DEVICE THEREOF AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUSING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus that is capable of preventing a damage to a fusing belt or hazardous conditions due to the overheating of the fusing belt and a fusing device thereof are disclosed. The image forming apparatus has a fusing device including a fusing belt, a heat source disposed in the fusing belt, a support member to support the fusing belt, the support member having an opening through which heat emitted from the heat source passes to at least a portion of the fusing belt, and a first temperature sensor positioned to measure temperature of the fusing belt at the portion directly heated by radiant heat transmitted through the opening. A control unit of the image forming apparatus controls the heat source based on the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor. | 07-09-2009 |
20090196643 | FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A disclosed fusing device includes a fusing part; a pressing part rotatably pressed against the fusing part to form a fusing nip for fusing a toner image onto a sheet; a capacitor; a center heater for heating a center portion of the fusing part; an edge heater for heating edge portions of the fusing part; an auxiliary heater for heating the fusing part; and a control unit configured to continuously turn off the edge heater and to turn on the center heater and the auxiliary heater to heat the fusing part during a fusing process of one or more small-size sheets having a width less than that of the heat generating portion of the center heater. The control unit is configured to turn on the edge heater to heat the fusing part when the capacitor stops discharging electricity during a consecutive fusing process of multiple small-size sheets. | 08-06-2009 |
20090196644 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming apparatus having a fixing unit fixing a developer image formed based on image data received onto a medium includes a target fixing temperature determination unit, a fixable temperature range computing unit, and a fixing temperature control unit. The target fixing temperature determination unit determines fixing temperature arranged based on the medium as target fixing temperature. The fixable temperature range computing unit computes a fixing temperature range fixable the developer image on the medium by using medium information of the medium while using the target fixing temperature as reference temperature. The fixing temperature control unit controls the fixing unit based on the fixable temperature range computed by the fixable temperature range computing unit. | 08-06-2009 |
20090202266 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus, in the case where image forming is performed on a recording medium whose size covers a position of a second temperature detection element perpendicularly disposed to the recording medium conveyance direction, when the detected temperature rises to a predetermined temperature during execution of the first power supply control, a first power supply control is switched to a second power supply control. In the case where image forming is performed on a recording medium whose size does not cover a position of the second temperature detection element, when the detected temperature rises to a predetermined temperature during execution of the first power supply control, a conveyance control portion executes a control for extending the conveyance interval of the recording medium. Thus, an unduly large temperature rise in the non-sheet passing portion is prevented, and a good quality image can be provided without glossy unevenness in one sheet. | 08-13-2009 |
20090208237 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main unit; a detected unit that is placed in the apparatus main unit; a temperature detection member that is provided out of contact with the detected unit in the apparatus main unit for detecting a temperature of the detected unit; a change member for changing a state of an air current in the apparatus main unit; and a temperature correction unit for correcting a value relevant to the temperature detected by the temperature detection member based on change of the state of the air current by the change member. | 08-20-2009 |
20090208238 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND METHOD - An image forming device that uses only one temperature sensor to detect temperatures of the recording sheet and a rotation member for fixing, and can perform the temperature adjustment control carefully in detail during the image forming operation. The CPU 61 performs the temperature adjustment control 1 by executing the temperature adjustment program 64 | 08-20-2009 |
20090214243 | Fixing Device and Image Forming Apparatus - A fixing device has: (a) an electromagnetic coil placed with a gap from a member of a magnetic material to be heated; a switching device that supplies electronic power to the electromagnetic coil; (b) a switching control unit that controls duty ratio for the switching device under a condition that a load voltage and a load current of the switching device are substantially zero when the switching device is turned on and/or off; (c) a shield member capable of being placed between the electromagnetic coil and the member to be heated to shield the member to be heated against a magnetic flux from the electromagnetic coil; and (d) a shield control unit that controls a shield amount of the shield member by moving either the shield member or both the electromagnetic coil and the member to be heated. | 08-27-2009 |
20090232534 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a magnetic-field generating part that generates a magnetic field, a fixing rotating body having a heat generating layer that generates heat by an electromagnetic induction action of the magnetic field, a pressurizing member that applies pressure to an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotating body, a heating member that is arranged in contact with an inner side of the fixing rotating body so as be opposed to the magnetic-field generating part, and heats the fixing rotating body, and a temperature sensing part that is located within a region where the fixing rotating body is opposed to the magnetic-field generating part and where the fixing rotating body is in contact with the heating member, and senses a temperature of the fixing rotating body. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232535 | FIXING APPARATUS - The present invention provides a technique to make uniform a temperature distribution of a sheet heating temperature in a sheet widthwise direction, with no relation to sizes in a direction (sheet widthwise direction) orthogonal to a carrying direction of sheets to be fixed. | 09-17-2009 |
20090238594 | FUSER WITH GLOSS FEEDBACK CONTROL - A method of controlling gloss in a printing system having a fuser is provided. The method comprises: creating a gloss look-up table for temperature settings; using the look-up table for temperature settings to determine a desired gloss range; measuring an actual gloss range on a substrate continuously with an in-line gloss meter; determining whether the actual gloss range is within the desired gloss range; and where the actual gloss range is outside the desired gloss range, adjusting temperature settings of the fuser. | 09-24-2009 |
20090238595 | Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing-device control method - In a fixing device, a fixing unit fixes a toner image transferred onto a recording medium by a heating target unit heated by a plurality of heating units each of which is grouped as a first heating unit to which power is selectively supplied or a second heating unit to which power is supplied in priority to the first heating unit, and a supply control unit supplies power to a heating unit grouped as the second heating unit and selectively supplies power to a heating unit grouped as the first heating unit, among the heating units that heat the heating target unit of which detected temperature by a detecting unit is lower than a target temperature. | 09-24-2009 |
20090238596 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing device includes a non-contacting thermistor ( | 09-24-2009 |
20090245837 | FUSER ASSEMBLY HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL - A printer is provided comprising substrate transport apparatus for moving substrates through the printer along a substrate path; a pick mechanism for removing substrates from a storage tray and feeding the substrates to the substrate transport apparatus; a fuser assembly comprising a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt, a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor associated with the backup member for sensing the temperature of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the substrate transport apparatus, the pick mechanism, the heater and the temperature sensor. The controller causes the pick mechanism to remove substrates from the storage tray at a first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature within a first backup member index temperature range and at different pick rate less than the first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature greater than the first backup member index temperature range. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245838 | FUSER HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL - A fuser assembly is provided comprising: a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt; a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt; a temperature sensor associated with the backup member for sensing the temperature of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the heater and the temperature sensor. The controller controls the operation of the heater based on the backup member temperature. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245839 | Fuser Assembly Fan Control - A printer is provided including a reference edge, a fuser assembly, a cooling apparatus and a controller. The reference edge is adapted to be contacted by a substrate as the substrate moves along a substrate path through the printer. The fuser assembly includes a heat transfer member including a belt and a backup member. The cooling apparatus is adapted to move cooling air capable of cooling the fuser assembly. The controller is configured to activate the cooling apparatus after determining that a first end portion of the backup member opposite a second end portion of the backup member near the reference edge is at a temperature above a predefined first threshold temperature. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245840 | DIGITAL FUSER CONCEPT USING MICRO HOTPLATE TECHNOLOGY - In accordance with the invention, there are printing apparatuses and methods of marking and forming an image. The printing apparatus can include one or more digital heating elements disposed in a fuser subsystem, the digital heating element can include an array of hotplates, wherein each hotplate of the array of hotplates can be thermally isolated and can be individually addressable, wherein each hotplate can be configured to attain a temperature up to approximately 200° C. from approximately 20° C. in a time frame of milliseconds. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245841 | Fixing Device and Image Forming Apparatus - A fixing device including a heating belt stretched over heating and fixing rollers is rotated to fix a toner image of a transfer material. A first mode combines heating and rotation stop of the heating belt. A second mode combines heating and rotation of the heating belt. When returning the heating belt for an image forming operation from a non-heating and non-rotation state, the heating belt is controlled by the first mode and then transitioned to the second mode when the heating belt temperature equals or exceeds a predetermined mode transition reference temperature. At the start of the transition to the second mode, the rotation speed of the heating belt is controlled such that a temperature difference between a winding portion of the heating belt that is wound on the heating roller and a non-winding portion that is not wound on the heating roller is decreased. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245842 | Fixing Device and Image Forming Apparatus - Provided is a fixing device including: at least a heating roller, a fixing roller, a heating belt which is stretched over the heating roller and the fixing roller, is heated by the heating roller, and is rotated by a driving unit so as to fix a toner image of a transfer material, and a bias preventing unit of the heating belt provided in the heating roller, wherein a first mode which is a combination mode of the heating of the heating belt and the rotation stop of the heating belt and a second mode which is a combination mode of the heating of the heating belt and the rotation of the heating belt are set, at the time of returning of the heating belt for an image forming operation from non-heating and non-rotation of the heating belt, the heating belt is controlled by the first mode and the heating belt is controlled by the second mode transitioned from the first mode, when a temperature of the heating belt becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined mode transition reference temperature, the transition from the first mode to the second mode is performed, and at the time of the start of the transition to the second mode, the heating belt is rotated in a direction reverse to a rotation direction during image formation and is rotated in the same direction as the rotation direction during the image formation. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245843 | Method of Controlling Belt Fixing Device, Belt Fixing Device, and Image Forming Apparatus - A method of controlling a belt fixing device, in which a fixing belt is stretched between a fixing roller and a heating roller, includes detecting a temperature of the fixing belt at the time of stoppage. On the basis of the detection result, a driving unit is rotated forward or backward a predetermined number of times when the fixing belt having stopped is driven again. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245844 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus of the present invention includes a heating roller | 10-01-2009 |
20090245845 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus including: a heating rotary member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blowing unit, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the heating rotary member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, wherein a cooling operation can be performed continuously with the shutter opened after image heating processing is completed, whereby a downtime required for making the temperature distribution over the entire heating area uniform after the continuous sheet supply of small-size recording materials is reduced remarkably. | 10-01-2009 |
20090252520 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE FIXING DEVICE - Provided is a fixing device including: a first mode which is a combination mode of the heating of the heating belt and the rotation stop of the heating belt and a second mode which is a combination mode of the heating of the heating belt and the rotation of the heating belt are set; at the time of returning of the heating belt for an image forming operation from non-heating and non-rotation of the heating belt, the heating belt is controlled by the first mode and the heating belt is then controlled by the second mode transitioned from the first mode; and when a temperature of the heating belt becomes equal to or larger than a mode transition reference temperature which is set on the basis of a predetermined condition, the transition from the first mode to the second mode is performed. | 10-08-2009 |
20090252521 | IMAGE FIXING APPARATUS - An image fixing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an integration circuit which is provided in a signal path from said comparison circuit to said relay drive circuit and integrates a signal input to said integration circuit, wherein an integral value of the signal input to said integration circuit reaches a reference value; and a latch circuit having an input port connected to a signal path from said integration circuit to said relay drive circuit and an output port connected to a signal path from said comparison circuit to said integration circuit, wherein said latch circuit continuously transmits a signal from said output port to said integration circuit, upon a change in a signal level of said input port so that said relay is switched to the open position, and latches said relay in the open position. | 10-08-2009 |
20090257769 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device configured to fix a toner image on a moving printing medium includes: a fixing heat generator that generates heat by electromagnetic induction; a fixing medium that rotates and is heated while being carried by the heating medium; and a pressing member that presses a back surface of the printing medium coming into contact with the fixing medium, the fixing heat generator including a center coil and a pair of side coils provided at a center portion and both side portions thereof along a direction vertical to the direction of movement of the printing medium for heating the fixing medium by induction heating, the pressing member including a center heater and a side heater that heat a center portion and both side portions thereof in a direction vertical to the direction of movement of the printing medium integrated therein, and includes a side temperature sensor that senses at least one of the temperatures of the both side portions in a widthwise direction vertical to the direction of movement of the printing medium, and a heater control unit that turns the side heater OFF when the temperature that the side temperature sensor senses exceeds a predetermined temperature. | 10-15-2009 |
20090257770 | FIXING DEVICE AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A fixing device includes a fixing belt, exercitation coils for induction-heating the fixing belt, power supplies that supply high-frequency power to the excitation coils, an output power detecting circuit that detects output electric energy of the power supplies, a power control circuit that controls the output electric energy of the power supplies, and temperature sensors that detect the temperature of a surface portion of the fixing belt. When electric energy applied to the excitation coils during the power fall reaches minimum power set in advance larger than 0 W, the power control circuit maintains the minimum power while the temperature detected by the temperature sensors is within a predetermined control temperature range and controls output power of the induction heating power supplies to shift from the minimum power to 0 W when the detected temperature deviates from the predetermined control temperature range. | 10-15-2009 |
20090274476 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image on the image bearing member to a sheet, a fixing unit configured to heat and fix the toner image on the sheet transferred by the transfer unit, a reading unit configured to read the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit, from an end surface of the sheet, a control unit configured to control a fixing temperature when the fixing unit heats and fixes the toner image on the sheet, based on an image read by the reading unit. | 11-05-2009 |
20090274477 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF SUPPRESSING VARIATION IN IMAGE DENSITY - A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member to form a fixing nip portion between the first nip formation member and the second nip formation member. The first heater heats the first nip formation member. The second heater heats the second nip formation member. The controller supplies a portion of power to the second heater and the remainder of power to the first heater when a plurality of sheets having a sheet weight not greater than about 100 g/m | 11-05-2009 |
20090279913 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - A printing apparatus includes a memory used for storing a preset temperature value indicating a preset temperature of a heating portion controlled by a CPU when print processing including transfer processing and fixing processing is performed in association with a plurality of types of sheets that are usable by the printing apparatus. The CPU of the printing apparatus calculates a maintenance temperature value, which is a temperature value to be maintained by the heating portion when the print processing is not performed, based on a plurality of preset temperature values that are set in association with the plurality of types of sheets, and controls the temperature of the heating portion to become equal to the maintenance temperature value. | 11-12-2009 |
20090290893 | Temperature control method for fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - A temperature control method for use in a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet through a fixing nip defined between a fixing member and a pressure member includes temperature detection, heater control, and duty control execution. The temperature detection detects a temperature of the fixing member with a temperature detector. The heater control controls operation of a heater of the fixing device by changing a duty thereof according to the detected temperature. The duty control execution executes a heater duty control to change a heater duty for a current control cycle discontinuously from that for a previous control cycle when the current control cycle precedes entry of the recording sheet into the fixing nip by a given period of time. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290894 | OUTPUT CONTROL DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD - A storage unit stores therein a first correction amount and a second correction amount for correcting a first output amount of a first device. A correcting unit corrects, when the first output amount is smaller than a first target value, the first output amount based on a second output amount of a second device that is operated by the first output amount, a second target value of the second output amount, and the first correction amount, and otherwise, the first output amount based on the second correction amount. A control unit controls the first device to output the first output amount that is corrected by the correcting unit. | 11-26-2009 |
20090297197 | Image forming apparatus and control method therefor - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixer to fix an image formed on a sheet and includes a rotary heat generator including a heat generation layer, a pressure member to form a nip with the rotary heat generator to sandwich the sheet therebetween, an excitation coil disposed facing the rotary heat generator, to inductively heat the heat generation layer, a demagnetization coil disposed facing the heat generation layer, to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil and a fixer controller to control activation of the excitation coil as well as the demagnetization coil before a second image formation job after completion of a first image formation job in which an image is formed on a sheet of recording media whose width is smaller than a maximum sheet width usable in the fixer. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297198 | IMAGE FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a control circuit which controls the electrifying to a first heater so that a temperature detected by a first temperature detection portion reaches a first target temperature and controls the electrifying to a second heater so that a temperature detected by a second temperature detection portion reaches a second target temperature, when warm-up is initiated, and, when the warm-up initiated, if an initial temperature of a rotary member is below a predetermined temperature, the control circuit sets the first target temperature to a temperature value greater than the first target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature and sets the second target temperature to a temperature value greater than the second target temperature set when the initial temperature of the rotary member is greater than the predetermined temperature. In this way, hot offset and poor fixing can be prevented and a pre-heating operation time can be prevented from extending excessively. | 12-03-2009 |
20090304405 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a temperature sensor including an element in which a resistance value increases as a temperature decreases and configured to detect a temperature of the fixing unit, a connector configured to transmit an output signal of the temperature sensor, a control unit disposed on a side opposed to the temperature sensor with respect to the connector and configured to control the temperature of the fixing unit based on the output signal of the temperature sensor, a resistor disposed on the same side of the temperature sensor with respect to the connector and connected to the temperature sensor in parallel, and a power source disposed on the side opposed to the temperature sensor with respect to the connector and configured to supply currents to the temperature sensor and the resistor via the connector. | 12-10-2009 |
20090310996 | SAFETY DEVICE AND FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device has a fixing roller, a pressure roller, an electromagnetic induction heating section, a heat pipe, a temperature sensor and a control section. The fixing roller is heated by the electromagnetic induction heating section. The heat pipe is in contact with the pressure roller. The temperature sensor is in direct contact with the heat pipe to measure temperature of the heat pipe. The control section stops heating of the electromagnetic induction heating section when the temperature of the heat pipe measured by the temperature sensor reaches a preset temperature. This prevents an excessive rise in temperature of the heat pipe and suppresses an excessive increase in internal pressure of the heat pipe. Thereby, the heat pipe in the fixing device is prevented from being damaged. | 12-17-2009 |
20090324272 | FUSER ASSEMBLIES, XEROGRAPHIC APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON MEDIA - Fuser assemblies for fusing toner on media, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a fuser belt; a first roll supporting the fuser belt, the first roll including a first heating element and a second heating element extending axially along the first roll and along a width of the fuser belt, the first heating element being longer than the second heating element; and a second roll supporting the fuser belt, the second roll including a third heating element and a fourth heating element extending axially along the second roll and along the width of the fuser belt, the third heating element being longer than the fourth heating element. | 12-31-2009 |
20090324273 | FUSER ASSEMBLIES, XEROGRAPHIC APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON MEDIA - Fuser assemblies, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a fuser belt having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, at least a first roll and a second roll supporting the fuser belt, and a radiant heater facing the inner surface of the fuser belt. The radiant heater is adapted to emit radiant heat onto the inner surface of the fuser belt to increase the temperature of the outer surface of the fuser belt opposite the inner surface heated by the radiant heater. | 12-31-2009 |
20100003043 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - In the case where a set temperature is significantly reduced, the image forming apparatus which prevents the occurrence of the combinations of output wave numbers which are ineffective to suppress flicker. If the set temperature is significantly reduced from 200° C. to 130° C., for example, to such a temperature that current does not need to be applied to the ceramic heater, as indicated by | 01-07-2010 |
20100008691 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF IMPROVING FIXING EFFICIENCY AND SUPPRESSING OVERHEATING - In a fixing device, a rotatable endless film heats a sheet. A heat source is contacted and surrounded by the endless film to heat the endless film. A pressing member is disposed opposite the heat source. An air current generator generates an air current inside a loop formed by the endless film. The endless film and the pressing member are disposed to sandwich and feed the sheet forward as the sheet passes therebetween. The air current generator concentrates the air current on the endless film to heat the sheet at a given position. | 01-14-2010 |
20100014881 | Method and Printer Assembly for Consistent Power Control in Fuser Assembly of Electrophotgrahic Printer - A method for setting a heater element of a fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition to achieve consistency in heating power measurement is provided. The heater element is heated to a first predefined temperature when the temperature of the heater element is less than the first predefined temperature. The temperature of the heater element is maintained within a predefined range for a predefined period of time. This sets the temperature of the heater element in the fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition. Thereafter, the heating power estimation measurement is made and heating power supplied to the fuser assembly is estimated. This controls the heating power delivered to the fuser assembly in a consistent manner. | 01-21-2010 |
20100014882 | FIXING DEVICE OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The fixing device of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with a heat transfer probe which contacts the heat roller and a surface temperature of the heat roller is transferred thereto. The erroneous detection of the surface temperature of the heat roller caused from materials adhered to the heat roller is prevented, induction heating coils is regulated at a high level of accuracy using the highly precious detection result obtained from the heat transfer probe, the temperature control of the heat roller is promoted and a fixed image of high quality is obtained. | 01-21-2010 |
20100021194 | IMAGE FORMATION SYSTEM, IMAGE FORMATION METHOD, AND IMAGE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT METHOD - An image formation system includes image forming means for forming different color toner images on a recording material having a toner reception layer; first image heating means for heating and pressing the toner image on the recording material; second image heating means for heating and pressing the toner image on the recording material having been heated and pressed by the first image heating means; and wherein the first image heating means is operable so as to provide a granularity R of the toner image satisfying 0.5≦R≦4.0 and a glossiness G of the toner image satisfying 5≦G≦40, and the second image heating means is operable so as to provide a granularity R of the toner image satisfying not more than 4.0 and a glossiness G of the toner image satisfying not less than 60. | 01-28-2010 |
20100028036 | Fixing Device Having Thermistor - A fixing device is mounted on a main casing of an image forming apparatus. A heating member contacts a recording medium to apply heat thereto while rotating. A heating member includes a roller that rotates about an axis. A frame supports the heating member and includes a frame fixing part that is fixed to the main casing to mount the frame on the main casing. A detecting unit opposes the heating member in an opposing direction to detect a temperature of the heating member and is separated from the heating member. A support member supports the detecting unit. A position of the support member in the opposing direction with respect to the frame is determined at a position closer to the frame fixing unit than the detecting unit. A position of the support member in an axial direction of the roller with respect to the frame is determined at a same position as the detecting unit in the axial direction. | 02-04-2010 |
20100034547 | FUSERS, PRINTING APPARATUSES, AND METHODS OF FUSING TONER ON MEDIA - Fusers for fusing toner on media, printing apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in printing apparatuses are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the fusers comprises a fuser roll comprising a fusing imaging surface; at least one heating element for heating the fuser roll; a pressure roll including an outer surface, the outer surface and the fusing imaging surface defining a nip; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature on the fusing imaging surface; a time delay calculator connected to the temperature sensor; a feedback controller connected to the temperature sensor and the heating element, the feedback controller receives a signal from the temperature sensor indicating the temperature on the fusing imaging surface and controls the heating element based on the temperature; and an open-loop controller connected to the heating element and the time delay calculator. The open-loop controller receives a time delay signal from the time delay calculator and bypasses the feedback controller to control the heating element to increase the temperature of the fusing imaging surface starting at about a time, t−Δt (where Δt is a time delay), which is before a medium arrives at the nip, and continuing until about a time, t, at which the medium arrives at the nip and is contacted by the fusing imaging surface. The feedback controller resumes control of the heating element at about the time t. | 02-11-2010 |
20100034548 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus employing the fixing device - A fixing device includes a rotary fixing member, a counter member to contact the rotary fixing member, a first heater to heat the rotary fixing member, a driving unit to rotate the rotary fixing member, a temperature detector to detect a temperature of the rotary fixing member, and a contact-and-separation unit to switch between contact and separation states of the rotary fixing member relative to the counter member. In a temperature-raising operation, the driving unit causes the rotary fixing member to rotate when the temperature detector detects that the temperature of the rotary fixing member has reached a first setting temperature. The contact-and-separation unit causes the rotary fixing member in rotation and the counter member to contact each other when the temperature detector detects that the temperature of the rotary fixing member has reached a second setting temperature that is higher than the first setting temperature. | 02-11-2010 |
20100046973 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FIXING DEVICE USED THEREIN - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which a toner image is formed, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording medium, and a cooling device to cool a heating member of the fixing device. The fixing device includes a pressure member to apply pressure to the toner image on the recording medium, the heating member to heat the toner image on the recording medium, a heating device to heat the heating member, and a first power supply to supply power to the heating device. The cooling device is supplied with power by a second power supply separate from the first power supply. | 02-25-2010 |
20100054785 | Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and method of controlling fixing device - In a fixing apparatus, an internal temperature detection device is arranged within a heat generation region and detects temperature of a fixing device. An external temperature detection device is arranged at the outside of the heat generation region and detects temperature of the fixing device. Heat generation in the heat generating device is stopped when temperature reaches a prescribed first high temperature detection limit and a temperature rising amount in a prescribed time period after the first high temperature detection limit is reached exceeds a prescribed threshold. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054786 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a coil for generating magnetic flux; a rotatable heat generating member, having an electroconductive layer which generates heat by the magnetic flux, for heating an image on a recording material, the heating member being disposed inside the coil; a magnetic core disposed inside the heat generating member; a temperature detecting member, disposed in an area sandwiched between the magnetic core and an area of the heat generating member opposing the coil, for detecting a temperature of the heat generating member; an electric wire electrically connected to the temperature detecting member; and an interrupting portion, provided outside the image heating member, for interrupting electric power supply to said coil on the basis of an output of said temperature detecting member supplied through said electric wire. The magnetic core partly lacks to provide a core lacking portion in an area opposing the coil through the heat generating member. Through the core lacking portion, the electric wire is extended to an outside of the heat generating member. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054787 | Fixing Device and Image Forming Apparatus - A fixing device that includes a first fixing unit including a first heating roller having a metallic roller and a resin layer formed on the metallic roller, and a first pressure roller coming into abutment with the first heating roller; and a second fixing unit having a second heating roller being configured to heat a transfer material heated by the first fixing unit and including a metallic roller, a elastic layer formed on the metallic roller, and a resin layer formed on the elastic layer, and a second pressure roller coming into abutment with the second heating roller is provided. | 03-04-2010 |
20100061753 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device including a fixing member to melt a toner image to fix the toner image to a recording medium, a pressing member pressed against the fixing member to form a nip to where the recording medium is conveyed, multiple temperature detectors to detect a temperature at multiple positions on a surface of the pressing member in a width direction thereof, a heating member including a heating layer to heat the fixing member; an exciting coil to generate magnetic fluxes to inductively heat the heating layer, and one or more pairs of degaussing coils to generate magnetic fluxes to degauss the magnetic fluxes generated by the exciting coil. An amount of power supplied to the one or more pairs of degaussing coils is controlled based on a result detected by each of the multiple temperature detectors. | 03-11-2010 |
20100074643 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device for fixing a toner image to a sheet and has a fixing roller to be heated by a heat source and a pressure roller to be pressed into contact with the fixing roller. A switcher switches a pressing force between the fixing roller and the pressure roller between a first pressing force and a second pressing force lower than the first pressing force. A pressing force detector detects the pressing force between the fixing roller and the pressure roller and a temperature detector detects the temperature of the fixing roller. A storage device stores control data indicating a control temperature for the fixing roller predetermined in accordance with the number of sheets passing the fixing device, and a controller controls the temperature of the fixing roller to the control temperature by controlling the heat source in accordance with a signal sent from the pressing force detector. | 03-25-2010 |
20100098448 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS HAVING FUSER TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND CORRESPONDING METHODS - Disclosed are a method of forming images on media in an electrophotographic apparatus, and corresponding electrophotographic apparatus. The method includes measuring a temperature of the media with a sensor after the toner particles have been fused to the media, and controlling a temperature of the heater device with a controller based on the measured temperature of the media, wherein the temperature is controlled to obtain a desired gloss level for subsequent media to be fused. | 04-22-2010 |
20100104308 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUSER AND PRESSURE ASSEMBLY TEMPERATURE CONTROL - An apparatus ( | 04-29-2010 |
20100111555 | FIXING DEVICE FOR COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - A fixing device switches ON a heater lamp of the press roller in a fixing device in a color print mode. In a monochromatic mode, power comparable to the power consumption of the heater lamp can be supplied additionally to an exciting coil on the heat roller side when a heater lamp | 05-06-2010 |
20100124429 | FIXING CONTROLLER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing controller capable of rapidly detecting an excessive temperature rise, even if an abnormal temperature rise takes place in a state that a rotor of a fixing unit, such as a thin-walled roller or belt, stops rotating. A rotating belt is heated by a coil, a belt temperature is detected by a thermistor, and a drive frequency of a driving circuit for driving the coil is controlled by a control circuit. When the temperature detected by the thermistor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the drive circuit is stopped by an excessive temperature rise detecting circuit. The thermistor is heated such that a difference between the temperatures detected by the thermistor when the belt is rotating and when the belt stops rotating becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined temperature difference. | 05-20-2010 |
20100135686 | GAIN SCHEDULING APPROACH FOR FUSER CONTROL TO REDUCE INTER-CYCLE TIME - A fusing apparatus includes a fuser roll and a pressure roll which define a nip therebetween. An internal heat source is disposed within a interior of the fuser roll. An external heat source is disposed adjacent the fuser roll for heating an outer surface of the fuser roll. One or both of the internal heat source and the external heat source is controlled during a print job such that the thermal gradient across the fuser roll is adjusted. As a result, a temperature overshoot which generally occurs after the print job is finished can be reduced. The influence of subsequent jobs on the fuser roll surface temperature can also be accommodated. | 06-03-2010 |
20100142986 | Apparatus and method for a multi-tap series resistance heating element in a belt fuser - A segment and heater fuser roll is disposed for a printing device including a plurality of heating elements in a preselected order relative to a voltage return. A plurality of voltage taps are disposed for applying selected power to ones of the plurality of heater elements. The heater elements vary in power density per unit length. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142987 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing device includes a heater, first and second pressure-applying members, a belt support member, a fixing belt, a contact member and a temperature detector. The fixing belt is entrained about the heater, the first pressure-applying member and the belt support member. The second pressure-applying member opposes the first pressure-applying member through the fixing belt. The contact member, which extends in the width direction of the fixing belt, is in contact with an inner surface of the fixing belt. The temperature detector, which is disposed between the belt support member and the contact member, detects a temperature of the fixing belt through the contact member. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142988 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FIXING DEVICE - In a fixing device including (i) an external heat belt which abuts against a surface of a fixing roller so as to heat the fixing roller and (ii) a cleaning member which abuts against the external heat belt, a fixing temperature, which is a surface temperature of the fixing roller during a fixing process, is set per group into which recording media to be subjected to the fixing process are divided according to their widths in a direction of a rotary axis of the fixing roller, in such a way that the fixing temperature is set to a lower temperature for a group of narrower widths. This makes it possible to prevent a reduction in releasability of the fixing roller caused by a material, which is scraped off from the external heat belt by the cleaning member and then adhered to the fixing roller, thereby preventing the high-temperature offset. | 06-10-2010 |
20100150595 | Thermistor Isolation Technique for a Ceramic Fuser Heater - An electrically isolated temperature sensor for use with a printer, copier, or all-in-one fuser. The fuser includes an AC driven heater to which a thermistor is mounted for sensing the temperature of the fuser heater. A resistance of the thermistor controls the period of a periodic signal generated by an astable multivibrator. An optical isolator isolates the printer fuser from down line processing circuits, and transfers the periodic signal to such processing circuits. The printer fuser employs a separate floating ground that is not connected to other DC circuits of the printer. With this arrangement, any AC power that is inadvertently coupled from the heater to the DC circuits of the fuser is isolated thereto. The AC power is isolated to the fuser and cannot be propagated through the fuser to other down line circuits of the printer. | 06-17-2010 |
20100150596 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - According to an embodiment, a heating device having a plurality of heating members which heat the heating roller, a first thermoelectric converting section having a plurality of thermoelectric converting elements, each of which has a heat-absorbing surface and a cooling surface and generates electromotive force by difference in temperature between the heat-absorbing surface and the cooling surface, and formed along a curved surface of the heating roller, in which the heat-absorbing surface is disposed with a predetermined space from an outer circumferential surface of the heating roller, an auxiliary power supply charged with electric power generated by the first thermoelectric converting section, and a switching section which switches the apparatus between a first state in which electric power is supplied from utility power to the heating members and a second state in which electric power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply to the heating members, based on a predetermined signal. | 06-17-2010 |
20100150597 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A center coil and side coils alternately operate at least once while a heat belt passes positions corresponding to the center coil and the side coils. A controller controls the operation time of the center coil and the operation time of the side coils according to comparison of detected temperature of a first temperature sensor and detected temperature of a second temperature sensor. | 06-17-2010 |
20100158555 | TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING METHOD OF FIXING DEVICE - In a fixing device, when sheets of small width size are continuously passed and temperature rises in both side parts, a temperature control unit stops print control of an auxiliary lamp. When the temperature rise in both side parts continues after that, a drive control unit shifts the fixing device to a wait mode and pre-runs the fixing device. Moreover, in a low-temperature environment, when temperature rises in both side parts when sheets Ps of small width size are continuously passed, the temperature control unit switches temperature control of the fixing device to three-stage control. | 06-24-2010 |
20100166446 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; a fuser having a heating unit to which an alternating voltage is applied from an alternating power supply so as to perform heating; a zero-cross pulse generating unit that generates a zero-cross pulse; a voltage estimating unit that estimates the alternating voltage on the basis of a width of the zero-cross pulse; a temperature detecting unit that detects the temperature of the fuser; a heating control parameter setting unit that sets a heating control parameter for controlling the heating unit on the basis of the alternating voltage estimated by the voltage estimating unit and the temperature of the fuser; and a heating control unit that controls the heating unit on the basis of the heating control parameter set by the heating control parameter setting unit. | 07-01-2010 |
20100172668 | ENERGIZATION CONTROL DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heating unit heated upon receiving power supplied from an AC power supply, a temperature detecting unit detecting the temperature of the heating unit, a memory storing power energization pattern in which power energization and non-power energization are performed for each percentage of AC power, and a power control unit that determines the percentage of AC power applied to the heating unit based on the temperature and that determines the power energization pattern by referring to the memory are provided. When the power energization percentage is changed, the power control unit changes the power energization pattern after the power energization percentage is changed in accordance with the changed power energization percentage based on the power energization pattern before the power energization percentage is changed and the power energization pattern after the power energization percentage is changed. | 07-08-2010 |
20100178071 | APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING A TEMPERATURE OF A SURFACE IN APPARATUSES USEFUL FOR PRINTING - Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of controlling a temperature of a surface in an apparatus useful for printing are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses includes a first roll including a first outer surface and at least one first heating element for heating the first outer surface; a second roll including a second outer surface; a nip between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; a first temperature sensor for sensing a pre-nip temperature at a pre-nip location; and a first voltage modulator connected to each first heating element and the first temperature sensor. The first voltage modulator receives a temperature signal from the first temperature sensor indicative of the pre-nip temperature and modulates an AC voltage supplied to each first heating element to maintain each first heating element continuously ON at a power level ranging from partial power to full power to control the pre-nip temperature. | 07-15-2010 |
20100178072 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUSER THEREOF - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus capable of controlling a fuser thereof to operate effectively even with a possible fluctuation in the AC voltage input. The image forming apparatus may include an input for receiving an AC voltage, a detector that outputs a DC voltage corresponding to a level of the AC voltage input, a fuser operable to produce heat according to the AC voltage input, a storage in which fusing temperature control information and a controller that controls the fuser using the fusing temperature control information corresponding to the DC voltage. | 07-15-2010 |
20100196037 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device has a heating member, a thermal detecting unit, and a control unit. The heating member is positioned at an ambient temperature and heated by a heat source. The heating member fixes a developed image to a recording sheet. The thermal detecting unit is provided separately from the heating member. The thermal detecting unit detects a first temperature. The control unit uses a function to calculate a second temperature of the heating member on the basis of the detected first temperature. The control unit controls the heat source on the basis of the second temperature. The function has a rate of change that increases with decreasing the ambient temperature. | 08-05-2010 |
20100196038 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - While a recording sheet is passing through a fixing nip formed between a heating roller | 08-05-2010 |
20100196039 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device configured to form a toner image on a sheet; an image heating device disposed contacted with the toner image on the sheet and configured to heat the toner image on the sheet; a heating device configured to heat the image heating device; a detecting device configured to detect a temperature of the image heating device; a controlling device configured to control the heating device so that the temperature of the image heating device is maintained at a target temperature based on an output of the detecting device; a selecting device configured to select one of plurality of modes including a first mode in which the images are continuously formed on a plurality of thin sheets, a second mode in which the images are continuously formed on a plurality of thick sheets and a third mode in which the images are continuously formed on a plurality of sheets including the thin sheet and the thick sheet; a setting device configured to set the target temperature based on the selected mode, wherein the target temperature in the second mode is higher than the target temperature in the first mode, and the target temperature in the third mode is higher than the target temperature in the second mode. | 08-05-2010 |
20100202791 | FIXING UNIT AND FIXING TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD - A fixing unit that heat-fixes the toner image onto the sheet, has: an information acquisition section that acquires information concerning a factor causing the input voltage which is supplied to a heater for heating the heating roller to vary; a temperature setting section that sets a target temperature of the heater based on the information acquired by the information acquisition section; and a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the heater such that the heating roller becomes the target temperature set by the temperature setting section. | 08-12-2010 |
20100202792 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member for heating, in a nip, an image on a recording material; a heater for heating the image heating member; a cooling device for cooling the image heating member, wherein when a target temperature of the image heating member is changed to a low temperature which is lower than the target temperature, the apparatus is operable in a mode wherein a temperature of the image heating member is lowered by the cooling device to a transition temperature which is lower than the low temperature, and then, the temperature of the image heating member is raised by the heater to the low temperature. | 08-12-2010 |
20100209130 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt configured to heat a toner image on a recording material, a heater configured to heat the endless belt, a voltage supplier configured to supply an alternating voltage to the heater, a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the heater, a controller configured to control a ratio of a time during which the voltage is supplied to the heater to a period at which the voltage is supplied to the heater according to the temperature detected by the temperature detector, and a regulator configured to regulate a maximum value of the ratio according to the temperature detected by the temperature detector by varying the voltage supplied to the heater at a predetermined period. | 08-19-2010 |
20100215390 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The fixing device includes: a fixing member including a conductive layer capable of self-heating by electromagnetic induction; a drive unit rotationally driving the fixing member; a magnetic field generating member generating an alternate-current magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer; a fixation pressing member movable so as to come into pressure contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member and to separate from the outer circumferential surface; and a temperature measurement unit that includes a temperature detector and a support portion, that measures temperature of the fixing member with the temperature detector which is pressed by the support portion to be brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, and that holds a contact state between the temperature detector and the inner circumferential surface in every state where the fixing member is displaced in accordance with movement of the fixation pressing member. | 08-26-2010 |
20100232822 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - In a fixing device, a first reflection plate covers a part of an outer circumferential surface of an infrared heater in a circumferential direction of the infrared heater along an axial direction of the infrared heater substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the infrared heater. The first reflection plate reflects light emitted by the infrared heater toward a fixing member. At least one light control mirror is provided in at least one end of the first reflection plate in an axial direction of the first reflection plate. At least one second reflection plate opposes the infrared heater via the at least one light control mirror to reflect the light emitted by the infrared heater and passing through the at least one light control mirror toward a center portion of the fixing member in an axial direction of the fixing member. | 09-16-2010 |
20100239297 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a cylindrical fixing member, having an external circumferential surface including a crown portion curved radially outward and a inverted-crown portion curved radially inward, a pressing unit including a convexity and a concavity formed on a facing surface facing the fixing member, a first heating member to heat the fixing member, corresponding to the crown portion of the fixing member, a second heating member to heat the fixing member, corresponding to the inverted-crown portion of the fixing member, a temperature detector to detect a surface temperature of the fixing member, and a controller to control the first heating member and the second heating member independently. The pressing unit presses against the fixing member while the crown portion and the inverted-crown portion of the fixing member match the concavity and the convexity of the pressing unit, respectively, forming a curved fixing nip therebetween. | 09-23-2010 |
20100239298 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, PRINTING SYSTEM, AND PRINTING METHOD - A fixing device including: an endless belt that is driven to perform a circulating motion; a pressing member and a fixing roller that face each other with the endless belt therebetween, the pressing member being caused to press the fixing roller, which is preliminarily heated, via the belt to form a fixing nip in which a toner image is thermally fixed onto a recording sheet S passing through therein; a cooler that cools at least a paper-contact range of the belt within which the recording sheet S passing through the fixing nip contacts; and a temperature-decrease controller that causes the cooler to cool at least the paper-contact range of the belt before the toner image is thermally fixed onto the recording sheet S. | 09-23-2010 |
20100239299 | TEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD FOR HEATING ELEMENT - A temperature control apparatus includes a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of a heating element, a controller for controlling heat generation of the heating element in accordance with a detected temperature by the temperature sensor, and a monitoring circuit which monitors the detected temperature, and stops operation of the controller in a predetermined stop period defined on the basis of the detected temperature when a predetermined operation mode of plural operation modes is set. | 09-23-2010 |
20100239300 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a heat transfer member having a width extending along a direction orthogonal to a medium conveying direction along which a medium is conveyed, the heat transfer member transferring heat from a heater to the medium; the heater provided along substantially the entire width of the heat transfer member and configured to heat the heat transfer member so as to heat the medium via the heat transfer member; a temperature detector configured to detect the temperature of the widthwise center of the heat transfer member; a temperature setting unit configured to set a target temperature by correcting a default target temperature, depending on the difference between the default target temperature and the temperature that is detected by the temperature detector when the heater starts to heat; a heat controller configured to control the heater to make the temperature detected by the temperature detector the target temperature. | 09-23-2010 |
20100239301 | HEATER CONTROL WITH VARYING CONTROL CYCLE AND LIGHTING PATTERN - A heater controlling apparatus for controlling supply of alternating current power to at least one heater that heats a heating object includes a detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the heating object, a determining unit configured to determine a proportion of lighting time for lighting the heater based on the detected temperature and a preset target temperature of the heating object, and a control unit configured to control the supply of alternating current power to the heater based on both a control cycle and one or more lighting patterns, the heater being lit according to the one or more lighting patterns defined for each control cycle, and both the control cycle and the lighting pattern varying in response to the determined proportion of lighting time. | 09-23-2010 |
20100247130 | Image Forming Apparatus with Operation Stopping Control Upon Temperature Sensing in Fixing Device - An image forming apparatus includes a heat source, a thermal fixing member, a temperature sensing unit, a temperature change determining unit and a halting unit. The heat source generates heat. The thermal fixing member is heated by the heat source and performs a thermal fixing operation by thermally fixing a toner image deposited on a sheet of paper. The temperature sensing unit senses a temperature of the thermal fixing member and outputs temperature data. The temperature change determining unit determines that the temperature of the thermal fixing member decreases based on two pieces of temperature data sensed by the temperature sensing unit at two different timings. The halting unit halts the thermal fixing operation when determination made by the temperature change determining unit is consecutively made for a predetermined number of times. | 09-30-2010 |
20100254726 | POWER SUPPLY UNIT FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A first power system supplies electric power to a first control circuit. A second power system supplies electric power to a load further on a downstream side than the second power system. A second control circuit receives the supplied electric power from a commercial power supply. In a power saving mode, a path switching section switches an electric power supply path to interrupt the electric power from the second power system to a cooling fan and supply electric power from an electricity storing section to the cooling fan. | 10-07-2010 |
20100266306 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - The non-sheet-feeding portion temperature rise is reduced during warm-up operation of an image heating apparatus, the time needed for the warm-up operation is reduced, and the accuracy of the image fixing operation is improved. When a CPU determines that a temperature detected by an end portion thermistor is higher than a temperature detected by a center portion thermistor, the CPU controls the temperature of a fixing heater based on a detection result of the end portion thermistor. When the CPU determines that the temperature detected by the end portion thermistor is equal to or less than the temperature detected by the center portion thermistor, the CPU controls the temperature of the fixing heater based on a detection result of the center portion thermistor. | 10-21-2010 |
20100272459 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FIXING DEVICE HEATING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device temperature information acquisition unit which acquires information about temperature of a fixing device; and a fixing device heating control unit which controls heating of the fixing device, using at least the information about the temperature of the fixing device acquired by the temperature information acquisition unit so that the fixing device reaches a target temperature within a time period from first timing by which an operation input to start copying becomes acceptable to second timing when a printing command for copying becomes issuable. | 10-28-2010 |
20100284706 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image heating member for heating a toner image on a recording material in a nip; a rotatable pressing member for pressing against the image heating member to form the nip; a moving mechanism for relative movement between the heating member and the pressing member toward and away from each other; a temperature detecting member for detecting a temperature of the pressing member; cooling means for cooling the pressing member; rotational speed changing means for changing a rotational speed of the pressing member; and an executing portion for executing, when the temperature of the pressing member reaches an upper limit temperature during execution of an image formation job of continuously forming the images, a cooling mode for cooling the pressing member by the cooling means in a state that the pressing member and the heating member are spaced from each other while rotating the pressing member at a second rotational speed higher than a first rotational speed which is a speed during the execution of the job. | 11-11-2010 |
20100296828 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes an image heater for heating an image on a recording material. The apparatus also includes a first temperature detecting member that detects a temperature of the image heating member, with the first temperature detecting member provided in a sheet processing region for a recording material of a minimum size. A controller is also provided for controlling electric power supply to the image heater on the basis of an output of the first temperature detecting member. Further provided is a second temperature detecting member is that is capable of detecting a temperature of the image heating member when the image heating member is contacted or is not contacted with a belt. A controller is also provided for controlling the image heating operation on the basis of the temperature of the image heating member. | 11-25-2010 |
20100310267 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A wave form corresponding to at least one power ratio among a plurality of power ratios set according to a temperature of a fixing part include a first group wherein a negative half-wave to at least partially turn on a half-wave and a positive-half-wave to at least partially turn on a half-wave continue in order after a half-wave to entirely turn off an one half-wave, and a second group wherein a positive-half-wave to at least partially turn on a half-wave continues just after a -half-wave to entirely turn off an one half-wave, thereby an accuracy of current detection can be improved. | 12-09-2010 |
20100316404 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion, a temperature detection element, and a power control portion, wherein the power control portion is capable of setting a first power supply control mode for supplying power according to the detected temperature for each one control cycle, a second power supply control mode for supplying power according to the detected temperature for each one control cycle and a third power supply control mode for supplying predetermined power, and switches, immediately before a leading edge of the recording material enters the fixing portion, a state of supplying the power in the first power supply control mode to a state of supplying the power in the second power supply control mode, and then switches the state of supplying the power in the second power supply control mode to a state of supplying the power in the third power supply control mode. | 12-16-2010 |
20100322657 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus allows harmonic noise and flicker noise caused by alternating current to be reduced. To accomplish this, the fixing apparatus has a power supply unit that supplies AC power from a commercial power supply to a heater, a temperature detection element that detects the temperature of the heater, a setting unit that sets a duty ratio for providing power to the heater such that the temperature detected by the temperature detection element maintains a target temperature, and a control unit that controls the power supply unit such that an average power duty ratio of a single cycle equals the power duty ratio based on the detected temperature, where a single cycle is three or more full waves of the commercial power supply, there being three or more power duty ratios per one half wave of the commercial power supply in a single cycle. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322658 | FUSER FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fuser includes: a rotational member configured to rotate; a press member configured to form a nip between the press member and the rotational member; an induction-current generator configured to generate an induction current in the rotational member; and a controller configured to reduce a nip temperature of the nip when a leading end of a recording medium reaches the nip to be lower than a nip temperature when an image on the recording medium is fixed. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322659 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus of the present invention includes a heating roller | 12-23-2010 |
20100329720 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING IMPROVED ACCURACY OF TEMPERATURE CONTROL - In a fixing device, having a sheet portion and an inter-sheet portion, heats and fixes the toner image onto each of sheets by rotationally bringing the sheet portion into contact with each sheet. A heating unit heats the fixing unit. A sensing unit senses a temperature of the fixing unit. A control unit controls a duty ratio of on/off of the heating unit based on a sensing output of the sensing unit, determines whether the sensing unit is sensing the temperature of the sheet portion or the temperature of the inter-sheet portion in a rotation cycle, and controls the temperature of the heating unit by using the adjustment value corresponding to the sheet portion or the inter-sheet portion depending on a determination result. | 12-30-2010 |
20110026961 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING SAME - A fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image on a recording medium includes a rotatable fixing member heated by a heater to contact the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image while rotating, with the heater disposed inside a hollow of the fixing member and turned on and off intermittently at a start of a fixing process to heat the fixing member intermittently, a first pressing member disposed opposite the fixing member to press against and rotate the fixing member to define a fixing nip through which the recording medium passes to fix the unfixed toner image with heat and pressure, and a temperature detector to detect a change in the temperature of the fixing member when the heater turns on and off intermittently. When the temperature detector detects the change in the temperature of the fixing device, the heater is turned on continuously. | 02-03-2011 |
20110033197 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A fixing device including a heating roller; a pressure roller forming a nip section by making contact with the heating roller; a controller for controlling the surface temperature of the heating roller so that it becomes a predetermined set temperature; an amount of decrease detector for detecting an amount of decrease in the surface temperature of the pressure roller between before and after the passing of the paper sheet through the nip section; a determiner for specifying a required temperature required to perform the fixing for the paper sheet on the basis of the amount of decrease and for determining whether the set temperature is acceptable as the required temperature; and a temperature compensator for correcting the set temperature so that the set temperature is acceptable as the required temperature in the case that the determiner has determined that the set temperature is not acceptable as the required temperature. | 02-10-2011 |
20110052235 | APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF SURFACES IN APPARATUSES USEFUL IN PRINTING - Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of controlling the temperature of surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses useful in printing includes a belt including a first surface; at least one heat source for heating the first surface; a roll including a second surface; a temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature of the second surface; and a roll positioning device coupled to the roll for positioning the second surface of the roll in contact with the first surface of the belt to form a nip and increase the temperature of the second surface, and for positioning the second surface out of contact with the first surface to decrease the temperature of the second surface, in response to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052236 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a heat roller configured to heat a toner image formed on a sheet, and a thermistor arranged opposite to a circumferential surface of the heat roller and configured to detect a temperature of the circumferential surface of the heat roller without contacting the heat roller. The thermistor is located at a position above a horizontal plane including a rotational axis of the heat roller and on a downstream side, in a rotational direction of the heat roller, with respect to a vertical plane including the rotational axis of the heat roller, and closer to the vertical plane than the horizontal plane. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052237 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - In a fixing device, a pressing member rotates in a predetermined direction of rotation. A flexible endless fixing member rotates in accordance with rotation of the pressing member. A nip formation member is provided inside a loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. A first heat generator faces an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member. A second heat generator faces the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member at a position other than the nip to heat the fixing member, and is disposed adjacent to the first heat generator along the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052238 | FIXING DEVICE USING ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION HEATING METHOD - A fixing device which makes it possible to reduce power consumption during a non-fixing operation while reducing the time before fixing is started. A belt has a conductive layer provided thereon. A pressure roller is rotated in a state engaged with the belt to thereby cause the belt to be rotated in a driven manner. Exciting circuits each formed by a magnetic core and an exciting coil generate an eddy current in the conductive layer provided on the belt to thereby cause heat to be generated in the conductive layer. A plurality of the exciting circuits are arranged at different locations along a rotational direction of the belt, and a controller drivingly controls the exciting circuits in respective timings in a state where the belt and the pressure roller are disengaged from each other. | 03-03-2011 |
20110064439 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit to thermally fix an image transferred onto a sheet, a discharge unit to discharge the sheet carried from the fixing unit outside the image forming apparatus through a discharge path, a swingable member to be swung by the sheet being discharged, a swing-detectable sensor to detect swing movement of the swingable member being swung by the sheet, and a judging unit to judge as to whether the sheet is in one-sided alignment, in which the sheet is aligned to one of the widthwise sides in the discharge path based on result detected by the swing-detectable sensor. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064440 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING SAME - The fixing device includes first and second heat sources, a rotatable fixing member heated by the first heat source, a rotatable pressing member heated by the second heat source and contacting the fixing member to form a fixing nip therebetween at which a toner image on a sheet is fixed thereto, and at least first and second temperature detectors determining temperatures of different surface portions of the pressing member. The pressing member has a width greater than that of the fixing member greater than the maximum width of the sheet accommodated by the fixing device. The first temperature detector determines the temperature of a surface portion of the pressing member, which is to be contacted with the sheet, and the second temperature detector determines the temperature of a second surface portion of the pressing member, which is not contacted with the fixing member even when the pressing member is rotated. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064441 | Temperature Control Method for Fixing Device - A fixing device includes: a fixing member configured to cause a recording medium to pass therethrough and subject the recording medium to fixing processing; a heating member configured to heat the fixing member; and a control member configured to control the heating member at two fixing set temperatures during a printing mode for the recording medium fed last. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064442 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - To enhance the fixing quality of a fixing device to continuously fix sheets of a plurality of sizes, a carbon nanotube sheet | 03-17-2011 |
20110064443 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a hollow, stationary metal roller, a flexible fuser belt, a rotatable pressure member, a fuser pad, a reinforcing member, and a heating assembly. The metal roller has an outer circumference thereof subjected to heating. The flexible fuser belt is looped for rotation around the metal roller to transfer heat radially outward from the heated metal roller. The fuser pad is held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt to press against the pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The reinforcing member is disposed stationary within the roller interior. The heating assembly is disposed stationary within the roller interior to heat the metal roller from inside, and includes a first heater and a second heater. The first and second heaters are arranged in juxtaposition with each other along the inner circumference of the metal roller. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064444 | HEATER CONTROL DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A heater control device includes a temperature detector that detects a temperature of a heated object heated by a heater; an alternating-current power supply for applying an alternating current voltage to the heater; a turn-on ratio decision unit that determines a turn-on ratio of the heater based on the temperature and a target temperature; a turn-on pattern decision unit that determines a partial turn-on pattern, as the turn-on pattern of the heater, which is a pattern of a turn-on ratio higher than the determined turn-on ratio in terms of a control-period, and to which a partial turn-on instead of a full turn-on is allocated on a half-wavelength basis of the alternating current voltage within the control period based on the turn-on ratio of the heater; and a turn-on controller that controls turn-on of the heater based on the determined turn-on pattern. | 03-17-2011 |
20110069985 | CYLINDRICAL HEATING ELEMENT AND FIXING DEVICE - A cylindrical heating element comprising a cylindrical member, a metallic pattern provided on at least one of outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical member, which is capable of generating heat by being electrified, and a resistive pattern for detecting temperature provided on at least one of the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical member. A fixing device which passes a recording medium on which an unfixed toner image is held through a nip formed by a rotating member for heating and a rotating member for pressurizing which is pressed against the rotating member for heating to fix the toner image on the recording medium with heating under pressure, the rotating member for heating comprising the cylindrical heating element. | 03-24-2011 |
20110076042 | PRINTING SYSTEM, PRINTING APPARATUS, AND PRINTING METHOD - A printing system includes a first printing apparatus, a second printing apparatus, and a control device. The second printing apparatus is provided at a rear stage of the first printing apparatus, and includes a second preheating unit that preheats a recording medium from one surface before thermally fixing a toner image to another surface, and a temperature control unit that increase the temperature of the second preheating unit from a normal temperature to a target temperature, in response to a printing preparation instruction received in a temporary printing stop state from the control device. The control device starts printing, when the temperature of the second preheating unit reaches the target temperature. The temperature control unit decreases the temperature of the second preheating unit from the target temperature to the normal temperature, when the recording medium is conveyed by a length from a deformed portion to the second preheating unit. | 03-31-2011 |
20110076043 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes a belt that has an endless shape, a roller that forms a nip with the belt, a support member that supports the belt interposed between the support member and the roller, a coil that generates a magnetic field for inducing current in the belt, an auxiliary heat generation member that generates heat with the current induced by the magnetic field in the loop of the belt, and a temperature sensor that is opposed to the auxiliary heat generation member with the belt interposed between the element and the auxiliary heat generation member and detects the temperature of an outer peripheral surface of the belt. | 03-31-2011 |
20110081156 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FUSER UNIT - According to one embodiment, a fuser including, a first endless member into which fluid, which retains heat, can flow, a second endless member configured to apply pressure to the first endless member, a fluid moving mechanism configured to move the fluid to the first endless member and move the fluid from the first endless member, and a heat source configured to raise temperature of the first endless member to a predetermined temperature. | 04-07-2011 |
20110081157 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF CONNECTING WIRES IN FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device of belt fixing type is provided. A fixing device includes a connector to be connected to wires provided therein. The connector includes integrally primary-side wiring connector terminals to be connected to primary-side wires each leading to a heat generating resistor, and secondary-side wiring connector terminals to be connected to secondary-side wires including wires each leading to a heat generating element-side thermistor, the secondary-side wires flowing current smaller than the primary-side wires. | 04-07-2011 |
20110085813 | SWITCHING MODE POWER SUPPLYING APPARATUS, FUSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A switching mode power supply apparatus includes an alternating current (AC) power input unit to receive an AC voltage from an AC power supply source, a first rectifier to output a direct current (DC) voltage by rectifying the received AC voltage, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator to output a PWM signal, a transformer to transform the DC voltage output from the first rectifier into an AC voltage according to a turn ratio and outputting the AC voltage according to the PWM signal, a second rectifier to output a DC voltage by rectifying the AC voltage output from the transformer, a feedback unit to provide as feedback a change of the DC voltage output from the second rectifier to the PWM signal generator, a DC power input unit to receive a DC voltage from a DC power supply source, a DC voltage input detector to detect whether a DC voltage is input to the DC power input unit based on connectivity with the DC power input unit, and an AC power input controller to stop input of the AC voltage from the AC power supply source based on whether a DC voltage is input to the DC power input unit. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085814 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus capable of rapidly cooling a fixing device is provided. A fixing unit of an image forming apparatus (MFP) includes a fixing device for fixing a developer image transferred onto a sheet based on image data, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the fixing device, a heater for raising the temperature thereof, and a cooling device for cooling thereof. A control unit of the MFP acquires sheet information in which information for adjusting the temperature of the fixing device is described, selects a suitable cooling sheet to be used for cooling the fixing device based on the acquired sheet information and the temperature of the fixing device measured by the temperature sensor, and passes the selected cooling sheet through the fixing device to cool the fixing device when the temperature of the fixing device measured by the temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined temperature. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085815 | HEATER, FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heater is operable with a main power supply unit and a chargeable auxiliary power supplying unit. The heater includes a heater part having one or a plurality of heater elements to receive power from the main and auxiliary power supplying units, a detecting part to detect information related to the heater part, and a controller to vary an amount of power supplied from the auxiliary power supply unit to the heater part per unit time based on the information detected by the detecting part. | 04-14-2011 |
20110091230 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a coil; a heater, including an electroconductive layer of magnetism-adjusted alloy having a Curie temperature lower than a durable temperature of that image heating apparatus, for heating an image on a sheet; a magnetic core for directing a magnetic flux generated by that coil to that heater; a controller for controlling electric power supply to that coil so that a temperature of that heater is an image heating temperature sufficient to heat the image on the sheet, wherein the Curie temperature is higher than the image heating temperature; and a magnetic flux blocking member of non-magnetic metal having a resistivity smaller than that of the magnetism-adjusted alloy, wherein that magnetic flux blocking member is opposed to that coil with that heater therebetween, wherein that magnetic flux blocking member is in a first opposing region in which that coil is opposed to that heater, and a length L | 04-21-2011 |
20110091231 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device of the invention detects a temperature of plural positions of a heat roller by a multiple non-contact temperature sensor at the same time and controls the temperature of plural heat source members The non-contact temperature sensor and a contact temperature sensor detect the temperature of the same position. According to the detection result, maintenance is performed or a temperature conversion table is corrected, the non-contact temperature sensor is maintained with high precision, and the heat roller is controlled the temperature with high precision. | 04-21-2011 |
20110091232 | FIXING UNIT AND FIXING TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD - A fixing unit that heat-fixes the toner image onto the sheet, has an information acquisition section that acquires information concerning a factor causing the input voltage which is supplied to a heater for heating the heating roller to vary; a temperature setting section that sets a target temperature of the heater based on the information acquired by the information acquisition section; and a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the heater such that the heating roller becomes the target temperature set by the temperature setting section. | 04-21-2011 |
20110097098 | Heating device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus - A heating device for heating a rotary heated member includes a heater and a temperature detector. The heater faces the rotary heated member to heat the rotary heated member. The temperature detector faces the rotary heated member via the heater to detect a temperature of the rotary heated member. The heater includes a housing provided between the temperature detector and the rotary heated member, a through-hole provided in the housing via which the temperature detector faces the rotary heated member, and a channel provided in the housing at a position downstream from the through-hole in a direction of rotation of the rotary heated member through which an air current generated in a gap between the heater and the rotary heated member moves. The channel has a hollow cross-sectional area greater than a hollow cross-sectional area of the through-hole. | 04-28-2011 |
20110116822 | Fixing device, image forming apparatus incorporating same, and method of dimensioning fixing device - A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a temperature detector, and a heater. The pressing member contacts an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the pressing member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. The heater heats the fixing member to a predetermined temperature based on a detection result provided by the temperature detector. A circumferential distance A between the temperature detector and the heater along a circumference of the fixing member is defined by the following formula: | 05-19-2011 |
20110123213 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a heating section; a coil that is opposed to the heating section, for heating the heating section; a core that has a circumferential surface covered with a magnetic shielding plate having different lengths in an axis direction in a plurality of steps according to a position in a circumferential direction; a rotary section for causing the core to rotate; a plurality of temperature sensing elements for sensing temperatures of the heating section; and a control section for controlling a heating width by controlling the rotary section to control a rotation angle of the core, setting the heating width corresponding to a size of a paper sheet at a start of a print job, and setting the heating width wider than at the start of the print job midway through the print job. | 05-26-2011 |
20110135333 | SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS, SHEET CONVEYING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying apparatus includes: a fixing device configured to heat, with a heat roller, a sheet having a toner image transferred thereon and fix a toner on the sheet; a conveying roller arranged downstream of the fixing device and including plural rollers configured to convey the sheet from the fixing device; a heating unit configured to heat the plural rollers of the conveying roller; and a temperature control unit configured to control the heating unit such that the temperature of the plural rollers approaches the toner temperature of the sheet passing through the conveying roller. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135334 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An invented fixing device having a fixing roller for fixing developer to a recording medium and plural fixing heaters for heating the fixing roller includes a temperature detection unit as well as a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the fixing roller, a RAM storing the switching temperature for switching drive of the fixing heaters, a heater selection unit for selecting some of the fixing heaters to be driven based on the switching temperature and the detected temperature of the fixing member detected through the temperature detection unit, and a heat control unit for selectively driving the fixing heater selected by the heater selection unit. | 06-09-2011 |
20110142469 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes: a fixing member that fixes a toner image on a recording medium; a pressure member that comes into pressure-contact with an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and thereby forms a fixing pressure portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the fixing pressure portion allowing the recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image to pass therethrough; a tension member that is arranged to face the pressure member with the fixing member interposed therebetween, and tensions the fixing member; a peeling member that is arranged at a position downstream of the fixing pressure portion in a recording medium transport direction and adjacent to the tension member, and peels the recording medium from the fixing member; and an exit guide member that guides the recording medium while keeping a temperature of the recording medium, after the recording medium passes through the fixing pressure portion. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142470 | Image forming apparatus and control method thereof - A method of controlling an image forming apparatus and method thereof including a medium feeder configured to load therein and to pick up and feed a printing-target medium; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the printing-target medium that is picked up and fed; and a fixing unit configured to fix the printed medium on which the image has been formed, the method including: heating the fixing unit such that a temperature of the fixing unit reaches a fixing reference temperature determined corresponding to the printing-target medium if an printing operation is started; sensing the temperature of the fixing unit corresponding to the start of the printing operation and compensating a pickup timing temperature corresponding to whether the sensed temperature thereof is higher or lower than a predetermined first reference temperature, the pickup timing temperature being a temperature for picking up the printing-target medium; and picking up the printing-target medium when the temperature of the fixing unit that is being heated reaches the compensated pickup timing temperature. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142471 | FUSER AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUSER - According to one embodiment, a fuser including a heating unit configured to heat a toner to be fused on a sheet medium and the sheet medium, a temperature detecting unit configured to detect temperature of the heating unit, and a control unit configured to stop power feed to the heating unit according to the temperature of the heating unit detected by the temperature detecting unit and a condition until completion of the fusing specified in advance. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142472 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD FOR FIXING DEVICE - First, a first temperature difference and a second temperature difference are calculated. The first temperature difference is a difference between (a) a first detected temperature that is a current temperature of the fixing member and (b) a difference of a control target temperature for the fixing member. The second temperature difference is a difference between (a) the first detected temperature and (b) a past temperature of the fixing member which past temperature was detected a predetermined time earlier than the current time. Then, by reading out, from a table prepared in advance, an amount of power to be supplied to a heating member which amount corresponds to a combination of the first temperature difference and the second temperature difference, the amount of power to be supplied to the heating member is determined. In accordance with this amount of power determined, an actual amount of power supplied to the heating member is controlled. This makes it possible to simply and effectively suppress a temperature ripple of the fixing member. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142473 | FIXING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes: a heating member configured to heat a toner image formed on a recording medium; a pressing member configured to come into press contact with the heating member and nip and convey a sheet in cooperation with the heating member; a first heat generation source configured to heat the heating member; a second heat generation source configured to heat the pressing member; a measured-temperature-information acquiring unit configured to acquire measured temperature information concerning measured temperatures of the heating member and the pressing member; a target specifying unit configured to specify, using the measured temperature information acquired by the measured-temperature-information acquiring unit, the heating member or the pressing member as a member, the measured temperature of which is equal to or lower than predetermined temperature and a temperature difference between the measured temperature and the predetermined temperature of which is larger; and a heating control unit configured to control the first heat generation source and the second heat generation source and set the rate of increase in the heat quantity to be given to the heating member or the pressing member specified by the target specifying unit larger. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142474 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a first surface of a medium, a fixing unit configured to have a heating member which heats the first surface of the medium, and a pressurizing member which is pressed in contact with the heating member via the medium to heat a second surface of the medium, and a supply unit configured to supply a used medium to the image forming unit, a control unit configured to, when the used medium is supplied from the supply unit, control a fixing setting temperature of the pressurizing member to a temperature equal to or lower than a temperature for fixing on the unused medium, and control a fixing temperature of the heating member to a temperature equal to or higher than a temperature for fixing on the unused medium. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142475 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL TEMPERATURE OF FUSER IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS BY USING POWER CAPSULE - A method of controlling a temperature of a fuser in an image forming apparatus includes generating a power capsule including a soft start period in which a power supply is gradually increased to improve a flicker characteristic, a full turn on period in which the power supply is maximum, and a soft end period in which the power supply is gradually decreased to improve the flicker characteristic. The power capsule is profiled to supply a constant amount of power and to satisfy a predefined requirement for flicker and harmonic characteristics of an image forming apparatus with respect to the fuser in the soft start period, the full turn on period, and the soft end period. The method includes detecting the temperature of the fuser and controlling the temperature of the fuser by performing a power control operation corresponding to the power capsule according to a temperature variation of the detected temperature of the fuser with respect to a reference temperature of the fuser. | 06-16-2011 |
20110158671 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fixing apparatus including: a cooling unit which cools a non-sheet passing area for a small sized sheet of a fixation area to suppress a temperature rise of the non-sheet passing area; a temperature detecting unit which detects temperatures of a central portion and the non-sheet passing area; and a fixing temperature controller which performs an early heating restart control operation to decrease the temperature of the non-sheet passing area by the cooling unit for a fixation operation of a large sized sheet while the heat source is de-energized after a fixing operation of the small sized sheet is completed, and thereafter restart the energization of the heat source during the cooling-down operation by the cooling unit when the temperature of the non-sheet passing area is lowered to a set target value lower than a controlled fixing temperature for fixing a toner image to the sheet. | 06-30-2011 |
20110164893 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND FUSER - A first temperature is obtained based on an amount of infrared rays incident upon a lens of an infrared temperature sensor, and a second temperature is obtained based on a temperature of a thermistor. A system controller performs first temperature control when a detected temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature is less than a predetermined temperature difference, performs second temperature control when the detected temperature difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature difference, and activates an alarm when an elapsed time during which the second temperature control is continuously executed has become equal to or greater than a time that is the sum of a first predetermined time and a second predetermined time. | 07-07-2011 |
20110188874 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing device is disclosed, including: a fixing rotative body, a heat source, and a control part. The control part conducts a printing temperature control which varies an ON ratio per unit time of the heat source based on a detection result of the temperature detecting part to maintain a printing target temperature in a printing state, conducts a waiting temperature control which performs an ON/OFF control based on the detection result of the temperature detecting part to maintain a waiting target temperature in a waiting state after a printing operation ends, and conducts a forcible ON control which forcibly turns on the heat source for a predetermined time before starting the ON/OFF control when the detection result of the temperature detecting part after the printing operation ends is lower than the waiting target temperature. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188875 | AUTO DOCUMENT FEEDING DEVICE AND IMAGE SCANNING DEVICE - A fixing device comprises a fixing device comprising, a fixing body that contacts with a non-fixed toner on a recording medium, a pressing body that forms a nip between the pressing body and the fixing body, a first heater to heat the fixing body, a second heater to heat the pressing body and a control part that applies maximum electric power to the first heater and the second heater until the pressing body reaches a copy temperature when, although the fixing body reaches a copy temperature, the pressing body does not reach the copy temperature. | 08-04-2011 |
20110194867 | SELECTIVE COOLING OF A FUSER HEATER ROLLER - A controlled fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser member for fusing a marking particle image to a receiver member and a cooling system for controlling the temperature of the fuser system. Optional external heater rollers have a heat transfer surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the fuser member, and a device for heating said heat transfer surfaces. A mechanism is provided for controlling the heat transfer with the fuser member to selectively change the amount of heat transferred from the fuser. | 08-11-2011 |
20110194868 | SELECTIVE COOLING OF A FUSER - A controlled fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser member for fusing a marking particle image to a receiver member and a cooling system for controlling the temperature of the fuser system. Optional external heater rollers have a heat transfer surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the fuser member, and a device for heating said heat transfer surfaces. A mechanism is provided for controlling the heat transfer with the fuser member to selectively change the amount of heat transferred from the fuser. | 08-11-2011 |
20110194869 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same - A fixing device includes a substantially cylindrical metal member, a heater, an endless, flexible fixing member, a rotary pressing member, and a stationary member. The heater heats the metal member. The fixing member is disposed rotatable around the metal member. An inner circumferential surface of the fixing member is heated by the metal member to heat and fix a toner image. The rotary pressing member is disposed opposite the metal member and pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip between the rotary pressing member and the fixing member through which a recording medium bearing the toner image passes. The stationary member is disposed in pressure contact with the inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, and has an opposing face opposing the rotary pressing member and having a curvature smaller than a curvature of the rotary pressing member. | 08-11-2011 |
20110194870 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes an endless, fuser belt, a contact member, a pressure member, a heater, a first thermometer, a second thermometer, and a controller. The fuser belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration. The contact member extends inside the loop of endless belt. The pressure member extends with the belt interposed between the contact member and the pressure member. The pressure member is pressed against the contact member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The heater includes a first heating element and a second heating element. The first heating element heats the fuser belt at a first position. The second heating element heats the fuser belt at a second position. The first thermometer detects a first temperature of the fuser belt. The second thermometer detects a second temperature of the fuser belt. The controller controls each of the first and second heating elements. | 08-11-2011 |
20110206402 | FIXING DEVICE FOR LOCALLY HEATING A FIXING MEMBER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING THE FIXING DEVICE - A fixing apparatus includes a fixing member that fixes a toner image onto a recording medium, a first heater that locally heats the fixing member by providing heat only to a portion of the fixing member corresponding to the toner image, and a pressing member that presses a recording medium against the fixing member. A second heater is provided to heat the pressing member. | 08-25-2011 |
20110206403 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING FIXING DEVICE THAT RESPONDS TO REQUEST WHEN USING DECOLORABLE INK - An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material which is not thermally decolorized; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material which is thermally decolorized; a fixing unit which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a control unit which controls the fixing unit so that the temperature of the second recording medium passing through the fixing unit becomes lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material. | 08-25-2011 |
20110217061 | Image forming apparatus, image forming system, fixing control method, and computer program product - An image forming apparatus includes: a PDL analyzing unit that analyzes print data and obtains a drawing condition; a drawing unit that uses a type of dither selected from types of dither, prepared and associated with drawing conditions, according to the drawing condition analyzed, and generates output image data; an image forming unit; a fixing unit that fixes an image formed on a recording sheet by heating the image to a fixing temperature; a fixing control unit that controls the fixing temperature to a target value; and a database in which each of the types of dither is associated with the target value of fixing temperature for power saving. The fixing control unit obtains from the database the target value of fixing temperature corresponding to the type of dither used in the drawing unit and carries out control to conduct fixing at the target value thus obtained. | 09-08-2011 |
20110217062 | HEATER CONTROLLER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HEATER - A heater controller performs on/off control of a plurality of heaters and includes a storage unit that stores therein a plurality of pattern sets. Each of the pattern sets includes a plurality of heater-on/off patterns for respectively controlling the heaters. The heater controller calculates a reference value representing an average of values of electric power supplied to the heater controller over a predetermined period of time; calculates, for each of the pattern sets, an output power value to be supplied to the heaters when the heaters are turned-on according to the heater-on/off patterns included in the pattern set; calculates, for each of the pattern sets, a difference between the reference value and the output power value; selects, from the pattern sets, one pattern set having a smallest difference; and performs on/off control of the heaters according to the heater-on/off patterns included in the pattern set thus selected. | 09-08-2011 |
20110222888 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same - A fixing device includes an endless belt-shaped fixing member to rotate in a predetermined direction, formed in a loop, an inner circumferential face of which is coated with a lubricant; a pressing member contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member, to press against the fixing member; a driver to drive and rotate the pressing member; a contact member provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member and pressed against the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member; and a heating member to heat the fixing member, provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member. When the fixing device starts up, the pressing member drives and rotates the fixing member less than 360 degrees to move a warmed range of the fixing member heated by the heating member to the nip. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222889 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A apparatus including a fixing device using an induction heating method includes an induction coil, a resonant capacitor connected to the induction coil, a switching element configured to supply electric power to the induction coil, a driving signal generation circuit configured to determine a frequency of a driving signal for driving the switching element according to electric power to be supplied to the coil and to generate the driving signal, and a setting unit configured to set a minimum frequency of the driving signal according to a temperature of a heating element so that a frequency of the driving signal does not become lower than a resonant frequency determined by an inductance of the induction coil and an inductance of the heating element and a capacitance of the resonant capacitor. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222890 | Fixing device and image forming apparatus - A fixing device includes a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium; a conveyance stopping unit configured to stop conveyance of the recording medium; a heating unit having a heating plane and configured to heat a part of the recording medium, which part is laid over the heating plane; and a cooling unit configured to cool the part of the recording medium, whose conveyance has been stopped, by applying cooling air to the part of the recording medium from above. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222891 | Printing device and image forming apparatus - An electrophotographic printing device includes a fixing unit; and a temperature sensor. The fixing unit includes: a fixing member; a pressing member pressed against the fixing member; and a heater which heats at least the fixing member of the fixing member and the pressing member, the fixing unit fixing a toner image on a recording material to the recording material while carrying the recording material through a fixing nip formed between the fixing member and the pressing member. The temperature sensor is attached to a recording material supplying unit, and detects a temperature of a recording material stored in the recording material supplying unit, and a fixing temperature is controlled based on the detected temperature. | 09-15-2011 |
20110229180 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fusing apparatus including a fusing member; a heating unit heating the fusing member; temperature detecting units detecting temperatures of the fusing member and a pressing member; and the pressing member forming a fusing nip with the fusing member for fusing an un-fused image on a recording medium onto a recording medium. The image forming apparatus further includes a heating power determining unit determining heating power of the fusing apparatus by measuring a time or a gradient of time versus temperature before the temperature of the fusing member reaches a reload temperature after power is turned on. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit performing a feed permission control or a CPM down control depending on the heating power of the fusing apparatus and the number of sheets of the recording medium to be passed through the fusing apparatus. | 09-22-2011 |
20110229181 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes a pressing member provided outside a loop formed by a fixing member to press the fixing member against a nip formation member provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member. A heat generator support is provided inside the loop formed by the fixing member to support a heat generator that generates heat to be transmitted to the fixing member. A temperature detector is provided downstream from the heat generator and upstream from the nip formation member in a direction of rotation of the fixing member to detect a temperature of the fixing member. A controller is connected to the temperature detector and the heat generator to control heat generation of the heat generator based on the temperature of the fixing member detected by the temperature detector. | 09-22-2011 |
20110255894 | FIXING DEVICE USABLE WITH AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing roller to fix a toner on a recording medium; a heater to heat the fixing roller; an alternating current (AC) power source to generate an AC electric power such that the heater heats the fixing roller according to the AC electric power; a unit interposed between the heater and the AC power source to selectively supply the AC electric power from the AC power source to the heater so as to control the heater to heat the fixing roller; a relay including a first relay contact point disposed on a first AC power supply line between the AC power source and the unit and a relay coil to open and close the first relay contact point; the relay selectively supplying the AC electric power from AC power source to the heater and the power control switch; a direct current (DC) power supplier to supply a DC power to the relay coil; and a thermoswitch interposed on a DC power supply line between the DC power supplier and the relay coil to control the supply of the AC electric power from the AC power source to the heater and the unit according to an temperature of the fixing roller. | 10-20-2011 |
20110262167 | FIXING DEVICE AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A fixing device includes a fixing belt, exercitation coils for induction-heating the fixing belt, power supplies that supply high-frequency power to the excitation coils, an output power detecting circuit that detects output electric energy of the power supplies, a power control circuit that controls the output electric energy of the power supplies, and temperature sensors that detect the temperature of a surface portion of the fixing belt. When electric energy applied to the excitation coils during the power fall reaches minimum power set in advance larger than 0 W, the power control circuit maintains the minimum power while the temperature detected by the temperature sensors is within a predetermined control temperature range and controls output power of the induction heating power supplies to shift from the minimum power to 0 W when the detected temperature deviates from the predetermined control temperature range. | 10-27-2011 |
20110286758 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF TIMELY STARTING DIFFERENT IMAGE FORMATION MODE - An image forming apparatus includes a thermal fixing unit having a fixing member heated or cooled at multiple levels of the target fixing temperature in accordance with prescribed different image formation conditions, and a pressing member pressing against the fixing member to form a fixing nip thereon. A controller is provided to permit an image formation device to start image formation when temperature of the fixing member decreases to a level equal to or less than a prescribed image formation permissible temperature from temperature higher than one of the multiple levels of the target fixing temperature. The prescribed image formation permissible temperature is calculated by adding a prescribed adjustment value determined in accordance with a type of an image to be outputted to one of the multiple levels of the target fixing temperature. | 11-24-2011 |
20110293308 | Fixing Device Having Heat Roller Reinforced By Coil - A fixing device includes a heat roller and an opposing component. The heat roller extends in an axial direction and includes a cylindrical-shaped roller section and a coil. The heat roller section has an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface. The coil is spirally wound along the inner circumferential surface and including a first portion and a second portion other than the first portion, the first portion being configured of such a number of turns of the coil, the number being a natural number greater than zero, the first portion having a first coil pitch length in the axial direction, and the second portion being configured of at least one turn of the coil and having a second coil pitch length in the axial direction greater than the first coil pitch length. The opposing component confronts the outer circumferential surface of the roller section and is exclusively superposed with an entire first portion via the roller section. | 12-01-2011 |
20110293309 | FIXATION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixation device includes a fixation member including a heating member, a pressure-application member press-contacting the fixation member forming a nip portion, an exciting coil induction-heating the heating member, a first temperature detection unit detecting a first temperature of the pressure-application member or a first ambient temperature of the fixation member, a second temperature detection unit detecting a second temperature of the fixation member, and a control unit selecting a temperature control mode or power control mode controlling power to the exciting coil. When the first temperature exceeds a first threshold temperature or the first ambient temperature exceeds a first ambient threshold temperature, the control unit selects the temperature control mode, and while the first temperature is equal to or lower than the first threshold temperature or the first ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the first ambient threshold temperature, the control unit selects the power control mode. | 12-01-2011 |
20110299868 | FIXING APPARATUS - An object is to perform control so that power supplied in positive half-waves and power supplied in negative half-waves are symmetric in a control period even if a safety circuit based on a hardware circuit is activated. A CPU | 12-08-2011 |
20110305474 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image heating device includes a rotatable image heating member for heating an image on a recording material; a pressing member for pressing the image heating member to form a nip in which the recording material is to be nip-conveyed; a belt member for heating the image heating member in contact with the image heating member; a first belt heating member for heating the belt member while pressing the belt against the image heating member; a second belt heating member, provided downstream of the first belt heating member with respect to a rotational direction of the image heating member, for heating the belt member while pressing the belt member against the image heating member; a first heating portion for heating the first belt heating member by energization; and a second heating portion for heating the second belt heating member by energization. Each of the first heating portion and the second heating portion is supplied with power so that a maximum of the power supplied to the first heating means is smaller than that of the power supplied to the second heating portion. | 12-15-2011 |
20110305475 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus, in the case where image forming is performed on a recording medium whose size covers a position of a second temperature detection element perpendicularly disposed to the recording medium conveyance direction, when the detected temperature rises to a predetermined temperature during execution of the first power supply control, a first power supply control is switched to a second power supply control. In the case where image forming is performed on a recording medium whose size does not cover a position of the second temperature detection element, when the detected temperature rises to a predetermined temperature during execution of the first power supply control, a conveyance control portion executes a control for extending the conveyance interval of the recording medium. Thus, an unduly large temperature rise in the non-sheet passing portion is prevented, and a good quality image can be provided without glossy unevenness in one sheet. | 12-15-2011 |
20110318038 | Image forming apparatus, image forming method, image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage - An image forming apparatus for outputting a printed product includes a fusing unit, an image forming control unit to receive print data and print attribution information for printing the printed product; and a print engine including a fusing controller to control a fusing temperature of the fusing unit. The print engine outputs the printed product using a fusing temperature designated by the print attribution information. The fusing controller determines a target fusing temperature for the fusing unit by comparing a first fusing temperature and a second fusing temperature. The first fusing temperature is used for a most recently conducted fusing process. The second fusing temperature is designated by the print attribution information. The fusing controller determines the target fusing temperature to the first fusing temperature or the second fusing temperature depending on the number of colors required for printing the printed product. | 12-29-2011 |
20110318039 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A power supply device includes: a power supply part to convert an AC voltage from an AC power source into a direct current and output a DC voltage; a zero cross detector to detect zero cross timings of AC voltage; and a power supply controller to control supply of the AC voltage to the power supply part and the zero cross detector based on the zero cross timing. | 12-29-2011 |
20110318040 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING FIXING DEVICE, AND DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ABNORMALITY OF THE FIXING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus which is capable of detecting occurrence of an abnormality that a fixing member which is actually in an unpressurized state is detected to be in a pressurized state, and supply of electric power to a heating member is continued. A fixing device includes a fixing belt and a pressure roller. The fixing belt and the pressure roller are pressed against each other such that a nip is formed therebetween, for nipping and conveying a transfer material through the nip while heating and pressing the same. A pressurizing unit selectively switches between a pressurizing state and an unpressurizing state. When the pressurizing unit is in the pressurized state, a heater heats the fixing belt. The heating of the fixing belt is stopped based on a temperature detected by a thermistor after a lapse of a predetermined time period from start of the heating. | 12-29-2011 |
20120008971 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing belt to transmit a heat to a print medium, a pressing unit to apply a pressure on the print medium, a heating unit surrounded by the fixing belt to generate the heat and a nip plate disposed against the fixing belt and facing the pressing unit, to form a fixing nip. The fixing device further includes a support element to support the nip plate, and a reflection unit disposed within the fixing belt to reflect the heat radiated from the heating unit toward the support element. The reflection unit is connected to the nip plate to conduct the heat from the reflection unit to the nip plate. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008972 | Fusing device for instantly controlling power - A device for fusing and fixing a transferred toner of a predetermined image onto a print paper is provided. In particular, a fusing device which can instantly control induced current provided to a fusing unit in an image printing apparatus which heats the fusing unit using the induced current is provided. The fusing device includes a fusing unit which is resistance heated or induction heated by an induced current, and fuses the toner onto the print paper using the generated heat. A sensing unit senses the temperature of the fusing unit. A reference current generating unit generates a predetermined reference current to heat the fusing unit to reach a predetermined temperature based on the temperature of the sensed fusing unit and the reference temperature. A pulse width modulation signal generating unit generates a pulse width modulation signal for generating the induced current so that the induced current corresponding to the reference current is supplied to the fusing unit. | 01-12-2012 |
20120014706 | BELT CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - The image heating apparatus has a plurality of heat generators which are capable of forming a plurality of heat generating distributions in the longitudinal direction for supplying heat to a heating member. Unevenness in temperature is decreased by changing the heat generating distribution when cooling by a fan for the heating member starts. The heat generating distribution is changed so that heat generating amount at an area in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the cooling area cooled by the fan is to be larger than the heat generating amount before starting the cooling. | 01-19-2012 |
20120020690 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a pressing member each of which includes a waveform elastic layer having at least one wave crest and at least one wave trough to form a waveform face between the fixing rotary body and the pressing member pressed against each other. A controller identifies a temperature differential between a first temperature of the wave crest of the fixing rotary body detected by a first temperature detector and a second temperature of the wave trough of the fixing rotary body detected by a second temperature detector and adjusts an amount of heat stored from a heater into the fixing rotary body based on the identified temperature differential. | 01-26-2012 |
20120020691 | Phase detecting device, phase control device including the phase detecting device, and fuser control device including the phase control device - An image forming apparatus includes a fuser that fuses a paper medium and a fuser control device that controls an AC power supplied to the fuser. The fuser control device includes a phase detecting device that receives an AC voltage, detects zero-crossing points of the AC voltage, outputs a phase detecting signal when the zero-crossing points are detected, and selectively cuts off a flow of AC power into the phase detecting device in response to a mode control signal, a signal generator that generates a phase control signal to control a phase of the AC power supplied to the fuser based on the phase detecting signal, and a temperature controller that controls a temperature of the fuser by controlling the phase of the AC power supplied to the fuser according to the phase control signal. | 01-26-2012 |
20120027444 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes image heating device; pressing device; a first temperature sensor; an electric power supply controller; a second temperature sensor; a first cooling device for cooling a surface of the image heating device; a second cooling device for cooling a surface of the pressing device; contact-spacing device for establishing a contact state in which the image heating device and the pressing device are contacted with each other and a spaced state in which the image heating device and the pressing device are spaced from each other; an executing portion for executing a first cooling mode operation in which at least one of the cooling device is operated while rotating the image heating device and the pressing device in the contact state and a second cooling mode operation in which the first cooling device and the second cooling device are operated while rotating the image heating device and the pressing device in the spaced state; and a selector for selecting the first cooling mode or the second cooling mode on the basis of an output of the second temperature sensor. | 02-02-2012 |
20120045240 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device including a fixing rotational body and fixing images on sheets of various sizes, comprising: a main excitation coil heating the rotational body by electromagnetic induction and having an effective heating length L | 02-23-2012 |
20120070174 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - A image forming apparatus includes an electrostatic latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a developer supplying unit that supplies a developer to the electrostatic latent image and forms a developer image, a transfer roller that transfers the developer image to a recording medium, a heating roller with a heater therein, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heating roller, a heating roller driving mechanism that drives the heating roller, and a controller that cools down the heating roller if the controller determines that the temperature sensor detects a temperature equal to or higher than a first temperature within a threshold time after completion of image forming. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070175 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A fixing device including a fixing member to melt a toner so as to fix a toner image onto a recording medium, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the fixing member, and a heater to heat the fixing member based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A driving speed of the fixing member is reduced after printing is completed, and subsequently the fixing member stops driving. The fixing member is controlled to have a desired temperature (Ts) after the fixing member stops driving that is lower than a desired temperature (Tp) during printing. | 03-22-2012 |
20120082474 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS IN WHICH TEMPERATURE OF HEATING ROTATING MEMBER IS DETECTED IN NON-CONTACT MANNER - In a fixing apparatus, a first detection portion detects a temperature of an atmosphere (a first detected temperature) attained by heat conduction from a heating rotating member for fixing a toner image on a sheet of paper by heating, at a position above the heating rotating member. A second detection portion detects a quantity of infrared rays radiated from the heating rotating member, to thereby detect a temperature at a position below the heating rotating member. A heating portion heats the heating rotating member. A control portion controls heating by the heating portion based on a second detected temperature corresponding to the quantity of infrared rays and the first detected temperature. | 04-05-2012 |
20120087688 | Fixing device, fixing device control method, and image forming apparatus - A fixing device includes a heat roller, a heater, a fuser roller, an endless, fuser belt, a pressure roller, a first thermometer, and a controller. The heat roller has a surface thereof subjected to heating. The heater is disposed in the heat roller to heat the circumference of the heat roller to an adjustable, heating temperature. The fuser roller is disposed parallel to the heat roller and has a surface thereof formed of elastic material deposited upon a cylindrical core of metal. The fuser belt is looped for rotation around the fuser roller and the heat roller. The pressure roller is disposed opposite the fuser roller with the fuser belt interposed between the pressure roller and the fuser roller. The first thermometer detects a first temperature at the cylindrical core of the fuser roller. The controller adjusts the heating temperature according to the first temperature being detected. | 04-12-2012 |
20120087689 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH - A fixing device includes: a heating section which heats a recording material; an induction heating heater which heats the heating section by an electromagnetic induction action; a pressing section facing the heating section, which presses the recording material against the heating section; an auxiliary heating member in contact with heating section, provided downstream of the induction heating heater, and upstream of a nip area fanned between heating section and the pressing section, which heats the heating section; an auxiliary heating member temperature sensor which measures a temperature of the auxiliary heating member; and a heating section temperature sensor provided downstream of the induction heating heater and upstream of the auxiliary heating member, which measures a temperature of the heating section. | 04-12-2012 |
20120093532 | FIXING DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, a rotary driver, a thermometer, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The heater heats the fuser member. The rotary driver imparts torque to at least one of the fuser and pressure members. The fuser member and the pressure member are pressed against each other to form a fixing nip therebetween. The thermometer is disposed external to the fixing nip to detect a temperature outside the fixing nip. The controller is operatively connected with the thermometer to control an amount of heat applied to the recording medium through the fixing nip according to the detected temperature, so that the recording medium exhibits a substantially constant post-fixing temperature downstream from the fixing nip. | 04-19-2012 |
20120093533 | FIXING APPARATUS THAT REDUCES DETERIORATION IN PRODUCTIVITY - A fixing apparatus capable of reducing deterioration in productivity while preventing a fixing roller from being heated to a high temperature. The fixing roller has a heating unit incorporated therein, and a rotatable pressurization roller abuts on the fixing roller. A thermistor detects a surface temperature of the fixing roller. A fixing operation is controlled by selectively switching between a first mode and a second mode in which the number of sheets subjected to fixing per unit time is smaller than in the first mode. One of the first and second modes is selected based on a first temperature detected by the thermistor at a first time, a second temperature detected by the thermistor at a second time, and a minimum temperature of the fixing roller at which the toner image can be fixed. | 04-19-2012 |
20120093534 | FIXING DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member a heater, a rotatable pressure member, a thermometer, and a feedback controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The heater heats the fuser member to a heating temperature. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The fuser member and the pressure member are pressed against each other to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is conveyed, so as to fix the toner image in place under heat and pressure. The thermometer is disposed adjacent to the pressure member to detect an operational temperature of the pressure member. The feedback controller is operatively connected with the thermometer to control the heating temperature according to the detected operational temperature, so that the recording medium exhibits a substantially constant post-fixing temperature downstream from the fixing nip regardless of the heat capacity of the recording medium. | 04-19-2012 |
20120099882 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - An image heating device includes a rotatable member, an opposing member for forming a nip, between itself and the rotatable member, in which recording paper on which an image is carried is to be nip conveyed and heated, and a heater contacting the rotatable member's outer surface and including a belt, a first roller stretching the belt at an upstream side of the rotatable member with respect to a rotational direction of the rotatable member, a second roller downstream of the first roller, and first and second heating portions for heating the first and second rollers to first and second target temperatures, respectively. The device also includes a heating control portion for controlling the heater, and a portion for executing an operation in a control mode in which the second target temperature is set so as to be lower than the first target temperature. | 04-26-2012 |
20120107002 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit which forms an image in which toner containing a wax is used on a recording material, and a fixing device which heats the toner image formed on the recording material at a nip portion which nips and conveys the recording material, when the fixing device heats the recording material on which a toner image having a toner maximum carrying amount of toner is formed, when a temperature of a surface of the toner layer reaches a temperature at which an endothermic amount indicates a peak in a relationship between a temperature of the toner and the endothermic amount, a condition of the fixing device at the nip portion is set so that a temperature of an interface between the toner and the recording material is lower than a temperature of a surface of the toner. | 05-03-2012 |
20120107003 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including: a print process part; a heat roller including a heating element; a press roller including a heater; a power source part having a power upper limit value that is smaller than a sum of heating power for the heat roller and the press roller plus initial power and is larger than the heating power; a power source control part to control supply or stop of the initial power; a plurality of temperature sensors to detect respective roller temperatures; and a determination part to determine necessity of supplying the initial power by the power source control part based on a temperature difference between the respective roller temperatures. | 05-03-2012 |
20120107004 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming system including an image forming device forming on a recording sheet a first chromatic toner image, and a second chromatic toner image having an outermost layer of transparent toner, wherein the transparent toner has lower glass transition temperature than the chromatic toners; a fixing device having a fixing member contacting the recording sheet to heat the toner images to temperature not lower than the glass transition temperature of the chromatic toners so that the toner images are fixed; and a glossing device having a glossing member contacting the recording sheet to heat the toner images to temperature not lower than the glass transition temperature of the transparent toner and lower than the glass transition temperatures of the chromatic toners so that only the transparent toner achieves a rubber state and to cool the heated first and second toner images so that the transparent toner is solidified. | 05-03-2012 |
20120114358 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a fixing unit configured to fix a not-yet-fixed image on a recording medium, includes a fixing target temperature changing part configured to change a fixing target temperature at a time of a fixing process; and a gradation processing part configured to carry out gradation processing on image information. For each sheet of a recording medium on which the fixing process is carried out, the fixing target temperature is changed based on whether halftone processing is carried out and a type of gradation processing to be used. | 05-10-2012 |
20120141154 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESSING METHOD FOR REUSE OF SHEET - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing device, and a control section. The image forming section forms images on a sheet with a recolorable decolorable colorant and an undecolorable colorant. The fixing device heats the sheet to fix the recolorable decolorable colorant and the undecolorable colorant on the sheet. The control section performs temperature control for the fixing device and fixes the recolorable decolorable colorant and the undecolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature higher than decoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant to thereby fix the recolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a decolored state and fix the undecolorable colorant on the sheet in a colored state. | 06-07-2012 |
20120148281 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING FIXING UNIT FOR FIXING UNFIXED TONER IMAGE FORMED ON RECORDING MATERIAL ONTO RECORDING MATERIAL BY HEAT - Corrected power for compensating for a reduction in the temperature of an endless belt that accompanies the entry of a recording material into a fixing nip portion is adjusted by correcting the power supplied to a fixing unit when the recording material enters the fixing unit with a correction power based on a difference between the update time of a power updating period and the time of the entry of the recording material. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148282 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CONTROLLING POWER SUPPLIED TO FIXING UNIT - Adjusting the start timing for conveying a printing material from a printing material conveying unit based on a power supply update period for power supplied to a heater allows proper power correction timing to be attained for compensating for a drop in temperature of the endless belt following the printing material entering a fixing nip portion. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148283 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus, a fixing condition such as a target control temperature of a heater is changed depending on whether a first resistance heating element and a second resistance heating element of the heater are connected in series or in parallel such that a similar fixing performance is achieved regardless of whether the first resistance heating element and the second resistance heating element are connected in series or in parallel. | 06-14-2012 |
20120155906 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PRESSURE ROLL FLARE IN A PRINT APPARATUS - An apparatus and method that control pressure roll flare in a print apparatus. The apparatus can include a fuser having a fuser surface. The apparatus can include at least one heat source configured to heat the fuser surface. The apparatus can include a pressure roll having a pressure roll surface, the pressure roll having a rotational axis, the pressure roll having an inside paper path portion towards the middle of the pressure roll along the rotational axis and having an outside paper path portion near at least one end of the pressure roll along the rotational axis, the pressure roll coupled to the fuser at a fuser nip, where the fuser nip is configured to fuse marking material on a media sheet. The apparatus can include a pressure roll cooling device configured to cool at least one of the inside paper path portion and the outside paper path portion of the pressure roll to maintain substantially consistent pressure roll flare prior to media sheets entering the fuser nip and while media sheets pass through the fuser nip to provide wrinkle control of media sheets while limiting image smear of the marking material on the media sheets. | 06-21-2012 |
20120155907 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD IN FIXING DEVICE THEREOF - Image forming apparatus including: first executing unit executing image formation mode of forming image by transferring toner image from image holder onto recording sheet, and then, in fixing device, causing fixing member, heated to fixable temperature by heater, to thermally fix toner image; second executing unit executing non-image-formation mode not involving thermal fixing performed by fixing device; instructing unit selectively instructing to execute image formation mode or non-image-formation mode; and controller controlling power supply to heater of fixing device in accordance with execution state of image formation and non-image-formation modes, the controller performing first control of decreasing temperature of fixing member by stopping or reducing power supply to heater when non-image-formation mode starts, and second control of stopping first control at predetermined timing during execution of non-image-formation mode and increasing temperature of fixing member so as to reach predetermined target temperature at end of execution of non-image-formation mode. | 06-21-2012 |
20120163848 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND HEATING METHOD FOR FIXATION SECTION OF THE SAME - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a fixation section having a heating mechanism and a roller arranged to face the heating mechanism; a temperature detector for detecting temperature of the fixation section; and a controller for performing a first heating-control in a first heating mode to raise the temperature of the fixation section at a first changing rate, and a second heating-control in a second heating mode to change the temperature of the fixation section at a second changing rate lower than the first changing rate upon rotating the roller when the temperature of the fixation section has reached an intermediate target temperature. The controller performs the first and second heating-controls, respectively, at the time of startup of the fixation section at least once until the temperature of the fixation section reaches a final target temperature. | 06-28-2012 |
20120177393 | Fixing Device And Method, And Image Forming Apparatus Incorporating Same - A fixing device includes a heater to generate heat based on soft-start control. The heater is supplied with power using different power-turn-on-duty control patterns in accordance with power requirements and an operation mode of the fixing device. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177394 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT FORMS IMAGE BY DEVELOPING ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGE FORMED ON PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER - An image forming apparatus capable of preventing deterioration of a shielding member due to heat and preventing the occurrence of image failure or the like. The shielding member is capable of shielding a photosensitive member and an electrostatic charger from each other. The electrostatic charger electrostatically charges the photosensitive member. When a detecting unit detects the shielding member being at a retracted position retracted from a shielding position, the heater is caused to heat the photosensitive member, and when the detecting unit detects the shielding member being at the shielding position, the heater is caused to stop heating the photosensitive member. | 07-12-2012 |
20120189338 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a fuser unit, which includes a heating member heated by a heat source and a backup member; a temperature detector; and a control unit, which starts print control when a detected temperature reaches the fixing temperature while the temperature of the heating member is increasing to a fixing temperature, and which performs decreasing control when the detected temperature reaches a predetermined temperature higher than the fixing temperature, wherein, in case that a increasing rate of the detected temperature at the beginning of the print control is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control unit controls the heat source so that a heat quantity radiated from the heat source during the decreasing control becomes larger than that in case that the increasing rate of the detected temperature at the beginning of the print control is larger than the predetermined value. | 07-26-2012 |
20120189339 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes an image heating rotational member configured to heat an image on a recording material, a pressure member configured to form a nip portion with the image heating rotational member and pinch the heated recording material in the nip portion, a first external heater including a first heat generation member and configured to contact an outer surface of the image heating rotational member and heat an area of the image heating rotational member that has passed the nip portion, and a second external heater including a second heat generation member and configured to contact an outer surface of the image heating rotational member and heat an area of the image heating rotational member heated by the first external heater. In the image heating apparatus, maximum power applied to the second heat generation member is smaller than maximum power applied to the first heat generation member. | 07-26-2012 |
20120201558 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a belt member for heating an image on a recording material; a heater means heating the belt member; a supporting portion, provided on an inner surface of the belt member, for detachably supporting the belt member; a temperature detecting member contacted to the inner surface of the belt member and elastically supported by the supporting portion; a controller for controlling energization to the heating means on the basis of an output of the temperature detecting member; and an inclined surface, provided to the temperature detecting member, for guiding the temperature detecting member toward an inside of the belt member in contact with the belt member during a mounting operation of the belt member to the supporting portion. | 08-09-2012 |
20120207502 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A disclosed fixing apparatus includes a heat generating layer; an exciting coil; a magnetic shunt layer; a degaussing member; and a magnetic flux adjusting unit. A heat generating rotor is configured with at least the heat generating layer, the exciting coil is arranged outside the heat generating rotor and the degaussing member is arranged inside the heat generating rotor. The fixing apparatus is configured to control a temperature of the heat generating layer with a self temperature control function using a Curie temperature of the magnetic shunt layer which is disposed in an opposing location of the exciting coil. A magnetic path forming member which forms a magnetic path of the exciting coil is arranged on the back face side of the degaussing member that is the reverse side of the magnetic shunt layer with the degaussing member inbetween. | 08-16-2012 |
20120213540 | Image Forming Apparatus, Method, Software Program, And Carrier Medium - An image forming apparatus includes a generator, image forming unit, fixing unit, fixing temperature setting unit, and heating control unit. The generator generates image drawing data including text and/or photo, page by page, from image data. The image forming unit forms a latent image based on image drawing data, and develops and transfers developed image onto a recording medium. The fixing unit includes a fixing device having a plurality of heaters, and a surface of the fixing device is segmented into a plurality of heating areas each corresponding to one of the plurality of heaters. The fixing temperature setting unit sets a control-target fixing temperature at each heating area by associating text and/or photo in image drawing data with each heating area. The heating control unit controls current supply to each heater to heat each heating area to the set control-target fixing temperature. | 08-23-2012 |
20120213541 | FIXING APPARATUS, PRINTING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM STORING A PROGRAM FOR DETECTING TWINE - The present invention provides a fixing apparatus including: a pair of rotating bodies that transports a recording medium on which an image is formed by using an image forming material, by sandwiching the recording medium; a heating section that heats at least one of the pair of rotating bodies; a moving section that moves the pair of rotating bodies between a position at which they mutually contact and a position at which they are mutually separated; a temperature detecting section that detects a surface temperature of at least one of the pair of rotating bodies without contacting the rotating bodies; and a twine generation determining section that determines whether the recording medium has twined around either one of the pair of rotating bodies based on a rate of temperature increase after a temperature decrease of the surface temperature detected by the temperature detecting section. | 08-23-2012 |
20120219312 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation to radiate infrared rays; a pressing rotary body, rotatable in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body, pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed; a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body; a temperature detector spaced apart from the fixing rotary body to detect a temperature of the fixing rotary body based on the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body and disposed below the fixing nip in a vertical direction; and a tube disposed between the fixing rotary body and the temperature detector, the tube through which the infrared rays from the fixing rotary body enter the temperature detector. | 08-30-2012 |
20120224875 | FIXING APPARATUS - The present disclosure is directed to enhance thermal efficiency of a fixing apparatus while a belt of the apparatus is heated, the fixing apparatus including: a belt including a plurality of heaters therein; a nip forming member that contacts with an inner surface of the belt; and a pressure member that forms a nip portion in conjunction with the nip forming member through the belt, wherein a ratio of an amount of heat generation by a heater farther from the nip portion to another heater closer to the nip portion is changed according to a speed at which a recording material is conveyed. | 09-06-2012 |
20120224876 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming system includes a first image forming station including a first toner image forming portion for transferring the toner image onto a sheet, and a first image heating portion; a second image forming station including a second toner image forming portion onto the sheet received from the first image heating portion, and a second image heating portion; a controller capable of executing an operation in a first mode in which a predetermined image formation in accordance with an inputted image forming condition is effected using the first and second image forming stations, a second mode in which it is effected without using the second image forming portion; and a temperature controller for the second image heating portion in the second mode so as to be smaller than a temperature of the second image heating portion in the first mode. | 09-06-2012 |
20120224877 | FIXING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing apparatus includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off. | 09-06-2012 |
20120230718 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heat fixing member including a base body that is elastically deformable and applies heat to a medium; a press fixing member that applies pressure to the medium, a contact moving member that moves at least one of the heat fixing member and the press fixing member between a pressurizing position and a depressurizing position; a temperature detector disposed so as to face a position between an intersection of a first imaginary line and an outer surface of the heat fixing member and an intersection of a second imaginary line and the outer surface, the first imaginary line connecting a center of a fixing region and a rotation center of the heat fixing member, the second imaginary line passing through the rotation center and being perpendicular to the first imaginary line; and a temperature controller that controls a temperature of the heat fixing member. | 09-13-2012 |
20120230719 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING DEFORMATION OF CONTINUOUS FORMS - In a fixing apparatus of an image forming apparatus, a heating member melts and fixes the unfixed toner. A heat controller controls temperatures of opposite end portion areas and a middle portion area of a surface of the heating member in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction on an individual area basis. A pressure member is pressed against and contact with the heating member to form a fixing part therebetween. The heat controller controls the temperatures of the surface of the heating member so that the temperature of at least one of the opposite end portion areas of the surface of the heating member is higher than the temperature of the middle portion area of the surface of the heating member. | 09-13-2012 |
20120237245 | PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS, PRINT CONTROL SYSTEM, PRINT CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A print control apparatus includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire a glossiness indicating a degree of glossy effect on a recording medium; a first generating unit configured to generate image data based on the glossiness acquired by the acquiring unit; and an output unit configured to output the image data. | 09-20-2012 |
20120243895 | TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD OF THERMAL FIXING DEVICE, THERMAL FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A temperature control method of calculating a temperature of a recording medium after fixing and used in a thermal fixing device includes separating calculations of calculating the temperature of the recording medium after fixing into first-stage calculations to be performed before start of printing and second-stage calculations to be performed in real time during the printing, performing the first-stage calculations, and performing the second-stage calculations to calculate a result of the temperature of the recording medium after fixing. Further, the result of the temperature of the recording medium after fixing is used to control obtaining a desired temperature of the recording medium after fixing, and the temperature of the recording medium after fixing is calculated without directly measuring the temperature of the recording medium after fixing. | 09-27-2012 |
20120263489 | Image Forming Apparatus That Controls Heat Application to Fixing Device - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a temperature sensor and a controller. The fixing device includes a heat source, a heat member heated by the heat source, and a back-up member. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the heat member. The controller controls the heat source and includes an output determination unit determining an output at which the heat source is operated to generate a target temperature; a first setting unit setting a first target temperature; a second setting unit setting a second target temperature lower than the first target temperature; a switching unit switching the target temperature from the first target temperature to the second target temperature; a determination unit determining whether a recording sheet is conveyed; and a supplemental output control unit generating a supplemental output greater than the output if the recording sheet is conveyed when the target temperature is switched. | 10-18-2012 |
20120269532 | Fixing Device And Image Forming Apparatus Incorporating Same - A fixing device includes a moving assembly that moves a second rotary body and an airflow guide between a first position and a second position, the first position where the second rotary body contacts a first rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image is conveyed and a constant first interval between the second rotary body and the airflow guide is smaller than a variable second interval between the second rotary body and an exhaust duct, the second position where the second rotary body is isolated from the first rotary body and the constant first interval between the second rotary body and the airflow guide is equivalent to the variable second interval between the second rotary body and the exhaust duct. | 10-25-2012 |
20120269533 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus uses a switching element to switch current flowing to an excitation coil, so that a heating layer in a fixing member produces heat that fixes an image to a transported sheet. Based on a change in temperature of the switching element over time, a prediction unit determines, at a predetermined first time point, a predicted temperature of the switching element at a second time point at which a tip of the sheet is scheduled to arrive at the fixing member. When the predicted temperature is at least a predetermined value, a control unit controls power supplied to the excitation coil by restricting switching of the switching element and lifting the restriction, so that by the second time point the detected temperature of the fixing member reaches a temperature necessary for fixing. | 10-25-2012 |
20120275809 | Fixing unit and image forming apparatus - A fixing unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a heating roller, the heating roller being divided into a fixing area and a non-fixing area, in which the fixing area is heated to above a target temperature required for fixing of an image, and the non-fixing area has a temperature lower than the target temperature, a main coil which generates a main magnetic field for generating an induced current, and at least one secondary coil which generates a secondary magnetic field to extend an area of the main magnetic field, where the fixing area of the heating roller, when formed by the main magnetic field, has a width smaller than an entire width of a maximum size paper, and the fixing area, when formed by a combination of the main magnetic field and the secondary magnetic field, is extendable to the entire width of the maximum size paper. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275810 | INDUCTION HEATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An induction heating device including a coil which inductively heats a workpiece of a fuser with an input voltage obtained from an alternating current voltage by rectification; a switching element coupled in series with the coil; a peak voltage detector which detects a peak value of the input voltage; an effective voltage detector which detects an effective value of the input voltage; a crest factor calculator which calculates an actual crest factor of the input voltage based on the peak value of the input voltage and the effective value of the input voltage; and a power controller which achieves control of power to the fuser by controlling the duty ratio of ON and OFF periods of the switching element. | 11-01-2012 |
20120288295 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming system including: an executing unit configured to execute a duplex image forming mode including: a first duplex image forming mode in which a recording material, which is conveyed from a first recording material containing portion and has one surface subjected to image formation by a first image forming apparatus, is conveyed by a conveying unit, and another surface of the recording material is subjected to image formation by a second image forming apparatus; and a second duplex image forming mode in which one surface and another surface of a recording material conveyed from a second recording material containing portion are sequentially subjected to image formation by the second image forming apparatus; and an input portion through which an operator inputs a setting for execution of the second duplex image forming mode. Thus, power consumption can be reduced. | 11-15-2012 |
20120294640 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING METHOD OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fusing unit with a heating member arranged to fuse toner to a printing paper, a heat source arranged to heat the heating member, a thermal sensor arranged to measure a surface temperature of the heating member, an electricity controlling unit arranged to control electricity supplied to the heat source based on a temperature measured by the thermal sensor, a first temperature controlling unit arranged to control the surface temperature of the heating member in STANDBY mode to gradually rise to an upper limit temperature by turning on/off electricity to the heat source with an electricity controlling unit, and a second temperature controlling unit arranged to control the surface temperature of the heating member in STANDBY mode to gradually fall to a lower limit temperature by turning on/off electricity to the heat source with the electricity controlling unit. | 11-22-2012 |
20120294641 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus for heating a toner image in a nip while conveying a recording material on which the toner image is held is provided. The image heating apparatus includes a heater for generating heat by being supplied with electric power from an AC power source; a rotatable heating member for being heated by the heater; a pressing member for forming the nip in contact to the rotatable heating member; a temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of the heater or the rotatable heating member; and a controller for setting the electric power supplied to the heater every renewal cycle depending on a detected temperature by the temperature detecting portion. The renewal cycle is shorter in a rise period of the heater than in a period in which the recording material is conveyed in the nip. | 11-22-2012 |
20120301171 | HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A heating apparatus includes a heater, a current-feed switching circuit configured to switch turning-on/off of current-feeding from an AC power source to the heater, thereby feeding current from the AC power source to the heater at a predetermined current-feed ratio, a temperature detector configured to detect a heating temperature of the heater, and | 11-29-2012 |
20120308253 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes: two rotatable members, for forming a nip, including a region where an outer diameter is increased from a longitudinal central portion toward a longitudinal end portion; a heater; and a controller for controlling a heat generation distribution of the heater. The controller is capable of controlling the heater so that the heat generation distribution of the heater is such that a heat generation amount at the longitudinal end portion is larger than that at the longitudinal central portion in a period from start of the heater until the recording material reaches the nip. A ratio of the heat generation amount at the longitudinal end portion to that at the longitudinal central portion is larger when a cumulative amount of use of the fixing apparatus is larger than a predetermined amount than when the cumulative amount of use is smaller than the predetermined amount. | 12-06-2012 |
20120315060 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - Disclosed is an image forming device including a fixing unit that fixes a first image to be fixed onto a sheet, the first image to be fixed being supported on the sheet, a target fixing temperature varying unit that varies a target fixing temperature during a time period in which a fixing process is performed, and a gradation processing unit that applies a gradation process to first image information. The target fixing temperature varying unit varies the target fixing temperature for the sheet of the recording medium to which the fixing process is applied, depending on presence or absence of a halftone process, and depending on a type of the gradation process to be utilized. | 12-13-2012 |
20120321333 | FIXING DEVICE, HEATING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member that is able to circulate and fixes an image on a recording material to the recording material; a heated member that is at least partly separated from the fixing member; a heating unit that heats the fixing member and the heated member; a heated-member moving unit that moves the heated member toward the fixing member; and a fixing-member moving unit that moves the fixing member at a first speed, and moves the fixing member at a second speed higher than the first speed after the heated member is moved. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321334 | FIXING DEVICE USING HEATING SCHEME FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - When a rotation member stops rotation, driving of a plurality of heating elements is sometimes partially be limited. A control unit detects a current flowing to the plurality of heating elements when the rotation member stops rotation, and driving of the plurality of heating elements is partially limited. The control unit sets the power ratio of powers to be supplied to the plurality of heating elements during a period the rotation member rotates to raise a fixing device to a fixing enable state in accordance with the detection result. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321335 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device of an embodiment is configured to fix an unfixed toner image formed of a decolorable toner on a sheet of paper. The fixing device includes: a fixing unit including a fixing member heated by a first heat source and a pressure member heated by a second heat source; a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor; and a temperature controller configured to control the first heat source and the second heat source separately for temperature control based on detected temperature information acquired by the temperature sensors, wherein the temperature controller controls the surface temperatures of the fixing member and the pressure member to set equal or above the temperature at which fixing is started fixing starting temperature and to set below the temperature at which decolorization is started, and such that the surface temperatures of the fixing member and the pressure member become substantially the same temperature. | 12-20-2012 |
20130004193 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof in which occurrence or removal of a paper rolling state in a fusing device is judged based on temperature of the fusing device. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor to sense temperature of the fusing device, a memory to store information about occurrence or removal of the paper rolling state, and a controller to judge occurrence or removal of the paper rolling state. The controller detects an initial temperature of the fusing device when the apparatus is turned off and then on in a state in which the information about occurrence of the paper rolling state is stored in the memory, heats the fusing device by applying power thereto for a predetermined time based on the initial temperature, and judges occurrence or removal of the paper rolling state based on temperature of the fusing device detected after power application. | 01-03-2013 |
20130028623 | ZERO-CROSSING DETECTOR CIRCUIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A zero-crossing detector circuit includes: a first capacitor including a first electrode configured to connect to one end of an AC power supply and a second electrode; a second capacitor including a first electrode configured to connect to the other end of the AC power supply and a second electrode; a current path, which is connected in series between the second electrode of the first capacitor and the second electrode of the second capacitor, and which is connected to a reference potential, and which generates a second-electrode-side voltage when the AC current passes through the current path; a signal converting circuit, which is connected to the AC power supply to receive the second-electrode-side voltage and then converts the second-electrode-side voltage into a pulse signal; and a detecting unit, which detects a pulse period of the pulse signal, which and detects zero-crossing points by using the pulse period. | 01-31-2013 |
20130034362 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes: a coil; a heating member; magnetic cores; a moving mechanism for moving the magnetic cores; a controller; and a temperature sensor, movable in a widthwise direction of the heating member, for detecting a temperature of the heating member. The temperature sensor is controlled so as to be provided at a set position of an end portion of a set range with respect to the widthwise direction. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is increased up to a predetermined temperature, the moving mechanism is controlled so that the magnetic core located at the end portion of the set range with respect to the widthwise direction is moved away from the heating member. | 02-07-2013 |
20130034363 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes: a coil for generating magnetic flux; a heat generating member; a nip forming member; a power source; a temperature sensor; a controller for controlling the power source based on a detection result of the temperature sensor; an executing portion for executing an operation in a higher speed fixing mode using a thinner recording material and an operation in a lower speed fixing mode using a thicker recording material; and a prohibiting portion for prohibiting the electric power, supplied from the power source to the coil by the controller, from exceeding a limiter value. The limiter value in the lower speed fixing mode is executed is set so as to be higher than that in the higher speed fixing mode. | 02-07-2013 |
20130034364 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FIXING UNIT - A fixing unit control apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a feeding time detector for detecting a time when a printing medium is fed to the fixing unit; and a heat controller for controlling heat generated by the fixing unit according to the detected time. Accordingly, printing quality degraded in an early print stage can be improved. Also, by reducing a user waiting time to perform a normal printing job after an image forming device is turned on, a more convenient image forming device can be provided. | 02-07-2013 |
20130039674 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, wherein the fixing unit includes a first temperature detection member detecting the temperature of a first non-passing area of the fixing unit; a second temperature detection member detecting the temperature of a second non-passing area; and a cooling unit supplying air so as to simultaneously cool the first non-passing area and the second non-passing area, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured, when the absolute value of the difference between the detection temperature of the temperature detection members becomes not less than a threshold value, while air is being supplied to the non-passing area and the second non-passing area, to stop the supplying of air by the cooling unit and continue recording material fixing processing. | 02-14-2013 |
20130045021 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - The image forming apparatus includes an image processing section that converts image data into pixel data, an image forming section that forms a toner image based on the pixel data, and a fixing section that fixes the toner image to the recording material by heating the recording material with the toner image formed thereon while conveying the recording material through a nip portion, wherein the image processing section divides the pixel data corresponding to one recording material into a plurality of areas each formed of a predetermined number of pixels and acquires density information on some of the pixels within each of the areas as representative values, wherein the fixing section carries out a process of fixing the toner image for which the density information has been acquired, under a fixing condition according to a maximum value of the representative values. | 02-21-2013 |
20130058673 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - Provided is a fixing apparatus that can satisfy a quick start property while preventing degradation of paper non-passing sections of a fixing belt due to heat. In continuous image formation on a plurality of small-sized papers, if a temperature of the fixing belt at the reception of an execution command of a job is lower than a predetermined temperature, a heat equalizing roller is abutted to a pressure roller when an increase in the temperature of the paper non-passing sections of the fixing belt is feared along with progress of the job to thereby guarantee the quick start property. On the other hand, if the temperature of the fixing belt is higher than the predetermined temperature, the heat equalizing roller is abutted to the pressure roller from the beginning to suppress an increase in the temperature of the paper non-passing sections of the fixing belt. | 03-07-2013 |
20130084092 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROLLING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus for controlling a fixing temperature of a fixing device which fixes an image to be formed comprises an obtaining unit configured to obtain an attribute of each page included in a print job including a plurality of pages, and a controlling unit configured to control a fixing temperature for each page, based on a change of the obtained attribute by the obtaining unit between continuous pages. | 04-04-2013 |
20130084093 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus configured to control a fixing temperature of a fixing device that fixes a formed image includes a fixing temperature control unit configured to control, based on a change amount between a toner amount of an N-th page, where N is a natural number, and a toner amount of an (N+1)th page in a print job having a plurality of pages, a fixing temperature for the (N+1)th page, and a toner amount control unit configured to control the toner amount of the (N+1)th page to be less than or equal to a toner amount which can be fixed at the fixing temperature controlled by the fixing temperature control unit. | 04-04-2013 |
20130089350 | FUSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fuser portion is configured to include a fuser roller, a tension roller, an endless fuser belt stretched over the fuser roller and the tension roller, a heater unit for heating the fuser belt, and a pressure roller pressed to the fuser roller through the fuser belt. The heater unit is so arranged as to be pressed to the fuser belt, while the tension roller has a thermal insulation layer arranged on its outer circumference touching the fuser belt. | 04-11-2013 |
20130101305 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND FIXING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit which forms a toner image on a surface of a medium, a fixing device which includes a heating member that heats the surface of the medium and a pressing member that comes in press-contact with the heating member through the medium to heat the back side of the medium, and a control unit which controls the temperature of a surface of the heating member on the side in contact with the medium to a temperature lower than the temperature of a surface of the pressing member on the side in contact with the medium. | 04-25-2013 |
20130108298 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
20130108299 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
20130108300 | FIXING DEVICE | 05-02-2013 |
20130136479 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF REDUCING JAM IN FIXING UNIT - An image forming device forms a toner image on a recording medium. The recording medium goes through a fixing nip N between a fixing member and a pressure member in a fixing unit where the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A fixing temperature detector detects the temperature of the fixing member. A fixing temperature control unit controls a heater that heats the fixing member so that the detected temperature becomes a target temperature. A size control unit of white space sets a white space at a tip of the recording medium in a direction of the recording medium movement. When a paper counter counts more than a predetermined paper count, the size control unit increases the size of the white space. The fixing temperature control unit decreases the target fixing temperature when the white space goes through the fixing nip. | 05-30-2013 |
20130136480 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - In an image heating apparatus in which a heating rotating body heats a recording material bearing an image and a rubbing member rubs the heating rotating body to eliminate gloss streaks, an image failure such as gloss unevenness does not occur in a normal plain paper and a coated paper, and a toner gloss on the coated paper can be enhanced. A longitudinal temperature difference of a heating rotating body | 05-30-2013 |
20130142535 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUSING TEMPERATURE OF THE SAME - An image forming apparatus having two or more different rated voltages, the image forming apparatus including a voltage detecting unit, which detects a voltage level of alternating current (AC) power supplied from outside of the image forming apparatus; a control unit, which outputs a control signal according to the detected voltage level; a fusion driving circuit, which controls a number of waveforms and phase of the AC power according to the control signal and outputs the controlled AC power as fusing power; and a fuser including a heat generating body having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) characteristic, which receives the fusing power and generates resistance heat; and a heating member, which is heated by the heat generated by the resistance heat generating body and fuses an image formed on a printing medium. | 06-06-2013 |
20130142536 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - The image heating apparatus for heating a toner image beard on a recording material while conveying the recording material at a nip portion, the image heating apparatus including a heater; a fixing member; a pressure member; a first temperature detecting member; a second temperature detecting member configured to detect a temperature on a non-sheet-passing-area; a control device; and an air supplying member supplying an air to the non-sheet-passing-area, the air supplying member is started to drive when a temperature detected by the second temperature detecting member reaches a predetermined temperature which is higher than the target temperature, wherein the control device controls a quantity of the air in response to an information related to the power which is supplied to the heater when a temperature detected by the second temperature detecting member reaches the predetermined temperature. | 06-06-2013 |
20130148995 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes an excitation coil, a fixing member heated by electromagnetic induction by the excitation coil, a magnetic shunt alloy member, a Curie temperature of which is higher than a target fixing temperature, a determiner that determines whether the temperature of a non-sheet passing region of the fixing member is about to reach the Curie temperature, and a power controller that controls power supplied to the excitation coil. Until the determiner determines that the Curie temperature is about to be reached, the power controller performs feedback control to provide power to the excitation coil. When the determiner determines that the Curie temperature is about to be reached, the power controller switches to fixed power control so that a difference between power supplied when the Curie temperature is about to be reached and power supplied after reaching the Curie temperature falls within an allowable range. | 06-13-2013 |
20130164014 | MEDIA STORAGE DEVICE AND SECTIONAL IMAGE PRINTING METHOD - A media storage device and a sectional image printing method are provided. The media storage device includes a main body, a sectional heating module and a pressing roller. The sectional heating module and the pressing roller are both disposed within the main body. The sectional heating module includes a body, a plurality of heaters and a power controller. The body is disposed within the main body, and the heaters are disposed on the body. The power controller includes a plurality of power circuits, and each of the power circuits is electrically connected with a corresponding one of the heaters to control the corresponding electrically connected heater to generate heat. The pressing roller is in contact with the heaters of the sectional heating module, and the heaters face the pressing roller. During a printing process, not all the heaters of the media storage device generate heat at the same time. | 06-27-2013 |
20130164015 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes: a rotatable fixing member configured to fix at a nip a toner image formed on recording paper; a rotatable pressing member configured to form the nip between itself and the rotatable fixing member; and a controller configured to control a temperature of the rotatable pressing member depending on smoothness of the recording paper. | 06-27-2013 |
20130188977 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member including a heating unit, and a pressure member, the heating unit includes a sub-heater having a heat generating portion in a region smaller than a minimum paper width, a main heater having a heat generating portion at outside of the sub-heater, a first temperature detector to detect a temperature of the fixing member at the heat generating portion of the main heater, and a second temperature detector to detect the temperature at the heat generating portion of the sub-heater. The main heater and the sub-heater can be switched selectively, and the initial duty ratio at the start of PID temperature control by the sub-heater is determined in accordance with a difference between temperatures detected by the respective temperature detectors at the start of PID temperature control and a target temperature so that the temperature is not overshooting and dropped. | 07-25-2013 |
20130188978 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus, including: a first rotating member configured to heat a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion; a second rotating member configured to form the nip portion cooperatively with the first rotating member; a heat conduction member configured to conduct a heat of the second rotating member in a width direction of the second rotating member in an operating position in which the heat conduction member is in contact with the second rotating member; and a fan configured to blow an air toward a predetermined region of the heat conduction member which is in the operating position. | 07-25-2013 |
20130195491 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing member including a heat generating layer that generates heat by induction, the fixing member fixing images onto plural recording media that are successively supplied thereto with heat generated from the heat generating layer; a pressure member that contacts the fixing member and forms a nip between the pressure member and the fixing member, the nip allowing the recording media to pass therethrough; an induction heating unit that inductively heats the heat generating layer of the fixing member; and a controller that controls a manner in which the induction heating unit heats the heat generating layer when the plural recording media successively pass through the nip in accordance with a total of times during which the recording media are not present in the nip, the total of times being measured from when the recording media started passing through the nip. | 08-01-2013 |
20130195492 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a power controller, a pressure applying unit, and a timing controller. The fixing unit fixes toner onto a recording medium transported in a determined transport direction, by using heat generated by a heat generator. The power controller controls supply of power for heating the fixing unit. The pressure applying unit applies pressure to the recording medium in a nip part formed between the pressure applying unit and the fixing unit. The timing controller controls the power controller to start supply of the power at a time which is a determined time period prior to an arrival time at which a leading edge of the recording medium in the transport direction arrives at the nip part. | 08-01-2013 |
20130195493 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - According to an embodiment, provided is a fixing device that includes: a rotatable fixing member that heats a recording medium on a side carrying an unfixed image; a rotatable pressing member that is pressed and is contacted with the fixing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member; a heat source heating the fixing member; a relay switch provided in an energizing path for the heat source; a temperature detection sensor detecting a temperature of the fixing member; and a control unit that controls energization of the heat source according to the temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor. The control unit keeps the relay switch in an off state if the temperature of the fixing member is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature when the fixing member has stopped rotation. | 08-01-2013 |
20130202322 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member that heats a surface of a recording medium on which an unfixed image is carried, a rotatable pressing member that makes pressure-contact with the fixing member to form a nip portion therebetween, a heat source that heats the fixing member, a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the fixing member, and a temperature control unit that controls turning-on/off the heat source in accordance with a predetermined duty for a predetermined control cycle in a turning-on/off cycle, based on input temperature information. The temperature control unit, during execution of a continuous image-forming job for continuously forming images on a plurality of recording media, sets the control cycle and a space between the recording media to be conveyed to the nip so that a number of turn-ons of the heat source is the same for all the recording media. | 08-08-2013 |
20130202323 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device having a heating member, a heat source, a rotating member, and a temperature sensor; and a control device configured to control the heat source, wherein, in a case of a low temperature state where the temperature of the heating member is lower than a predetermined temperature, the control device to control the heat source such that the temperature of the heating member rises with a gradient equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and wherein, in a case of a high temperature state where the temperature of the heating member at the print-instruction receiving time is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the control device to control the heat source such that the temperature of the heating member rises with a gradient smaller than that in the normal mode. | 08-08-2013 |
20130202324 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device: having a heating member, a rotating member, and a temperature sensor; a sheet feeding unit; and a control device configured to perform a sheet feed control: in which the feeding timing is set to a first timing if the temperature gradient of the heating member for a predetermined period is larger than a first threshold value; and in which the feeding timing is set to a second timing later than the first timing if the temperature gradient of the heating member for the predetermined period is equal to or less than the first threshold value, and wherein, in the sheet feed control, the control device changes the first threshold value to a smaller value as the temperature of the heating member at the print-instruction receiving time increase. | 08-08-2013 |
20130202325 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device having a heat source, a heating member, and a backup member; a temperature detecting member; a driving source configured to rotate at least one of the heating member and the backup member; a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a driving force of the driving source; and a control device configured to control the heat source and the driving source, wherein, after a power is turned on, the control device turns on the heat source before the driving source is driven for the first time, and wherein, when at least one of a condition, where the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member becomes a first temperature, and a condition where a predetermined period elapses after the power is turned on, is satisfied, the control device turns off the heat source and then drives the driving source. | 08-08-2013 |
20130209124 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device includes a heating device to heat an endless rotary body with radiant heat, a power source to supply power to the heating device, a first heat source to heat a region on the endless rotary body corresponding to a width of the small size sheet, and a second heat source to heat regions on the endless rotary body corresponding to both widthwise ends of the large size sheet outside the width of the small size sheet. The power source supplies power only to the first heat source when the small size sheet is printed and to both the first and second heat sources when the large size sheet is printed. The power source supplies more power to the first heat source when the small size sheet is printed than when the large size sheet is printed within a maximum power available to the fixing device. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209125 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device for fixing an unfixed image onto a recording medium includes a fixing belt, a nip forming member, an opposing rotary member, a heater, and a temperature detector. The fixing belt is formed into a loop to move endlessly and fix the unfixed image on the recording medium. The nip forming member is disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt. The opposing rotary member contacts the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip portion therebetween while rotating. The heater heats the fixing belt at a place other than the nip portion. The temperature detector detects a temperature of the surface of the fixing belt. The temperature detector detects the temperature near a place of the fixing belt that easily deforms as the fixing belt is heated by the heater. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209126 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which multiple recording media, each spaced apart from each other by an interval distance in a conveyance direction, are sequentially conveyed at a conveyance speed. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The controller is operatively connected to the heater to control power supply to the heater through a series of on-off switching control cycles, each including an on-time during which the heater power supply is on, and an off-time during which the heater power supply is off, in synchronization with conveyance of the recording medium. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209127 | FIXING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD USED THEREIN - A fixing device includes a rotatable fuser member, a rotatable pressure member, a heater, a temperature detector, and a controller. The rotatable fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotatable pressure member is disposed opposite the fuser member. The pressure member presses against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween. The heater is disposed adjacent to the fuser member to heat the fuser member. The temperature detector is directed to at least one of the fuser member, the pressure member, and the heater to detect an operational temperature of the fixing device. The controller is operatively connected to the temperature detector and the heater to control power supply to the heater according to readings of the temperature detector, so as to regulate the detected operational temperature at a setpoint temperature that is variable depending on a print page printed on the recording medium. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209128 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - When calculating an actual turn-on duty based on a required duty according to a feedback control, the actual turn-on duty is corrected using a correction table or a correction conversion formula such that a required turn-on duty and the actual turn-on duty coincide with each other. A fixing heater is controlled according to the corrected actual turn-on duty. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209129 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus may includes: a heating unit including a heating member that is heated by a heat source and a backup member that forms a nip portion; a feeding unit; and a control unit configured to control the heat source and the feeding unit, wherein the control unit controls the feeding unit such that each of a plurality of recording sheets is fed to the nip portion, wherein some of the plurality of the recording sheets are sequentially conveyed at a second interval to each other, wherein a first recording sheet of the some of the plurality of the recording sheets is fed to have a first interval with respect to a previously conveyed recording sheet, and wherein the control unit increases the output of the heat source on a timing when a front end of the first recording sheet reaches a periphery of the nip portion. | 08-15-2013 |
20130223865 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device includes: a fixing unit that transports a recording medium as nipped between a pressure rotary member and a heating rotary member, to thereby fix a developer image on the recording medium; temperature detectors that detect temperatures of regions of the pressure rotary member located along an axial direction of the pressure rotary member; cooling units that cool the detected regions; and a controller that controls the cooling units to, if a temperature difference between the regions is more than a set temperature difference, execute first cooling for reducing the temperature difference to the set temperature difference or less, and to, if a width of the recording medium perpendicular to a transport direction thereof used in an immediately preceding image formation is equal to or less than a preset width, execute, subsequently to the first cooling, second cooling for cooling the pressure rotary member for a preset time. | 08-29-2013 |
20130236202 | IMAGE FIXING APPARATUS - The present invention relates to an image fixing apparatus including a fan for cooling one end region of the image fixing apparatus and a fan for cooling another end region thereof. When a temperature of the one end region reaches a cooling starting temperature, a fan corresponding to the one end portion is driven at a first rotation speed, and another fan is driven at a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed even if the temperature of the other end region is lower than the cooling starting temperature so as to protect the fans from thermal damages. | 09-12-2013 |
20130243465 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes a hollow, fixing rotary body rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a first heater disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body. A pressing rotary body is pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed. A heat conductor, disposed opposite the first heater and the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body, is disconnectably connected to a guide disposed downstream from the fixing device in a recording medium conveyance direction to guide the recording medium discharged from the fixing nip. The heat conductor conducts heat received from the first heater to the guide. | 09-19-2013 |
20130251391 | POWER SUPPLY CIRCUITRY FOR INDUCTIVE HEATING ELEMENT - A fixing apparatus includes an induction heating coil configured to heat a heat generating member including a conductive heating element, a boosting circuit configured to boost a DC voltage obtained by rectifying AC power, a switching element configured to input a DC voltage boosted by the boosting circuit and to supply a high-frequency current to the induction heating coil, a driving circuit configured to drive the switching element, a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the heat generating member, and a control unit configured to control power supplied to the induction heating coil by controlling a boosting ratio of the boosting circuit and a driving frequency of the switching element by the driving circuit so that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit reaches a target temperature. | 09-26-2013 |
20130259507 | Narrow Media Throughput Control Using Temperature Feedback - A printer is provided having a fuser assembly having a belt, a heater to heat the belt, a backup roll positioned to engage the belt thereby defining a fusing nip with the belt, a main temperature sensor associated with the heat transfer member, the first temperature sensor associated with the backup roll for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup roll, the second temperature sensor associated with a distal end region of the heat transfer member for sensing the temperature of the distal end region. A controller is coupled to the fuser assembly for controlling a throughput of the printer based on at least one of the backup roll temperature and the temperature at the distal end region of the heater. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259508 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member and a blowing unit. The first rotating member is heated by a heat source. The second rotating member is pressed against the first rotating member to form a fixing nip with the first rotating member along a conveying path of a recording medium. The blowing unit blows a cooling airflow toward the first rotating member. An airflow route from the blowing unit to the first rotating member is arranged so as to cross the conveying path. | 10-03-2013 |
20130266333 | HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The heating apparatus includes a heat generating member which generates heat when power is supplied from an AC power supply, a temperature detection device which detects temperature of the heat generating member, a current detection device which detects a value of current flowing in the heat generating member; and a control unit which controls the temperature of the heat generating member by controlling power supplied to the heat generating member, in which the control unit detects a drop of an input voltage of the AC power supply based on a maximum suppliable power ratio determined by using a value of current suppliable to the heat generating member, the current value detected by the current detection device, and a ratio of power supplied to the heat generating member obtained based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection device. | 10-10-2013 |
20130266334 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Part of a plurality of power levels of control patterns selected to control power supplied from an AC power source to a heater of an image forming apparatus include power levels of a) waveforms in which power is supplied in part of negative and positive half cycles in order after no power supply during a one half of a positive half cycle, and waveforms in which power is supplied in part of a positive cycle after no power supply during one half of a negative half cycle, or b) waveforms in which power is supplied in part of positive and negative half cycles in order after no power supply during one half of a negative half cycle, and waveforms in which power is supplied in part of a negative half cycle after no power supply during one half of a positive half cycle. | 10-10-2013 |
20130272737 | HEATING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, there is provided a heating device that includes a heating source, a non-contact thermistor, a contact thermistor and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control the heating source on the basis of the detected temperature of the non-contact thermistor and the detected temperature of the contact thermistor and control the heating member to a predetermined temperature. The control unit performs the temperature control using the detected temperature of the contact thermistor for temperature control from startup time to a target temperature and using the detected temperature of the non-contact thermistor if the temperature exceeds the target temperature. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272738 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - One disclosed aspect of the embodiments relates to power control of a heater in a fixing unit. A plurality of control tables having different ratios of phase control waveforms and wave number control waveforms in one control cycle have been set, and a control table is selected depending on a set target temperature. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272739 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet using a decolorable toner, a fixing unit configured to fix the image on the sheet by heating, a cooling unit for cooling the fixing unit, and a control section for controlling the cooling unit. The control section turns on the cooling unit if the control section determines that the temperature of the fixing unit is at or above a predetermined temperature. | 10-17-2013 |
20130279932 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device thermally fixing an unfixed image by pressing a recording sheet against a heating rotating body using a resistance heating element as a heat source, comprising: a temperature monitoring unit monitoring temperature in a sheet passing region and in a non-sheet passing region of the heating rotating body; a power supply unit supplying power to the resistance heating element so that the temperature in the sheet passing region is maintained at a target temperature during thermal fixing; a cooling unit cooling the non-sheet passing region; and a control unit controlling cooling so that (i) electrical resistivity of the resistance heating element is lower in a region corresponding to the non-sheet passing region than in a region corresponding to the sheet passing region and (ii) an absolute value of a temperature difference between the sheet passing region and the non-sheet passing region does not exceed an allowable temperature difference. | 10-24-2013 |
20130287423 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming section, a fixing section, and a control section. The toner image forming section forms a toner image based on image data for printing on printing paper. The fixing section fixes the toner image on the printing paper through thermocompression. The control section controls a toner image forming operation by the toner image forming section and a fixing operation by the fixing section. The control section calculates a size parameter associated with a size of a uniform density region included in the toner image based on the image data for the printing and controls a fixing temperature of the fixing section according to a calculation result. | 10-31-2013 |
20130302055 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF STABLY DETECTING TEMPERATURE OF FIXING DEVICE REGARDLESS OF ORIENTATION OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus orientatable in either a first position or a second position, the second position being different from the first position in inclination with respect to a horizontal plane, comprising: a fixing device including a heating roller and a pressurizing member, pressing the pressurizing member against a surface of the heating roller to form a fixing nip, and thermally fixing a toner image on a recording sheet passing through the fixing nip; at least one temperature detector detecting surface temperature of the heating roller without contact with the surface; a heater heating the heating roller; and a controller controlling the heater according to the surface temperature, thereby controlling the surface temperature, wherein a detection point of the temperature detector is located above a horizontal plane passing through a rotational axis of the heating roller regardless of the orientation of the image forming apparatus. | 11-14-2013 |
20130302056 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF STABLY DETECTING TEMPERATURE OF FIXING DEVICE REGARDLESS OF ORIENTATION OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus orientatable in either a first position or a second position, the second position being different from the first position in inclination with respect to a horizontal plane, comprising: a fixing device including a heating roller and a pressurizing member, pressing the pressurizing member against a surface of the heating roller to form a fixing nip, and thermally fixing a toner image on a recording sheet passing through the fixing nip; at least one temperature detector detecting surface temperature of the heating roller without contact with the surface; a heater heating the heating roller; a controller controlling the heater according to the surface temperature, thereby controlling the surface temperature; and a switcher switching a detection point of the temperature detector between a first and a second detection point according to whether the image forming apparatus is in the first or the second position. | 11-14-2013 |
20130302057 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes an image fixing device ( | 11-14-2013 |
20130322906 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form a developer image on a recording medium, a fuser part that includes a fuser member and a heat application member to fix the developer image on the recording medium, a heat application control part to control the heat application member so that a temperature of the fuser member falls within a target temperature range that has been set, a temperature setting part to set a first target temperature range and a second target temperature range. The first target temperature range is a target temperature range for a first fusion that is performed on a first surface of the recording medium, and the second target temperature range is another target temperature range, which is lower than the first target temperature range, for a second fusion that is performed on the first surface of the recording medium. | 12-05-2013 |
20130322907 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit including a heater, a necessary integral power calculation unit configured to calculate a necessary integral power required for the fixing unit to reach a predetermined fixable temperature, a suppliable integral power calculation unit configured to calculate a suppliable integral power capable of being supplied to the heater in a time elapsing until the recording material reaches the fixing unit, a power source condition detection unit configured to detect a power source condition of a power source for supplying power to the heater, and a controller configured to control a timing to start conveyance of the recording material according to the necessary integral power and the suppliable integral power, wherein the suppliable integral power calculation unit calculates the suppliable integral power according to a resistance value of the heater and the power source condition. | 12-05-2013 |
20130322908 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion including an endless belt, a heater, a back-up member, the heater including first heat generating elements; and a controller for controlling power supplied to the first element and the second element in accordance with a temperature of the fixing portion; wherein the power controller supplies the power to the first element and the second element so that a feeding speed V | 12-05-2013 |
20130330097 | TONER COVERAGE DETERMINATION - A toner coverage determination system and method are described. The toner coverage determination system may include a memory storing a module comprising machine readable instructions to receive an input image, and generate a grid including a plurality of points corresponding to pixels to be sampled on the input image. The machine readable instructions may further sample the pixels corresponding to the plurality of points, evaluate pixel intensity values for the sampled pixels, and determine a toner coverage value based on the evaluated pixel intensity values. | 12-12-2013 |
20140003830 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF ACCURATELY ESTIMATING POWER CONSUMPTION LEVEL | 01-02-2014 |
20140016958 | FIXING CONTROL APPARATUS, FIXING CONTROL PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing control apparatus which controls a fixing apparatus which includes multiple heating elements to fix, to a recording material, an unfixed toner image formed based on image data is disclosed. The fixing control apparatus includes an image presence/absence determining unit which determines presence/absence of an image for each of multiple areas into which the image data are divided; a heating element selecting unit which selects a heating element located at a position corresponding to an area in which the image is present from the multiple heating elements; and a heating element driving unit which causes the heating element selected by the heating element selecting unit to be heated. | 01-16-2014 |
20140023389 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus that fixes a toner image on a sheet includes each of fans configured to respectively cool areas adjacent to a longitudinal center and longitudinal both ends of a pressure roller, and in a case where fixing processing is performed on thin paper of a maximum width size, includes a first mode in which the fixing processing is started after the fan configured to cool the area adjacent to the longitudinal center of the pressure roller is actuated for a predetermined time and a second mode in which the fixing processing is started after the fan configured to cool the area adjacent to the longitudinal both ends of the pressure roller is actuated for a predetermined time. | 01-23-2014 |
20140044447 | POWER CONTROL APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A power control apparatus and an image forming apparatus is provided to prevent a heating element from overheating when DC power is supplied and to perform normal operation regardless of the type of input power. The power control apparatus includes a power supply to supply power to a load, an alternating current (AC) power switch to discontinuously switch on AC power between the power supply and the load, and a direct current (DC) cutoff circuit to block supply of DC power through the AC power switch to prevent supply of the DC power to the load via the AC power switch when the DC power is input through the power supply. | 02-13-2014 |
20140064765 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes an input unit, a display unit, an image forming unit, a storage unit, a first-page print execution information setting unit, and a print control unit. The first-page print execution information setting unit stores information in the storage unit. The information relates to execution of printing the first page of a job on a sheet on a manual feed tray. If printing on a long nonstandard-size sheet is selected, the print control unit causes the display unit to display an indication prompting a user to identify the sheet size and requests the image forming unit to start printing the sheet on the manual feed tray after a print start instruction. If the information is stored in the storage unit, the print control unit skips the step of displaying the indication and requests the image forming unit to start the printing on the sheet on the manual feed tray. | 03-06-2014 |
20140064766 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus includes: a printing device configured to print an image on a sheet; a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature in the printing apparatus; and a controller. The controller executes: a first processing in which the controller changes a first indicator based on printing performed by the printing device; a second processing in which the controller changes the first indicator based on a first temperature detected by the temperature detector at a first point in time and a second temperature detected by the temperature detector at a second point in time; and a third processing in which the controller suppresses a rise in the temperature in the printing apparatus when the first indicator reaches a predetermined value. | 03-06-2014 |
20140064767 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a heating member configured to heat the sheet for fixing the image onto the sheet, a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of a predetermined position of the heating member, a controller configured to control the heating member, a heating region control unit configured to control the heated region of the heating member, wherein the heating region control unit controls a first and a second heated region, wherein the first heated region includes the predetermined position, and wherein the second heated region in the width direction includes the first heated region and an outer heated region outside the first heated region, and a cooling unit configured to cool the heated region, wherein if the heating region control unit changes the heated region from the first heated region to the second heated region, the cooling unit cools the predetermined position. | 03-06-2014 |
20140072321 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - In an image forming apparatus having a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a printing medium, it is necessary to control a fixing temperature with high precision according to the content of an image. An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: an input unit configured to input image data; and a controlling unit configured to control the fixing temperature of the fixing unit based on a size of a continuous region of pixels whose pixel values are equal to or larger than a predetermined pixel value in the image data. | 03-13-2014 |
20140079424 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body, a heat shield movably disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting the fixing rotary body to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed, and a temperature detector to detect a temperature of at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body. A controller, operatively connected to the heat shield and the temperature detector, determines a rotation angled position to which the heat shield is moved based on a size of the recording medium and the temperature of the at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body detected by the temperature detector. | 03-20-2014 |
20140086610 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VARIABLE GLOSS REDUCTION - Various variable gloss reduction techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a textured roller and a wiper impregnated with fuser oil to create a differential gloss pattern that reduces the gloss of an image printed on a substrate. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a combination of heat and pressure to create a differential gloss pattern that reduces the gloss in specific regions of an image printed on a substrate. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a differential gloss pattern to generate a security mark on a printed image to prevent against copying or fraudulent misrepresentation of the image. | 03-27-2014 |
20140093267 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING PROGRAM - There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a formation unit that forms an image using a color material, on a medium; a fusing unit that fixes the image formed on the medium; and a control unit that controls to perform both of a first fusing and a second fusing on the medium, wherein the first fusing is a fixation in which a first image is formed by using a color material with a metallic color and the first image foamed is fixed, the second fusing is a fixation in which a second image is formed by using a color material with another color than the metallic color and the second image formed is fixed, and the first image and the second image are overlapped. | 04-03-2014 |
20140099137 | FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a light irradiation portion that irradiates a recording medium transported to a predefined position with light, a power supply member that is disposed at a position which is irradiated with light with a first intensity of light emitted from the light irradiation portion in a state in which the recording medium is disposed at the predefined position and which is irradiated with light with a second intensity larger than the first intensity of light in a state in which the recording medium is not disposed at the predefined position, and that changes a physical property thereof so as to reduce the supply of power when the power supply member is continuously irradiated with the light with the second intensity for a predefined time or more, and a power supply portion that supplies power to the light irradiation portion via the power supply member. | 04-10-2014 |
20140099138 | FIXING DEVICE TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device temperature control method is performed by a fixing device including a heat conductor contacting and heating an unfixed toner image formed on a recording medium, a heater disposed opposite and heating the heat conductor, and a pressing roller pressed against the heat conductor to form a fixing nip between the heat conductor and the pressing roller through which the recording medium is conveyed. The method includes detecting a temperature of the pressing roller and controlling an input voltage to the heater based on the detected temperature of the pressing roller to maintain a temperature of the recording medium discharged from the fixing nip at a target temperature. | 04-10-2014 |
20140105628 | Method and System for Controlling a Fuser Assembly - A method and apparatus for providing a relatively short period of time for a fuser assembly to be ready to perform a fusing operation. Included is a fusing assembly having a heat transfer member and a backup member positioned to engage the heat transfer member so as to define a fusing nip therewith; and a controller coupled to the fuser assembly, wherein during a period of time when the fuser assembly is not performing a fusing operation, the controller activates the heat transfer member while causing the backup member to rotate at one or more relatively slow speeds relative to a fusing speed of the fuser assembly. | 04-17-2014 |
20140126924 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of this invention controls a fixing temperature when a fixing device of a printer engine fixes an image on a recording material. More specifically, the image forming apparatus sets the fixing temperature to a value lower than that in a normal mode when printing an image in a power saving mode, and decides an amount of applied toner with which the fixing device can fix the image on the recording material at the set fixing temperature. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus generates print data corresponding to the decided amount of applied toner from input image data, and prints the image on the recording material based on the generated print data. | 05-08-2014 |
20140133877 | FIXING DEVICE TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device temperature control method includes selectively energizing at least one of a plurality of heaters that heats a fixing rotary body according to an image area on a recording medium where a toner image is formed on the recording medium, detecting a temperature of a pressing rotary body pressed against the fixing rotary body, and controlling the energized, at least one of the plurality of heaters based on the detected temperature of the pressing rotary body so as to heat the fixing rotary body to a target temperature. The image area on the recording medium corresponds to a plurality of axial heating spans on the fixing rotary body. | 05-15-2014 |
20140133878 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT CONTROLS PRINT START TEMPERATURE OF FIXING SECTION, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus capable of performing image formation quickly and reducing power consumption. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms images by transferring toners to sheets and fixing the toners onto the sheets using a fixing section. A page count is acquired which is indicative of the number of pages on which image formation can be formed within a time period required before the temperature of the fixing section rises from a first temperature to a second temperature. Then, when it is determined that rendering of PDL data for pages in the page count is completed, if all of the pages in the page count are for the text images, the image forming unit is controlled such that printing is started when the temperature of the fixing section has reached the first temperature. | 05-15-2014 |
20140140715 | Fuser Unit - A fuser unit may include a cylindrical member, a heat generator, a nip member, and a backup member. A nip part may be defined between the cylindrical member and the backup member. The fuser unit may further include a conductive member, arranged to cover the heat generator at the inside of the cylindrical member, a temperature detection unit, a wiring, a first frame having insulation, arranged at an opposite side to the heat generator with respect to the conductive member being interposed therebetween at the inside of the cylindrical member, and which extends along the conductive member, and a second frame, arranged at an opposite side to the conductive member with respect to the first frame being interposed therebetween at the inside of the cylindrical member, and which extends along the first frame, wherein the wiring is arranged between the first frame and the second frame. | 05-22-2014 |
20140147150 | FUSER CONTROL DEVICE, FUSER CONTROL METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fuser control device that controls a fuser that heats and fuses developer on a medium for an image formation on the medium includes the fuser including a heating member that rotates while contacting and heating the medium, and a rotation member that rotates and sandwiches the medium with the heating member; a heat supply part that supplies heat to the heating member; a temperature detection part that detects a temperature of the heating member; a heating controller that controls the heat supply part based on a detection result by the temperature detection part; and a rotation controller that controls a rotational speed of the heating member. | 05-29-2014 |
20140147151 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING AN IMAGE - An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing member; a moving section that moves the fixing member in a sheet width direction; a temperature detection section disposed at a position corresponding to an end portion of the fixing member, the temperature detection section moving together with the fixing member to detect a temperature of the end portion; and a control section that performs a first movement control and a second movement control on the basis of a result of a detection by the temperature detection section, the first movement control being intended to move the fixing member in the sheet width direction in a reciprocating manner with a predetermined cycle, the second movement control being intended to move the fixing member in the sheet width direction so that the temperature of the fixing member falls within a predetermined temperature range. | 05-29-2014 |
20140153948 | Image-Forming Apparatus that Corrects Detected Temperature of Heating Member Detected by Non-Contact Temperature Sensor - An image-forming apparatus includes: a fixing device; a power supply unit; a non-contact temperature sensor; and a control device. The fixing device has a heating member. The power supply unit is configured to supply electric power to the heating member. The non-contact temperature sensor is disposed in a position separate from the heating member and configured to detect temperature of the heating member. A first function and a second function respectively produce a first corrected temperature value and a second corrected temperature value smaller than the first corrected temperature value with respect to a given detected temperature. The control device is configured to: select the first function to correct the detected temperature at a start of a print control process; switch from the first function to the second function at a prescribed timing during the print control process; and control the power supply unit based on the corrected temperature. | 06-05-2014 |
20140153949 | Image-Forming Apparatus Setting Upper Limit of Electric Power Based on Detection Result of Sheet Detector - In an image-forming apparatus, a sheet detector detects the recording sheet conveyed from the sheet accommodating unit by the pickup roller. A fixing unit includes a heating member configured to heat the recording sheet. A power supply unit supplies the heating member with electric power. A control device is configured to: | 06-05-2014 |
20140153950 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus configured to form a toner image on a recording material, includes: an image forming unit configured to form a unfixed toner image on the recording material; a fixing unit configured to heat the recording material where the unfixed toner image is formed while conveying the recording material using a nip portion, and to fix the unfixed toner image on the recording material; and a control unit configured to perform control so that temperature of the fixing unit is maintained in target temperature, with the target temperature (T | 06-05-2014 |
20140153951 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a heating unit configured to heat a sheet having a layer of decolorizable toner applied thereon, a pressing unit configured to press the sheet towards the heating unit, and a control unit. The heating unit includes a roll member, an elastic layer formed on an outer periphery of the roll member, and a heat generating unit. The control unit is configured to control the heat generating unit, such that a first temperature at a portion of a first surface of the decolorizable toner layer contacting the heating unit is lower than a first predetermined temperature at which the decolorizable toner is decolorized, and a second temperature at a portion of the second surface of the decolorizable toner layer opposite to the first surface is higher than a second predetermined temperature at which the decolorizable toner is fixed onto the sheet. | 06-05-2014 |
20140169818 | Method and System for Controlling a Fuser Assembly Using Temperature Feedback - A method and apparatus for providing a relatively short period of time for a fuser assembly to be ready to perform a fusing operation. Included is a fusing assembly having a heat transfer member and a backup member positioned to engage the heat transfer member so as to define a fusing nip therewith; and a controller coupled to the fuser assembly, wherein during a period of time when the fuser assembly is not performing a fusing operation, the controller causes the backup member to rotate at one or more relatively slow speeds relative to a fusing speed of the fuser assembly while activating the heat transfer member. At least one of a beginning and an ending of the period of time being based upon an actual temperature in the fuser assembly. | 06-19-2014 |
20140169819 | FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a first rotating unit and a second rotating unit. The first rotating unit has a heat generating unit and center and end portions that are configured to rotate around a first rotational axis. The second rotating unit has center and end portions that are configured to rotate around a second rotational axis. The second rotating unit is urged towards the first rotating unit and positioned to form a nip between the first rotating unit and the second rotating unit. At least one of the first rotating unit and the second rotating unit has a shape where a diameter of the center portion is greater than a diameter of the end portion. | 06-19-2014 |
20140169820 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heating member, a pressing member, a first heating source, a second heating source and a reflection body. The reflection body reflects radiant heat irradiated from the first heating source toward a fixing nip side portion of the heating member and blocks radiant heat irradiated from the second heating source toward the fixing nip side portion of the heating member. After the heating of the heating member by either one of the heating sources is started until the heating member is heated to the sheet-passable temperature, an amount of radiant heat from the second heating source is larger than that of radiant heat from the first heating source, and after the heating member is heated to the sheet-passable temperature, an amount of radiant heat from the first heating source is larger than that of radiant heat from the second heating source. | 06-19-2014 |
20140193168 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that fixes an image of a toner using any one of a first toner and a second toner on a recording medium, and a control unit that sets a fixing temperature and a standby temperature of the fixing unit. The control unit sets the fixing temperature when the image of the first toner is fixed, to a first temperature, sets the fixing temperature when the image of the second toner is fixed, to a second temperature lower than the first temperature and sets the standby temperature when the fixing unit is in a standby state, to a temperature closer than the second temperature than the first temperature. | 07-10-2014 |
20140199090 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, an endless fixing belt, a pressure roller, a temperature gauge, and a cooling device. The fixing belt is stretched between the heating roller and the fixing roller. The pressure roller includes a core rod and an elastic layer formed on an outer circumferential surface of the core rod, and is pressed against the fixing roller via the fixing belt to form a nip portion to thermally fix an image on a recording medium passed through the nip portion. The temperature gauge measures the surface temperature of the pressure roller. The cooling device includes plural cooling units arranged parallel to a rotation axis of the pressure roller, and cools the pressure roller while adjusting the amount of cooling for each of the cooling units in accordance with the surface temperature of the pressure roller measured by the temperature gauge. | 07-17-2014 |
20140212159 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressurizing member, a heat source, and a temperature sensing device. The fixing belt is rotatably provided. The pressurizing member is rotatably provided and is in pressed contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressurizing member and the fixing belt. The heat source heats the fixing belt. The temperature sensing device detects the temperature of the fixing belt. The temperature sensing device has a sensing element that is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt in a neighboring region of an end portion of the fixing nip and a pressing member configured to press the sensing element against the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. | 07-31-2014 |
20140212160 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus including a control unit and a heating unit for fixing an image on a recording medium and erasing the image on the recording medium. The control unit controls a heating temperature of the heating unit such that the heating temperature of the heating unit falls within any one of a first temperature range which is capable of fixing an inerasable developer, a second temperature range which is capable of fixing an erasable developer, and a fourth temperature range which satisfies both of the first temperature range and a third temperature range which is capable of erasing the erasable developer. | 07-31-2014 |
20140219672 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body, an opposed member, a heater, and a heating controller. The opposed member opposes the fixing rotary body to form a nipping portion therebetween. The heater includes heat generators arranged in a width direction of a recording medium. When the recording medium fed to the nipping portion has an image area and a non-image area, the heating controller controls the outputs of the heat generators based on image information so that a first heat generator of the heat generators corresponding to the image area is higher in temperature and a second heat generator of the heat generators corresponding to the non-image area is lower in temperature. Based on information other than the image information, the heating controller temporarily shifts an area of the fixing rotary body corresponding to the non-image area to a temperature differing from a normal temperature. | 08-07-2014 |
20140219673 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A fixing device includes a rotatable, endless fixing belt; a rotatable contact member configured to contact a circumferential surface of the fixing belt to form a nip in association with the fixing belt; and a heating member disposed at an interior surface of the fixing belt, configured to heat the fixing belt. The heating member includes a multiple heat sources arranged along the width of a sheet of recording media in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction. A controller changes an area to be heated by each heat source based on image data and corresponding to an unfixed image on the sheet. The fixing belt is heated by the heating member so that the unfixed image on the sheet that has been conveyed to the nip is fixed onto the sheet at least with heat. The heating member is disposed at a portion other than the fixing nip. | 08-07-2014 |
20140219674 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention prevents condensation on a pressure roller and excessive temperature rise of a non-paper-passage portion of a fixing unit by switching a blower unit that cools the fixing unit between a blowing mode in which the blower unit sends air to the non-paper-passage portion and an exhausting mode in which a fan of the blower unit is rotated reversely and the air in the fixing unit is exhausted out of the apparatus. | 08-07-2014 |
20140241748 | Self Lubricating Fuser and Method of Operation - A belt fuser assembly which dispenses lubricant oil or other depleted lubricant component to the inner surface of the fuser belt. The belt fuser assembly may include a lubricant dispenser positioned to be heated by the heating element of the fuser assembly for dispensing a lubricant oil to the inner surface of the fuser belt. A controller coupled to the heating element activates the heating element to generate heat at a fusing temperature during a fusing operation and at at least one second temperature greater than the fusing temperature during a lubricant dispensing operation so as to cause lubricant to dispense from the lubricant dispenser. | 08-28-2014 |
20140255054 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus has a fixing unit which heats an image formed on a recording medium using a discolorable coloring material which discolors by heating, at a fixing temperature lower than a heating temperature at which the discolorable coloring material discolors, to fix the image on the recording medium. The image forming apparatus has an operation control unit which controls execution of an image stabilization processing during a waiting time till a heating temperature of the fixing unit becomes the fixing temperature. | 09-11-2014 |
20140255055 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus has a fixing unit which heats an image formed on a recording medium at a fixing temperature, to fix the image on the recording medium. When a heating temperature of the fixing unit becomes a temperature higher than the fixing temperature, the image forming apparatus switches image forming, from image forming by a first mode using a discolorable coloring material, to image forming by a second mode using a non-discolorable coloring material. | 09-11-2014 |
20140270835 | FIXING CONTROL DEVICE, FIXING CONTROL METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing control device includes an image detection unit that determines presence of an image in each of areas obtained by division of an image formation region in which the image is formed, a heater selection unit that selects from heaters of a fixing device heaters at positions corresponding to areas in which the presence of the image is determined, a heating amount computation unit that computes a heating amount of a heating area heated by each of the selected heaters in a fixing region corresponding to the image formation region, a change amount computation unit that computes an amount of change of the heating amount between adjoining ones of the heating areas, and a heating amount correction unit that corrects one of the heating amounts of the adjoining heating areas so that the amount of change after the correction is less than a predetermined threshold. | 09-18-2014 |
20140286665 | FIXING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium includes an image forming unit that forms an unfixed toner image on a recording medium; a fixing unit that heats the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image and fixes the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium at a nip portion; a heating member and a pressurizing member that touches the heating member and forms the nip portion therebetween; a first blower that blows air to a non-sheet-passing area of a small-size recording medium in the heating member; and a second blower that blows air to a non-sheet-passing area of a small-size recording medium in the pressurizing member. Upon the temperature of the non-sheet-passing area of the heating member exceeding a threshold temperature, the first blower blows without the second blower blowing, then the two blowers start blowing together. | 09-25-2014 |
20140286666 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having: an endless fixing belt; a heating member heating the fixing belt; a support member maintaining the fixing belt substantially circular; a pressing member in contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip portion; a temperature sensor; a position detector; a storage storing temperatures and positions of the fixing belt detected by the temperature sensor and the position detector; and a control unit. The control unit is operable in a characteristic storing mode and in a fixing mode. In the characteristic storing mode, temperatures of the fixing belt associated with positions are detected, and the detected temperatures and positions are stored in the storage. In the fixing mode, temperatures of the fixing nip portion are predicted with reference to the temperatures and positions stored in the storage, and the heating member is controlled such that the predicted temperatures become a target temperature. | 09-25-2014 |
20140294418 | FUSER CONTROL DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fuser control device includes a fuser device that a holding member holds configured to fuse a developing image to a printing medium, a fuser heater that is installed at the holding member configured to generate heat for at least a central part and side parts of a heat application roller, a first temperature detection part configured to detect a temperature of the fuser device and configured to transmit the temperature of the fuser device as a first detecting temperature, a second temperature detection part configured to detect a temperature of the holding member and configured to transmit the temperature of the holding member as a second detecting temperature, and a heat application control unit configured to control the temperature of the fuser device with changing a targeting temperature for the fuser device based on a controlling condition, wherein an amount of heat generation. | 10-02-2014 |
20140294419 | Image Forming Apparatus and Heat Fixing Device Provided in the Same - An image forming apparatus may include an endless belt, a heater, a first temperature sensor, and a second temperature sensor. The endless belt may be configured to circularly move about a rotational axis extending in an axial direction. The endless belt may have a center portion and end portions in the axial direction, and define an internal space therein and an outer peripheral surface. The heater may be configured to heat the endless belt. The first temperature sensor may be positioned at the center portion and in the internal space. The second temperature sensor may be positioned at one of the end portions and facing the outer peripheral surface. | 10-02-2014 |
20140308050 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes an image heating member configured to heat an image on a recording medium, a heat source heating the image heating member from an inside thereof, an image heating temperature detecting member detecting a surface temperature of the image heating member, an external heating member heating the image heating member from an outside of the image heating member, a cooling fan cooling a surface of the image heating member, and a control portion. The control portion is capable of executing a first mode of controlling a temperature detected by the image heating temperature detecting member under a predetermined control condition to a target temperature while executing a preceding job and a second mode of switching the predetermined control condition while maintaining a setting of the target temperature while processing the preceding job. | 10-16-2014 |
20140321873 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion, including a heating member and a back-up member forming a nip; and an air feeding portion for feeding air to a non-sheet-passing area of at least one of the heating member and the back-up member, the air feeding portion including a fan for feeding the air, a duct, including an opening, for guiding the air fed from the fan through the opening to the non-sheet-passing area, and an adjusting member for adjusting an opening amount of the opening. The apparatus executes a first air feeding operation with a first opening amount and a first rotational frequency of the fan and a second air feeding operation with a second opening amount and a second rotational frequency, when the fixing portion fixes the images on sheets having the same widths. | 10-30-2014 |
20140341599 | IMAGE HEATING DEVICE - An image heating device includes first and second heating elements, a temperature detection element, and an electric power controller. The electric power controller controls electric power to be supplied to the both heating elements for each control cycle corresponding to a period including a plurality of consecutive half cycles of alternate current per a detected temperature. The electric power controller controls electric power such that a current having a waveform including first half cycles and a second half cycle is supplied to both heating elements. The electric power controller sets a first control pattern such that the first and second half cycles overlap with each other in the half cycles of same phases in supplied alternate current and sets a second control pattern such that the first half cycles overlap with each other and the second half cycles overlap with each other in the half cycles of the same phases. | 11-20-2014 |
20140348528 | FIXING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided with a fixing unit in which flickers can be effectively reduced while inhibiting electric current imbalance. The fixing unit comprises a fixing heater, a switching unit for switching the fixing heater on/off with an AC power source, and a control unit which controls the switching unit to switch in units of the half wave period of the AC power source AC, and a storing unit for storing a plurality of energization patterns which define the ways of performing the switch control. Each energization pattern corresponds to a control cycle which contains a three or more odd number of the half wave periods each of which is either an OFF period and an ON period, and all the half wave periods of the smaller in number of the ON periods and the OFF periods are not successively arranged. | 11-27-2014 |
20140356008 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming section that uses a toner containing flat pigment particles; a second image forming section that uses a toner not containing the flat pigment particles; and a fixing section that fixes an image formed on a recording medium to the recording medium using heat. The quantity of heat that the fixing section applies to the image is increased in the case where the image formed on the recording medium using the toner containing the flat pigment particles is to be fixed compared to a case where the image formed on the recording medium using the toner not containing the flat pigment particles is to be fixed. | 12-04-2014 |
20140369707 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - In an image forming apparatus for controlling temperature of a fixing section based on a color material amount obtained from image data, it is determined whether the image data is a specific image, and the temperature of the fixing section is controlled so that the temperature of the fixing section becomes a predetermined temperature without using the color material amount obtained from the image data in a case where it is determined that the image data is a specific image as a determination result. | 12-18-2014 |
20140369708 | FUSER CONTROL DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fuser control device includes a heat application part for heat supply, a fuser part that has a passage region where a print medium passes through and a not-passage region that is located at both sides of the passage region where the print medium does not pass through, and a first temperature detection part that detects a first temperature of the passage region, a second temperature detection part that detects a second temperature of the not-passage region, and a heat application controller that changes a target temperature according to the first detection temperature and the second detection temperature, and performs the heat generation such that a temperature of the fuser part approaches the target temperature. | 12-18-2014 |
20140376938 | FIXING DEVICE FOR FIXING A TONER IMAGE ON A SHEET-SHAPED RECORDING MEDIUM AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a rotational member configured to convey and heat a sheet-shaped recording medium, the rotational member including a first heating member and a second heating member provided in parallel to a rotational axis of the rotational member in an interior thereof, the first heating member including a first heat generation part, the second heating member including a second heat generation part and an auxiliary heat generation part adjacent to the second heat generation part, a common temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the first heating member and a temperature of the second heating member, and a control part configured to control a ratio of a rate of lighting of the first heating member and a rate of lighting of the second heating member based on the temperature of the first heating member and the temperature of the second heating member. | 12-25-2014 |
20140376939 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, WHICH INCLUDES FIXING AND DECOLORIZING SECTION - An image forming apparatus includes a count section configured to count time during which no image forming is performed and a control section configured to allow heating of a heat generating section at temperature for decolorizing after the time counted by the count section reaches the a predetermined threshold time. | 12-25-2014 |
20150030345 | FUSER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fuser includes a pressure application part that applies pressure to a medium for forming a print image; an annular body rotatably supported for carrying the medium for applying heat to the medium for forming the print image; a fuser part heat generation body arranged for generating heat to apply heat to the annular body; a first temperature detection end arranged in contact with one end part outside a medium carrying corresponding range of a surface of the annular body and detects temperature of the annular body outside the medium carrying corresponding range. The medium carrying corresponding range is a range in which the medium is carried. A heat generation interruption part that, in response to the temperature of the annular body that is detected via the first temperature detection end, interrupts heat generation of the fuser part heat generation body. | 01-29-2015 |
20150030346 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND NON-TRANSITORY RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING RECORDED THEREIN TEMPERATURE CONTROL PROGRAM FOR USE IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus forms a toner image of text on a recording sheet based on PDL data prescribing text data and one or more print conditions of thereof, and thermally fixes the toner image, and includes: condition acquisition unit analyzing the PDL data to acquire, as the conditions, one or more of character number, character spacing, and line spacing from the PDL data; judgment unit judging for each condition, by comparing the condition with reference value, the judgment indicating whether the condition is suitable for ensuring fixability of the toner image if thermally fixed at a temperature that is lower than predetermined temperature; and temperature control unit, when the judgment unit judges negatively for at least one condition, setting a fixing temperature for thermally fixing the toner image to the predetermined temperature, when the judgment unit judges affirmatively for all conditions, setting the fixing temperature to the lower temperature. | 01-29-2015 |
20150037056 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electronic apparatus includes a thermopile array sensor, a reflector, and a temperature detection unit. The thermopile array sensor includes a plurality of thermopile elements arranged in a two-dimensional array pattern and a temperature detection surface divided into a plurality of predetermined regions aligned in vertical and horizontal directions, and the thermopile elements output a temperature detection signal corresponding to a temperature of the respective predetermined regions. The reflector is set at an angle to reflect infrared light emitted from a measurement point located outside of a viewing angle of the thermopile array sensor, so as to allow the infrared light to be incident on the temperature detection surface. The temperature detection unit detects the temperature on the basis of the temperature detection signal outputted from each of the thermopile elements. The thermopile array sensor and the reflector are located inside the electronic apparatus. | 02-05-2015 |
20150043934 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit having a heater, a temperature detection unit, a power control unit, and a conveyance control unit that controls conveying a recording material. The conveyance control unit executes, when the maximum power is greater than a threshold power, a first mode where conveyance is performed according to a time, and executes, in a case where the maximum power is less than the threshold power, a second mode where conveyance is performed according to the detected temperature. The power control unit sets a larger value to the threshold power when an option device is connected to the image forming apparatus as compared to when the option device is not connected to the image forming apparatus. | 02-12-2015 |
20150050038 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a pressing member, heat generators, temperature detectors, a power source, and a heat controller. The heat generators include a first heat generator and second heat generators corresponding to an imaged area and a blank area, respectively, of a recording medium. The heat controller controls a power source according to data provided by the temperature detectors, such that a heating area of the fixing member heated by one of the second heat generators located adjacent to the first heat generator acquires a temperature of T | 02-19-2015 |
20150055968 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS - An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable member; a first heater and a second heater, for heating the rotatable member, wherein a ratio of a heat generation amount of the second heater at a end portion thereof to that at a central portion thereof is larger than that of the second heater at a end portion thereof to that at a central portion thereof with respect to the generatrix direction; a back-up member; a sensor, and an electric power supply controller capable of controlling the first heater and the second heater, independently. The controller effects switching to decrease a ratio of the power to the second heater to the power to the first heater, when heating a small width sheet. Immediately after the switching, the power to the second heater is smaller and the power to the first heater is larger than those immediately before the switching. | 02-26-2015 |
20150055969 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus is provided which shortens the time for image formation, thereby improving the convenience. To achieve this, the control part of the image forming apparatus has a job data acquisition part and a conveyance speed control part. The job data acquisition part acquires job data from an operation panel part, a document reading part, an external terminal, or the like. The conveyance speed control part measures the temperature of a temperature sensor at the time of initial start-up operation of conveying a recording sheet, and at the time when the recording sheet has reached a registration roller pair, respectively. Further, the conveyance speed control part selects whether or not to wait for a prescribed waiting time and whether or not to reduce the fixing speed below a normal speed, according to a condition corresponding to the respective measured temperatures. | 02-26-2015 |
20150063852 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on a recording medium, a heating unit and a pressurizing unit provided in a fixing unit, a first heater, a second heater, and a control unit configured to alternately repeat a heating state and a non-heating state for the respective heaters and heat the heating unit. The control unit alternately subjects the first and second heaters to heating control such that any one of the first and second heaters is in the heated state, if a predetermined condition holds, sets a heating time of at least one heater shorter than a heating time during the alternate heating control and controls the first and second heaters such that any one of the first and second heaters is in the heating state or both of the first and second heaters are in the non-heating state. | 03-05-2015 |
20150063853 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof in which occurrence or removal of a paper rolling state in a fusing device is judged based on temperature of the fusing device. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor to sense temperature of the fusing device, a memory to store information about occurrence or removal of the paper rolling state, and a controller to judge occurrence or removal of the paper rolling state. The controller detects an initial temperature of the fusing device when the apparatus is turned off and then on in a state in which the information about occurrence of the paper rolling state is stored in the memory, heats the fusing device by applying power thereto for a predetermined time based on the initial temperature, and judges occurrence or removal of the paper rolling state based on temperature of the fusing device detected after power application. | 03-05-2015 |
20150071668 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a first medium at an image forming position, a fixing unit configured to fix the image formed on the first medium by heating the first medium at a first temperature, a conveying unit configured to convey the first medium to the fixing unit through a first path extending from the image forming position to the fixing unit and convey a second medium to the fixing unit through a second path that merges with the first path at a position between the image forming position and the fixing unit, and a control unit configured to control the fixing unit to be a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature, when the control unit determines that the conveying unit is conveying the second medium to the fixing unit through the second path. | 03-12-2015 |
20150071669 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - To appropriately adjust a fixing temperature according to an amount of applied toner, an image forming apparatus for controlling a temperature of a fixing unit configured to fix a color material on a printing sheet, acquires a color material amount of each page of image data of a plurality of pages, determines whether a setting for printing image data of the plurality of pages on a printing sheet is done, decides one color material amount out of a plurality of acquired color material amounts if it is determined that the setting for printing image data of the plurality of pages on one printing sheet is done, and controls a temperature of the fixing unit using a fixing temperature corresponding to the decided color material amount. | 03-12-2015 |
20150086230 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a heater heating a fixing member; an acquisition unit acquiring, when an image for one page includes a coded identifier image, information on a range of formation of the coded identifier image on a recording sheet in a sheet-passing direction; a target temperature switching unit switching a target temperature at which temperature of the fixing member is to be maintained at least between a first fixing temperature and a second fixing temperature higher than the first fixing temperature; a controller controlling the heater so that the temperature of the fixing member is maintained at the target temperature, wherein the target temperature switching unit switches the target temperature at a timing such that the temperature of the fixing member is equal to the second fixing temperature while a toner image in the range of formation of the coded identifier image is being fixed. | 03-26-2015 |
20150086231 | Fuser Assembly with Automatic Media Width Sensing and Thermal Compensation - A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic imaging device includes a heater including a substrate, a resistive trace disposed and running along a length of the substrate for generating heat for fusing toner to a sheet of media when a current is passed therethrough, and at least three conductors for passing current through the resistive trace. The at least three conductors include a first conductor connected to a first end portion of the resistive trace, a second conductor connected to a second end portion of the resistive trace, and a third conductor connected to the resistive trace at a location between the first end portion and the second end portion thereof. A temperature sensor senses a temperature of an edge segment of the substrate. Based upon the temperature sensed, circuitry selects between the first conductor and the third conductor for passing current through the resistive trace. | 03-26-2015 |
20150110512 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING FIXING DEVICE THAT RESPONDS TO REQUEST WHEN USING DECOLORABLE INK - An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material that is not thermally decolorizable; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material that is thermally decolorizable; a fixing device which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a controller which controls the fixing device so that a temperature of the fixing device is lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material when the second recording medium reaches the fixing device. | 04-23-2015 |
20150139676 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - To appropriately adjust a fixing temperature corresponding to an amount of applied toner, an image forming apparatus controls a temperature of a fixing unit configured to fix a recording material on a sheet. The apparatus acquires an amount of the recording material of each page in image data of a plurality of pages generated by dividing image data of one page; determines one fixing temperature using the acquired plurality of amounts of the recording material if a setting of dividing the image data of one page and printing the image data on a plurality of sheets is done; and controls the temperature of the fixing unit using the determined fixing temperature. | 05-21-2015 |
20150139677 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - There is provided an image forming apparatus including a fixing unit in which fixing temperature is calculated from a toner bearing amount and fixing processing is performed while reducing drop in the print speed. A method for controlling a temperature of a fixing unit for fixing a recording material onto a recording medium includes determining, for image data of a plurality of pages, whether a data size of the image data of a unit page is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and based on the determination result, selecting whether to control the temperature of the fixing unit to be a temperature determined from the amount of the recording material of the image data of the unit page, or to control the temperature of the fixing unit to be a predetermined temperature. | 05-21-2015 |
20150139678 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus can be used in areas having different power supply voltages, in which a failure of the apparatus can be detected so that reliability of the apparatus is improved. The apparatus includes a connection state switching part which switches connection of a first heat generating member and a second heat generating member, which generate heat by electric power supplied from a commercial power supply through a power supply path, between a serial connection state and a parallel connection state, and a current detection part which detects current flowing in the power supply path. The current detection part is disposed in the power supply path after branching toward the first heat generating member and the second heat generating member in the parallel connection state. | 05-21-2015 |
20150147077 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD FOR USE IN FIXING DEVICE, AND NON-TRANSITORY RECORDING MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device. The fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller. The fixing roller applies heat of a predetermined fixing temperature T1 to a print sheet S to which a toner image has been transferred. The pressure roller has a larger heat capacity than the fixing roller. A control portion of the image forming apparatus determines, in a power saving mode, whether or not a detection result of a temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a motor rotation start temperature T3 which is lower than the fixing temperature T1 (first step). Upon determining that the detection result is equal to or lower than the motor rotation start temperature T3, the control portion controls a driving motor to rotate the fixing roller at least once in the state where a halogen lamp has been lighted off (second step). | 05-28-2015 |
20150309456 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - An image formation apparatus includes a fixation unit supported by a support member and configured to be heated by a heater and thereby fix an image attached on a print medium onto the print medium; a first temperature detector attached to the support member to detect a temperature of a vicinity of the fixation unit and output a first detection temperature; a second temperature detector attached to the support member to detect a temperature of the support member and output a second detection temperature; a medium width detector provided to detect a width of the print medium and output a detected width; and a heat controller configured to change a control condition in accordance with the second detection temperature, a calorific value of the heater and the detected width, and to thereby control a temperature of the fixation unit. | 10-29-2015 |
20150316879 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD TO CONTROL THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit, a fixing unit with a heater, an end temperature sensor to detect a temperature in an end area an end area of the fixing unit, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to perform a width obtaining step to obtain the width of the sheet, a temperature obtaining step to obtain the detected temperature of the fixing unit, a comparison step to compare the detected temperature with a threshold, a cooling step to let the end area of the fixing unit cool down when the detected temperature is one of higher and equal to the threshold, and a threshold-setting step to set one of a first value and a second value to be the threshold depending on the width of the sheet obtained in the width obtaining step. | 11-05-2015 |
20150331368 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Depending on an output impedance of a commercial AC power supply calculated by an output impedance calculating unit, a control unit controls the supply of power so that a current of a first waveform pattern capable of supplying an amount of power to be supplied to a heat generating member determined based on temperature information and capable of supplying power such that a harmonic current value is suppressed smaller than a predetermined value flows into the heat generating member, or the control unit controls the supply of power so that a current of a second waveform pattern capable of supplying an amount of power to be supplied to the heat generating member based on the temperature information and capable of supplying power such that the value of a flicker Pst is suppressed smaller than a predetermined value flows into the heat generating member. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331369 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a pressurizer constituted of a rotating body, and a heater including a heat source, a fixing belt heated by the heat source, and a pressing portion disposed inside the fixing belt sandwiched between the pressing portion and the pressurizer disposed outside the fixing belt. The fixing device further includes a non-contact type temperature detector for measuring surface temperature of the fixing belt, a displacement detector for detecting a displacement of a measurement target position of the fixing belt with respect to the temperature detector, and a controller configured to adjust amount of heat generation of the heat source on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature detector and the displacement detected by the displacement detector, so as to perform temperature adjustment of the surface temperature of the fixing belt. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331371 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion for heating and fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material, said fixing portion including a heater having a heat generating element a substrate, a heat leveling member contacting said heater and having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the substrate, and a temperature detecting member for detecting a temperature of said heat leveling member; a controller for controlling electric power supplied to said heater a target temperature, wherein a period in which said controller raises the target temperature with increase of a number of the recording materials is provided in a period in which recording materials having widths smaller a width of maximum size recording material usable with said device are continuously subjected to fixing operations. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331372 | FIXING DEVICE AND FIXING TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD OF FIXING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes determination means for determining a size of an image forming area of a medium, heating means for including an endless rotating body, plural heat-generating members which are formed in a perpendicular direction to a transport direction and divided by a predetermined length, and are disposed so as to come into contact with an inner side of the rotating body, and a switching unit which switches individual conduction of these heat-generating members, and heats the medium, pressing means for forming a nip by performing pressing and contact at a position of the plural heat-generating members, and nipping and carrying the medium in the transport direction along with the heating means, and heating control means for controlling the switching unit to select and conduct heat-generating members and controlling the heating means to heat the medium. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331373 | FIXING DEVICE AND FIXING TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD OF FIXING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes determination means for determining the size of an image forming area of a medium, heating means for including an endless rotating body, plural heat-generating members which are formed in a perpendicular direction to a transporting direction, inclined by a predetermined angle, and divided by a predetermined length, and are disposed so as to come into contact with an inner side of the rotating body, and a switching unit which switches individual conduction, and heats the medium, pressing means for forming a nip by performing pressing and contact at a position of the plural heat-generating members, and nipping and carrying the medium in the transporting direction along with the heating means, and heating control means for controlling the switching unit to select and conduct heat-generating members and controlling the heating means to heat the medium. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331376 | FIXING DEVICE AND FIXING TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD OF FIXING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes determination means for determining the size of a medium, heating means for including plural heat-generating members which are two-dimensionally arranged such that the heat-generating members are lined up along two parallel lines or more which are vertical to a transport direction of the medium and divided at locations on the parallel lines, and are disposed so as to come into contact with an inner side of the rotating body, and a switching unit which switches individual conduction, and heats the medium, pressing means for forming a nip by performing pressing and contact at a position of the plural heat-generating members, and heating control means for selecting a group of the heat-generating members which are lined up in the two-dimensional arrangement, conducting the selected group of the heat-generating members, and controlling the heating means. | 11-19-2015 |
20150338793 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - When changing the turn-on/off patterns, a controller of a fixing device sets a control interval of the turn-on/off pattern so as to be longer than a first period of time that does not exert any influence to a flicker value and to be shorter than a second period of time that does not exert any influence to a response to temperature control. The controller of the fixing device selects a third turn-on/off pattern in which power difference between power of a first turn-on/off pattern before the change in the turn-on/off pattern and power of a second turn-on/off pattern after the change in the turn-on/off pattern is smaller than a set reference power difference. | 11-26-2015 |
20150338797 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD FOR FIXING DEVICE IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a heating member configured to heat a medium, a pressurizing member configured to convey the medium, a main heating source configured to switch and heat a first area and a second area of the heating member, an auxiliary heating source configured to simultaneously heat the first area and the second area, detecting members configured to respectively detect surface temperatures of the first area and the second area, an auxiliary-heating-condition storing section configured to store a energizing time and a non-energizing time of the auxiliary heating source at a start of image formation, and heating-source control sections configured to respectively control the heating in the main heating source and the heating in the auxiliary heating source. The heating-source control sections acquire the energizing time from the auxiliary-heating-condition storing section and control the heating in the auxiliary heating source. | 11-26-2015 |
20150338798 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a heating member configured to heat a recording medium, on the surface of which a toner image is carried, to fix the toner on the recording medium; a pressing member configured to contact with the recording paper from the back side of the recording paper; an induction heating section configured to heat the heating member through induction heating; a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature nearby the heating member; a driving control section configured to carry out a control based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the heating member based on the induction heating section is within an allowable temperature range; a temperature range setting section configured to set the allowable temperature range so that the allowable temperature range is narrowed as time elapses from the start of a fixing processing. | 11-26-2015 |
20150338800 | IIMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor obtains information regarding reuse of a sheet. The controller controls a heating temperature of a fixer such that a target fixing temperature becomes a fixing temperature corresponding to the information regarding the reuse to be obtained by the sensor. | 11-26-2015 |
20150338801 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus comprising sheet cassettes accommodating different kinds of sheets, respectively; an image forming station for forming images on the sheets fed from the accommodating portions in response to image formation instructions; a heater for heating the images on the sheets; an acquiring portion for acquiring information corresponding to kinds of the sheets; a controller configured to control a target temperature when the heater heats the image on the sheet, on the basis of the information; a selector for selecting one of modes including a first mode in which the target temperatures are set for the kinds of the sheets, respectively and a second mode in which the target temperatures are set commonly to the kinds of the sheets, wherein the controller sets the target temperature of the heater in a stand-by state, at a common temperature, when the selector selects the second mode. | 11-26-2015 |
20150346657 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a first rotatory body, a first heater, a second rotatory body, a temperature detection section, and a determination section. The first heater heats the first rotatory body. The second rotatory body and the first rotatory body provide a fixing nip where a recording medium becomes sandwiched. The temperature detection section detects a temperature change in an end portion of an outer circumferential surface of the first rotatory body. The determination section determines a rotation state of the first rotatory body based on a result of detection by the temperature detection section. The end portion of the first rotatory body has at least one first region and at least one second region that are arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. The first region has a first thermal conductivity. The second region has a second thermal conductivity that is different from the first thermal conductivity. | 12-03-2015 |
20150355584 | FIXING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD OF FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a heating unit configured to heat an endless belt stretched around a plurality of rollers, a lower pressure roller pressed into contact with the fixing belt, and a control unit configured to control the temperature of the fixing belt by controlling the heating unit, and fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a continuous paper to the continuous paper by heat from the heated object under a nipping pressure applied at the nip portion which is formed by engagement between the fixing belt and the lower pressure roller. The control unit controls the temperature of the fixing belt to be a stand-by temperature lower than such a first temperature, which is set up in advance, that paper trouble might occur if the continuous paper is continuously heated at a temperature not lower than the first temperature in a stand-by state in which fixing is not performed. | 12-10-2015 |
20150378289 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND THE IMAGE FORMING METHOD - In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprising a printer section configured to include a first image forming section which forms a monochrome image with inerasable coloring agent and a plurality of color image forming sections at least one of which forms a color image with erasable coloring agent; and a control section configured to control the printer section so that the printer section operates in a first mode of forming a monochrome image through the first image forming section, a second mode of forming an erasable image with the erasable coloring agent, and a third mode of forming an image through the first image forming section and the plurality of color image forming sections. | 12-31-2015 |
20160004195 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, FIXING TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD, AND FIXING TEMPERATURE CONTROL PROGRAM - An image forming apparatus includes: a printing unit that includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image of each page on recording paper, and a fixation unit that thermally fixes the toner image on the recording paper; and a control unit that controls the printing unit and includes a data acquisition unit, an analysis unit, a rasterization unit, and a printing control unit, wherein the analysis unit includes a band division unit that divides each page into a plurality of bands, and a condition determination unit that determines whether or not low temperature fixation executed at a relatively low temperature is allowed for each of the bands, and sets a fixing temperature for each of the bands based on a determination result, and the printing control unit controls a fixing temperature of the fixation unit based on the fixing temperature set for each of the bands. | 01-07-2016 |
20160011551 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS | 01-14-2016 |
20160018769 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing member that heats a developer for fixing the developer to a medium, a temperature control unit that heats the fixing member and controls a temperature of the fixing member, a transport member that transports the medium through the fixing unit, and a transport control unit that controls a transport speed at which the transport member transports the medium. At least one of before and after an image forming operation, the image forming apparatus performs a temperature control operation of the fixing unit while transporting the medium through the fixing unit. When the image forming apparatus performs the temperature control operation at least one of before and after the image forming operation, the transport control unit causes the transport member to transport the medium at a transport speed slower than a fastest transport speed among a plurality of preset transport speeds. | 01-21-2016 |
20160026127 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus configured to include a rotational member having a conductive layer, a coil having a helical shape, a resonance circuit including a resonance capacitor and configured to be formed together with the rotational member and the coil, a first converter driving the resonance circuit, a second converter used to control power to be supplied to the first converter, a frequency setting unit configured to set a driving frequency of the first converter according to at least one of a size of the recording material and a temperature at a sheet non-passing portion of the rotational member, and a power control unit controlling the second converter according to a temperature at a sheet passing portion of the rotational member to control the power to be supplied to the first converter from the second converter, wherein the conductive layer is caused to generate heat by electromagnetic induction. | 01-28-2016 |
20160026128 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit that fixes the toner image formed on the recording paper, a rubbing roller that rubs a fixing surface of the recording paper with the fixed toner image, and an image density detection unit that detects image density of the fixing surface of the recording paper having passed through the rubbing roller, wherein a plurality of patch images for fixability evaluation are formed on one piece of recording paper at a predetermined interval in a recording paper conveyance direction, fixing temperature of the fixing unit is changed for each of the formed patch images, the patch images are fixed to the recording paper, and comparison of each image density of a rubbed part and a non-rubbed part by the rubbing roller is performed for each patch image fixed at each fixing temperature, so that appropriate fixing temperature is set. | 01-28-2016 |
20160026130 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing apparatus includes a tubular rotation member including a conductive layer, a helical coil, a resonance circuit, including a resonance capacitor, formed with the rotation member and the coil, a resonance inverter configured to control the resonance circuit, and a control unit configured to control electric power supplied to the resonance inverter, wherein the conductive layer generates heat with electromagnetic induction caused by magnetic flux generated through the coil, wherein the control unit sets a driving frequency of the resonance inverter according to at least one of a size of the recording medium and a temperature of a non-sheet-passing portion of the rotation member, and wherein the control unit changes a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit according to the set driving frequency. | 01-28-2016 |
20160026132 | HEAT-FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes: a rotatable member including an electroconductive layer; a helical coil having a helical axis direction along a generatrix direction of said rotatable member; a magnetic member not forming a loop outside the electroconductive layer; a frequency setting portion for setting a frequency of an AC current caused to flow through said coil; and a temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of said rotatable member, including a first temperature detecting member and a second temperature detecting member. The electroconductive layer generates heat through electromagnetic induction heating by magnetic flux resulting from the AC current, and an image is fixed on a recording material by heat of said rotatable member. The frequency setting portion sets the frequency depending on a value of a difference between a detection temperature of said first temperature detecting member and a detection temperature of said second temperature detecting member. | 01-28-2016 |
20160033907 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, FIXING DEVICE AND FIXING BELT TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE SUBJECTING A FIXING BELT TO A HEATING TEST - A fixing device comprises a fixing belt heated through electromagnetic induction; a pressing roller; a plurality of temperature detection devices arranged along a width direction of the belt; and a control device consisting of a storage section and a control section and connecting with the detection devices and the heating device. The control section supplies a given output for the heating device when the belt is rotated initially, measures an initial temperature distribution of the belt on basis of a signal from the plurality of detection devices, and controls the output to the heating device on the basis of the initial distribution to control the initial distribution of the belt in a given range. The storage section stores the output control. The control section controls the output to the heating device based on the control stored in the storage section every time the belt is rotated after the initial rotation. | 02-04-2016 |
20160054687 | FIXING DEVICE THAT FIXES IMAGES OF DECOLORABLE AND NON-DECOLORABLE MATERIALS - A fixing device includes a roller, a pressing member pressed against the roller, such that when a sheet having an unfixed image is passed thorough a nip formed between the roller and the pressing member, the unfixed image is fixed on the sheet, a first heater configured to heat the roller, a second heater configured to heat the pressing member, and a controller configured to control the second heater, such that a time-averaged heat generation by the second heater when an image of a decolorable material is fixed is greater than a time-averaged heat generation by the second heater when an image of a non-decolorable material is fixed. | 02-25-2016 |
20160062284 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PHASE CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a phase controller for controlling input power applied to a heating body through phase control. The image forming apparatus includes a fuser having the heating body, a switching unit supplying the input power to the heating body, and a phase controller determining an input phase of the input power based on a temperature of the fuser, in which the phase controller further controls the switching unit to vary a phase of the input power supplied to the heating body within a phase range set based on the input phase, for each control cycle of the input power. | 03-03-2016 |
20160062285 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes: a rotatable member; a helical coil; a magnetic core; and a controller for controlling a frequency of an AC current caused to flow through the coil. The AC current is caused to flow through the coil to cause an electroconductive layer of the rotatable member to generate heat through electromagnetic induction heating thereby to heat and fix the toner image on the recording material by heat of the rotatable member. The controller controls the frequency in a period so that when the frequency is f and a resistance of the electroconductive layer with respect to a circumferential direction is R, f/R is substantially constant. | 03-03-2016 |
20160062301 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING PHASE OF INPUT POWER - A phase detector includes an alternating current input unit to which input power is applied; a zero cross generator that outputs a zero cross signal at a zero cross point of the input power by using a photo coupler; and a zero cross detector that converts the zero cross signal to a pulse signal and detects the phase of the input power based on the pulse signal. A compensation capacitor is connected in parallel at a first side of the photo coupler. | 03-03-2016 |
20160070213 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DECOLORING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a heating section that heats an image on a sheet formed of decolorable color material; an image forming section that transfers the image formed of the decolorable color material to the sheet; a diagnosis image generating section that instructs the image forming section to generate a diagnosis image formed of a predetermined image on a sheet; a control section that controls the heating section to switch a fixing temperature for fixing the image formed of the decolorable color material on the sheet to a decoloring temperature for decoloring the image formed of the decolorable color material on the sheet; and a first transporting route that transports the sheet on which the diagnosis image of the decolorable color material is formed through the image forming section to the heating section maintained at the decoloring temperature. | 03-10-2016 |
20160070214 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that uses a toner including a flat pigment, a second image forming unit that uses a toner not including a flat pigment, and a fixing unit that fixes a toner image formed on a recording medium by heat. In the image forming apparatus, a minimum fixing temperature of the toner including the flat pigment is lower than a minimum fixing temperature of the toner not including the flat pigment. | 03-10-2016 |
20160070216 | HEATER AND IMAGE HEATING DEVICE MOUNTED WITH HEATER - A heater of the present invention includes jointed heat generating resistors having a positive temperature characteristic of resistance and provided between a first conductive element and a second conductive element on a substrate in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a plurality of heating blocks provided in the longitudinal direction, each of which is a set of the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the heat generating resistor, and power supplied to at least one of the plurality of heating blocks can be controlled independent of other heating blocks. | 03-10-2016 |
20160077474 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, WHICH INCLUDES A FIXING DEVICE CAPABLE OF FIXING ERASABLE TONER - An image forming apparatus comprises a fixing device configured to fix an image formed by an image forming section on an image receiving medium. The fixing device includes a heating roller, an auxiliary roller arranged at an entering side of the image receiving medium, and a fixing belt which is stretched by a plurality of rollers including the auxiliary roller and cyclically rotates in a state of being contacted with part of the outer periphery of the heating roller; wherein the auxiliary roller is arranged at a position which is closer to the entering side of the image receiving medium than a fixing nip section between the heating roller and the fixing belt and is at a preset distance away from the fixing nip section. The image forming apparatus further comprises an inlet guide configured closer to the entering side of the image receiving medium than the auxiliary roller. | 03-17-2016 |
20160085187 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a roller, an endless belt, and a heat generating member disposed in a space inside the endless belt, extending in a width direction of the endless belt, and pressing the endless belt against the roller. A sheet is passed through a nip formed between the roller and a portion of the endless belt pressed by the heat generating member, such that an image on the sheet is fixed thereto. The heat generating member includes first and second heat generating portions that are adjacent to each other along the width direction and independently operable from each other. A boundary of the first and second heat generating portions extends in a direction inclined with respect to a sheet conveying direction. | 03-24-2016 |
20160085188 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a roller, an endless belt, and a heat generating member disposed in a space inside the endless belt, extending in a width direction of the endless belt, and pressing the endless belt against the roller. A sheet is passed through a nip formed between the roller and a portion of the endless belt pressed by the heat generating member, such that an image on the sheet is fixed thereto. The heat generating member includes first and second heat generating portions that are adjacent to each other along the width direction, and the first portion heat generating is independently operable from the second heat generating portion. | 03-24-2016 |
20160091843 | FIXING DEVICE - A fixing device includes a temperature detection unit that detects temperature associated with temperature of an abutting section of a fixing roller and a pressing roller, and a control unit that controls a driving motor based on detection temperature by the temperature detection unit. When the fixing device is activated, if it is determined that detection temperature by the temperature detection unit is not equal to or less than predetermined temperature, the control unit drives the driving motor at a setting speed set in advance, and if it is determined that the detection temperature is equal to or less than the predetermined temperature K, the control unit drives the driving motor at a predetermined low speed lower than the setting speed. | 03-31-2016 |
20160098000 | BELT DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A belt device includes an endless belt and a rotary driver contacting an outer circumferential surface of the belt to drive and rotate the belt. An opposed belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver and in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A rotary belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver via the opposed belt support and in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the belt. A belt support holder holds the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support to retain a predetermined interval between the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support. A biasing assembly presses against the belt support holder to move the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support collectively with respect to the rotary driver and bias the opposed belt support against the rotary driver. | 04-07-2016 |
20160109837 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a heat source, a heat transfer member, a pressure-contacting ember, a housing, and a shutter. The heat transfer member is heated by the heat source. The pressure-contacting member abuts on the heat transfer member. The housing stores the heat transfer member and the pressure-contacting member and is formed with a detection hole for detecting inner property from outside. The fixing device heats recording paper passing through between the heat transfer member and the pressure-contacting member to fix a toner image on the recording paper. The shutter opens and closes the detection hole in accordance with supply of the recording paper to a nip part by the heat transfer member and the pressure-contacting member. | 04-21-2016 |
20160116868 | Image forming apparatus and control method thereof - To appropriately adjust a fixing temperature corresponding to an amount of applied toner, an image forming apparatus controls a temperature of a fixing unit configured to fix a recording material on a sheet. The apparatus acquires an amount of the recording material of each page in image data of a plurality of pages generated by dividing image data of one page; determines one fixing temperature using the acquired plurality of amounts of the recording material if a setting of dividing the image data of one page and printing the image data on a plurality of sheets is done; and controls the temperature of the fixing unit using the determined fixing temperature. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116869 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a pressure rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A plurality of heaters heats the fixing rotator. A sensor is disposed opposite the fixing rotator and includes a plurality of temperature detection elements to detect a temperature of the fixing rotator at a plurality of spots thereon arranged in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. A controller is operatively connected to the sensor and the plurality of heaters to control the plurality of heaters based on the temperature of the fixing rotator detected by the sensor and predict a width of the recording medium in the axial direction of the fixing rotator to be conveyed to the fixing nip. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116870 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing device, a degree-of-glossiness input unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit includes a developing device configured to perform development to form, on the basis of image data, a visible image of a toner on paper. The fixing device includes a pair of rollers that contact each other, conveys the paper by the image forming unit to between the pair of rollers, fixes the visible image on the paper by heat and pressure, and outputs the paper as an output material. The degree-of-glossiness input unit causes a user to input the degree of glossiness of the output material. The control unit controls at least one of the fixing device and the image forming unit to change the degree of glossiness of the output material in accordance with the degree of glossiness of the output material. | 04-28-2016 |
20160124359 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotator and an opposed rotator pressed against the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater heats the fixing rotator. A temperature sensor contacts the opposed rotator to detect a temperature of the opposed rotator. A conveyor conveys the recording medium to the fixing nip. A driver drives the conveyor. A controller, operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the driver, controls the driver to drive the conveyor to convey the recording medium to the fixing nip based on the temperature of the opposed rotator detected by the temperature sensor. The controller causes the driver to be ready to drive the conveyor when a change in the detected temperature of the opposed rotator per unit time reaches a predetermined threshold. | 05-05-2016 |
20160124360 | FUSING DEVICE EMPLOYING INDUCTION HEATING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A fusing device is provided. The fusing device includes a heating roller having two end regions and an inner region between the two end regions, a coil module, and a controller. The coil module includes a first coil arranged along an axial direction of the heating roller; two second coils, one second coil arranged in each end region of the heating roller; and a third coil arranged in the inner region of the heating roller. The controller controls current directions of currents in the first coil, the second coils, and the third coil. | 05-05-2016 |
20160154352 | FIXING APPARATUS THAT CONTROLS CURRENT FOR DRIVING AN INDUCTION HEATER | 06-02-2016 |
20160170343 | METHOD FOR ERASING IMAGE | 06-16-2016 |
20160170344 | IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 06-16-2016 |
20160179039 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 06-23-2016 |
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