JP2006199003A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (23)

An image forming apparatus that is driven by power supplied from a fuel cell having a fuel pump that adjusts a supply amount of fuel used for power generation and forms an image on a recording medium,
An FC waste heat heating member that heats the recording medium before image formation when waste heat of the fuel cell is supplied, and a fuel supply amount by the fuel pump is varied according to the temperature of the FC waste heat heating member. An image forming apparatus comprising temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the FC waste heat heating member . A transport belt for transporting the recording medium to a position for forming an image;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the FC waste heat heating member is disposed with the conveyance belt interposed between the FC waste heat heating member and the recording medium.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the FC waste heat heating member constitutes a roller of a conveyance path that conveys the recording medium to a position where an image is formed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the FC waste heat heating member constitutes a guide plate of a conveyance path for conveying the recording medium to a position where an image is formed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the FC waste heat heating member heats the recording medium in a paper feeding unit that accommodates the recording medium before feeding. The FC waste heat heating member receives heat from a part of a transportation route of a substance in the fuel cell,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transport path is arranged so as to gradually fall in a gravitational direction from an upstream side toward a downstream side in the transport direction. A nozzle that ejects ink to face the recording medium at a position where an image is formed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the FC waste heat heating member is disposed to face the nozzles with a conveyance path for the recording medium interposed therebetween. A cooling mechanism for cooling the FC waste heat heating member from the surface opposite to the surface facing the nozzle,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the temperature adjusting unit adjusts a temperature of the FC waste heat heating member by changing a cooling amount by the cooling mechanism. The temperature adjusting means includes an appropriate temperature storage means for storing a relationship between a use condition and an appropriate temperature of the FC waste heat heating member, and a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the FC waste heat heating member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the temperature of the FC waste heat member is adjusted so that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit approaches an appropriate temperature according to conditions. The appropriate temperature storage means includes the relationship between the type of ink and the appropriate temperature in the use conditions, and sets the appropriate temperature higher as the drying speed of the ink is slower,
The temperature adjusting unit includes an ink type detecting unit that detects the type of ink used for image formation, and the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit to an appropriate temperature corresponding to the type of ink detected by the ink type detecting unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the temperature of the FC waste heat member is adjusted so as to be close. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the printing speed is decreased as the temperature of the FC waste heat heating member is lower. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a printing speed is varied when an image is not formed on the recording member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the temperature adjusting unit stops the printing operation when detecting an abnormally high temperature of the FC waste heat heating member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the temperature adjusting unit reduces the printing speed when detecting an abnormally low temperature vicinity value of the temperature of the FC waste heat heating member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, notifying that the printing speed is low and not notifying that the temperature of the FC waste heat heating member is an abnormally low temperature suburban value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein when the printing speed is reduced, the printing speed is switched to a higher printing speed as the temperature of the FC waste heat heating member is higher. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein when the temperature of the FC waste heat heating member returns to a normal temperature, the printing speed is returned to normal. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the printing operation is stopped when the fuel cell reaches a limit of autonomous operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein when the printing operation is stopped, all of the fed recording medium is discharged. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein when the printing operation is stopped, printing on the recording medium in the middle of printing is interrupted, and all the recording medium before printing is discharged. 21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein when the printing operation is stopped, the sheet in the sheet feeding tray is returned to the cassette. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 21, further comprising a function of selecting whether printing is performed at a low speed or a normal speed when an abnormally low temperature value is detected. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 22, which notifies the detection of an abnormally high temperature of the FC waste heat heating member.