JP2015040929A - Thermal power generation apparatus, image forming apparatus, thermal power generation control method, and thermal power generation control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform thermal power generation at a timing with excellent thermal power generation efficiency.SOLUTION: A color digital multifunction device 1 includes: a thermoelectric element 67 of a thermal power generation unit 80 which generates electric power by use of heat of a fixing unit 33 that heats a sheet to fix a toner image formed thereon to the sheet; and a thermal power generation unit 80 which detects a temperature of the fixing unit 33 by means of a temperature detection unit 68 and outputs it to an input/output control unit 62. The input/output control unit 62 compares the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 68 with a preset thermoelectric start temperature, to control operation of a battery charger 66, thereby controlling power generation and stop of the thermoelectric element 67.

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermoelectric generator, an image forming apparatus, a thermoelectric generation control method, and a thermoelectric generation control program, and more specifically, a thermoelectric generator, an image forming apparatus, and a thermoelectric generation control method that perform thermoelectric generation with favorable timing of thermoelectric efficiency. And a thermal power generation control program.

  An image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus, a printer apparatus, or a composite apparatus provided with an electrophotographic image forming unit is an image forming unit on a recording medium (hereinafter simply referred to as a sheet) such as a sheet or a film. An image of a developer such as toner (hereinafter simply referred to as a toner image) is formed. The image forming apparatus conveys a sheet on which a toner image is formed to a fixing unit, and heats and pressurizes the sheet on which the toner image is formed with a fixing member such as a heating roller heated by a heating member such as a fixing heater. An image is formed by fixing a toner image on a sheet.

  In order to effectively use the heat used in the fixing unit, conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, thermoelectric power generation is performed using a thermoelectric element, and generated power is stored in a storage battery. The stored power stored in is used to supply power to the load in the image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a heating unit for heating and fixing the formed image, a thermoelectric conversion unit that converts thermal energy of the heating unit into electrical energy, and the thermoelectric conversion Power storage means for charging the electrical energy converted by the means, discharge means for discharging the electrical energy charged in the power storage means, and heat energy amount control means for controlling the amount of heat energy generated by the heat generation means. Monitoring means for monitoring the state of the image forming means, and power storage instruction means for instructing the timing for charging the electrical energy to the power storage means, and the image forming means performs an image forming operation by the monitoring means. When it is determined that the thermal energy amount control means is controlling the thermal energy amount when it is not, the thermoelectric conversion means is It converts the serial thermal energy into the electric energy, technology wherein the electrical storage means for charging the electrical energy has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  That is, this prior art prevents the heat for fixing from being taken away by thermoelectric conversion during fixing by operating the thermoelectric conversion means at the timing when the image forming operation is not performed.

  However, in the above prior art, since the thermoelectric conversion means is operated at the timing when the image forming operation is not performed, if the thermoelectric generation is started at the time of transition to standby or sleep, the next job request is generated by the thermoelectric generation. If it occurs immediately afterwards, it will take away the amount of heat necessary for fixing. As a result, there is a problem that a waiting time is generated before the start of image formation, which affects the usability of the image forming apparatus. In the prior art, the thermoelectric generation timing may be in a state where the temperature difference between the HOT / COLD surfaces of the thermoelectric element is small. In this case, there is a need for improvement in order to improve the power saving effect. It was.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to perform thermoelectric generation at a timing with good thermoelectric efficiency.

  In order to achieve the above object, the thermoelectric generator according to claim 1 utilizes the heat of the fixing unit that heats the recording medium and fixes the developer image on the recording medium to the recording medium. A thermoelectric generator that generates electric power, a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the fixing unit, and a temperature detected by the temperature detector is compared with a preset threshold temperature, and the electric power generated by the thermoelectric generator is And a power generation control means for controlling generation and generation stop.

  According to the present invention, thermoelectric power generation can be performed at a timing with good thermoelectric efficiency.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color digital composite apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of a printer unit. The block diagram of the power supply system of a color digital composite apparatus. The figure which shows the relationship between fixing | fixed part temperature and a thermoelectric generation area | region. The figure which shows an example of the thermoelectric power generation start temperature and high temperature error temperature by printing mode and a paper kind. The flowchart which shows a thermoelectric generation control process.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 6 are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a thermoelectric generator, an image forming apparatus, a thermoelectric generation control method, and a thermoelectric generation control program according to the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates the thermoelectric generator and image forming of the present invention. 1 is a schematic front view of a color digital composite apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of a device, a thermoelectric generation control method, and a thermoelectric generation control program are applied.

  In FIG. 1, a color digital multifunction apparatus 1 is arranged in a state in which a sheet feeding unit 2, a printer unit 3, a scanner unit 4, and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 5 are sequentially stacked from the bottom. The color digital composite apparatus 1 includes an operation display unit 6 and a control unit 7 (see FIG. 2). The color digital composite apparatus 1 includes a color digital composite such as a PBX (private branch exchange) 10 and a personal computer. An external device 11 that uses the device 1 is connected. The color digital composite apparatus 1 uses the units 2 to 5 according to the operation of the operation display unit 6 and the like, and uses an image reading function, a printing function (printer function), a copying function (copying function), and a facsimile communication function. Each function is executed. The color digital composite apparatus 1 communicates with an external facsimile apparatus via the PBX 10 and also communicates with an external apparatus 11 to transmit and receive image data.

  The paper feed unit 2 is provided with a plurality (two in FIG. 1) of paper feed trays 21 and 22, a transport unit 23, and the like. Are stored in the paper feeding direction. Each of the paper feed trays 21 and 22 stores double-sided white paper (unused paper) and single-sided recorded paper (single-sided used paper) according to the user's intention.

  The conveyance unit 23 includes a registration roller 24, and selectively feeds the paper stored in each of the paper feed trays 21 and 22 to the registration roller 24, adjusts the timing with the registration roller 24, and then sends the paper to the printer unit 3. Transport.

  The printer unit 3 is a four-drum (tandem) full-color printer unit using an electrophotographic system, and as shown in FIG. 2, an exposure unit 31, an image forming unit 32, a fixing unit 33, and a storage unit 34. Etc. The printer unit 3 forms an image on the upper surface of the paper transported by the transport unit 23 from each of the paper feed trays 21 and 22 of the paper feed unit 2, and then fixes the image in the fixing unit 33. To the paper discharge tray 35 attached to the printer.

  The image forming unit 32 sequentially includes C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and B (black) image forming units 32bc, 32bm, 32by, and 32bb along the endless belt-shaped first transfer belt 32a. The first transfer belt 32a is stretched between a pair of support rollers 32c and 32d and a tension roller 32e, and is driven to rotate clockwise as indicated by an arrow in FIG. The image forming units 32bc, 32bm, 32by, and 32bb are disposed between a pair of support rollers 32c, and the tension roller 32e removes residual toner remaining on the first transfer belt 32a. A portion 32f is provided. Each image forming unit 32bc, 32bm, 32by, 32bb is not assigned a number, but a charging roller that uniformly charges the photoconductor around the photoconductor rotating in the clockwise direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. A developing unit that supplies toner, a transfer roller that sequentially superimposes and transfers the toner image (developer image) on the photoreceptor onto the first transfer belt 32a, and the like are disposed. The image forming units 32bc, 32bm, 32by, and 32bb irradiate a photoconductor uniformly charged by a charging roller with a laser modulated based on image data of each color from the exposure unit 31 to the photoconductor of the corresponding color. To form an electrostatic latent image. The image forming unit 32 supplies toner of a corresponding color from the developing unit to the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and forms a toner image of the corresponding color on each photoconductor. A color toner image is formed by sequentially superimposing on the first transfer belt 32a by the transfer roller. Note that the image forming unit 32 may form an image of only monochrome black using only the black image forming unit 32bk. The exposure unit 31 is not limited to the one using a laser, and may be an exposure unit including an LED array and an imaging unit, for example.

  A second transfer belt 36a of the secondary transfer portion 36 is disposed on the right side of the first transfer belt 32a in FIGS. In the secondary transfer portion 36, a secondary transfer roller 36b is disposed at a position facing the support roller 32d across the first transfer belt 32a and the second transfer belt 36a. In the printer unit 3, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 2 is sent between the first transfer belt 32a and the second transfer belt 36a with the timing adjusted by the registration roller 24. The first transfer belt 32a and the second transfer belt 36a form a preset transfer nip. The second transfer belt 36a is supported and stretched between a support roller and a drive roller (not shown) so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow. In the printer unit 3, a secondary transfer roller 36b is disposed on the back side (inside the loop) of the second transfer belt 36a, and a cleaning unit, a charger (reference number omitted), and the like are provided on the outside of the second transfer belt 36a. Has been. The cleaning unit wipes off unnecessary residual toner remaining on the second transfer belt 36a after the toner image is transferred to the paper.

  The image forming unit 32 transfers the color toner image on the first transfer belt 32a onto the sheet conveyed between the second transfer belt 36a and the second transfer belt 36a by the transfer voltage of the secondary transfer roller 36b. To do. The second transfer belt 36 a conveys the sheet on which the toner image is transferred to the fixing unit 33.

  The fixing unit 33 heats and presses the paper on which the toner image is transferred to fix the toner image, and sends the paper on which the toner image has been fixed to the paper discharge tray 35.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the sheet that has been fixed by the fixing unit 33 is discharged onto the discharge tray 35 as it is, the side (page) of the double-sided image that is transferred to the sheet later, that is, the first transfer belt. Since the surface directly transferred from 32a to the sheet is the bottom surface and placed on the paper discharge tray 35, the image forming unit 32 first prints the second page image for page alignment in double-sided printing. The toner image is held on the second transfer belt 36a, and the image on the first page is directly transferred from the first transfer belt 32a to the sheet. The image directly transferred from the first transfer belt 32a to the paper is a normal image on the surface of the photoconductor, and the toner image transferred from the second transfer belt 36a to the paper is a reverse image (mirror image) on the surface of the photoconductor. Expose as follows. The color digital composite apparatus 1 performs image processing for switching the image order for page alignment and switching between normal and reverse images (mirror images) in the control unit 7 by reading and writing control of image data to and from the memory.

  That is, the color digital composite apparatus 1 has a double-sided printing mode and a single-sided printing mode. In the double-sided printing mode, as described above, after the image on the back surface (two pages) is transferred to the second transfer belt 36a, The image on the front surface (one page) is transferred to the first transfer belt 32a, and the toner image on the first transfer belt 32a and the toner image on the second transfer belt 36a are applied to both sides of the sheet sent from the registration roller 24. Transfer at the same time. Further, in the case of single-sided printing, the color digital composite apparatus 1 has two single-sided printing modes: a single-sided transfer mode using the second transfer belt 36a and a single-sided transfer mode using the first transfer belt 32a. In the single-sided transfer mode using the second transfer belt 36a, the color digital composite apparatus 1 applies a toner image formed in three colors, four colors, or single color black on the first transfer belt 32a. The image is transferred to the second transfer belt 36a and transferred from the second transfer belt 36a to one side (back side) of the sheet. In this case, the color digital composite apparatus 1 does not perform image transfer on the other surface (front surface) of the paper, but places the printed paper discharged on the paper discharge tray 35 with the printing surface on the upper surface. . Further, in the single-sided transfer mode using the first transfer belt 32a, the color digital composite apparatus 1 can transfer a toner image formed in three colors, four colors, or single color black on the first transfer belt 32a. The image is not transferred to the second transfer belt 36a, but directly transferred to one side (front side) of the paper, and the image is not transferred to the other side (back side) of the paper. In this case, the color digital composite apparatus 1 is placed on the paper discharge tray 35 with the printed surface of the printed paper facing downward.

  In FIG. 2, the storage unit 34 stores toner for each color for replenishment, and the toner of each color in the storage unit 34 is stored in the image forming units 32bc, 32bm, 32by, and 32bb by a powder pump (not shown). It is conveyed to the corresponding color developing unit. Further, the color digital composite apparatus 1 of the present embodiment forms an image on each of the photoreceptors of the four image forming units 32bc, 32bm, 32by, and 32bb that are in a so-called tandem format, and the first transfer belt 32a and the first transfer belt 32a. (2) Since image formation is performed by moving the transfer belt 36a, the image formation time can be shortened.

  The control unit 7 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a non-volatile memory, an I / O, and the like. Basic programs and system data are stored. The control unit 7 executes basic operations as the color digital composite apparatus 1 by controlling each part of the color digital composite apparatus 1 while the CPU uses the RAM as a work memory based on a program in the ROM.

  The color digital composite apparatus 1 has a power supply block configuration as shown in FIG. 3, and includes a PSU (Power Supply Unit) 61, an input / output control unit 62, a switching circuit 63, a discharger. 64, a storage battery 65, a charger 66, a capacitor C1, a diode D1, a thermoelectric element 67, a temperature detector 68, and the like. In addition, each part load 70 of the color digital composite apparatus 1 is connected to the switching circuit 63, and 100V commercial AC power (commercial AC power) AC100V is connected to the PSU 61 and the fixing unit 33 via a power switch (not shown). Supplied via power cord.

  In the color digital composite apparatus 1, when the main power switch is turned on, the commercial AC power 100V is supplied to the fixing unit 33 and the PSU 61.

  The PSU 61 includes an AC / DC converter, a rectifier, a voltage / current regulator, etc., and generates power supply power of various power supply voltages / currents required by the internal load 70 of the color digital composite apparatus 1 from a commercial AC power supply 100V. To the switching circuit 63.

  The fixing unit 33 is directly supplied with a commercial AC power supply 100V via a main power switch (not shown), and supplies heater heating power to a fixing heater (not shown) based on a fixing power control signal from the input / output control unit 62. And the fixing roller (not shown) is heated to a predetermined fixing temperature.

  The fixing unit 33 is provided with a temperature detection unit 68, and the temperature detection unit (temperature detection unit) 68 detects the temperature of the fixing roller and outputs a detected temperature signal to the input / output control unit 62. The input / output control unit 62 controls energization to the fixing heater by controlling a fixing power control signal based on image data, image information such as black and white / color, and paper information such as paper size and paper type. The input / output control unit 62 controls energization to the fixing heater to control the temperature of the fixing roller of the fixing unit 33 to a fixing temperature (fixing target temperature) suitable for the image information and the paper information.

  The fixing unit 33 is provided with a thermoelectric element 67 in a state in which the fixing unit 33 is close to the most heat generating portion. The thermoelectric element (thermoelectric generation means) 67 is an element utilizing the so-called Seebeck effect, in which electromotive force is generated by joining two different metals or semiconductors and the temperature difference between both ends. As the thermoelectric element 67, a general thermoelectric element can be used.

  The input / output control unit 62, the discharger 64, the storage battery 65, the charger 66, the thermoelectric element 67, and the temperature detection unit 68 as a whole are thermoelectric generation units (thermoelectric generators) that perform thermoelectric generation at a favorable timing of thermoelectric efficiency. It functions as 80.

  The thermoelectric element 67 supplies the generated power to the charger 66 via the backflow preventing diode D1 and the capacitor C1, and the charger 66 stores the generated power from the thermoelectric element 67 in the storage battery 65. As the charger (charging means) 66, a general DDC (DC-DC converter) can be used, and DC (direct current) generated power from the thermoelectric element 67 is stored in the storage battery 65. The charger 66 receives an on / off charge control signal from the input / output control unit 62. The charger 66 stores the generated power from the thermoelectric element 67 in the storage battery 65 only when an on charge control signal is input from the input / output control unit 62.

  The storage battery (power storage means) 65 can use a capacitor having a predetermined capacity, and stores the generated power from the charger 66 as stored power.

  A general DDC can be used for the discharger 64, and an on / off discharge control signal is input from the input / output control unit 62. The discharger 64 outputs the stored power of the storage battery 65 to the switching circuit 63 as the DC stored power supply power that can be used by the load 70 only when an ON discharge control signal is input from the input / output control unit 62. .

  The switching circuit 63 is configured by a switch element or the like, and receives power supply power from the PSU 61 and stored power supply power from the discharger 64. The switching circuit 63 receives a switching signal from the input / output control unit 62, selects one of the power source power and the storage power source power in accordance with the switching signal, and supplies the selected power source power to the load 70 as the operating power source. Also, it is supplied as operating power for the discharger 64.

  The input / output control unit 62 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a non-volatile memory, an I / O, and the like. The ROM includes a control program for the color digital composite device 1 and a thermoelectric generation control program according to the present invention. System data and the like are stored. In the input / output control unit 62, the CPU controls the fixing unit 33 and each part of the power supply system based on the program in the ROM, and performs the fixing control process and the thermoelectric generation control process of the present invention. Further, the input / output control unit 62 performs drive control of the load 70 using the operation power supply power from the switching circuit 63.

  That is, the color digital composite apparatus 1 includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), A thermoelectric generation control program for executing the thermoelectric generation control method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an SD (Secure Digital) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) A thermoelectric generation unit 80 that executes a thermoelectric generation control method that performs thermoelectric generation at a timing with good thermoelectric efficiency, which will be described later, by being read and introduced into a ROM or the like of the input / output control unit 62 is provided. It is constructed as an image forming apparatus. This thermoelectric generation control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. And can be distributed.

  The input / output control unit 62 performs the fixing control process of the fixing unit 33 from the control unit 7 and performs the operation control of the charger 66 of the thermoelectric generator 80, thereby performing the thermoelectric generation at a timing with good thermoelectric efficiency. A thermoelectric generation control method is executed. As a whole, the input / output control unit 62 and the charger 66 compare the detected temperature of the temperature detection unit 68 with a thermoelectric generation start temperature (see FIG. 4) that is a preset threshold temperature, and the thermoelectric element 67. It functions as a power generation control means for controlling the generation and stoppage of power generated by the power.

  The input / output control unit 62 does not have to be a unique input / output control unit, and the control unit 7 may execute the function of the input / output control unit 62.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the color digital composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the thermoelectric generator 80 performs thermoelectric generation at a timing with good thermoelectric efficiency.

  That is, the color digital composite apparatus 1 conveys the sheet on which the color image is formed on one side or both sides by the image forming unit 32 to the fixing unit 33, and pressurizes the fixing unit 33 while heating to a fixing temperature corresponding to the formed image. To fix the toner image on the paper to the paper.

  At this time, the input / output control unit 62 controls energization to the fixing heater of the fixing unit 33 based on the image data (image density, color / monochrome, size, etc.) and the paper type of the paper, for example, As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing roller is heated to a fixing temperature suitable for the image data and the paper type.

  That is, in the color digital composite apparatus 1, in order to start fixing by the fixing unit 33, the input / output control unit 62 performs a return operation from a standby temperature lower than the fixing temperature (denoted as the fixing target temperature in FIG. 4). Then, before the sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 33, the sheet is heated to the fixing temperature.

  When the input / output control unit 62 enters the fixing period (printing period in FIG. 4), heat is taken away with the fixing operation. Therefore, the input / output control unit 62 is based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 68. The energization to the fixing heater is controlled to control the temperature of the fixing unit 33, particularly the fixing roller, to the fixing temperature.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the temperature of the fixing unit 33, that is, the detected temperature of the temperature detecting unit 68 fluctuates up and down as the fixing target temperature as indicated by a solid line during the printing period.

  Then, the temperature of the fixing unit 33 usually gradually decreases to a standby temperature when printing (image formation) is completed and fixing is completed. However, when a large number of prints (image formation) are continuously performed in the fixing unit 33, the energization of the fixing heater by the input / output control unit 62 is stopped, but as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. In addition, an overshoot occurs in which the temperature rises even when the energization of the fixing heater is stopped.

  On the other hand, in the color digital composite apparatus 1, if any trouble occurs in the color digital composite apparatus 1 or if the fixing unit 33 runs away, the temperature of the fixing unit 33 becomes abnormally high, causing parts to break or fire. There is a risk. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, the color digital composite apparatus 1 provides a high temperature error temperature (overheating error temperature) as the temperature of the fixing unit 33, and the temperature of the fixing unit 33 exceeds the high temperature error temperature. Then, a safety control process for stopping the operation of the color digital composite apparatus 1 is performed.

  Therefore, the input / output control unit 62 sets a temperature range higher than the fixing temperature (fixing target temperature) and lower than the high temperature error temperature as a thermoelectric generation region as shown in FIG. When the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 68 is within the thermoelectric generation region, the input / output control unit 62 operates the charger 66 to cause the thermoelectric element 67 to perform thermoelectric generation so that the temperature of the fixing unit 33 is increased. The used thermoelectric power is stored in the storage battery 65 by the charger 66.

  The color digital multifunction apparatus 1 normally sets the thermoelectric generation start temperature (the lowest temperature in the thermoelectric generation range), for example, as shown in FIG. 5 because the fixing target temperature differs depending on the print mode and the paper type. The input / output control unit 62 sets the range of the thermoelectric generation start temperature (threshold temperature) and the high temperature error temperature (overheat error temperature) as the thermoelectric generation region for performing the thermoelectric generation.

  And the input-output control part 62 performs a thermoelectric power generation control process, as shown in FIG. That is, when the fixing control process is started (step S101), the input / output control unit 62 determines the fixing operation mode and the paper type of the device operation mode (color digital composite apparatus 1) (step S102). This fixing operation mode is, for example, the printing mode shown in FIG. 5, which is the color mode or the monochrome mode. The paper types are, for example, the two types shown in FIG. 5, such as thick paper and plain paper. When the device operation mode and the paper type are determined, the input / output control unit 62 determines the thermoelectric generation start temperature and stores it in the internal memory as shown in FIG.

  Next, the input / output control unit 62 acquires the detected temperature signal from the temperature detection unit 68 to detect the temperature of the fixing unit 33 (step S103), and controls the fixing power control signal to the fixing unit 33, Energization of the fixing heater is started (fixing heater ON) (step S104).

  When the energization of the fixing heater is started, the input / output control unit 62 checks whether the temperature of the fixing unit 33 detected by the temperature detection unit 68 exceeds the thermoelectric generation start temperature (step S105). In step S105, when the temperature of the fixing unit 33 exceeds the thermoelectric generation start temperature (YES in step S105), the input / output control unit 62 turns on the charging control signal to the charger 66 and the thermoelectric element 67. The thermoelectric generation by is started (step S106). The input / output control unit 62 charges the storage battery 65 with thermoelectric power generated by the thermoelectric element 67.

  When starting the thermoelectric generation by the thermoelectric element 67, the input / output control unit 62 checks whether the temperature of the fixing unit 33 is lower than the thermoelectric generation start temperature (step S107). When the temperature of the fixing unit 33 falls below the thermoelectric generation start temperature in step S107, the input / output control unit 62 turns off the charging control signal to the charger 66, stops the thermoelectric generation by the thermoelectric element 67, and The power generation control process is terminated (step S108).

  Although not shown in FIG. 6, the input / output control unit 62 checks whether the temperature of the fixing unit 33 detected by the temperature detection unit 68 exceeds the high temperature error temperature. When the high temperature error temperature is exceeded, the input / output control unit 62 terminates the thermoelectric generation control process and stops all operations of the color digital composite apparatus 1 to ensure safety.

  In the above description, the thermoelectric generation start temperature is set by using color / monochrome as the print mode and cardboard / plain paper as the paper type. However, the thermoelectric generation start temperature is limited to these conditions. Instead, it may be set more finely, or may be set slightly coarser.

  As described above, in the color digital composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the thermoelectric generator 80 heats the paper (recording medium) and fixes the toner image (developer image) on the paper to the paper. The thermoelectric element (thermoelectric generator) 67 that generates electric power using the heat of the unit 33, the temperature detector (temperature detector) 68 that detects the temperature of the fixing unit 33, and the detected temperature of the temperature detector 68 are Compared with a preset thermoelectric start temperature (threshold temperature), power generation control means including an input / output control unit 62 and a charger 66 for controlling generation and stoppage of generation of electric power by the thermoelectric element 67 is provided. .

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fixing unit 33 from performing the thermoelectric generation by the thermoelectric element 67 at the timing when it is heated excessively, thereby taking away the amount of heat necessary for fixing, and at the timing when the thermoelectric efficiency is good. It can be performed.

  Further, in the color digital composite apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the thermoelectric generator 80 generates power using the heat of the fixing unit 33 that heats the paper and fixes the toner image on the paper to the paper. The thermoelectric generation processing step, the temperature detection processing step for detecting the temperature of the fixing unit 33, and the temperature detected in the temperature detection processing step are compared with a preset thermoelectric start temperature (threshold temperature), and the heat A thermoelectric generation control method having a power generation control processing step for controlling generation and stop of generation of power in the power generation processing step is executed.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fixing unit 33 from performing the thermoelectric generation by the thermoelectric element 67 at the timing when it is heated excessively, thereby taking away the amount of heat necessary for fixing, and at the timing when the thermoelectric efficiency is good. It can be performed.

  Further, in the color digital composite apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the thermoelectric generator 80 uses the heat of the fixing unit 33 to heat the paper and fix the toner image on the paper to the control processor. The thermoelectric generation process for generating electric power, the temperature detection process for detecting the temperature of the fixing unit 33, and the detected temperature in the temperature detection process are compared with a preset thermoelectric start temperature (threshold temperature), A thermoelectric generation control program for executing power generation control processing for controlling generation and stoppage of power generation in the thermoelectric generation processing is mounted.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fixing unit 33 from performing the thermoelectric generation by the thermoelectric element 67 at the timing when it is heated excessively, thereby taking away the amount of heat necessary for fixing, and at the timing when the thermoelectric efficiency is good. It can be performed.

  Further, in the color digital composite device 1 of the present embodiment, the thermoelectric generator 80 has a storage battery (storage means) 65 for storing electric power, and a charger for charging the storage battery 65 with the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element 67. (Charging means) 66, and an input / output control unit 62 as the power generation control means controls charging of the storage battery 65 by the charger 66 with the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element 67, and the thermoelectric element 67 controls the generation and stoppage of power generation.

  Therefore, by controlling the operation of the charger 66 that charges the storage battery 65 with the power generated by the thermoelectric element 67, the power generation operation of the thermoelectric element 67 can be controlled, easily and easily at a good timing of thermoelectric efficiency. Thermal power generation can be performed.

  Further, in the thermoelectric generator 80 of the color digital composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the thermoelectric generator start temperature that is the threshold temperature is set to a temperature lower than the high temperature error temperature (overheat error temperature) of the fixing unit 33. Yes.

  Therefore, thermoelectric power generation can be performed at a timing with good thermoelectric efficiency while preventing the occurrence of a failure of the color digital composite apparatus 1 due to high temperature heating.

  Further, in the thermoelectric generator 80 of the color digital composite apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the thermoelectric generation start temperature, which is the threshold temperature, is set to a different temperature between the color toner image and the monochrome toner image.

  Therefore, it is possible to perform thermoelectric generation at a timing with good thermoelectric efficiency while appropriately performing fixing in consideration of color / monochrome by the fixing unit 33.

  Further, in the thermoelectric generator 80 of the color digital composite apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the thermoelectric generation start temperature, which is the threshold temperature, is set to a different temperature depending on the type of paper (recording medium).

  Therefore, it is possible to perform thermoelectric generation at a timing with good thermoelectric efficiency while appropriately performing fixing in consideration of the paper type by the fixing unit 33.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

1 Color Digital Composite Device 2 Paper Feed Unit 3 Printer Unit 4 Scanner Unit 5 ADF
6 Operation display section 10 PBX
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 External device 21, 22 Paper feed tray 23 Conveyance part 24 Registration roller 31 Exposure part 32 Image formation part 32a 1st transfer belt 32bc, 32bm, 32by, 32bb Image forming unit 32c, 32d Support roller 32e Tension roller 33 Fixing part 34 Storage Section 35 Paper discharge tray 36 Secondary transfer section 36a Second transfer belt 36b Secondary transfer roller 61 PSU
62 I / O Control Unit 63 Switching Circuit 64 Discharger 65 Storage Battery 66 Charger C1 Capacitor D1 Diode 67 Thermoelectric Element 68 Temperature Detection Unit 70 Load

JP 2011-059273 A

Claims (8)

A thermoelectric generator that generates electric power by using heat of a fixing unit that heats the recording medium and fixes the developer image on the recording medium to the recording medium;
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the fixing unit;
Power generation control means for controlling the generation and stoppage of power generation by the thermoelectric generation means by comparing the detected temperature of the temperature detection means with a preset threshold temperature;
A thermoelectric generator comprising: The thermoelectric generator is
Power storage means for storing power;
Charging means for charging the power storage means with the electric power generated by the thermoelectric generation means;
Prepared,
The power generation control means includes
2. The heat according to claim 1, wherein the electric power generated by the thermoelectric generator is controlled by the charging unit to charge the power storage unit to control generation and stoppage of electric power generated by the thermoelectric generator. Power generation device. The thermoelectric generator is
The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1, wherein the threshold temperature is set to a temperature lower than an overheating error temperature of the fixing unit. The thermoelectric generator is
The thermoelectric generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the threshold temperature is set to a temperature different between the color developer image and the monochrome developer image. The thermoelectric generator is
The thermoelectric generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the threshold temperature is set to a different temperature depending on a type of the recording medium. The developer image is transferred onto the recording medium in the image forming unit, and the recording medium on which the developer image is transferred is heated in the fixing unit to fix the developer image on the recording medium. An image forming apparatus including a thermoelectric generator that generates electric power using heat of a fixing unit,
An image forming apparatus comprising the thermoelectric generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 as the thermoelectric generator. A thermoelectric generation process step of generating electric power by using heat of a fixing unit that heats the recording medium and fixes the developer image on the recording medium to the recording medium;
A temperature detection processing step for detecting the temperature of the fixing unit;
A power generation control processing step for controlling the generation and stoppage of power generation in the thermoelectric power generation processing step by comparing the detected temperature in the temperature detection processing step with a preset threshold temperature;
A thermoelectric generation control method characterized by comprising: To the control processor,
A thermoelectric generation process that generates power using heat of a fixing unit that heats the recording medium and fixes the developer image on the recording medium to the recording medium;
Temperature detection processing for detecting the temperature of the fixing unit;
A power generation control process for controlling the generation and stoppage of power generation in the thermoelectric generation process by comparing the detected temperature in the temperature detection process with a preset threshold temperature;
A thermal power generation control program characterized in that is executed.

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