JPH09230741A - Controller for fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption during standby time, thereby saving energy, and to shorten warm-up time. SOLUTION: A controller for a fixing device, which controls the energization of the fixing heater 4 of a fixing roller 3, is equipped with a means 6 for measuring the power consumption of the fixing heater 4, and a control means 2 to which the power consumption measured value of the means 6 is inputted. Here, the control means 2 energizes the fixing heater 4 under phase control so that the power consumption measured value, obtained by the means 6, reaches a preset power consumption value during the standby time for a fixing operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for a fixing device of an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fixing device 1 of this type of image forming apparatus is as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and a fixing roller 3 having a fixing heater 4 and a control means for controlling energization of the fixing heater 4. 2 to fix the toner image 12 on the paper 11. In such a case, the fixing temperature is a temperature at the time of image formation or a standby temperature slightly lower than that,
The heating resistor of the fixing heater 4 is selected and used so that the fixing heater 4 is energized in the so-called residual heat mode, and the corresponding electric power is consumed by the fixing heater 4.

[0003]

This type of fixing heater 4
The energization of the above does not take energy saving into consideration as a whole of these devices, and it is said that a large amount of wasted power is consumed during standby and that the warm-up time before shifting to the operation mode when standby is released is long. There's a problem.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a fixing device which can reduce power consumption during standby to save energy and shorten warm-up time.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a control device for a fixing device for controlling energization of a fixing heater of a fixing roller. Means for measuring the power consumption of the fixing heater, and control means for inputting the power consumption measurement value of the power consumption measurement means are provided, the control means, the power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measurement means, When the fixing operation is on standby, the fixing heater is energized by phase control so that a power consumption value set in advance is reached.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the control device of the fixing device for controlling the energization of the fixing heater of the fixing roller, a means for measuring the power consumption of the fixing heater and a power consumption measurement value of the power consumption measuring means. Is provided for controlling the fixing so that the power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measuring means becomes a preset average value of the power consumption during standby of the fixing operation. It is characterized in that the heater is energized by on / off control.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the control device of the fixing device for controlling the energization of the fixing heater of the fixing roller, the means for measuring the power consumption of the fixing heater and the output of the power consumption measuring means are input. A control means for controlling the electric current, and a cutoff means arranged between the electric power source other than the fixing heater and the power source for cutting off the electric current to the portions other than the fixing heater. While stopping the energization of the part, the control means energizes the fixing heater so that the power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measurement means is equal to or less than the preset average value of the power consumption. To do.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the energization control method of the control means is phase control.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the energization control system of the control means is ON / OFF control.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the control device of the fixing device for controlling the energization of the fixing heaters of the fixing roller having the two fixing heaters, the means for measuring the power consumption and the power consumption. And a control unit for inputting a measured value of power consumption of the measuring unit, one of the fixing heaters is a heater dedicated to a standby time of the fixing operation, and the other is a heater for operation, and the control unit is configured by the power consumption measuring unit. It is characterized in that the heater dedicated to standby is energized so that the obtained measured value of power consumption becomes an average value of preset power consumption during standby of the fixing operation.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a control device of a fixing device for controlling the energization of the fixing heater of a fixing roller having two fixing heaters, one of the fixing heaters is a heater dedicated for a standby of the fixing operation, The other consists of a heater for operation, and selects the heating resistor of the dedicated heater for standby so that the power consumption is set in advance during standby for fixing operation, and only the heater dedicated for standby during standby for fixing operation is selected. It is characterized in that a control means for continuously energizing is provided.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Since many parts of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS.
The same parts as in the prior art will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The different parts will be mainly described.
The first embodiment of the present invention is as shown in FIG.
A power consumption measuring means 6 for measuring the electric power of the fixing heater 4,
The control means 2 is provided to which the power consumption measurement value of the fixing heater 4 measured by the power consumption measurement means 6 is input. The control means 2 phase-controls the energization of the fixing heater 4,
It has a so-called phase control circuit. Further, the image forming apparatus includes an electric component portion 8 for forming an image other than the fixing heater 4.
The power consumption measurement value of the electrical component 8 is also input to the power consumption measuring means 6. Electric power is supplied from the commercial power supply 9 to the electrical component portion 8. However, if necessary, the electric power is converted into direct current by a power supply circuit (not shown) and appropriately supplied to necessary circuits. Further, the control means 2 also has a fixing temperature control function, the temperature detecting means 10 detects the temperature of the fixing roller 3, and inputs the detection output to the control means 2 so that the control means 2 is in the standby state. , Or during operation, the fixing roller 3 is maintained at a preset temperature corresponding to the temperature detection output.

The control means is set to such a value that the power consumption can be reduced during standby of the fixing device and the warm-up time before shifting to the operation mode when standby is released can be shortened. Set to 2. The power consumption may be the average value of the power consumption as described above during the standby period.

In this structure, the control means 2 is
During standby of the fixing operation of the fixing device 1, the power consumption measuring means 6
The fixing heater 4 is set so that the measured power consumption value obtained by the above becomes the preset power consumption or the average value of the power consumption.
Is controlled by phase control, and when the temperature of the fixing roller 3 is equal to or higher than a preset temperature during standby, the power consumption or the average value of the power consumption is preset so as to reach the set temperature. Since the energization of the fixing heater 4 is controlled below this value, even if the voltage of the commercial power source 9 fluctuates, the power consumption per unit time becomes almost constant,
Further, fluctuations in the voltage of the commercial power source 9 can be suppressed to be small, wasteful power consumption in the fixing heater 4 can be suppressed, and warm-up time before shifting to the operation mode when the standby is released is shortened. can do.

In the second embodiment, although not shown, the first embodiment
In the embodiment, the control unit 2 performs on / off control instead of phase control of energization of the fixing heater 4. In such a case, high frequency noise generated in the case of phase control is not radiated, and no malfunction is induced in other electric circuits.

In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG.
In the embodiment, a reset switch having a reset function, which is a shutoff unit 7 for shutting off a current to a portion other than the fixing heater, is provided between the commercial power source 9 and the electrical component portion 8 of the image forming apparatus other than the fixing heater 4. is there. In such a case, the interruption means 7 is reset (OFF) during standby.
However, the power supply is not input to the electrical component portion 8 of the image forming apparatus other than the fixing heater 4, and the control unit 2 causes the power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measurement unit 6 to be the preset power consumption or Only the energization control of the fixing heater 4 is performed so that the average value of the power consumption is obtained. Therefore, compared with the case of the first embodiment, even if the power consumption in the fixing heater 4 is increased by the power consumed in the electrical component portion 8, the standby power is released without increasing the overall power consumption. It is possible to shorten the warm-up time before shifting to the operation mode.

The breaking means 7 is not limited to a reset switch having a reset function, but may be an energization control means having a switching element and a control means for controlling the switching element. As a power source for driving the control means of the energization control means, a separately provided minute power source such as a solar cell is used to control the switching element to cut off the current.

Further, in addition to the above, the breaking means 7 uses a relay for turning on / off the power and a relay control means so that the main switch of the image forming apparatus is a push button type and the main switch is turned on. When the above is detected, the relay control means may turn on the relay based on the detected ON signal, and control may be performed so as to turn off the relay in the residual heat mode or in the standby mode. This relay control means may be provided with another minute power source such as a solar cell as in the above. Further, in addition to the above, as means for interrupting the electric current to the electrical equipment portion 8 of the image forming apparatus other than the fixing heater 4, various configurations used by those skilled in the art may be adopted.

Although not shown in the drawings, the fourth embodiment is the third embodiment.
In the embodiment, the control unit 2 performs on / off control instead of performing energization control of the fixing heater 4 by phase control. In such a case, high frequency noise generated in the case of phase control is not radiated, and no malfunction is induced in other electric circuits.

In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
The fixing heater is different from that of the first embodiment in that the fixing heater includes two heaters, that is, a standby fixing heater 4a and an operating fixing heater 4b. When the fixing operation is on standby, the control unit 2 displays the measured power consumption value obtained by the power consumption measurement unit 6 as
Only the standby dedicated fixing heater 4a is energized by phase control so that the standby dedicated fixing heater 4a has a preset power consumption or an average value of the power consumption.

Although not shown in the drawings, the sixth embodiment is the fifth embodiment.
In the embodiment, the reset switch 7 having the same reset function as that of the third embodiment is provided between the commercial power source 9 and the electrical part 8 of the image forming apparatus other than the standby dedicated fixing heater 4a. In such a case, the reset switch 7 is reset (turned off) during standby, and the electrical components 8 of the image forming apparatus other than the standby dedicated fixing heater 4a are provided.
Then, the control means 2 waits so that the power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measurement means 6 becomes the preset power consumption of the standby dedicated fixing heater 4a or the average value of the power consumption. Only the dedicated fixing heater 4a is energized by the phase control method. This energization control is not limited to the phase control but may be an on / off control method. In such a case, the electric component portion 8 is different from that of the fifth embodiment.
Even if the power consumption in the standby-time fixing heater 4a is increased by the amount of power consumed by the power consumption, the warm-up until shifting to the operation mode when the standby is released is not increased. The time can be shortened.

The seventh embodiment differs from the fifth embodiment in that
As shown in FIG. 5, the power consumption of the standby-only fixing heater 4a is the standby-only power consumption value so that the maximum power consumption value or the average value of the maximum power consumption allowed during the standby of the fixing operation of the fixing device can be obtained. The heating resistor of the fixing heater 4a is appropriately selected and used, and the power consumption measuring means 6 is removed.
Since the heating resistor is selected in this way, the standby dedicated heater 4a can be continuously energized during standby, and the power consumption or the average value of the power consumption reaches a preset value, and the standby is released. It is possible to shorten the warm-up time before shifting to the operation mode when the fixing is performed, and it is possible to reduce the cost of the fixing device.

[0023]

The present invention is as described above, and the invention according to claim 1 measures the power consumption of the fixing heater in the controller of the fixing device for controlling the energization of the fixing heater of the fixing roller. Means and control means for inputting the power consumption measurement value of the power consumption measurement means are provided, and the control means sets the power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measurement means in advance during standby of the fixing operation. Since the fixing heater is energized by the phase control so that the power consumption becomes equal to the above power consumption value, even if the voltage of the commercial power source fluctuates, almost constant power can be supplied to the fixing heater at all times. The effect is that it can be reduced, wasteful power consumption in the fixing heater can be suppressed, and the warm-up time before shifting to the operation mode when the standby is released can be shortened. There is.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the control device of the fixing device for controlling the energization of the fixing heater of the fixing roller, a means for measuring the power consumption of the fixing heater, and a power consumption measurement value of the power consumption measuring means. Is provided for controlling the fixing so that the power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measuring means becomes a preset average value of the power consumption during standby of the fixing operation. Since the heater is energized by the on / off control, even if the voltage of the commercial power source 9 fluctuates, almost constant power can be supplied to the fixing heater, and the fluctuation on the input voltage can be reduced, and the fixing voltage can be fixed. It is possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption in the heater, shorten the warm-up time before shifting to the operation mode when standby is released, and radiate high-frequency noise. , There is an effect that is not to induce a malfunction to other electrical circuits.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the control device of the fixing device for controlling the energization of the fixing heater of the fixing roller, the means for measuring the power consumption of the fixing heater and the output of the power consumption measuring means are input. A control means for controlling the electric current, and a cutoff means arranged between the electric power source other than the fixing heater and the power source for cutting off the electric current to the portions other than the fixing heater. While stopping the energization of the part, the control means energizes the fixing heater so that the measured power consumption value obtained by the power consumption measuring means is equal to or less than the preset average value of the power consumption. Even if the voltage of 9 fluctuates, almost constant electric power can be supplied to the fixing heater at all times, and the fluctuation exerted on the input voltage can be reduced, so that unnecessary electric power consumption in the fixing heater can be suppressed. In addition, it is possible to increase the power consumption of the fixing heater during standby and further reduce the warm-up time before shifting to the operation mode when the standby for fixing operation is released. is there.

According to the invention described in claim 4, since the energization control method of the control means is the phase control, there is an effect that the temperature of the fixing roller can be precisely controlled.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the energization control method of the control means is on / off control, high frequency noise is not radiated and a malfunction is not induced in other electric circuits. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the control device of the fixing device for controlling the energization of each fixing heater of the fixing roller having the two fixing heaters, means for measuring the power consumption, and the power consumption And a control unit for inputting a measured value of power consumption of the measuring unit, one of the fixing heaters is a heater dedicated to a standby time of the fixing operation, and the other is a heater for operation, and the control unit is configured by the power consumption measuring unit. The heater dedicated to standby is energized so that the obtained measured value of power consumption becomes an average value of preset power consumption during standby of the fixing operation. Therefore, even if the voltage of the commercial power source 9 fluctuates. The heater can be supplied with almost constant power at all times, and the fluctuations that affect the input voltage can be reduced, reducing unnecessary power consumption by the dedicated heater during standby and canceling standby. There is an effect that it is possible to shorten the warm-up time before the system goes into operation mode at the time.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a control device of a fixing device for controlling energization of each fixing heater of a fixing roller having two fixing heaters, one of the fixing heaters is in a standby state of a fixing operation. A dedicated heater, and the other one is a heater for operation. When the fixing operation is in standby, the heating resistor of the standby heater is selected so that the power consumption is set in advance. Since the control means for continuously energizing only the heater is provided, the power consumption or the average value of the power consumption can be set to a preset value,
It is possible to shorten the warm-up time before shifting to the operation mode when standby is released without consuming unnecessary power in the standby dedicated heater, and there is no need for power consumption measurement means. There is an effect that the cost of the fixing device can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration block diagram of a third embodiment of the above.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the above.

FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the above.

FIG. 5 is a circuit configuration block diagram of a seventh embodiment of the above.

FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a conventional fixing device.

FIG. 7 is a circuit configuration block diagram of a conventional fixing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Fixing Device 2 Control Means 3 Fixing Roller 4 Fixing Heater 4a Standby Dedicated Fixing Heater 4b Operating Fixing Heater 5 Pressure Roller 6 Power Consumption Measuring Means 7 Breaking Means 8 Electrical Parts 9 Commercial Power Supply

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A control device of a fixing device for controlling energization of a fixing heater of a fixing roller, a device for measuring power consumption of the fixing heater, and a control device for inputting a power consumption measurement value of the power consumption measuring device. Is provided, and the control means is
The power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measurement means
A control device for energizing the fixing heater by phase control so that a preset power consumption value is reached during the standby of the fixing operation. 2. A control device of a fixing device for controlling energization of a fixing heater of a fixing roller, a device for measuring power consumption of the fixing heater, and a control device for inputting a power consumption measurement value of the power consumption measuring device. Is provided, and the control means is
The power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measurement means
A control device for energizing the fixing heater by on / off control so that a preset average value of power consumption is reached during a standby of the fixing operation. 3. A fixing device control device for controlling energization of a fixing heater of a fixing roller, means for measuring power consumption of the fixing heater, control means for inputting an output of the power consumption measuring means, and fixing heater. Other than the electric component and a power supply, and a cutoff unit for cutting off the electric current to other than the fixing heater are provided, and when the fixing operation is on standby, the cutoff unit is operated to stop the energization of the electric component. ,
The control device energizes the fixing heater so that the power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measurement unit is equal to or less than a preset average value of power consumption. 4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the energization control method of the control means is phase control. 5. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the energization control method of the control means is ON / OFF control. 6. In a control device of a fixing device for controlling energization of each fixing heater of a fixing roller having two fixing heaters, a means for measuring power consumption, and a power consumption measurement value of this power consumption measuring means. Is provided, one of the fixing heaters is a heater dedicated to a standby time of the fixing operation, and the other is a heater for operation, and the control means is a power consumption measurement value obtained by the power consumption measuring means. However, in the standby of the fixing operation, the controller dedicated to energizing the dedicated heater in the standby state is set so as to have a preset average value of power consumption. 7. A controller of a fixing device for controlling energization of a fixing heater of a fixing roller having two fixing heaters, wherein one of the fixing heaters is a heater dedicated to a standby of a fixing operation,
The other is a heater for operation, and when waiting for the fixing operation,
A control device provided with a control means for selecting a heating resistor of the standby-dedicated heater so that the power consumption is set in advance, and continuously energizing only the standby-dedicated heater during the standby of the fixing operation. .