JPH1032656A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize waste heat within an equipment and to accelerate the starting of the heating of a fixed heater by reserving heat at a heat exhausting fans consisting of a high heat regenerative material at the time of exhausting air within the equipment so as to allow the heat to contribute to the start of the heating of the heater and so as to use the heat reserved by the fans to heat recording paper. SOLUTION: When the temp. of the heater 16 exceeds a prescribed one at the time of starting printing, first and second highly heat generative fans 19 and 21 are made to revolve forward to exhaust air within the equipment heated by the heater 16 and the other electronic parts to outside of the equipment and to reserve heat by the first and second fans 19 and 21. In addition both fans 19 and 21 are connected by a heat conductive member to maintain the same temperature. At the time of receiving again, both fans 19 and 21 are made to revolve backward to give reserved heat at the recording paper. When the heater exceeds the prescribed temp., both fans 19 and 20 are switched to forward revolution. The temp. of the heater is started in short time like this and after then, steps similar to the first reception are repeated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for fixing a recording pattern such as a character or an image on a recording sheet by using a fixing heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in a facsimile machine,
The toner is adhered to the recording paper according to the recording pattern, and the adhered toner is heated and melted to fix the recording on the recording paper. In such an apparatus for fixing a recording pattern to recording paper using a fixing heater, the fixing heater is set at a temperature so as to realize the melting point of the toner in order to improve the clarity and fixability of the recording pattern. Is important. Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, a method of controlling the fixing heater to a constant temperature has been adopted. When the paper on which the toner is loaded comes into contact with the fixing heater and the toner is fixed on the recording paper, the heat of the fixing heater is taken away by the recording paper and the temperature of the fixing heater drops. Was supplemented by. That is, the fixing heater was always energized during the printing of the image.

However, there is no problem if all the heat generated by energization is used for melting the toner. However, this is not the case, and most of the heat generated in the heater escapes around the heater. In addition, the facsimile machine contains many electronic components that generate heat other than the heater, so to avoid the temperature rise of these components,
Generally, a fan for exhaust heat is provided to exhaust high-temperature air inside the apparatus to the outside of the apparatus. Conventional fan for exhaust heat
As described above, it has been used only to discard the heat generated by various electronic components in the device outside the device. That is, during the recording / fixing operation, the heat generated by the fixing heater is excessive as the total heat generation in the apparatus.

On the other hand, when the apparatus shifts from the standby state to the printing operation, the operation of raising the temperature of the fixing heater is performed. However, when the environmental temperature is low and the apparatus has been stopped for a long time, the temperature of the fixing heater is lowered. It takes time to start up, and at this time, the amount of heat is insufficient, contrary to the above-described fixing operation.

[0005]

As described above, the drawbacks of the conventional fixing method are that heat energy is wastefully consumed during printing (during fixing) and that the heat energy is insufficient when the heater is started. It takes time for the heater to start up to a temperature that satisfies sufficient fixability,
It is. Since the facsimile apparatus normally receives a pattern such as a character or an image irregularly, in a so-called standby state where no pattern is received, it is possible to save energy by not energizing the heater.

On the other hand, when the reception pattern arrives, it is possible to print the reception pattern faster by raising the heater to a predetermined temperature in a short time as much as possible, so that a small amount of image memory is required and the cost is reduced.

Therefore, in a facsimile apparatus having a fixing heater, there is a problem how to effectively use the thermal energy during printing and when the heater is started without waste.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus comprising: a fixing heater for heating toner and fixing the toner on recording paper; and a material having a high heat storage property. By controlling the rotation direction of the high-heat storage exhaust heat fan and the exhaust heat fan, during printing, the air in the apparatus is exhausted, and at the same time, the heat in the exhaust is stored in the exhaust heat fan to heat the fixing heater. At startup, the heat exhaust fan is rotated in the reverse direction to introduce air outside the apparatus toward the fixing heater in the apparatus, so that heat stored in the heat exhaust fan during the printing passes through the heat exhaust fan. And a heat exhaust fan rotation control means for transmitting the heated air to the fixing heater to accelerate the temperature rise of the fixing heater.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the exhaust heat fan rotation control means exhausts air in the apparatus during printing and simultaneously generates heat in the exhaust. The heat stored during printing is supplied to the recording paper by introducing air outside the apparatus toward the recording paper in the apparatus when the fixing heater is started to heat. It is characterized by further comprising a second high heat storage exhaust heat fan.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the two high heat storage heat exhaust fans are thermally connected to each other by a high heat transfer material. Features.

A facsimile apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the facsimile apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising exhaust heat fan temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the exhaust heat fan. The exhaust heat fan rotation control means controls the rotation of the exhaust heat fan based on an output from the exhaust heat fan temperature detecting means.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing heater for heating toner and fixing it on recording paper, a high heat storage heat exhaust fan made of a material having a high heat storage property, and the heat exhaust fan. During printing, the air in the apparatus is exhausted and the heat in the exhaust is simultaneously stored in the exhaust heat fan during printing, and the heat exhaust fan is rotated reversely when the fixing heater starts heating. By introducing air outside the apparatus toward the recording paper in the apparatus, heat stored in the exhaust heat fan during the printing is transmitted to air passing through the exhaust heat fan, and the heated air is transferred to the air. And a heat exhaust fan rotation control means for preventing a decrease in the temperature of the fixing heater during fixing on the recording paper.

The facsimile apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the facsimile apparatus according to the fifth aspect, further comprising exhaust heat fan temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the exhaust heat fan, The rotation control means controls the rotation of the heat removal fan based on the output from the heat removal fan temperature detection means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the heat energy generated by the apparatus is stored, and the heat energy is supplied to the fixing heater at the time of heating and starting, thereby shortening the heating start time of the fixing heater. In addition, effective utilization of the heat energy generated by the device and improvement of the responsiveness of the device can be realized at the same time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the thermal energy generated by the apparatus is stored, and this thermal energy is supplied to the fixing heater and the recording paper at the time of heating up, so that the heating of the fixing heater is started. In addition to shortening the raising time, the recording paper is heated to prevent the temperature of the fixing heater from lowering during fixing, thereby preventing defective fixing. Effective use of the thermal energy generated by the device, and the responsiveness and reliability of the device The improvement of the performance can be realized at the same time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the two high heat storage heat exhaust fans are thermally connected to each other by the high heat transfer material, the temperature distribution in the device is not uniform. Even if the amount of heat stored in one exhaust heat fan becomes insufficient, heat can be supplied from the other exhaust heat fan, and the exhaust heat energy can always be used uniformly.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is further provided an exhaust heat fan temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the exhaust heat fan, and by measuring the temperature of the exhaust heat fan. Since the degree of heat storage is known, the exhaust heat fan can be controlled efficiently by controlling the exhaust heat fan from the detected temperature value.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 5,
The thermal energy generated by the apparatus is stored, and this thermal energy is supplied to the recording paper to heat the recording paper, to prevent the temperature of the fixing heater from lowering at the time of fixing, and to prevent defective fixing. Effective utilization of heat energy and improvement of the reliability of the device can be realized at the same time.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus of the fifth aspect, the facsimile apparatus further includes exhaust heat fan temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the exhaust heat fan. Since the degree of heat storage is determined by measuring the temperature of the heat fan, controlling the heat discharge fan from the detected temperature value enables efficient control of the heat discharge fan.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are schematic diagrams illustrating the principle of the present invention.

First, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the principle of the invention described in claim 1 of the present application. In these figures, 1 is a fixing heater, and 2 is a high-temperature material made of a material having high heat storage performance. It is a heat storage exhaust heat fan. Printing (fixing)
As shown in FIG. 1, the fan 2 rotates forward and discharges the heat of the heater 1 to the outside of the apparatus. At this time, heat is accumulated in the air itself including the heat of the heater 1 passing through the fan 1. I do. Conversely, when the heating of the heater 1 is started, as shown in FIG. 2, the fan 2 is rotated in the reverse direction to take in the air outside the device into the device, and at the same time, transfer the heat stored in the fan 1 itself to the passing air. By blowing the heated air stream onto the heater 1, the temperature rise of the heater 1 is promoted.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the principle of a configuration in which the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, in other words, the inventions of claim 1 and claim 5 are realized at the same time. Numeral 1 is a heater, 2a and 2b are high heat storage heat exhaust fans, 2c is a high heat transfer material for thermally connecting the high heat storage waste heat fans 2a and 2b, and 3 is a recording paper. During printing (during fixing), as shown in FIG. 3, the fans 2a and 2b are rotated forward to discharge the heat of the heater 1 and the excess heat in the apparatus to the outside, and at the same time, to the fans 2a and 2b themselves. Accumulates heat. Conversely, when the heating of the heater 1 is started, the fans 2a and 2b are rotated in reverse to apply the heat accumulated in the heater 1 and the recording paper 3 to the heater 1 and the recording paper 3 in the apparatus. In addition to promoting the temperature, the recording paper 3 is heated so that the heating temperature of the fixing heater at the time of fixing is not lowered by the recording paper 3, thereby preventing a fixing defect.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention for realizing the configuration shown in FIGS.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an NCU, 12 denotes a modem, and 13 denotes a main controller which receives a received image from the modem and controls the entire facsimile apparatus. A printer controller 14 receives a print command (PRINT) from the main controller 13 and controls the entire printer. Reference numeral 15 denotes a laser unit which is the heart of a laser printer, which receives an image signal VDOUT from the printer controller 14, turns on / off a photosensitive laser, irradiates the laser onto a photosensitive drum, and develops with a toner. is there. Reference numeral 16 denotes a heater, and the printer controller 1
4 is warmed up by being supplied with electricity by the HTRON signal. 17
Is a heater thermistor for detecting the temperature of the fixing heater 16, and the printer controller 14
By detecting the temperature of the heater thermistor 17 based on the MP signal, the approximate temperature of the heater 17 is detected.
Reference numeral 18 denotes a motor for feeding recording paper, and is rotated by an MTRON signal from the printer controller 14.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a high heat storage heat exhaust fan, which is controlled by a FANON1 signal from the printer controller 14. In the exhaust heat fan 19, the rotation direction in which the air inside the facsimile apparatus is taken out of the apparatus is called "forward rotation", and the rotation direction in which the air outside the apparatus is drawn into the apparatus is called "reverse rotation". In addition, 20
This is a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the fan 19. The printer controller 14 detects the temperature of the thermistor 19 based on the FANTMP1 signal, thereby detecting the approximate temperature of the fan 19.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the first embodiment.

First, in step S001 (hereinafter simply referred to as S0
01) and S002, and stands by while monitoring whether an image has been received. When an image is received, the process proceeds to S003, and waits until a print command is received.
When a print command is issued, the fixing heater 1 is set in S004.
Turn 6 ON. Next, in S005, in order to detect the temperature of the fixing heater 16, the heater thermistor 17 is used.
Is determined whether or not the temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature A ° C. If the device has been left in a low temperature environment for a long time,
Proceed to 006.

In S006, it is determined whether the temperature of the thermistor 20 is higher than a predetermined temperature B ° C. in order to detect the temperature of the fan 19. In this case, similarly to the determination of the heater temperature, if NO is determined, the process proceeds to S009, and in S009, it is determined again whether the heater temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature C ° C. In general, the value of the predetermined temperature C ° C. is calculated from a temperature required for sufficiently fixing the toner.
While the temperature of the heater thermistor 20 is lower than C ° C.,
Returning to S005, the operations up to the above are repeated. That is, when the heating of the heater 16 is started in a low temperature environment,
The exhaust heat fan 19 is not rotated.

If the heater is warmed up during the loop from S005 to S009, and if YES is determined in S005, in S008, the fan 19 is rotated forward to discharge the air in the apparatus to the outside, and the electronic parts in the apparatus are rotated. From the temperature rise, and a part of the exhaust heat is stored in the fan 19 itself.
Next, in S005, once the temperature of the heater thermistor 17 exceeds the temperature A ° C., the heater 16 is turned off without stopping.
Since it remains N, it does not become lower than A ° C. thereafter.
Therefore, the fan 19 does not proceed to the NO branch in S005.
Does not rotate backward.

In S009, the heater thermistor 17
When the temperature exceeds C ° C., the process proceeds to S010, and the motor 18 for feeding paper is turned on. Then, an image signal is output to the laser unit 15 in S011, and the process waits until printing of one page is completed in S012. Upon completion, it is determined in S013 whether a print command for the next page has come. That is, when a plurality of pages are received in one reception, the determination of YES is made in S013, and the process returns to S011 again.

Next, when the printing of the last page is completed,
Proceed to S014, turn off the heater 18, and
5 and S016, the temperature of the heater 16 becomes the predetermined temperature A
The fan 19 is kept in the normal rotation until the temperature becomes equal to or lower than ℃. This is to ensure that the temperature inside the device is reduced to a predetermined temperature. When the temperature in the device drops to a predetermined temperature, S01
In step 7, the fan 19 is stopped, and the process returns to the standby mode.

Next, consider the case of reception. S005
Up to this is the same as above. In S005, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the fixing heater 16 is higher than a predetermined temperature A ° C. A fixing heater 16 having a specific heat as small as possible is used, the preheating during the standby is stopped, and the heater is turned on. There has been proposed a heater system which rises to a predetermined temperature in a short time. When such a heater is used, the heater cools down immediately.
It is determined as O. In S006, the temperature of the fan 19 is determined. However, since the fan used in the present invention has a high heat storage property, it does not cool down easily, and the temperature of the fan 19 exceeds B ° C. Therefore, the process proceeds to S007, in which the fan 19 is rotated in the reverse direction to take in air outside the device into the device. At this time, the air that has come into contact with the fan 19 causes heat accumulated in the fan 19 due to a heat conduction phenomenon. Then, the air hits the heater 16 and the heater 16 is heated.

Next, in S009, by the time the temperature of the heater 16 reaches the predetermined temperature of 0 ° C., the temperature of the fan 19 decreases due to the heat taken by the air outside the apparatus. Then, the determination of NO is made in S006, and the fan 1 is stopped in S007-1. Thereafter, the temperature of the heater 16 rises, and if YES is determined in S005, S00
At 8, the fan 19 rotates forward, and the exhaust heat is accumulated in the fan 19 again. The operation after S010 is
This is the same as the first reception.

As described above, if the change in the rotation direction of the fan and the thermistor temperature judgment for judging the change are used, it is possible to effectively use the heat energy and heat up the heater in a short time.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 7 is a block diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention for realizing the configuration shown in FIGS. The elements from 11 to 20 are
This is the same as the block diagram of the first embodiment (FIG. 5).

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 21 denotes a high heat storage second fan, provided that the high heat storage exhaust heat fan 19 is the first fan, and is driven from the printer controller 14 by a FANON2 signal. Reference numeral 22 denotes a second thermistor, where the thermistor 20 is a first thermistor.
The TMP2 signal allows the printer controller 14 to know the approximate temperature of the second fan from the temperature of the second thermistor.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 showing a flow following this. Steps S101 to S104 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, if NO is determined in S105, the process proceeds to S106, where the first thermistor 2
A temperature determination of 0 is performed. Here, when the determination is further NO, the process proceeds to S108, and the second thermistor 22
Is determined. Assuming that printing is started from a state where the printer is left in a low temperature environment for a long time, the heater 16
Since both the first fan 19 and the second fan 21 are both cold, NO is determined in S108, and the first fan 19 and the second fan 21 do not rotate.
Heat the heater 16. The loop from S105 to S112 is repeated until it is determined in S112 that the temperature has become sufficient for fixing. Heater 1 while repeating the loop
If the temperature of Step 6 exceeds the predetermined temperature A ° C., S110, S1
11, the first fan 19 and the second fan 2
1 is rotated forward, and the air inside the apparatus raised by the heater 16 and other electronic components is taken out of the apparatus. At this time, the heated air in the apparatus is supplied to the first fan 19 and the second fan 21. The contact causes heat to be accumulated in the first fan 19 and the second fan 21.

As time passes, the temperature of the heater 16 becomes C
Since the temperature exceeds ° C, YES is determined in S112, and the process proceeds to S113 in FIG. Example 1 from S113 to S117
Therefore, the description is omitted. In S118, it is determined that the temperature of the heater 16 has dropped.
In step S122, the first fan 19 and the second fan 21 are stopped and the process returns to standby.

In the case of the second embodiment, since there are two high-heat-storing exhaust heat fans, it is effective to prevent excessive temperature rise in the apparatus.

Next, consider the case of receiving again.

The temperature of the heater is determined in steps 105 through 105 from step S101. If the specific heat is low as in the case of the heater 16 in the first embodiment, the heater is turned off immediately after the heater is turned off. Proceed to Since the first fan 19 has a high heat storage property, the first fan 19
Is higher than B ° C. Therefore, in S107, the first fan 19 rotates in the reverse direction.
Similarly, in S108, the second fan 21 has a high heat storage property, so the second thermistor 22 exceeds B ° C.
At 09, the second fan 21 also rotates in the reverse direction. Since the first fan 19 and the second fan 21 are connected by a heat conducting member (FIGS. 3 and 4), it is considered that the same temperature is maintained. Since the second fan 21 has a structure in which the recording paper is exposed to air, the heat accumulated in the second fan 21
It is applied to the recording paper as well as to the heater 16.

At the start of printing, the heater 16
Further, since the apparatus itself is cold, if the heater 16 is rapidly cooled by the recording paper, the temperature control of the printer controller 14 cannot follow, and there is a risk that a fixing failure may occur. Therefore, warming a cold recording sheet is effective in preventing such a danger. If the heater temperature exceeds A ° C., the determination of YES is made in S105, and the first fan 19 and the second fan 21 are switched to the normal rotation in S110 and S111. afterwards,
If the determination is YES in S112, the process proceeds to FIG. 9, and thereafter, the same steps as the first reception are repeated.

As described above, the direction of rotation of the high-heat-storage exhaust heat fan is changed, thermistor temperature for judging the change is determined, and two fans are provided, one of which is arranged so that air hits the recording paper. By doing so, it is possible to make effective use of heat energy and to quickly raise the heater temperature.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
This makes it possible to effectively use the heat energy generated by the apparatus, to start up the heater in a short time, and to improve the reliability by preventing the fixing failure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of the invention according to the present application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of the invention according to the present application.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the principle of another invention according to the present application.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the principle of another invention according to the present application.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus having a configuration in which waste heat in the apparatus is used to heat up a fixing heater in the present invention.

6 is a flowchart showing a flow of waste heat utilization of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus having a configuration in which waste heat in the apparatus is used for heating up a fixing heater and heating recording paper in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of waste heat utilization of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of waste heat utilization of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixing heater 2, 2a, 2b High heat storage heat exhaust fan 2c High heat transfer material 3 Recording paper 11 NCU 12 Modem 13 Main controller 14 Printer controller 15 Laser unit 16 Heater 17 Heater thermistor 18 Motor 19 Fan (1st fan ) 20 thermistor (first thermistor) 21 second fan 22 second thermistor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A fixing heater for heating toner to fix it on recording paper, a high heat storage heat exhaust fan made of a material having a high heat storage property, When the air in the apparatus is exhausted, the heat in the exhaust is stored in the exhaust heat fan at the same time, and when the fixing heater is started to heat, the exhaust heat fan is rotated in the reverse direction to discharge the air outside the apparatus to the fixing heater in the apparatus. By introducing for,
The heat stored in the exhaust heat fan during the printing is transmitted to air passing through the exhaust heat fan, and the heated air is applied to the fixing heater to accelerate the temperature rise of the fixing heater. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust heat fan rotation control means exhausts air in the apparatus during printing and simultaneously stores heat in the exhaust in the exhaust heat fan. A second high heat storage heat exhaust fan that supplies the heat stored during printing to the recording paper by introducing the air toward the recording paper in the apparatus. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the two high heat storage heat exhaust fans are thermally connected to each other by a high heat transfer material. 4. An exhaust heat fan temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the exhaust heat fan, wherein the exhaust heat fan rotation control means detects the temperature of the exhaust heat fan by an output from the exhaust heat fan temperature detecting means. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile apparatus controls rotation of a fan. 5. A fixing heater for heating toner to fix the recording paper, a high heat storage heat exhaust fan made of a material having a high heat storage property, and a rotation direction of the heat exhaust fan being controlled so as to allow printing during printing. When the air in the apparatus is exhausted, the heat in the exhaust is stored in the exhaust heat fan at the same time, and when the heating of the fixing heater is started, the exhaust heat fan is rotated in reverse to discharge the air outside the apparatus to the recording paper in the apparatus. The heat stored in the exhaust heat fan during the printing is transmitted to the air passing through the exhaust heat fan, and the heated air is applied to the recording paper to fix the heat at the time of fixing. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a heat-removal-fan rotation control means for preventing a temperature decrease of a heater. 6. An exhaust heat fan temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the exhaust heat fan, wherein the exhaust heat fan rotation control means detects the temperature of the exhaust heat fan based on an output from the exhaust heat fan temperature detecting means. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the facsimile apparatus controls rotation of a fan.