KR101184398B1 - System for adaptively controlling fixing temperature according to a kind of heater and method the using same - Google Patents

Abstract

A fixing temperature control system capable of controlling the fixing temperature adaptively to the type of heater and a method using the same are proposed. A fixing temperature control system according to the present invention includes a fixing temperature detecting unit detecting heat of a fixing unit of an image forming apparatus, a first control unit controlling electric power supplied to a first type of heater mounted on the fixing unit, and a second mounted on the fixing unit. A second control unit for controlling electric power supplied to a kind of heater, and a system control unit for determining a type of a heater mounted on the fixing unit, and controlling a control unit corresponding to the type of the determined heater to operate based on the detected heat. Include.

Fusing Control, IH, E-Coil, Temperature

Description

System for adaptively controlling fixing temperature according to a kind of heater and method the using same}

1A is a functional block diagram of a conventional fixing temperature control system,

1B is a circuit diagram of a conventional fixing temperature control system,

2 is a block diagram of a fixing temperature control system according to an embodiment of the present invention,

3 is a block diagram illustrating an E-coil heater control unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

4 is a circuit diagram of an E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a circuit diagram of an interface unit of a system control unit and an IH-heater control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a block diagram illustrating an interface unit of a system controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

7 is a block diagram illustrating an inverter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a graph showing the relationship between voltage and AC output,

9A is a graph showing a relationship between heating time and temperature in an E-coil heater,

9B is a graph showing a relationship between heating time and temperature in an IH heater.

The present invention relates to a fixing temperature control system capable of controlling the fixing temperature adaptively to the type of the heater and a method using the same, and more particularly, even if the fixing unit is equipped with different types of heaters It is a fixing temperature control system that can control the fixing temperature and a method using the same.

An image forming apparatus for implementing an image on a recording paper typically uses a fixing unit for fixing a visible image formed on a medium such as a photosensitive drum on the recording paper, and since the fixing unit needs to be heated, it includes a heater therein.

As a heater used in a fuser, there are conventional induction heating (IH) heaters and E-coil heaters. The difference is that the heating source of the IH heater is a high frequency AC power source and the heating source of the E-coil heater is an AC power source of a normal frequency such as 60 Hz.

1A is a functional block diagram of a conventional fixing temperature control system.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a conventional fixing temperature control system includes a linearization circuit 101 that detects heat of a fixing unit and outputs a linearized fixing temperature value, receives a fixing temperature value, converts the fixing temperature value into a digital value, and controls a fixing signal of the fixing unit. A system control unit 103 for outputting the control unit, a protection circuit 105 for outputting a signal for protecting the fixing unit, and an AC power source 107 for supplying AC power to the fixing unit under the control of the system control unit 103 and the protection circuit 105. It includes.

1B is a circuit diagram of a conventional fixing temperature control system, and in particular, a circuit diagram of a fixing temperature control system for an E-coil heater.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional fixing temperature control system for an E-coil heater detects heat using a thermistor and outputs the heat detected by the thermistor as a voltage value Vth corresponding thereto. In addition, the thermistor includes a component for protecting the heater by detecting an error such as an open or short circuit (comparator IC1) and a TRIAC component for controlling the power supply of the AC power to the heater.

On the other hand, as a fuser with a heater is recently used in a replaceable manner by a user as a consumable part, the image forming apparatus needs to adaptively control the fixing temperature regardless of the type of heater provided in the fuser.

The present invention has been proposed to meet the needs as described above, and to provide a fixing temperature control system and a method using the same, which can control the fixing temperature adaptively to the type of heater provided in the fixing unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the fixing temperature control system according to the present invention, the fixing temperature detection unit for detecting the heat of the fixing unit of the image forming apparatus, the first to control the power supplied to the first type of heater mounted to the fixing unit A control unit, a second control unit for controlling electric power supplied to a second type of heater mounted on the fuser, and a type of heater mounted on the fuser, and based on the detected heat, corresponding to the determined type of heater And a system controller for controlling the controller to operate.

The fixing temperature control system may further include a first protection unit which cuts off power supply to the first control unit when the detected heat indicates an error of the first type of heater.

On the other hand, the second control unit may turn off the power supplied to the first type of heater when the detected heat indicates an error occurrence of the first type of heater.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, in the fixing temperature control method according to the present invention, detecting the heat of the fixing unit of the image forming apparatus, determining the type of the heater mounted on the mounting, supply to the determined heater And controlling based on the detected heat.

On the other hand, in the controlling step, when the detected heat indicates an error in the heater, the power supply to the heater in which the error is generated may be stopped.

Other objects and further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram of a fixing temperature control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The fusing temperature control system detects heat of a heater (not shown) mounted in the fixing unit 201, and controls an e-coil heater control and fixing temperature detecting unit 203 or 205 for controlling electric power supplied to the e-coil heater. IH heater control unit 209 for controlling the power supplied to the IH heater, and a control unit corresponding to the type of the heater determined based on the detected heat and determining the type of heater mounted on the fixing unit 201, And a system controller 207 for controlling the heater controller or the E-coil heater control and the fixing temperature detector to operate.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 control the power supplied to the E-coil heater when the e-coil heater is mounted in the fixing unit 201. In addition, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 detect the heat of the heater mounted in the fixing unit 201.

E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection unit (203, 205) according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor 203 for detecting the heat of the heater (not shown) mounted to the fixing unit 201, the detected heat It may include a linear unit (not shown) for converting into an electrical signal, and an E-coil heater control unit (not shown) for controlling the power supplied to the E-coil heater. In this embodiment, the sensor 203 for detecting heat may be, for example, a thermistor. Thermistor is a resistance that reacts to heat. When the heat rises, the resistance value drops, and when the heat drops, the resistance value increases.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection unit (203, 205), although the E-coil heater control unit and the fixing temperature detection unit is implemented as a single functional block, alternatively (alternatively) to detect the heat Separate function blocks, such as a fixing temperature detection unit including a sensor 203 and a linear unit (not shown) for converting detected heat into an electrical signal, and an E-coil heater control unit for controlling electric power supplied to the E-coil heater. It can be implemented as. As such, the E-coil heater controller in the case of being implemented as a separate functional block is sometimes referred to as a second controller in the present specification.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 are based on the heat detected by the sensor 203, indicating whether the sensor has an error or an electrical signal value corresponding to the heat (for example, voltage (Vth). Output)). These output values are input to the system control unit 207.

The error of the sensor will be described taking an example where the sensor is a thermistor. If the thermistor (resistance) is open, shorted, or overheated, an error can occur. When an error occurs in the sensor as described above, it is necessary to immediately stop the operation of the heater without the control of the system controller, and for this purpose, a protection unit (protection circuit) is required. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the E-coil heater controller further includes a protection circuit.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 receive an enable signal from the system controller 207. If the enable signal is on, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection units 203 and 205 control to supply power supplied to a heater (not shown) of the fixing unit 201. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 do not directly control the power supplied to the heater (not shown) of the fuser 201, and the E-coil TRIAC controller. By controlling 213, electric power supplied to the heater is controlled.

The fixing temperature control system according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an E-coil TRIAC control unit 213. The E-coil TRIAC control unit 213 controls the power output from the AC power supply 211 to be supplied to a heater (not shown) of the fixing unit 201. According to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the E-coil TRIAC control unit 213 may supply power to a heater (not shown) of the fixing unit 201 under the control of the E-coil heater control and the fixing temperature detecting units 203 and 205. To control. When the system control unit 207 outputs an E-coil enable signal to the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 are E-coil TRIAC. Outputs a control signal for supplying power to the heater (not shown) to the control unit 213, the E-coil TRIAC control unit 213 is a heater (not shown) provided in the fixing unit 201 from the AC power source 211 To power the furnace.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 may preferably include a protection unit for cutting off power supplied to the heater (not shown) when an error occurs in the sensor 203.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 are preferably electric power supplied to the IH heater when an IH heater (not shown) is mounted in the fuser 201 when an error occurs in the sensor 203. IH heater protection unit to cut off the power, and when the E-coil heater (not shown) is mounted to the fuser 201 to cut off the power supplied to the E-coil heater to cut off the power supplied to the E-coil heater It may include an E-coil heater protection for.

The IH heater control unit 209 controls the power supply to the IH heater when the IH heater (not shown) is mounted in the fixing unit 201. On the other hand, in the present specification, the IH heater control unit 209 is often referred to as the first control unit.

The IH heater control unit 209 according to an embodiment of the present invention controls the power supplied to the fixing unit 201 under the control of the control signal (IH Heater Enable) from the system control unit 207. In this case, the IH heater control unit 209 outputs a signal indicating the state of the IH heater to the system control unit 207, and the IH heater enable signal, the IH heater reset signal, and the IH heater PWM power from the system control unit 207. Receive the signal. The IH heater controller 209 may control the power supplied to the IH heater based on the received signals.

The IH heater control unit 209 according to an embodiment of the present invention receives AC from the AC power source 211, generates a predetermined high frequency AC, and outputs the predetermined high frequency AC to an IH heater (not shown) mounted to the fixing unit 201. To this end, the IH heater control unit 209 may include an inverter for generating a high frequency.

IH heater control unit 209 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection unit (203, 205), a predetermined to cut off the power supplied to the IH heater when an error occurs in the IH heater Receives a control signal. This control signal may be a power signal.

The case where the control signal received by the IH heater control unit 209 from the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection units 203 and 205 is a power supply signal will be described. In this case, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 are supplied with electric power from a predetermined power supply (preferably a DC power supply) (not shown). This predetermined power source (not shown) may be provided by the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 by itself. On the other hand, the IH heater control unit 209 also requires a predetermined power source to operate, in the present embodiment is supplied from the power provided by the E-coil heater control and the fixing temperature detection unit (203, 205). That is, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 supply power for operation to the IH heater controller 209 (see FIG. 2). If the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 do not supply power to the IH heater control unit 209, the IH heater control unit 209 does not operate. In this case, the high frequency power supplied to the IH heater Is blocked.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection unit (203, 205), regardless of whether the heater fixed to the fixing unit 201 is an E-coil heater or an IH heater, Detect. If the IH heater is mounted and the mounted IH heater fails, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 block the power supplied to the IH heater controller to protect the IH heater.

The system control unit 207 determines whether the type of the heater mounted on the fixing unit 201 is, for example, an IH heater or an E-coil heater, and receives from the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205. The IH heater or the E-coil heater is controlled based on the fixing temperature.

The system controller 207 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an A / D converter. The A / D converter converts a fixing temperature value (analog value) sensed by the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 into a digital value. The system control unit 207 may control operations of the IH heater control unit 209, the E-coil heater control and the fixing temperature detection units 203 and 205 based on the fixing temperature value converted into the digital value.

When the heater mounted on the fixing unit 201 is an E-coil heater, the operation of the system control unit 207 will be described. In this case, the system control unit 207 applies the E-coil heater enable signal or the disable signal based on the fixing temperature detected by the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205. . When the enable signal is applied, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 allow power to be supplied to the E-coil heater in the fuser 201. In the present embodiment, when the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection units 203 and 205 receive the E-coil heater enable signal from the system control unit 207, the E-coil heater control unit 203 and 205 supply power to the E-coil TRIAC control unit 213. In this case, the E-coil TRIAC control unit 213 allows power to be supplied from the AC power source 211 to the E-coil heater.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, regardless of whether the E-coil heater enable signal, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection unit (203, 205) performs the operation of detecting the heat of the fixing unit. For example, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 may include a protection unit (not shown) that protects the E-coil heater without being controlled by the system controller 207. Although the protection unit will be described later, it may be configured in hardware and is not controlled by the system control unit 207, and is operated based on the heat detected by the sensor 203.

When the heater mounted on the fixing unit 201 is an IH heater, the operation of the system control unit 207 will be described. In this case, the system control unit 207 applies the IH heater enable signal or sends the disable signal to the IH heater control unit based on the fixing temperature detected by the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detecting units 203 and 205. 209). When the enable signal is applied, the IH heater control unit 209 supplies power to the IH heater mounted on the fuser 201. The system control unit 207 may receive a signal indicating the state of the IH heater from the IH heater control unit 209, and the IH heater enable signal, the IH heater reset signal, and the IH heater PWM power signal to the IH heater control unit 209. Can be sent. Here, the IH heater enable signal is a control signal for supplying power to the IH heater fixed in the fuser 201, the IH heater reset signal is a signal for resetting the IH heater, and the PWM power signal is supplied to the IH heater. It is a control signal that controls the amount of power.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the IH heater control unit 209 and the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection units 203 and 205 may be operated under the control of the system control unit 207, and the system control unit 207 May operate regardless of the control operation.

In the case of operating irrespective of the control operation of the system control unit 207, an error occurs mainly in the heater mounted on the fixing unit 201. For example, when the E-coil heater is mounted in the fixing unit 201 and an error occurs in the mounted E-coil heater, the error occurrence is detected by the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205. , The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 block AC power supplied to the E-coil heater regardless of the control operation of the system controller 207. On the other hand, for example, when the IH heater is mounted in the fixing unit 201 and an error occurs in the mounted IH heater, such an error is generated by the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205. Is detected, and the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection units 203 and 205 transmit a predetermined control signal to the IH heater control unit 209. It has been described above that this predetermined control signal may be a power signal. That is, when no error occurs in the IH heater, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 supply power to the IH heater control unit 209, and if an error occurs in the IH heater, The coil heater control and fixing temperature detectors 203 and 205 block the power supply to the IH heater controller 209.

3 is a block diagram illustrating an E-coil heater controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The E-coil heater controller 300 may include a fixing temperature detector 303 for detecting heat of the fixing unit, an E-coil heater protector 307, an IH heater protector 309, and an E-coil heater on / off part ( 311).

The fixing temperature detector 303 may include a thermal sensor such as a thermistor (not shown) and a linearizer (not shown) for outputting a fixing temperature value obtained by converting the sensed heat into a predetermined electrical signal. The fixing temperature detector 303 detects the heat of the fixing unit and outputs the fixing temperature to the system controller 305. In addition, the fixing temperature detector 303 may detect whether or not the heater is in error, and outputs a signal indicating the error to the IH heater protector 309 and the E-coil heater protector 307.

The system control unit 305 transmits the E-coil heater enable signal to the E-coil heater on / off unit 311 based on the fixing temperature detected by the fixing temperature detecting unit 303. The E-coil heater on / off unit 311 controls whether AC power is supplied to the E-coil heater based on the received E-coil heater enable. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the E-coil heater on-off unit 311 transmits a signal indicating whether AC power is supplied to the E-coil TRIAC controller, and the E-coil TRIAC controller is based on the signal. Control the power supply to the E-coil heater.

The E-coil heater protection unit 307 interrupts the operation of the E-coil heater based on the fixing temperature detected by the fixing temperature detecting unit 303. When the E-coil heater protection unit 307 receives a signal indicating an error of the E-coil heater from the fixing temperature detection unit 303, the E-coil heater protection unit 307 receives the E-coil heater on / off unit ( 311) transmits a signal to stop the power supply to the E-coil heater, and the E-coil on-off unit 311 transmits a power supply stop signal to the E-coil TRIAC control unit in response thereto. When the E-coil on / off unit 311 receives the power supply stop signal from the E-coil heater protector 307, even if the E-coil heater enable signal is received from the system controller 305, the power supply stop signal may be received. Transmit to E-coil TRIAC controller.

The IH heater protection unit 309 cuts off the power supplied to the IH heater control unit on the basis of the fixing temperature detected by the fixing temperature detection unit 303. As a result, the H heater controller may not generate high frequency AC power to be supplied to the IH heater, and thus, the IH heater may be protected because no power is supplied to the IH heater.

4 is a circuit diagram of an E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The E-coil heater control and fusing temperature detector detects the fusing temperature. In detail, the resistance value of the thermistor TO changes in response to the surrounding heat, and as the resistance value changes, the voltage A_TH_FUSER1 applied to the fixing temperature output terminal changes. In detail, the voltage A_TH_FUSER1 representing the fixing temperature varies depending on the resistance value of the thermistor and the resistance R22. In A_TH_FUSER1 representing the voltage value, A represents the analog value.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detector outputs the VBE analog value of the transistor Q1. This value is an analog value that can indicate that the thermistor is open.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detector outputs a signal nTH1_OPEN indicating that the thermistor is open and a fixing unit (heater) error signal nFUSER_ERROR corresponding thereto. In detail, when the thermistor T0 is open, the voltage VBE of the thermistor terminal 2 becomes 0V, and when VBE becomes 0V, the output of the comparator U2-2 becomes low, and this signal is This signal is nTH1_OPEN. On the other hand, the low output signal of the comparator U2-2 becomes one of the inputs of the NAND gate. If one of the NANA gates is low, its output is low. This output signal is a fuser error signal (nFUSER_ERROR). Where n indicates that the fuser is an error when the level is low.

When the thermistor is open, the E-coil heater control unit and the fixing temperature detector block the power supplied to the IH heater control unit. Specifically, when the thermistor is opened, the output of the NAND gate U1 goes low as described above. The low output of NAND gate U1 is connected to transistor Q10, which is turned off so that power is not supplied to the IH heater controller. Therefore, when the thermistor is open, power (+ 24V_IH) is not supplied to the IH heater controller. As a result, the E-coil heater control unit and the fixing temperature detector perform a function of protecting the IH heater.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detector outputs a signal nTH1_OVERHEAT indicating that the thermistor is overheated and a fixing unit error signal nFUSER_ERROR corresponding thereto. In detail, when the thermistor T0 is overheated, the resistance value thereof decreases, so that the voltage of the thermistor terminal 1 drops, so that a low signal is input to the input terminal 3 of the comparator U2-1. Since the signal input to the input terminal 3 of the comparator U2-1 is lower than the signal input to the other input terminal 2 of the comparator U2-1 (transistor Q1 is turned off, the input terminal 2) Low takes a high signal), and the comparator U2-1 outputs a low signal. This low signal is input to one of the input terminals of the NAND gate U1, so that the NAND gate U1 outputs a low signal. Therefore, when the thermistor is overheated, the output of the NAND gate U1 becomes low so that a signal indicating a fuser error is output.

Even when the thermistor is overheated, the E-coil heater control unit and the fixing temperature detector block the electric power supplied to the IH heater control unit as in the case of the open. As described above, when the thermistor is overheated, the output of the NAND gate U1 becomes low. Similarly, the low output of NAND gate U1 is connected to transistor Q10, which is turned off so that power is not supplied to the IH heater controller. Therefore, when the thermistor is overheated, power (+ 24V_IH) is not supplied to the IH heater controller. As a result, the E-coil heater control unit and the fixing temperature detector perform a function of protecting the IH heater.

When the thermistor is overheated, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detector outputs a signal (nHEATER_ON) that cuts off the power supplied to the E-coil heater to the E-coil TRIAC controller. The signal nHEATER_ON means that the heater is turned on when the signal is low. Therefore, when the thermistor is overheated, the signal nHEATER_ON will be explained as high. When the thermistor overheats, the resistance value of the thermistor becomes small and the voltage of the thermistor terminal 1 becomes low. Therefore, the output of the comparator U2-1 goes low so that the diode D4 does not conduct, and the transistor Q7 is turned off. As a result, the terminal where nHEATER_ON is output remains high. Thus, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection unit performs a function of protecting the E-coil heater.

When the thermistor is opened, the terminal 2 of the thermistor becomes 0 V, so that the transistor Q1 is turned off, so that a high signal is input to the input terminal 2 of the comparator U2-1. Therefore, the output of the comparator U2-1 becomes a low signal, and similarly to the case of overheating, the terminal to which nHEATER_ON is output remains high. Thus, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection unit performs a function of protecting the E-coil heater.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection unit receives an E-coil enable signal nHEATER_FUSER from the system controller and outputs a signal nHEATER_ON for controlling the E-coil TRIAC controller in response thereto. The low E-coil enable signal nHEATER_FUSER enables the heater. Accordingly, when the low signal is input to the E-coil enable signal nHEATER_FUSER, the signal of the terminal where nHEATER_ON is output will be described as low. When the low signal is input to the E-coil enable signal nHEATER_FUSER, the transistor Q6 is turned off, and as a result, the terminal 3 of the transistor Q6 becomes high. The output of the terminal 3 of the transistor Q6 becomes the input of the diode D4. In this case, the diode D4 is turned on to turn on the transistor Q7. As a result, the signal at the terminal at which nHEATER_ON is output goes low. As described above, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detection unit outputs a control signal corresponding to the E-coil heater enable signal from the system control unit to the E-coil TRIC control unit.

5 is a circuit diagram of an interface unit between a system control unit and an IH-heater control unit according to an exemplary embodiment.

In FIG. 5, a box marked IH BOARD is an interface part coupled to the IH heater controller. The remaining part shows the detailed circuit diagram of the interface part of a system control part.

Referring to FIG. 5, the system control unit receives status signals Status 1, 2, and 3 from the IH heater control unit, and the IH heater enable signal nTH_Enable, the fuser error signal nFUSER_ERROR, and PWM to the IH heater control unit. Output the supply signal PWM_POWER.

The fuser error signal nFUSER_ERROR is a signal received from the E-coil heater control and the fixing temperature detection unit, and the supply of the PWM supply signal can be controlled based on this signal. Since the case where the fuser error signal nFUSER_ERROR is low indicates an error has occurred, the case where the fuser error signal nFUSER_ERROR is low will be described. In this case, the transistor Q18 is turned off, and thus the output terminal 10 of the diode U9-5 is made high. Eventually, the diode U9-5 is not conducting, and thus the PWM_POWER signal is blocked. As a result, the IH heater controller does not receive the PWM_POWER signal, thereby cutting off the high frequency power supplied to the IH heater.

6 is a block diagram illustrating an interface unit of a system controller according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, an interface unit of a system controller implemented with an ASIC IC (LPEC2, JC13-000: manufacturer Samsung) is shown. The interface unit of the system controller receives the fuser error signal nFUSER_ERROR, thermistor open signal nTH1_OPEN, and the overheat signal nTH1_OVERHEAT detected by the E-coil heater control and the fixing temperature control unit. Receive STATUS0, 1,2). Meanwhile, a signal nIH_ENABLE and a PWM control signal for controlling the IH heater are output through the interface unit of the system controller.

7 is a block diagram illustrating an inverter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The IH heater controller according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an inverter 700 as shown in FIG. 7. The inverter 700 receives AC power and generates high frequency AC power. The IH heater controller generates the desired high frequency AC power by controlling the switches SW1 and SW2 of the inverter 700.

FIG. 8 illustrates a relationship between an IH heater PWM power signal output from a system controller and an AC output corresponding thereto in a fixing temperature control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DA Vrams [V] on the horizontal axis represents an IH heater PWM Power signal in rms value.

Figure 9a, in the fixing temperature control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, shows the relationship between the heating time and temperature when the fuser is equipped with an E-coil heater. It can be seen that when the E-coil heater is mounted, it takes about 60 seconds to reach the desired fixing temperature.

9B illustrates a relationship between a heating time and a temperature when an IH heater is installed in the fixing apparatus in the fixing temperature control system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It can be seen that when the IH heater is mounted, it takes about 43.8 seconds to reach the desired fixing temperature.

Now, with reference to Figure 2 will be described a fixing temperature control method that can control the fixing temperature of two or more types of heaters.

The E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detector 205 detects heat of the fixing unit. On the other hand, the system control unit 207 determines the type of heater to be mounted on the mounter, and controls based on the heat detected by the power supplied to the determined heater.

On the other hand, the E-coil heater control and fixing temperature detector 205 stops supplying power to the heater in which the error occurs when the detected heat indicates an error in the heater, and stops supplying power to the IH heater controller. Block it.

Although the present invention has been described above using the IH heater and the E-coil heater as an example, the present invention is not limited to these types and may be applied to other types of heaters.

As described above, according to the present invention, the fixing temperature can be controlled adaptively to the type of heater provided in the fixing unit.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the method is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various other changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (5)

A fixing temperature detecting unit detecting heat of the fixing unit of the image forming apparatus; A first control unit controlling electric power supplied to a first type of heater mounted to the fixing unit; A second controller for controlling electric power supplied to a second type of heater mounted on the fixing unit; And A system for determining a type of heater mounted on the fixing unit and operating in different frequency sources using the detected time characteristic of the heat, and controlling the first controller and the second controller to operate according to the determined heater type. Control unit; including, The first controller converts the input power into a power having a different frequency from the power supplied to the second type of heater and supplies the power to the first type of heater. Fusing temperature control system that can control. The method of claim 1, A fixing unit adapted to adapt the type of heater to the first heater, further comprising: a first protection unit which cuts off power supply to the first control unit when the detected heat indicates an error of the first type of heater. Fusing temperature control system that can control. The method of claim 1, The second control unit, A fixing temperature capable of controlling the fixing temperature adaptively to the type of the heater, wherein the power supplied to the first type of heater is turned off when the detected heat indicates an error of the first type of heater. Control system. Detecting heat of the fixing unit of the image forming apparatus; Determining the types of heaters mounted on the fixing unit and operating on different frequency sources using the detected temporal characteristics of the heat; And Controlling the power supplied to the determined heater; including, The controlling step, A fixing temperature control method capable of controlling the fixing temperature adaptively to the type of heater comprising the step of changing the frequency source with respect to the input power to output to the heater. 5. The method of claim 4, The controlling step, A fixing temperature control method capable of controlling the fixing temperature adaptively to the type of heater, characterized in that when the detected heat indicates the occurrence of an error of the heater, the supply of power to the heater on which the error has occurred is stopped.

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