Fixing device controller, image forming apparatus, fixing device control method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing fixing device control program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10488796-B2
Application number	US-201816021060-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2018
Priority date	Jul 5, 2017
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

A fixing device controller includes a plurality of voltage detectors to detect voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to a plurality of heaters to heat a fixing member of a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium and a heater controller to execute duty control to turn on the plurality of heaters. The heater controller corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detectors and rated output values of the plurality of heaters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fixing device controller comprising:
a plurality of voltage detectors to detect voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to a plurality of heaters to heat a fixing member of a fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording medium; and
a heater controller to execute duty control to turn on the plurality of heaters, the heater controller that corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on a ratio of the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detectors and rated output values of the plurality of heaters,
wherein the heater controller compares a maximum turn-on duty that is a duty when the fixing device consumes a total power set for the fixing device with a sum of turn-on duties of the plurality of heaters, and, when the sum of turn-on duties of the plurality of heaters exceeds the maximum turn-on duty, the heater controller executes allocation of turn-on duties of the plurality of heaters based on differences between the total power and maximum powers of the plurality of heaters.

2. The fixing device controller according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heater controller corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters so that a relation between a total power of the plurality of heaters and duties used in the duty control becomes linear.

3. The fixing device controller according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heater controller sets the duties of the plurality of heaters in a descending order of turn-on priority order of the plurality of heaters set in advance and, when the heater controller changes the turn-on priority order, corrects a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on the voltages detected by the plurality of voltage detectors and the rated output values of the plurality of heaters.

4. The fixing device controller according to claim 3 ,
wherein the turn-on priority order is changed based on an operation time of the fixing device.

5. The fixing device controller according to claim 3 ,
wherein the turn-on priority order is changed based on a total turn-on time of the heaters.

6. The fixing device controller according to claim 3 ,
wherein the turn-on priority order is changed based on a number of recording media on which the fixing device executes fixing.

7. The fixing device controller according to claim 3 ,
wherein the turn-on priority order is changed in each print job in which the fixing device executes fixing.

8. The fixing device controller according to claim 1 ,
wherein the duty control is proportional integral differential (PID) control.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a fixing device to fix a toner image onto a recording medium using a fixing member; and
the fixing device controller according to claim 1 to control the fixing device.

10. A fixing device control method for controlling a fixing device having a plurality of heaters to fix a toner image onto a recording medium using a fixing member in an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
detecting voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to the plurality of heaters to heat the fixing member;
when the plurality of heaters is controlled by duty control, correcting a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on a ratio of the detected voltages and rated output values of the plurality of heaters;
comparing a maximum turn-on duty that is a duty when the fixing device consumes a total power set for the fixing device with a sum of turn-on duties of the plurality of heaters; and
when the sum of turn-on duties of the plurality of heaters exceeds the maximum turn-on duty, the heater controller executes allocation of turn-on duties of the plurality of heaters based on differences between the total power and maximum powers of the plurality of heaters.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores an executable program, wherein the program, when executed, instructs an image forming apparatus to execute a fixing device control method comprising:
detecting voltages of a plurality of power sources for supplying power to a plurality of heaters to heat a fixing member of a fixing device in the image forming apparatus;
when the plurality of heaters is controlled by duty control, correcting a duty of at least one of the plurality of heaters based on a ratio of the detected voltages and rated output values of the plurality of heaters;
comparing a maximum turn-on duty that is a duty when the fixing device consumes a total power set for the fixing device with a sum of turn-on duties of the plurality of heaters; and
when the sum of turn-on duties of the plurality of heaters exceeds the maximum turn-on duty, the heater controller executes allocation of turn-on duties of the plurality of heaters based on differences between the total power and maximum powers of the plurality of heaters.

Assignees

• Kawata Teppei
• Namekata Shinichi
• Amita Akiyasu
• Ujiie Masateru
• Watanabe Yohhei
• Hirose Fumihiro
• Sakamaki Takashi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kawata Teppei
• Namekata Shinichi
• Amita Akiyasu
• Ujiie Masateru
• Watanabe Yohhei
• Hirose Fumihiro
• Sakamaki Takashi

Classifications

• G03G15/2017

  Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means (G03G15/2053 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/1615

  relating to the driving mechanism for the intermediate support, e.g. gears, couplings, belt tensioning · CPC title

• G03G15/2053 Primary

  Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating · CPC title

• G03G15/2039

  with means for controlling the fixing temperature · CPC title