Image forming device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11327426-B2
Application number	US-202016874834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2020
Priority date	May 31, 2019
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

An image forming device that forms an image on a medium, includes: a heater that heats the medium; a control unit that controls the heater; a first path that receives input voltage from an external power supply, converts the input voltage into desired voltage, and supplies the desired voltage to the control unit; a second path that divides the input voltage received by the first path and supplies the input voltage to the heater; a control element that is connected to the second path and controls ON/OFF switching of the heater according to control from the control unit; and a disconnection unit that disconnects the second path depending on condition of the input voltage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming device that forms an image on a medium, comprising:
a heater that heats the medium;
a control unit that controls the heater;
a first path that receives an input voltage from an external power supply, the input voltage being converted into a desired voltage to be supplied to the control unit;
a second path that branches off from the first path and supplies the input voltage to the heater;
a control element that is connected to the second path and controls ON/OFF switching of the heater according to control from the control unit;
an input abnormality detection unit that detects abnormality in the input voltage when the input voltage is DC voltage in which no AC zero cross point is detected; and
a disconnection unit that disconnects the second path when the abnormality is detected.

2. The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the second path when the abnormality is detected and the control element is in an operating state in which the control element is capable of turning on the heater.

3. The image forming device according to claim 2 , wherein when the abnormality is detected and the control element is in a non-operating state in which the control element is incapable of turning on the heater, the control unit does not turn the non-operating state into the operating state and the disconnection unit does not disconnect the second path.

4. An image forming device that forms an image on a medium, comprising:
a heater that heats the medium;
a control unit that controls the heater;
a first path that receives an input voltage from an external power supply, the input voltage being converted into a desired voltage to be supplied to the control unit;
a second path that branches off from the first path and supplies the input voltage to the heater:
a control element that is connected to the second path and controls ON/OFF switching of the heater according to control from the control unit;
an input abnormality detection unit that detects abnormality in the input voltage; and
a disconnection unit that disconnects the second path when the abnormality is detected and the control element has turned on the heater.

5. The image forming device according to claim 4 , wherein when the abnormality is detected and the control element has turned off the heater, the control unit does not allow the control element to turn on the heater and the disconnection unit does not disconnect the second path.

6. The image forming device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a heater temperature detection unit that detects temperature of the heater,
wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the second path when the abnormality is detected and the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

7. The image forming device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a voltage detection unit that detects whether or not the input voltage is inputted to the first path,
wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the second path when the abnormality is detected, the control element has turned on the heater, and the input voltage is inputted to the first path.

8. The image forming device according to claim 1 , further comprising an output abnormality detection unit that detects abnormality in the input voltage in the second path,
wherein the disconnection unit disconnects the second path when the abnormality is detected.

9. An image forming device that forms an image on a medium, comprising:
a heater that heats the medium;
a control unit that controls the heater;
a first path that receives an input voltage from an external power supply, the input voltage being converted into a desired voltage to be supplied to the control unit;
a second path that branches off from the first path and supplies the input voltage to the heater;
a control element that is connected to the second path and controls ON/OFF switching of the heater according to control from the control unit;
an input abnormality detection unit that detects abnormality in the input voltage in the first path;
an output abnormality detection unit that detects abnormality in the input voltage in the second path; and
a disconnection unit that disconnects the second path when the abnormality is detected by both the input abnormality detection unit and the output abnormality detection unit.

10. The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the abnormality is detected when the input voltage is DC voltage in which no AC zero cross point is detected for a predetermined period, the predetermined period being longer than one period of an AC zero cross signal in a normal condition.

11. The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the control unit judges whether or not the input voltage is abnormal, and
the disconnection unit disconnects the second path when the input voltage is judged to be abnormal, the control element has turned on the heater, and the state in which the input voltage is judged to be abnormal continues for a predetermined period.

12. The image forming device according to claim 11 , wherein the input voltage is judged to be abnormal when the input voltage is DC voltage.

13. The image forming device according to claim 11 , wherein the input voltage is judged to be abnormal when the input voltage is DC voltage for a predetermined period.

14. The image forming device according to claim 12 , further comprising an AC zero cross detection unit that detects an AC zero cross point of the input voltage,
wherein the control unit judges that the input voltage is abnormal when the AC zero cross point is not detected.

15. The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control element is a triac.

16. The image forming device according to claim 10 , wherein
an AC power is supplied to the image forming device, and
the predetermined period is longer than a period of an instantaneous power interruption in which the image forming device operates without going down even if the AC power becomes 0V.

17. The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the input abnormality detection unit includes
a resistor that is connected to the first path,
a first capacitor that is connected to the resistor in series,
a photocoupler that is connected to the first capacitor in series and that stops a signal when the DC voltage in which no AC zero cross point is detected is input to the photocoupler, and
a second capacitor into which voltage controlled by the signal output from the photocoupler is input.

Assignees

• Oki Data Kk
• Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nakazawa Kazuo
• Sakamoto Noriyasu
• Ishizuka Hisashi
• Mogi Toru

Classifications

• H02M3/33523 Primary

  with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop · CPC title

• H02H1/06

  Arrangements for supplying operative power {(power supply arrangements in general G05F, H02M)} · CPC title

• G03G15/2039

  with means for controlling the fixing temperature · CPC title

• H02M7/06

  using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode · CPC title

• G03G15/55 Primary

  Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display · CPC title