Heating control method and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12560880-B2
Application number	US-202318493254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2023
Priority date	Oct 27, 2022
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

Abstract

Provided is a heating control method and image forming apparatus. The heating control method includes: when an image forming apparatus is in a printing state, determining a time duration t 1 required for the fixing assembly to rise from a current temperature or a temperature at a set moment to a preset target temperature; and determining a time point of the fixing assembly to start heating based on a distance from a preset location to a central position of the fixing assembly, a travelling speed of a printing medium, and the time t 1.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A heating control method for controlling heating of a fixing assembly in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
when the image forming apparatus is in a printing state, determining a time duration t 1 required for the fixing assembly to rise from a current temperature or a temperature at a set moment to a preset target temperature; and determining a time point of the fixing assembly to start heating based on a distance from a preset location to a central position of the fixing assembly, a travelling speed of a printing medium, and the time t 1 ; wherein said determining of the time duration t 1 required for the fixing assembly to rise from the current temperature or the temperature at the set moment to the preset target temperature comprises: determining a heating rate of the fixing assembly; and calculating the time duration t 1 based on the heating rate of the fixing assembly, the current temperature or the temperature at the set moment, and the preset target temperature; and wherein said determining the heating rate of the fixing assembly comprises: when the image forming apparatus is in a state of printing a first page of the printing medium, calculating the heating rate based on a temperature change of the fixing assembly in a preheating stage.

2 . The heating control method according to claim 1 , wherein said calculating the heating rate based on the temperature change of the fixing assembly in the preheating stage comprises:
in the preheating stage, calculating the heating rate based on time consumed for a temperature rise of the fixing assembly by one degree centigrade.

3 . The heating control method according to claim 1 , wherein said calculating the heating rate based on the temperature change of the fixing assembly in the preheating stage comprises:
in the preheating stage, calculating the heating rate based on a degree of temperature rise of the fixing assembly per unit time.

4 . The heating control method according to claim 1 , wherein said determining the heating rate of the fixing assembly comprises:
when the image forming apparatus is in a state of printing an nth page of the printing medium, where n is a positive integer and n≥2, calculating the heating rate based on a temperature change from a temperature of the fixing assembly when heating was started to the preset target temperature.

5 . The heating control method according to claim 4 , wherein said determining the heating rate of the fixing assembly comprises:
when the image forming apparatus is in the state of printing the nth page of the printing medium, calculating the heating rate based on a temperature of the fixing assembly when heating was started during printing an (n−1)th page of the printing medium and the preset target temperature, where n is a positive integer, and n≥2.

6 . The heating control method according to claim 4 , wherein said calculating the heating rate based on the temperature change from the temperature of the fixing assembly when heating was started to the preset target temperature comprises:
in a stage from the temperature of the fixing assembly when heating was started to the preset target temperature, calculating the heating rate based on time consumed for a temperature rise of the fixing assembly by one degree centigrade.

7 . The heating control method according to claim 4 , wherein said calculating the heating rate based on the temperature change from the temperature of the fixing assembly when heating was started to the preset target temperature comprises:
in a stage from the temperature of the fixing assembly when heating was started to the preset target temperature, calculating the heating rate based on a degree of a temperature rise of the fixing assembly per unit time.

8 . The heating control method according to claim 1 , wherein the distance from the preset location to the central position of the fixing assembly is:
a distance that the printing medium travels from a position provided with a sensor to the central position of the fixing assembly.

9 . The heating control method according to claim 1 , wherein the distance from the preset location to the central position of the fixing assembly is:
a distance that an image travels from a position where the image was generated to the central position of the fixing assembly.

10 . The heating control method according to claim 1 , wherein the time point of the fixing assembly to start heating satisfies:
a resultant moment in time following elapse of the time duration t 1 starting from the time point is no later than a moment when the printing medium travels to the central position of the fixing assembly.

11 . The heating control method according to claim 10 , wherein a time interval between the resultant moment in time following the elapse of the time duration t 1 starting from the time point and the moment when the printing medium travels to the central position of the fixing assembly is determined further based on at least one of paper type, printing mode, ambient temperature, ambient humidity, or machine operation duration.

12 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and a memory configured to store instructions executable by the at least one processor; wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to: determine a time duration t 1 required for a fixing assembly to rise from a current temperature or a temperature of a set moment to a preset target temperature; and determine a time point of the fixing assembly to start heating, based on a distance from a preset location to a central position of the fixing assembly, a travelling speed of a printing medium and the time t 1 ; wherein said determining of the time duration t 1 required for the fixing assembly to rise from the current temperature or the temperature at the set moment to the preset target temperature comprises: determining a heating rate of the fixing assembly; and calculating the time duration t 1 based on the heating rate of the fixing assembly, the current temperature or the temperature at the set moment, and the preset target temperature; and wherein said determining the heating rate of the fixing assembly comprises: when the image forming apparatus is in a state of printing a first page of the printing medium, calculating the heating rate based on a temperature change of the fixing assembly in a preheating stage.

13 . A heating control method for controlling heating of a fixing assembly in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
when the image forming apparatus is in a printing state, determining a time duration t 1 required for the fixing assembly to rise from a current temperature or a temperature at a set moment to a preset target temperature; and determining a time point of the fixing assembly to start heating based on a distance from a preset location to a central position of the fixing assembly, a travelling speed of a printing medium, and the time t 1 , wherein said determining of the time duration t 1 required for the fixing assembly to rise from the current temperature or the temperature at the set moment to the preset target temperature comprises: determining a heating rate of the fixing assembly; and calculating the time duration t 1 based on the heating rate of the fixing assembly, the current temperature or the temperature at the set moment, and the preset target temperature; wherein said calculating the time duration t 1 based on the heating rate of the fixing assembly, the current temperature or the temperature at the set moment, and the preset target temperature comprises:

Assignees

• Zhuhai Pantum Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Li Ronghua
• Liu Hongyan
• Xiang Hongcheng
• Liang Yulin

Classifications

• G03G2215/00599

  Timing, synchronisation · CPC title

• G03G15/657

  Feeding path after the transfer point and up to the fixing point, e.g. guides and feeding means for handling copy material carrying an unfused toner image · CPC title

• G03G15/2046

  specially for the influence of heat loss, e.g. due to the contact with the copy material or other roller · CPC title

• G03G15/2039

  with means for controlling the fixing temperature · CPC title

• G03G15/205 Primary

  specially for the mode of operation, e.g. standby, warming-up, error (G03G15/2046 takes precedence) · CPC title