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US 7,454,151 B2Granted
Image forming apparatus, fixing unit having a selectively controlled power supply and associated methodology
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsMasahiko Satoh, Akira Shinshi, Naoki Iwaya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixing unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a heating source, and a controller. The fixing member is supported rotatably. The heating source heats the fixing member. The controller controls power supply to the heating source. The controller controls a first average power supply, supplied to the heating source before rotating the fixing member, to be larger than a second average power supply, supplied to the heating source after rotating the fixing member.
Claims12
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a fixing member configured to be supported rotatably;
- a heating source configured to heat the fixing member;
- and
- a controller configured to control power supplied to the heating source,
- wherein the controller provides a first average power supply, supplied to the heating source before rotating the fixing member, to be larger than a second average power supply, provided to the heating source after rotating the fixing member, and
- the controller sets a rise-up temperature of the fixing member which is lower than a target temperature of the fixing member, and the controller controls the power supplied to the heating source to heat the fixing member to the rise-up temperature before rotating the fixing member, and controls the power supply to the heating source to heat the fixing member to the target temperature after rotating the fixing member.
3 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a fixing member configured to be supported rotatably;
- a heating source configured to heat the fixing member;
- means for controlling power supplied to the heating source to a first average power supply, supplied to the heating source before rotating the fixing member, to be larger than a second average power, supplied to the heating source after rotating the fixing member,
- wherein the means for controlling power sets a rise-up temperature of the fixing member which is lower than a target temperature of the fixing member, and the means for controlling power controls the power supplied to the heating source to heat the fixing member to the rise-up temperature before rotating the fixing member, and controls the power supply to the heating source to heat the fixing member to the target temperature after rotating the fixing member.
1 more element
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a photosensitive member configured to form a latent image thereon,
- a developing unit configured to develop the latent image as a toner image,
- a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image on a recording medium, including
- a fixing member configured to be supported rotatably;
- a heating source configured to heat the fixing member;
- and
- a controller configured to control the power supply to the heating source,
- wherein the controller controls a first average power supply, supplied to the heating source before rotating the fixing member, to be larger than a second average power supply, supplied to the heating source after rotating the fixing member, and
- the controller sets a rise-up temperature of the fixing member which is lower than a target temperature of the fixing member, and the controller controls the power supplied to the heating source to heat the fixing member to the rise-up temperature before rotating the fixing member, and controls the power supply to the heating source to heat the fixing member to the target temperature after rotating the fixing member.
6 more elements
A method of controlling a fixing unit having a rotatable fixing member and a heating source for heating the fixing member for use in an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
- supplying a first average power to the heating source before rotating the fixing member;
- supplying a second average power to the heating source after rotating the fixing member;
- controlling the first average power to be larger than the second average power;
- and
- setting a rise-up temperature of the fixing member which is lower than a target temperature of the fixing member,
- wherein the controlling controls the power supplied to the heating source to heat the fixing member to the rise-up temperature before rotating the fixing member, and controls the power supply to the heating source to heat the fixing member to the target temperature after rotating the fixing member.
3 more elements
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a fixing member configured to be supported rotatably;
- a heating source configured to heat the fixing member;
- a controller configured to control power supplied to the heating source, the controller is configured to provide a first average power supply, supplied to the heating source before rotating the fixing member, to be larger than a second average power supply, provided to the heating source after rotating the fixing member;
- and
- a power source configured to supply power to the heating source, the power source including a main power source unit and an auxiliary power source unit, and both of the main power source unit and the auxiliary power source unit supply the power to the heating source when the fixing unit shifts from a stand-by mode to a heating mode.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.