Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-Kaisha

Yuya Harada

Yoshiyuki Tsujimoto

Keisuke Manoh

Takuya Nagai

Masato Sueyasu

Daisuke Noda

An image forming apparatus including: an image forming device provided in a housing; a fan to cool an interior of the housing; an AC/DC board; a first temperature detecting element configured to output a signal corresponding to a temperature in the housing; a second temperature detecting element configured to output a signal corresponding to a temperature of an element mounted on the AC/DC board; and a controller configured to control the fan when at least one of a first condition and a second condition is satisfied, the first condition being a condition in which a first detection temperature detected based on the signal received from the first temperature detecting element is not less than a first temperature threshold, the second condition being a condition in which a second detection temperature detected based on the signal received from the second temperature detecting element is not less than a second temperature threshold.

Image forming apparatus with controlable fan

A device includes a driving portion, a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the secondary winding generating an output voltage, the driving portion being connected across the secondary winding so that the output voltage is applied to the driving portion, a switching element connected in series to the primary winding, a first controller provided in a primary side of the transformer for controlling the switching element, and a second controller supplied with the output voltage. The second controller is configured to perform, during implementation of a burst switching control, transmitting a stop signal to the first controller when the output voltage exceeds a first voltage, and transmitting, after transmission of the stop signal, a resumption signal to the first controller when the output voltage falls below a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The first controller controls the switching element to stop performing switching operations in response to the stop signal, and further controls the switching element to resume performing the switching operations in response to the resumption signal.

Device having switching power source operable in burst switching control mode

An image forming apparatus includes a heating member, a temperature sensor to output detection values for determining a temperature of the heating member, a first amplifier to amplify a difference value between the detection values with a first amplification factor, a second amplifier to amplify the difference value with a second amplification factor, a converter to generate first temperature information through analog-to-digital conversion of the difference value amplified by the first amplifier, generate second temperature information through analog-to-digital conversion of the difference value amplified by the second amplifier, and generate compensation temperature information, and a temperature determiner to determine the temperature of the heating member based on the second temperature information and the compensation temperature information, in a particular temperature range, and determine the temperature of the heating member based on the first temperature information and the compensation temperature information, outside the particular temperature range.

Image forming apparatus to accurately determine temperature of heating member

An fixing device comprises a heating member, a first heater, a second heater, and the heating member, a first temperature detector, a second temperature detector, and a controller configured to control energization to the first heater and the second heater based on an energization pattern for each control period. In a case where a length of the control period is T, a length of a period during which a first continuous energization control is T, and a length of a period during which a second continuous energization control is T, when a first condition represented by T+T&#x3c;T is satisfied, the controller starts the second continuous energization control just after an end of the first continuous energization control.

Fixing device and method for controlling fixing device

A fixing device includes a heating member, a first heater configured to heat a first area, a second heater configured to heat a second area, a first temperature detector, a second temperature detector, and a controller. The controller executes a heating control in which the first heater is energized based on the temperature of the first area so that the temperature of the first area is within a first temperature range and the second heater is energized based on the temperature of the second area so that the temperature of the second area is within a second temperature range. In the heating control, the controller executes (i) a first energizing processing, and (ii) a second energizing processing of energizing the second heater at the timing when the first energizing processing is stopped.

A heating system includes a heater, a switch providing alternating current to the heater, and a current sensor electrically connected between the switch and the heater. The heating system also includes a controller that controls operation of the switch. The controller activates the switch during a portion of a half cycle of the alternating current having increasing amplitude under a threshold. The controller determines, based on a signal received from the current sensor during the activation of the switch, a time period from the start of the half cycle to a threshold timing at which the alternating current reaches the threshold. The controller reactivates the switch at a timing on or after a timing obtained by subtraction of the determined time period from an end of the half cycle. The heating system is useable within an image forming apparatus.

Heating system

A heating system includes a heater, a current sensor outputting a current monitoring signal indicating a current level of an alternating current power signal, and a switch providing alternating current to the heater. The heating system also includes a controller that controls operation of the switch. The controller activates the switch during a portion of a half cycle of the alternating current power signal having increasing amplitude. Upon the current monitoring signal reaching a predetermined threshold within the half cycle, the controller deactivates the switch. The heating system is useable within an image forming apparatus.

Heating system having current-sensing control circuit

A power supply system includes: a switching power supply; a control device; an auxiliary power supply circuit, which is connected in parallel with the switching power supply with respect to an AC power supply, which includes an electricity storage unit for storing electricity by charging current fed from the alternating current power supply, and which feeds power to the control device; and a first switching unit for switching a connection state of the auxiliary power supply circuit to the alternating current power supply. The control device is configured to, upon starting up the switching power supply, switch the first switching unit into a state where the auxiliary power supply circuit is separated from the alternating current power supply.

Power supply system

A first light intensity curve is defined as a relationship between a first light intensity and a distance from a first reading unit. The first light intensity represents intensity of light that is part of a reflected light reflected off a first irradiated subject positioned at a distance from the first reading unit and is received by a first light-receiving unit. The first light intensity curve has a first intensity value at a first distance and a second intensity value at a second distance. The first intensity value is equivalent to the second intensity value. The first distance is different from the second distance. A distance between the first reading unit and a first read position is set to the first distance. A distance between the first reading unit and a first reference member is set to the second distance.

Growing community of inventors

Anjo, Japan

Yuya Harada