Image forming apparatus and heater control method
US8260165B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 2010 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/2039
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a halogen heater in a fixing unit; an AC source applying an alternating voltage to the halogen heater; a half-wave control unit that performs the heater half-wave control to control the halogen heater on the half-wavelength basis, according to a heater-on/off pattern set for each control cycle having a predetermined length; a heater-off-time measuring unit that measures heater-off period of time; a phase-control-execution determining unit that determines, based on the measured heater-off period of time, whether the heater phase control is to be performed on the alternating voltage, the phase control being performed by shifting phase of the alternating voltage; and a phase control unit that performs, when the phase control is determined to be performed, the phase control only for a period of time depending on the measured heater-off period of time after switch-on of the heater and before execution of the half-wave control.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.