Time-based commutation method and system for controlling a fuser assembly

US9523947B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lexmark International, Inc. · US

Inventors

• David Ross Cutts · Lexington, US
• Aaron M. Lambert · Lexington, US
• Jason W. Lawrence · Austin, US
• Kevin Dean Schoedinger · Lexington, US
• Ryan M. Smith · Minnetonka, US
• Christopher L. Yaeger · Lexington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 26, 2013
• Grant date: Dec 20, 2016
• Expiry date: Sep 26, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03G2215/2035
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An imaging device includes a fuser assembly including a heat transfer member and a backup member positioned to engage the heat transfer member thereby defining a fusing nip therewith. A motor is coupled to the backup member for rotating the backup member. A controller coupled to the fuser assembly controls the motor using time-based commutation for a period of time to rotate the backup member at a slower speed relative to a speed for performing a toner fusing operation. In memory, at least one lookup table is stored having entries which, when sequentially accessed by the controller during the time-based commutation, are used to generate one or more drive signals for the motor to cause current flowing through windings of the motor to have a substantially sinusoidal waveform.