JP2005262519A - Monitoring device for heat treatment equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitor for a heat treatment apparatus in which a user can easily recognize the state of the apparatus and does not give unnecessary sense of insecurity, and further to provide a heat treatment apparatus capable of shortening the warm-up time. .
SOLUTION: A display unit is provided for displaying a temperature rise state of a heating region until the heat fixing device can be operated in different display modes so that it can be identified in a plurality of stages. Three states, the first heating control state, the second heating control state until the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature and then stabilizes, and the third heating control state that can be operated after stabilizing, are displayed with blinking or lighting indications with different periods. A second heating control change switch is provided for switching display according to the combination and changing the second heating control. When the second heating control change switch is in the second heating control state and after the power is turned on, the second heating control change switch is changed from the first heating control state. Only when the time required to shift to the two-heating control state is shorter than a predetermined time.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention includes a heat source that generates heat when power is supplied, and a heating mechanism that diffuses and supplies heat from the heat source to the heating area, and heats the recording medium on which an image is formed by ejecting ink droplets in the heating area. The present invention relates to a monitoring device of a heat treatment apparatus that fixes the image.

  In the heat treatment apparatus, for example, a first heating control state until the predetermined temperature is reached after turning on the power, and a predetermined temperature so that the temperature of the heating region is maintained at a predetermined temperature without lowering when the recording medium is heated. It is controlled in three states, that is, a second heating control state until the heating region is stabilized after reaching the temperature and an operable third heating control state after the heating region is stabilized.

  The second heating control state is a warm-up control state until not only the space temperature of the heating area reaches a predetermined temperature but also all elements such as a transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium are maintained at the predetermined temperature. For example, it can be specified in time.

Conventionally, in the monitoring device of the above-described heat treatment apparatus, the two states can be identified by blinking until the third heating control state is reached after turning on the power, and by lighting the display after reaching the third heating control state. The display state was switched as follows.
JP 2003-326789 A

  However, in the above-mentioned monitor device, since it is always displayed blinking at a constant cycle until the third heating control state is reached after the power is turned on, it is impossible to grasp the state of the device. , There was a problem of giving the user a sense of anxiety about mischief. In the above-described heat treatment apparatus, normally, it takes about 1 hour from the power-on to the transition to the second heating control state, and it takes several tens of minutes to reach the third heating control state from the second heating control state. In the meantime, since the user has to keep waiting, there is a fear that some users may feel uneasy about whether the heat treatment apparatus is in some trouble state.

  Moreover, even when the apparatus is turned off and then turned on again without much time, the first heating control state is changed to the third heating control state through the second heating control state. For this reason, there has been a problem that the warm-up time is unnaturally long and efficient processing cannot be performed.

  In view of the above-described conventional drawbacks, the present invention is to provide a monitoring device for a heat treatment apparatus in which the user can easily recognize the state of the apparatus and does not give unnecessary sense of anxiety. It is in providing a heat treatment apparatus that can be shortened.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first characteristic configuration of the monitoring device of the heat treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a heat source that generates heat by the supply of electric power, and heating as described in claim 1 of the claims. A heating apparatus monitor apparatus comprising a heating mechanism for diffusing and supplying heat from the heat source to an area, and fixing the recording medium on which an image is formed by discharging ink droplets by heat treatment in the heating area. A display unit is provided that displays the temperature rise state of the heating area until the heating and fixing device is operable after being turned on, with different display modes so as to be distinguishable in a plurality of stages.

  According to the above configuration, a simple display unit without using a complicated display unit can display the display mode in a plurality of stages corresponding to the temperature rise state of the heating region. Since the state of the apparatus can be recognized according to the display mode, there is no reason to feel uneasy for no reason.

  In the second characteristic configuration, as described in claim 2, in addition to the first characteristic configuration described above, the display unit includes a first heating control state until a predetermined temperature is reached after power-on, and a predetermined temperature. A combination of flashing display or lighting display with different periods of the second heating control state until the heating region is stabilized after reaching the first state and the third heating control state operable after the heating region is stabilized Or the display is switched by changing the display color.

  In order to display the display mode in three stages, it is possible to configure a simple display unit that performs blinking display with different cycles or displays it in three stages by changing the combination of blinking display and lighting display. It is also preferable that the display color is changed and displayed in a different manner so that a simple display unit can be used. For example, a blinking display with a slow cycle can be performed in the first heating control state, a blinking display with a fast cycle can be performed in the second heating display state, and a lighting display can be performed in the third heating control state.

  In the third feature configuration, in addition to the second feature configuration described above, the second heating control change that changes the second heating control after the completion of the first heating control state is provided. A switch is provided, and the second heating control change switch is configured to accept only when the second heating control state is in the second heating control state.

  According to the above-described configuration, by operating the second heating control change switch, for example, the second heating control time can be changed, for example, the second heating control time can be shortened or canceled. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to shift to the third heating control state at an early stage. However, if the operation of the second heating control change switch is always accepted, it may be operated carelessly or accidentally, and if it is operated without the user's knowledge, it will not reach a sufficient temperature, resulting in poor fixing. There is a risk of inviting. Therefore, by configuring so as to be able to accept only in the second heating control state, it is possible to prevent an inadvertent operation and increase the probability of being operated with the intention of changing the second heating control.

  In the fourth feature configuration, as described in the fourth aspect, in addition to the third feature configuration described above, the time from when the power is turned on until the transition from the first heating control state to the second heating control state is performed. Is that the second heating control change switch is configured to accept only when it is shorter than the predetermined time.

  According to the above-described configuration, the temperature of the heating region is not so lowered, and even if the time for the second temperature control is shortened or canceled, the fixing performance is not hindered. The performance can be exhibited and the apparatus can be operated efficiently.

  As described above, a heat treatment apparatus that can easily recognize the state of the apparatus and does not give unnecessary uneasiness is provided, and further a heat treatment apparatus that can shorten the warm-up time. Can now be offered.

  The case where the heat treatment apparatus according to the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 receives a print processing unit 1A that forms an image by ejecting ink droplets onto a sheet-like recording medium M, and a recording medium M that is discharged from the print processing unit 1A. A drying processing unit 1B for drying, a loop forming unit 1C for accumulating the recording medium M dried by the drying processing unit 1B in a loop shape, and a heating processing apparatus for heating and fixing the recording medium M accumulated by the loop forming unit 1C As a fixing processing unit 1D.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording medium M used in the image forming apparatus is integrated with a sheet-like base material M1 having a predetermined rigidity made of a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the upper surface thereof. And a protective layer M2 made of a highly weatherable material such as a fluororesin, and an ink receiving layer M3 adhered to the upper surface of the protective layer M2 in a peelable manner with an adhesive.

  The print processing unit 1A prints an image such as a photographic image, an illustration, or a character on the surface of the ink receiving layer M3 with a water-based ink containing a sublimation dye. As a result, the sublimable dye I is sublimated and penetrates into the protective layer M2 to be fixed. Thereafter, the ink receiving layer M3 is peeled off to obtain a sheet on which a very glossy and vivid image is recorded. The recording medium M can be used for signboards, trains, buses, etc. installed outdoors. It is suitably used for an advertising image recording medium or the like attached to a vehicle body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing system 100 includes a general-purpose computer 101, a monitor device 102, a keyboard 103 and a mouse 104, a film scanner 105 that photoelectrically converts image information of a developed photographic film F, and the like. The computer 101 has a built-in media drive unit 101 a that reads image data recorded on various electronic data recording media such as a CD-R, MO, compact flash card, floppy disk, etc., and is read by the film scanner 105. The photographic image data and image data read from the electronic data recording medium are edited by the image processing system 100 and input as print data to the above-described image forming apparatus via the communication control line L1. In the recording medium M Image is output are formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the print processing unit 1 </ b> A applies ink droplets to the print conveyance unit 10 that conveys the sheet-like recording medium M and the recording medium M that is conveyed by the print conveyance unit 10. The printing unit 20 is configured to eject and form an image, and is printed out on the recording medium M based on print data input via the communication control line L1 connected to the image processing system 100.

  The print transport unit 10 pulls out the recording medium M from a recording medium storage unit 10a in which a long recording medium M wound in a roll shape is rotatably supported by a pair of rollers 11 in the sub-scanning direction. The feeding unit includes a driving roller 12 driven by a transporting stepping motor and a pressing roller 13, and a suction unit 15 that prevents the recording medium M transported by the feeding unit from floating on the platen. . That is, the recording medium M is nipped and conveyed by the drive roller 12 and the pressing roller 13.

  The printing unit 20 ejects six sublimation inks of “black”, “cyan”, “magenta”, “yellow”, “light cyan”, and “light magenta” to form a color image. Drive including a head 21, a guide rod 22, 22 that supports the print head 21 so as to be reciprocally movable in the width direction of the recording medium M, and a stepping motor and a timing belt that reciprocally drive the print head 21 along the guide rod 22. An image is formed while reciprocating in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction with respect to the recording medium M that is configured to include a mechanism (not shown) and the like and is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the print conveying unit 10. .

  The print head 21 is attached with an ink cartridge 23 for supplying ink to an ejection mechanism (not shown) made of a piezo element and the like, and is lowered as necessary to cut the recording medium M along the main scanning direction. A cutter 24 is provided.

  The drying processing unit 1B includes a drying unit 30 that receives and dries the recording medium M discharged from the printing processing unit 1A, and a receiving conveyance unit 40 that conveys the recording medium M dried by the drying unit 30. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the drying unit 30 sucks hot air from the heater 31 disposed at the lower back of the apparatus and the guide passage 32 toward the ink application surface of the recording medium M. The receiving and conveying unit 40 includes an accepting roller 41 that receives and conveys the recording medium M delivered by the driving roller 12 of the print processing unit 1A on the downstream side of the drying unit 30. Yes.

  The loop forming unit 1C includes a first accumulation unit 50 that accommodates the recording medium M from the drying processing unit 1B in a loop shape without applying unnecessary tension, and the recording medium M accumulated in the first accumulation unit 50. The second storage unit 70 that similarly stores in a loop shape is provided, and the print processing unit 1A, the drying processing unit 1B, and the fixing processing unit 1D are provided. It is configured to absorb the difference between the respective processing speeds, that is, the conveyance speed of the recording medium M.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first accumulating unit 50 includes a receiving roller 41 that receives and conveys the recording medium M discharged from the print processing unit 1 </ b> A, and a recording medium M that is conveyed by the receiving roller 41. An intermediate roller 51 conveyed downstream, and a pair of receiving guide plates 56 and 57 disposed between the receiving roller 41 and the intermediate roller 51 are provided, and loop formation control is performed by a first loop control unit described later. Accordingly, the receiving roller 41 is also used as the receiving and conveying unit 40.

  The first loop control unit is conveyed by the receiving roller 41 and guided by the receiving guide plates 56 and 57, and the intermediate roller 51 and the intermediate roller 51 after a predetermined time after the leading end of the recording medium M is detected by the sensor S2. If the intermediate roller 51 is determined to be sandwiched between the first roller 52 and the first roller 52 disposed in pressure contact with each other, the lower end of the right guide plate 57 of the receiving guide plates 56 and 57 is swung to the right. By moving and opening, the recording medium M carried into the lower space is controlled to be accumulated in a loop between the receiving roller 41 and the intermediate roller 51.

  The second accumulator 70 is provided with an intermediate roller 51, a discharge roller 71, and a pair of discharge guide plates 72 and 73 for guiding the recording medium M between the intermediate roller 51 and the discharge roller 71. The loop formation control is performed by the second loop control unit.

  The second loop control unit is transported by the intermediate roller 51 and the third roller 54 and is discharged after a predetermined time after the leading edge of the recording medium M guided by the discharge guide plates 72 and 73 is detected by the sensor S3. If it is determined that the sheet is held between the two, the discharge roller 71 is stopped and the lower end of the left guide plate 73 of the discharge guide plates 72 and 73 is left swinging open to the left. Control is performed so that the recording medium M is accumulated in a loop between the discharge roller 71 and the intermediate roller 51.

  Although not described in detail, the receiving guide plate 57 and the discharge guide plate 73 act as guide plates for the recording medium M by rotating the sector gear mechanisms 58 and 74 connected to the swing shaft forward and backward by stepping motors, respectively. The position can be switched between an initial position to be opened and an open position in which the rocker is opened to form a loop.

  The recording medium M accumulated in the second accumulation unit 70 is then conveyed to the fixing processing unit 1D by a discharge roller 71 driven at a predetermined timing. As described above, the recording medium M discharged from the print processing unit 1 </ b> A is conveyed so as to be accommodated in the second accumulation unit 70 after being accommodated in the first accumulation unit 50, and further fixed from the second accumulation unit 70. It is conveyed to part 1D. Then, after the recording medium is conveyed from the first accumulation unit 50 to the second accumulation unit 70, a new recording medium M from the print processing unit 1 </ b> A is conveyed to the first accumulation unit 50, thereby printing the recording medium M, Each of the drying and fixing processes is continuously performed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing processing unit 1 </ b> D as a heat treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a metal external cover 80 and a heat cover 81 disposed in the external cover 80. A heat insulating material (not shown) substantially closes the entire surface from the top, bottom, left, right, and back, and the inside of the heating cover 81 is configured as a heating region 82 of the recording medium M that is conveyed in the horizontal direction.

  The heating area 82 is provided with a heating and conveying mechanism 83 that conveys the recording medium M supplied from the loop forming unit 1C. The heating and conveying mechanism 83 sequentially receives and conveys the recording medium M from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium M. , A first transport roller group 85, a second transport roller group 86 disposed near the center of the fixing processing unit 1D, and a third transport roller group 87 disposed on the most downstream side, and a stepping motor and a transmission mechanism (not shown). Thus, any roller is driven to rotate at a peripheral speed synchronized with each other. Further, the peripheral surface of each roller is made of a material such as silicon rubber having a high friction coefficient and high heat resistance.

  In the heating area 82, a plurality of rod-shaped heating elements 88 as heat sources arranged upstream of the center of the heating area 82 above the conveyance surface of the recording medium M and the temperature in the vicinity of the heating element 88 are detected. And a heating fan mechanism 89 as a heating mechanism that is disposed on the downstream side of the center of the heating area 82 above the conveyance surface of the recording medium M and diffuses and supplies heat from the heat source. A first heating mechanism 91 for heating air to a predetermined temperature (for example, around 180 ° C.), a first heating panel 92 disposed between the first transport roller group 85 and the second transport roller group 86, and a second transport The second heating panel 93 is disposed between the roller group 86 and the third transport roller group 87, and includes a second heating mechanism 94 that heats the recording medium M from the back surface. Medium M is fixed Management is discharged onto the sloped discharge chute 95 formed in the polyethylene film provided on the outside is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the power supply circuit to the fixing processing unit 1D is configured independently of the printing processing unit 1A, and the AC voltage from the AC power source is stepped down by the transformer 201 via the breaker switch 200. The DC voltage is converted into a DC voltage by the diode bridge circuit 202 and the smoothing circuit 203, and the DC voltage output from the stabilized power supply circuit 204 is supplied to the control board 205 having a CPU, and the loop is formed on the DC line. The control unit 300 of the unit 1C is connected, and power is supplied to loads such as the heating element 88 and the heating fan mechanism 89 via the power switch 206.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the breaker switch 200 and the power switch 206 are provided in the external cover 80 of the above-described heat treatment apparatus, and the heating state of the heating region 82 is set in a plurality of stages in the vicinity of the power switch 206. A display unit 207 that displays the display modes in a different manner so as to be identifiable and a second heating control change switch 208 to be described later are provided.

  Normally, the breaker switch 200 is always closed, and the CPU mounted on the control board 205 is activated by the closing operation of the power switch 206 to start control of the heat treatment apparatus. The CPU starts supplying power to the heating element 88 and the heating panels 92 and 93 while detecting the temperature rising state with the temperature sensor TS (may be provided at a plurality of locations), and reaches a predetermined temperature of about 180 ° C. after the power is turned on. The first heating control for energizing the heating element 88 and the heating panels 92 and 93 is always performed until the temperature reaches the predetermined value. After reaching a predetermined temperature, the heating element 88 is set for a set time in order to stabilize the temperature of the heating region 82. The heating panels 92 and 93 are controlled to be turned on and off based on the output of the temperature sensor TS and maintained at about 180 ° C., and the second heating control for rotating the transport roller groups 85, 86 and 87 is performed. When the set time of 30 minutes elapses, it is determined that the heating area is stable, and the process proceeds to the third heating control in which the entire image forming apparatus is operable and receives the recording medium M. The set temperature and set time described above are not particularly limited, and are values that can be set as appropriate based on the characteristics of the recording medium, the configuration of the heat fixing device, the heat capacity, and the like.

  The display unit 207 displays a warm-up state until the device is ready for operation, and is a several centimeter square in which a diffusion plate is provided on a substrate on which a plurality of red and green LEDs are mounted. It is composed of a surface light emitting element of a size, the green LED blinks at a frequency of 1 Hz while the first heating control is being executed by the CPU, and is lighter than that while the second heating control is being executed. Flashing is controlled at a short period of 5 Hz, and lighting or flashing is controlled at several hundred Hz while the third heating control is being executed. When some abnormality occurs, for example, a preset failure detection timer counts up. Even when the first heating control does not end, the display color is switched to red and blinking control is performed at 10 Hz. That is, the display unit 207 and the control substrate 205 that controls display of the display unit 207 constitute a monitor device for a heat treatment apparatus.

  A membrane switch as a second heating control change switch 208 is disposed on the side of the display unit 207, and the second heating control state is switched from the first heating control state in the second heating control state and after the power is turned on. It is set so that it can be accepted only when the time until shifting to the control state is shorter than a predetermined time set in advance, for example, 10 minutes. That is, if the power switch is turned off after the heating area 82 has been sufficiently heated and then turned on again soon, it is determined that it is not necessary to perform the second heating control for a long time of 30 minutes. Transition to the control state. When the switch 208 is operated and accepted, the CPU cancels the second heating control, immediately executes the third heating control, and displays the display unit 207 in green.

  Hereinafter, an example of warm-up control by the CPU will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 7, when the power switch 206 is turned on, the heating element 88 and the heating panels 92 and 93 are energized to start the heating control of the heating region 82 and the display unit 207 displays the first heating control state. The display is controlled to the mode (S1, S2, S3).

  The first heating control is started and the rise timer is operated to measure the time until the temperature detected by the temperature sensor TS reaches 180 ° C. (S4). When the set temperature (180 ° C.) is reached, the rise timer is stopped ( S5, S6), the display unit 207 is controlled to display in the display mode of the second heating control state, and the second heating control is executed for 30 minutes (S7).

  When the second heating control change switch 208 is turned on during execution of the second heating control (S8), it is determined whether or not the value of the rising timer is shorter than the predetermined time of 10 minutes (S10), If shorter, the second heating control is canceled and the process proceeds to the third heating control, and the display unit 207 is controlled to display in the third heating control state display mode, and the warm-up operation is terminated (S11). When the value of the rising timer is longer than the predetermined time of 10 minutes, the process returns to step S8 regardless of whether the second heating control change switch 208 is turned on, and whether or not the second heating control timer has passed 30 minutes. If it judges (S9) and it passes, it will transfer to 3rd heating control, and the display part 207 will be display-controlled to the display mode of a 3rd heating control state, and warm-up operation will be complete | finished (S11). In the above control, the second heating control change switch 208 is configured to accept the operation only during the second heating control.

  That is, the display unit is in a first heating control state until the predetermined temperature is reached after turning on the power, a second heating control state until the heating region is stabilized after reaching the predetermined temperature, and the heating region is stable. The three states of the third heat control state that can be operated later are switched and displayed by a combination of blinking display or lighting display with different periods, or are switched and displayed with different display colors.

  In the above-described embodiment, the second heating control time may be shortened from 30 minutes to 10 minutes or 5 minutes in addition to canceling the second heating control and immediately executing the third heating control. In this case, the shortening time is based on the time from when the power switch is turned on until the predetermined temperature is reached, and is provided with table data that is set so that the second heating control time is shortened as the time is short. The second heating control time may be set.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the second heating control change switch is in the second heating control state, and after the power is turned on, the time from the first heating control state to the transition to the second heating control state is a predetermined time. Although it has been described that it can be accepted only when it is shorter than the first heating control, the second heating is performed regardless of the length of time from the first heating control state to the transition to the second heating control state. It can also be configured to accept the control change switch only in the second heating control state. Thereby, for example, the second heating control time can be changed and controlled in an area where the apparatus is installed such as a cold area or a tropical area.

1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Illustration of recording medium Side sectional view showing schematic configuration of image forming apparatus Side sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the print processing unit Side sectional view showing schematic configuration of loop forming unit Power supply circuit diagram for heat treatment equipment Flow chart explaining heating control

Explanation of symbols

1: Image forming apparatus 1A: Print processing section 1B: Drying processing section 1C: Loop forming unit 1D: Heat processing apparatus (fixing processing section)
80: External cover 82: Heating area 88: Heat source 89: Heating mechanism (heating fan mechanism)
207: Display unit M: Recording medium

Claims (4)

A heating source that generates heat by supplying electric power and a heating mechanism that diffuses and supplies heat from the heat source to the heating area, and heats the recording medium on which an image has been formed by ejecting ink droplets by heat treatment in the heating area. A monitoring device for the processing device,
A heat treatment apparatus provided with a display unit that displays a temperature rise state of the heating region until the heat fixing device becomes operable after power is turned on in different display modes so as to be distinguishable in a plurality of stages. Monitor device.   The display unit includes a first heating control state until the predetermined temperature is reached after power-on, a second heating control state until the heating region is stabilized after reaching the predetermined temperature, and after the heating region is stabilized. The three states of the operable third heating control state are configured to be switched and displayed by a combination of blinking display or lighting display having different periods, or to be switched and displayed with different display colors. Monitor device for heat treatment equipment.   A second heating control change switch is provided for changing the second heating control after the first heating control state is completed, and is configured to be accepted only when the second heating control change switch is in the second heating control state. The monitoring apparatus of the heat processing apparatus of Claim 2.   4. The second heating control change switch is configured to accept only when the time from when the power is turned on to when the first heating control state is shifted to the second heating control state is shorter than a predetermined time. The monitoring apparatus of the heat processing apparatus of description.

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