JPH0799725A - Load state detecting device and method, and fixing control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Objective] For example, a load state detection device and method for preventing a halogen heater which is an AC load in a thermal fixing control device of an electrophotographic recording device from being energized at a voltage other than a rated voltage, and these Provided is a fixing control device having a self-diagnosis function of detecting and determining whether or not a halogen heater, an AC load driving element, etc. are in an abnormal state. [Structure] Therefore, these devices are connected to the AC power sources 1 and A.
A power supply voltage determination detection unit 2, an AC voltage environment comparison determination unit 8, an AC load drive unit 11 and a drive control unit A
The C load driving control means 9 and the AC load means 3 including the AC load 4 are used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention judges whether or not an AC power supply voltage range supplied from the outside is within a predetermined range for an AC load having a limited rated voltage.
A load state detection device and method for preventing an AC power supply voltage other than the rated voltage from being applied to the load, and the presence / absence of an AC current flowing through the AC load are determined and detected,
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method having a function capable of determining whether or not AC load driving is normally operating, for example, a halogen which is an AC load in a heat fixing control device of an electrophotographic recording apparatus, in particular. The present invention relates to the provision of a fixing control device having a self-diagnosis function for judging whether the halogen heater or the AC load driving element is in an abnormal state such as an open state or a short-circuited state in order not to energize the heater with a voltage other than the rated voltage Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional AC loads, for example,
In the fixing control operation including the self-diagnosis function in the thermal fixing device having the halogen heater, a change in the temperature information obtained from the temperature detecting means installed adjacent to the fixing roller storing the halogen heater and an AC load Depending on the time taken to energize and heat a certain halogen heater, it is determined whether the fixing control is operating normally. If it is determined to be in a normal state, the heating operation is continued as it is.
When it is confirmed by the temperature detecting means that the temperature has reached the predetermined temperature, the heating operation is stopped, and when the temperature becomes lower than the predetermined temperature, the energizing operation is restarted and the predetermined temperature is maintained. Further, when it is determined that the state is abnormal, the heating operation is immediately stopped, and the fact that the state is determined to be abnormal is notified inside and outside the apparatus.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the halogen heater, which is an AC load, is heated by supplying an AC current for a predetermined time, and the temperature information is obtained from the temperature information of the fixing roller and the fixing roller. The temperature detecting means is provided through the temperature detecting means installed adjacent to the temperature detecting means to determine whether or not the fixing control operation is in a normal state based on the relationship between the predetermined energizing time and the predetermined temperature change. Is not installed at a specified position, or the halogen heater or AC load drive element that is an AC load, and the fixing control unit are also in an abnormal state such as an open or short circuit, the abnormal state will not occur unless the specified time elapses. There was a drawback that it could not be judged. In addition, the device including the fixing control unit is provided with an A voltage other than the rated voltage of the halogen heater that is an AC load.
When used in a C power supply voltage environment, in the above conventional example, an AC load is applied for a predetermined time to see a change in temperature information. Not only does not get the prescribed performance of
There is a problem that the life is remarkably shortened, and in the case of the halogen heater, the temperature becomes abnormally high, which may cause the device to ignite and smoke.

The present invention solves the problem that the abnormal state cannot be determined until a predetermined time or more has passed in the conventional example, and the AC load is energized according to the control assumed by the AC load drive control section. If not, an apparatus that can detect an abnormal state and an apparatus / method that can detect an abnormal state when used in an AC power supply voltage environment other than the rated voltage without energizing the AC load The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

Therefore, in the present invention, in a device for applying and driving and controlling an AC current to an AC load, 1) As a first load state detecting device and method of the present invention,
AC power supply voltage determination detection means for determining whether the AC power supply voltage supplied from the outside is in the first power supply voltage range or the second power supply voltage range, and the first rated voltage information or the second rated voltage information. AC load means having rated voltage information, AC voltage for comparing and determining the power supply voltage range determination information output from the AC power supply voltage determination detection means, and the AC load rated voltage information output from the AC load means. Based on the AC voltage environment comparison / determination information output from the environment comparison / determination means and the AC voltage environment comparison / determination means,
A for applying and controlling an AC current to the C load means
C load drive control means, and 2) as a second load state detecting apparatus and method according to the present invention,
AC load current presence / absence determination detection means for determining and detecting the presence / absence of AC current supplied to the AC load, AC load current presence / absence information output from the AC load current presence / absence determination detection means, and an AC load drive control signal. And an AC load current comparison / determination means for making a comparison determination, and 3) as a third load state detection device and method according to the present invention,
A first load condition detection device and method of the present invention and a second load condition detection device and method of the present invention,
Furthermore, 4) / 5) As the fourth and fifth load state detection devices and methods of the present invention, a logic for creating a logical sum signal or a logical product signal of AC voltage environment comparison determination information and AC load current presence / absence information. And an AC load condition signal synthesized by the means, and 6) as a sixth load condition detecting apparatus and method according to the present invention,
The AC load means is configured as a fixing control device including a fixing heater, and 7) the AC load rated voltage information and the AC load rated voltage information and the AC as the seventh load state detecting device and method and the fixing control device of the present invention.
When the voltage environment comparison determination information does not match, an AC current energization prohibition unit for forcibly prohibiting energization of the AC current to the AC load unit is provided, and 8) the present invention As the load state detection device and method and the fixing control device of No. 8, the AC load state signal and the AC load current presence / absence information, or any one of the signals for notifying the device and the outside of the device, or any one of them is configured to be provided. Further, 9) / 10) / 11) load condition detection devices and methods according to the ninth, tenth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, and a fixing control device, a plurality of the AC load units and a plurality of AC load drive control units, The above-mentioned object is achieved by configuring a plurality of AC load current comparison / determination means.

[0006]

With each of the above-mentioned configurations according to the present invention, each of the following actions corresponding to each of the above item numbers can be obtained: 1) With the first device / method configuration, an AC load is actually applied. It is possible to detect and detect an abnormal load state without applying an AC current to drive.

2) With the second device / method configuration, it is possible to determine and detect whether or not the AC load is normally energized as expected by the AC load drive control unit. 3) Third Depending on the device / method configuration of the
It is possible to detect and detect an abnormal load state without applying and driving a C current, and also to detect whether or not the AC load is normally energized as expected by the AC load drive control unit. .

4) / 5) The fourth / fifth device / method configurations can reduce the number of signal lines to the control section without reducing the amount of information. 6) The sixth device / method is fixed. An example of the control device configuration is shown below. 7) The seventh device / method configuration makes it possible to prevent accidents due to breakage or deterioration of the AC load means.

8) With the eighth device / method configuration, it is possible to inform the inside and outside of the device that an abnormal load condition exists. 9) / 10) / 11) Furthermore, the ninth / tenth / eleventh devices / With the method configuration, it is possible to detect and detect the abnormal states of the plurality of AC load means.

[0010]

The present invention will be described below based on a plurality of embodiments. (Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration, and FIG. 2 is an example of the output of the AC power supply voltage determination detection means.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an AC power source supplied from the outside, and 2 is an AC power source for determining and detecting whether the AC power source 1 is in a first power source voltage range or a second power source voltage range. Voltage determination detection means, 3 is AC load means,
Reference numeral 4 is an AC load, and 5 is AC load rated voltage information of the AC load 4, which has first rated voltage information or second rated voltage information. 6 is the power supply voltage range determination information output from the AC power supply voltage determination detection means 2, 7 is an AC voltage environment comparison determination means for comparing and determining the AC load rated voltage information 5 and the power supply voltage range determination information 6, Reference numeral 8 denotes AC voltage environment comparison / determination information output from the AC voltage environment comparison / determination means 7. Reference numeral 9 is for applying and driving an AC current to the AC load 4 of the AC load means 3 by the AC voltage environment comparison / determination information 8. Of AC load drive control means 10, 10 is a drive control section of AC load drive control means 9, 11 is an AC load drive section of AC load drive control means 9, and 12 is an AC load drive control signal.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the output of the power supply voltage range judgment information 6 according to the voltage of the AC power supply 1 supplied from the outside of the AC power supply voltage judgment detecting means 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 2, the first power supply voltage range is around 100V, the second power supply voltage range is around 200V, H is at the same level as the first rated voltage information, and L is at the same level as the second rated voltage information. In the first embodiment, A of the AC load means 4
Assuming that the C load rated voltage information 5 has the first rated voltage information (H), when the AC power source 1 is near 100V, the AC power source voltage determination detection means 2 causes the AC power source voltage determination detection means 2 to operate. The power supply voltage range determination information 6 output from the H level indicates the vicinity of 100 V of the first power supply voltage range, and the AC voltage environment comparison determination means 7 outputs the AC load rated voltage information 5 and the power supply voltage range determination information 6. Becomes the same level and the AC power supply environments are considered to match, and an H level signal is output to the AC voltage environment comparison determination information 8.

When the AC power supply 1 is near 200 V, the power supply voltage range determination information 6 output from the AC power supply voltage determination detection means 2 is the first power supply voltage range. The AC voltage environment comparison determination means 7 determines that the AC load rated voltage information 5 and the power supply voltage range determination information 6 are at the non-identical level, and it is considered that the AC power environment does not match. An L level signal is output to the comparison / determination information 8.

The same applies when the AC load rated voltage information 5 of the AC load means 4 other than the above has the second rated voltage information (L). When the AC voltage environment comparison / determination information 8 is an H-level signal that the AC power supply environments are considered to match, the AC is controlled by the drive control unit 10 of the AC load drive control means 9.
The energization of the load is permitted, and the AC load driving control signal 12 causes the AC load driving unit 11 to load the AC of the AC load means 3 to the AC.
An AC current is applied and driven to the load 4. When the AC voltage environment comparison / determination information 8 is an L-level signal which is considered to be inconsistent with the AC power supply environment, the drive control unit 10 of the AC load drive control means 9 prohibits energization of the AC load. Then
By the AC load drive control signal 12, the AC load drive unit 11
It operates so as not to apply and drive an AC current to the AC load 4 of the AC load means 3 via. The drive control unit 10 of the AC load drive control means 9 can not only prohibit energization to the AC load but also permit energization for a short time.

In the first embodiment, the rated voltage information and the power supply voltage range are limited to two types.
Of course, this can be expanded to N types.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same components in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.
The drawings of the following embodiments are also based on this.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 13 is an AC load current presence / absence determination detecting means for determining and detecting the presence / absence of an AC current supplied to the AC load 4, and 14 is an output from the AC load current presence / absence determining detection means 13. AC load current presence information,
Reference numeral 15 is an AC load current comparison / determination means for comparing and determining the AC load current presence / absence information 14 and the AC load drive control signal 12, and 16 is AC load current comparison / determination information output from the AC load current comparison / determination means 15. Is.

The AC load current presence / absence determination detecting means 13 is composed of a current transformer (not shown), a comparator and the like. When there is no AC current to be supplied to the AC load 4, the AC load current presence / absence information 14 is stored as the first information. When a DC level of 1 is output, for example, an L level, and there is an AC current to be supplied to the AC load 4, the AC load current presence / absence information 14 is an AC level having an L level and an H level for a predetermined period, or The DC level of 2, for example, the H level is output. In the AC load current comparison / determination unit 15, the AC load drive unit 11 is operated by the drive control unit 10 of the AC load drive control unit 9.
By comparing both the AC load drive control signal 12 and the AC load current presence / absence information 14 sent to the AC load drive control signal 12, the AC load drive control means is connected to the AC load 4 of the AC load means 3 according to the AC load drive control signal 12. It is compared and determined whether the AC current drive control operation is normally performed via the AC load drive unit 11 of 9.

That is, the AC load drive control signal 12 is the energization permission level, the AC load current presence / absence information 14 outputs the AC level or the H level for the predetermined period, and the AC load drive control signal 12 is the energization stop level. , And A
When the C load current presence / absence information 14 outputs the L level, the AC load current comparison / determination information 16 output from the AC load current comparison / determination means 15 is in a normal state.

When the AC load drive control signal 12 is at the energization permission level and the AC load current presence / absence information 14 outputs the L level for a predetermined period, the AC load current comparison of the output of the AC load current comparison / determination means 15 is performed. The determination information 16 has a level indicating an abnormal state. In this case, the AC load 4 or the AC load drive unit 11 is in an open state. Furthermore, when the AC load drive control signal 12 is at the energization stop level and A
When the C load current presence / absence information 14 is outputting the AC level or the H level, the AC load current comparison / determination information 16 output from the AC load current comparison / determination means 15 is at an abnormal level. In this case, the AC load driver 1
1 is short-circuited.

Therefore, the AC load current presence / absence information 14 and the AC
By comparing and determining the load drive control signal 12, it is possible to configure a device that can determine whether the load of the device is in a normal state or an abnormal state and in what abnormal state.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is a combination of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and the operation is also a combination of both.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, 17 is AC
Voltage environment comparison judgment information 8 and AC load current comparison judgment information 1
A logic means for creating a logical sum signal or a logical product signal with 6, and 18 are AC load state signals output from the logic means 17.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 6 shows an example of signals according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, in FIG.
The AC voltage environment comparison determination information 8 and the AC load current comparison determination information 16 are input, but the AC voltage environment comparison determination information 8 and the AC load current presence / absence information 14 may be input.
FIG. 6 shows a specific example of a timing chart of the AC load state signal 18 output from the logic means 17 of the embodiment (not shown), in which the AC load current presence / absence information 14 is supplied to the AC load 4. If there is current, L for a predetermined period
It is an example of a signal when an AC level having a level and an H level is taken. (1) shows the case where the AC voltage environment comparison determination information does not match, (2) shows the case where the information matches and there is no AC load current, and (3) shows the information matches and the AC load current. Shows the case without.

(Embodiment 6) In a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the AC load 4 in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 5 is replaced with a fixing heater.

(Embodiment 7) FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show block diagrams of respective components of a seventh embodiment of the present invention and its modification. In FIG. 7, 19 is the AC load drive control signal 12 and AC.
According to the voltage environment comparison determination information 8, when the AC load rated voltage information 5 and the power supply voltage range determination information 6 do not match, AC current energization prohibition means for inhibiting energization of the AC current to the AC load means 3. , 20 are AC load drive energization control signals output from the AC current energization prohibiting means 19.

FIG. 8 is a modification of FIG. 7, and 21 is AC load rated voltage information 5 based on the AC voltage environment comparison / determination information 8.
And the power supply voltage range determination information 6 do not match, A
AC for prohibiting energization of AC current to the C load means 3
It is a means for prohibiting current flow. In the above-mentioned two embodiments including this modification, the drive control unit 10 of the AC load drive control means 9 is composed of a CPU, and even if the software runs out of control due to some trouble, the AC load rated voltage information is sent by the hardware. When the power supply voltage range determination information 6 and the power supply voltage range determination information 6 do not match, an AC current energization prohibition unit that prohibits energization of the AC current to the AC load unit 3 is provided.

(Embodiment 8) FIG. 9 shows a configuration block diagram of an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, 30 is AC
Load status signal 18 and AC load current presence / absence information 14 and AC
A status display signal including the load current comparison / determination information 16, 31
Is an informing means for informing the status display signal 30 to the inside and outside of the apparatus, 32 is display information inside the apparatus, 33 is display information outside the apparatus,
Reference numeral 34 is an in-apparatus display means, and 35 is an external device having a display means.

AC voltage environment comparison / determination information 8 output from the AC voltage environment comparison / determination means 7 and AC load current presence / absence information 1 output from the AC load current presence / absence determination detection means 13.
4 and A output from the AC load current comparison / determination means 15
The status display signal including the C load current comparison / determination information 16 is output by the logic means 17 as the AC load status signal 18 by the status display signal 30 via the AC load drive control means 9 by the notification means and the display means. Environment and AC
It informs and displays whether the load 4 or the AC load drive unit 11 is in a normal state or an abnormal state.

(Embodiment 9) FIG. 10 shows a configuration block diagram of a ninth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shows a case where the AC load means 3 has a plurality of AC loads as compared with the above-mentioned embodiment 8 (FIG. 9), and the others are in accordance with the eighth embodiment.

[0031]

As described above, according to the configuration and apparatus of the present invention, when the AC load is not energized according to the control assumed by the AC load drive control section, it is possible to immediately detect and detect the abnormal state. By providing a device, a device that can detect and detect an abnormal state when used in an AC power supply voltage environment other than the rated voltage without energizing an AC load, and a device having both of the above functions, As in the example, it is possible to solve the problem that it cannot be judged as an abnormal load state until a predetermined time or more elapses. For example, in a fixing device of an electrophotographic recording apparatus, a situation in which an abnormally high temperature state causes the device to ignite and smoke. It is possible to realize a fixing control device that can prevent the above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the output of the AC power supply voltage determination detection means of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an example of a timing chart of an AC load state signal according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram of a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration block diagram of a modified example of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration block diagram of an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration block diagram of a ninth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 AC power supply 2 AC power supply voltage judgment detection means 3 AC load means 4 AC load 5 AC load rated voltage information 6 Power supply voltage range judgment information 7 AC voltage environment comparison judgment means 8 AC voltage environment comparison judgment information 9 AC load drive control means 10 Drive control unit 11 AC load drive unit 12 AC load drive control signal 13 AC load current presence / absence detection means 14 AC load current presence / absence information 15 AC load current comparison / determination means 16 AC load current comparison / determination information 17 Logic means 18 AC load status signal 19 AC current energization prohibition means 20 AC load drive energization control signal 21 AC current energization prohibition means 30 Status display signal 31 Notification means 32 In-apparatus display information 33 Outside-apparatus display information 34 In-apparatus display means 35 External device

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A device for applying an AC current to an AC load to drive and control the device, and determines whether the AC power supply voltage supplied from the outside is in a first power supply voltage range or a second power supply voltage range. AC power supply voltage determination detection means, AC load means having first rated voltage information or second rated voltage information, power supply voltage range determination information output from the AC power supply voltage determination detection means, and the AC
AC voltage environment comparison and determination means for comparing and determining the AC load rated voltage information output from the load means, and this AC
A load state detection device comprising: an AC load drive control unit for applying and driving an AC current to the AC load unit according to AC voltage environment comparison / determination information output from the voltage environment comparison / determination unit; Method. 2. An AC load current presence / absence determination detecting means for determining and detecting the presence / absence of an AC current supplied to the AC load in a device for applying and driving an AC current to the AC load, and the AC load current. A load state detection device and method comprising: an AC load current comparison / determination unit for comparing and determining AC load current presence / absence information output from the presence / absence determination detection unit and an AC load drive control signal. 3. An AC load current presence / absence determination detection means for determining the presence / absence of an AC current supplied to the AC load, and AC load current presence / absence information output from the AC load current presence / absence determination detection means and AC. The load state detection device and method according to claim 1, further comprising AC load current comparison / determination means for comparing and determining the load drive control signal. 4. An AC load state signal synthesized by a logic means for creating a logical sum signal or a logical product signal of the AC voltage environment comparison / determination information and the AC load current presence / absence information. 3. The load state detection device and method according to item 3. 5. The AC load current presence / absence information indicates the first logic level when there is no AC load current, and the first logic level and the second logic level when there is AC load current. While repeating for a predetermined period, the AC load status signal is set to the second logic level when the AC load rated voltage information and the AC voltage environment comparison determination information do not match, and when they match, the AC load current presence / absence information. 5. The load state detection device and method according to claim 2, wherein: 6. The load state detecting device and method and the fixing control device according to claim 1, wherein the AC load means is a fixing heater. 7. When the AC load rated voltage information and the AC voltage environment comparison determination information do not match, the A
7. An AC current energization inhibiting means for inhibiting energization of an AC current to the C load means is provided.
The load state detection device and method and the fixing control device according to claim 1. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the AC load status signal and / or the AC load current presence / absence information is notified to the apparatus and / or the outside of the apparatus. A load state detection device and method according to claim 1 and a fixing control device. 9. The load state detection device and method and the fixing control device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the AC loads. 10. The load state detection device and method and the fixing control device according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality of the AC load drive control means. 11. The load state detection device and method and the fixing control device according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of the AC load current comparison and determination means. 12. A plurality of rated voltage information of 3 or more and 3
The load state detection device and method and the fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a plurality of the power supply voltage range determination information.