JP4847173B2 - Signal processing apparatus, current detection apparatus, power control apparatus, and image forming apparatus including these - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a signal processing device, a current detection device, a power control device, and an image forming device using these, which are suitable for an image forming device, and more particularly to measures against power supply noise.

A case of an image forming apparatus using a conventional electrophotographic process will be described.
A thermal fixing device of an image forming apparatus fixes an unfixed image (toner image) formed on a transfer paper by an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic process on the transfer paper. A heat roller type heat fixing device using a halogen heater as a heat source (see Patent Document 1) and a film heating type heat fixing device using a ceramic surface heater as a heat source (see Patent Document 2) are used.

  Generally, the heater is connected to an AC power source via a switching element such as a triac, and power is supplied from the AC power source. A fixing device using a heater as a heat source is provided with a temperature detection element, for example, a thermistor temperature sensing element, and the temperature of the fixing device is detected by this temperature detection element. Based on the detected temperature information, the sequence controller performs on / off control of the switching element to turn on / off the power supply to the heater, which is a heat source of the fixing device, so that the temperature of the fixing device becomes the target temperature. Be controlled. On / off control for the ceramic surface heater is usually performed by phase control or wave number control of the input commercial power supply.

  Further, when the heater abnormally generates heat due to a failure of a switching element such as a triac or a power control runaway, the temperature detection element detects an excessive temperature rise of the heater, and cuts off the power supply from the AC power source to the heater.

  When the temperature control of the temperature of the fixing device is performed, the sequence controller compares the temperature detected from the temperature detection element with a preset target temperature. As a result, the power ratio supplied to the heater is calculated, the corresponding phase angle or wave number is determined, and the switching element is on / off controlled under the phase condition or wave number condition.

  The AC power supply for supplying power to the heater has a wide power supply voltage range of, for example, 85V to 140V or 187V to 264V. Therefore, when the heater is energized with full lighting, the power supply voltage range is 85V to 140V and is about 2.7 times. A power difference of about twice occurs between 187V and 264V. In addition, since the sequence controller controls the energization current to the heater so that the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, when paper such as cardboard is passed through the fixing device, a larger amount of power, that is, current than that of plain paper is used. Is supplied. Since control is performed so that the temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature, power may be supplied more than necessary depending on the type of paper.

  Therefore, for example, as proposed in Patent Document 3, it is possible to detect the energization current to the heater and control the power supply below the maximum suppliable current value. However, when power is supplied to a high-power ceramic surface heater to control the temperature, phase control is often performed in order to speed up control response. When the control responsiveness becomes faster, it becomes necessary to detect the current in a small cycle, and the difference between the current average value and the effective value also increases depending on the control phase angle. When controlling supply power, the maximum suppliable current value is often specified as an effective value, so when current is detected as an average value, the error converted to the effective value by the sequence controller affects the control accuracy. Will do.

In addition, when the ceramic surface heater goes out of control, the temperature detection element detects overheating and cuts off the current flowing to the heater. It is configured to detect the case where the value is larger. In other words, there may be a configuration in which the energization current to the heater is cut off when it is determined that the runaway state is caused by this detection. The difference between the normal state and the runaway state is defined by the effective power, that is, the effective current. Therefore, the effective current value is detected in order to detect with high accuracy, and the supply power is controlled below the maximum supplyable current value in order not to supply more current than necessary to the heater constituting the fixing device.
JP 2004-12823 A JP-A-4-204980 JP 2004-226557 A

  A zero cross circuit that monitors the commercial power supply and outputs a pulse when the value falls below a certain threshold as a circuit used when performing control for accurately detecting the energized effective current of the heater as in the above-described conventional example There is. Then, this output signal (hereinafter referred to as ZEROX signal) is used as a trigger as a timing signal (hereinafter referred to as DISCHARGE signal) of the effective current value detection circuit. Further, the effective current detection circuit outputs an integrated value for each commercial frequency period or half period, and ON / OFF switch control is performed on the output current after integration by the DISCHARGE signal.

  However, the waveform of the commercial power supply varies depending on the area and facility used in the past and the situation in the vicinity. For example, if a machine that consumes a large amount of power is activated or if a device that generates high-level noise is used in the vicinity, distortion and noise may be superimposed on the waveform of the commercial power line. In the first place, even if there is no device that disturbs such a power source, the waveform may contain distortion and noise.

  When such a power supply containing noise is input and used, and noise is mixed in the ZEROX signal, an unintended control signal is output to the DISCHARGE signal as a result, and the detection accuracy of the effective current value is lowered. become.

  The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide the following apparatus.

  A signal processing device that outputs a timing signal (DIS signal) that is less affected by power supply noise. A current detection device with good detection accuracy by using this signal processing device. A power control device capable of accurately detecting current and accurately suppressing and interrupting overcurrent by using this current detection device. By using this power control device, an image forming apparatus capable of accurately suppressing and blocking overcurrent with respect to the heater current of the fixing device.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a signal processing device, a current detection device, a power control device, and an image forming apparatus including these are configured as follows.

(1) a signal generator for generating a zero-cross signal by detecting the zero crossing of the AC voltage of the color of the AC power supply,
A signal detector detecting a falling upstream and falling down of the zero-crossing signal generated by the signal generator,
A signal processing unit that outputs a timing signal in response to a rising edge and a rising edge of the zero-cross signal output from the signal detection unit;
The signal processing unit, after a predetermined time has elapsed after falling up the input of the zero-crossing signal in the absence Tei falling down of the zero-crossing signal is inputted, and on the timing signal,
The predetermined time between as the maximum value the maximum duration of a half cycle of the frequency of the AC voltage from the AC power supply, is set within the maximum value signal processing apparatus according to claim Rukoto.
(2) a signal generation unit that detects a zero cross of an AC voltage from an AC power source and generates a zero cross signal;
A signal detector that detects rising and falling edges of the zero-cross signal generated by the signal generator;
A signal processing unit that outputs a timing signal according to the rise and fall of the zero-cross signal output from the signal detection unit;
The signal processing unit turns on the timing signal when the rising edge of the zero-cross signal is not input after a predetermined time has elapsed after the falling edge of the zero-cross signal has been input,
The signal processing apparatus is characterized in that the predetermined time is set within the maximum value with a period of a half cycle of the maximum frequency of the AC voltage from the AC power supply as a maximum value.
(3) the signal processing device according to (1) or (2),
Integration means for performing integration processing for each cycle of the power supply frequency from the commercial power supply or every half cycle of the power supply frequency for the input current from the commercial power supply;
Resetting means for resetting integration processing in the integrating means in response to turning off of the timing signal of the signal processing device;
And a current detection device that outputs the output of the integration means as a current detection output.
(4) In the current detection device according to (3),
The current detector is characterized in that the integrating means integrates a square value of the input current.
(5) The current detection device according to (3) or (4), a protection unit that suppresses or cuts off the current,
Control means for executing suppression or interruption of the current by the protection means when the output current detected by the current detection device exceeds a predetermined value;
A power control apparatus comprising:
(6) image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium;
A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus that controls power output to the fixing device based on an output current detected by the power control device according to claim 5.
(7) The image forming apparatus according to (6), wherein the zero-cross signal is a signal for turning on / off power to the fixing device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a signal processing device that outputs a timing signal (DIS signal) that is less affected by power supply noise. By using this signal processing device, a current detection device with high detection accuracy can be obtained. By using this current detection device, it is possible to provide a power control device capable of accurately detecting current and suppressing and interrupting overcurrent with high accuracy. Further, by using this power control device, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately suppressing and blocking overcurrent with respect to the heater current of the fixing device.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an “image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process” (laser printer) according to a first embodiment.

  The laser printer main body 101 (hereinafter referred to as the main body 101) has a cassette 102 for storing the recording paper S, and is provided with a cassette presence / absence sensor 103 for detecting the presence or absence of the recording paper S in the cassette 102. Further, a cassette size sensor 104 (consisting of a number of micro switches) for detecting the size of the recording paper S in the cassette 102, a paper feed roller 105 for feeding the recording paper S from the cassette 102, and the like are provided.

  A registration roller pair 106 that synchronously conveys the recording paper S is provided downstream of the paper supply roller 105. Further, an image forming unit 108 that forms a toner image on the recording paper S based on the laser beam from the laser scanner unit 107 is provided downstream of the registration roller pair 106. Further, a fixing device 109 that thermally fixes the toner image formed on the recording paper S is provided downstream of the image forming unit 108. Disposed downstream of the fixing device 109 are a paper discharge sensor 110 for detecting the conveyance state of the paper discharge unit, a paper discharge roller 111 for discharging the recording paper S, and a stacking tray 112 for stacking the recording paper S on which recording has been completed. Yes. The conveyance reference of the recording paper S is set so as to be centered with respect to the length of the recording paper S in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the image forming apparatus, that is, the width of the recording paper S.

  The laser scanner 107 includes a laser unit 113 that emits a laser beam modulated based on an image signal (image signal VDO) sent from an external device 131 described later. Further, it comprises a polygon motor 114, an imaging lens 115, a folding mirror 116, and the like for scanning laser light from the laser unit 113 onto a photosensitive drum 117 described later.

  The image forming unit 108 includes a photosensitive drum 117, a primary charging roller 119, a developing device 120, a transfer charging roller 121, a cleaner 122, and the like necessary for a known electrophotographic process. The fixing device 109 includes a fixing film 109a, a pressure roller 109b, a ceramic heater 109c provided inside the fixing film, and a thermistor 109d that detects the surface temperature of the ceramic heater.

  The main motor 123 applies a driving force to the paper feed roller 105 via a paper feed roller clutch 124 and to the registration roller pair 106 via a registration roller 125. Further, a driving force is applied to each unit of the image forming unit 108 including the photosensitive drum 117, the fixing device 109, and the paper discharge roller 111.

  An engine controller 126 controls the electrophotographic process by the laser scanner unit 107, the image forming unit 108, and the fixing device 109, and controls the conveyance of the recording paper in the main body 101.

  Reference numeral 127 denotes a video controller, which is connected to an external device 131 such as a personal computer via a general-purpose interface (Centronics, RS232C, etc.) 130. Then, the image information sent from the general-purpose interface is expanded into bit data, and the bit data is sent to the engine controller 126 as a VDO signal.

  FIG. 2 shows a drive and control circuit for the ceramic heater in this embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes an AC power source for connecting the image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, the AC heater is supplied to the heating element 3 and the heating element 20 of the ceramic heater 24 (corresponding to 109c in FIG. 1) via the AC filter 2, the current transformer 25, and the relay 41, thereby forming the ceramic heater 24. The heating element 3 and the heating element 20 are heated.

  The supply of electric power to the heating element 3 is controlled by energization and interruption of the triac 4. The resistors 5 and 6 are bias resistors for the triac 4, and the phototriac coupler 7 is a device for ensuring a creepage distance between the primary and secondary. The triac 4 is turned on by energizing the light emitting diode of the phototriac coupler 7. A resistor 8 is a resistor for limiting the current of the phototriac coupler 7, and the phototriac coupler 7 is turned on / off by the transistor 9. The transistor 9 operates according to the ON1 signal from the engine controller 11 (corresponding to 126 in FIG. 1) via the resistor 10.

  Supply of electric power to the heating element 20 is controlled by energization and interruption of the triac 13. The resistors 14 and 15 are bias resistors for the triac 13, and the phototriac coupler 16 is a device for securing a creepage distance between the primary and secondary. The triac 13 is turned on by energizing the light emitting diode of the phototriac coupler 16. The resistor 17 is a resistor for limiting the current of the phototriac coupler 16, and the phototriac coupler 16 is turned on / off by the transistor 18. The transistor 18 operates according to the ON2 signal from the engine controller 11 via the resistor 19.

  The AC power supply 1 is input to the zero cross detection circuit 12 via the AC filter 2. The zero cross detection circuit 12 notifies the engine controller 11 as a pulse signal that the commercial power supply voltage is a voltage equal to or lower than a certain threshold value. Hereinafter, this signal sent to the engine controller 11 is referred to as a ZEROX signal. The engine controller 11 detects the edge of the pulse of the ZEROX signal, and turns ON / OFF the triac 4 or 13 by phase control or wave number control.

  The heater current controlled by the triacs 4 and 13 and energized to the heating elements 3 and 20 is converted into a voltage by the current transformer 25 and input to the current detection circuit 27. In the current detection circuit 27, the heater current waveform converted into a voltage is converted into an effective value or a square value thereof, and A / D input to the engine controller 11 as an HCRRT1 signal and an HCRRT2 signal.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes a temperature detecting element for detecting the temperature of the ceramic heater 24 on which the heating elements 3 and 20 are formed, for example, a thermistor temperature sensing element. The temperature detection element 21 is disposed on the ceramic heater 24 via an insulator having a withstand voltage so as to ensure an insulation distance from the heating elements 3 and 20.

  The temperature detected by the temperature detection element 21 (corresponding to 109d in FIG. 1) is detected as a partial pressure of the resistor 22 and the temperature detection element 21, and A / D is input to the engine controller 11 as a TH signal. The temperature of the ceramic heater 24 is monitored by the engine controller 11 as a TH signal and is compared with the set temperature of the ceramic heater 24 set inside the engine controller 11. Thereby, the power ratio to be supplied to the heating elements 3 and 20 constituting the ceramic heater 24 is calculated. Then, it is converted into a phase angle (phase control) or wave number (wave number control) corresponding to the supplied power ratio, and the engine controller 11 sends an ON1 signal to the transistor 9 or an ON2 signal to the transistor 18 according to the control conditions.

  When calculating the power ratio supplied to the heating elements 3 and 20, the upper limit power ratio is calculated based on the HCRRT signal 1 notified from the current detection circuit 27, and power equal to or lower than the upper limit power ratio is energized. To control.

  For example, in the case of phase control, the following table is provided in the engine controller 11, and control is performed based on this control table.

  Further, when power is supplied to the heating elements 3 and 20 and the control device breaks down and the heating elements 3 and 20 reach a thermal runaway, the overheating prevention device 23 is used as one means for preventing overheating. Is disposed on the ceramic heater 24. The excessive temperature rise prevention device 23 is, for example, a thermal fuse or a thermo switch.

  When the heating elements 3 and 20 reach a thermal runaway due to a failure of the power supply control device and the overheat prevention device 23 reaches a predetermined temperature or more, the overheat prevention device 23 is opened, and the heating elements 3 and 20 are connected. Power is cut off.

  In the engine controller 11, an abnormally high temperature detection temperature is set separately from the set temperature for temperature control. When the temperature detected from the TH signal becomes equal to or higher than the abnormally high temperature detection temperature, the heating elements 3 and 20 are used. Shut off the power to the. That is, the engine controller 11 sets the RLD signal to Low level, turns off the transistor 42, and turns off the relay 41, thereby cutting off the power supply to the heating elements 3 and 20. Normally, at any time during temperature control, the engine controller 11 sends the RLD signal as a high level, turns on the transistor 42, and turns on the relay 41. The resistor 43 is a current limiting resistor, and the resistor 44 is a base-emitter bias resistor. The diode 45 is an element for absorbing a counter electromotive force when the relay 41 is off.

  Further, the engine controller 11 detects the energization current to the heating element 3 or 20 based on the HCRRT signal 2 notified from the current detection circuit 27. And when it becomes more than the abnormal current value preset for the predetermined time, the RLD signal is set to the Low level, and the energization to the heat bodies 3 and 20 is cut off.

  A schematic configuration of the ceramic heater 24 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. a is a sectional view of a ceramic surface heater, b is a surface on which heating elements 32 (corresponding to 3 in FIG. 2) and 33 (corresponding to 20 in FIG. 2) are formed, and c is a symbol b. The surface opposite to the surface is shown.

  The ceramic surface heater 24 protects the ceramic insulating substrate 31 such as SiC, AlN, Al 2 O 3, the heating elements 32 and 33 formed on the surface of the insulating substrate 31 by paste printing, and the two heating elements. The protective layer 34 is made of glass or the like. On the protective layer 34, a temperature detection element 21 for detecting the temperature of the ceramic surface heater 24 and an excessive temperature rise prevention device 23 are disposed. In other words, it is located symmetrically with respect to the recording paper conveyance reference, that is, the center in the length direction of the heat generating portions 32a and 33a, and is disposed at a position inside the minimum recording paper width through which paper can be passed. .

  The heating element 32 includes a portion 32a that generates heat when power is supplied, a conductive portion 32b that connects the electrode portions 32c and 32d to the heating element, and electrode portions 32c and 32d that are supplied with power via a connector. ing. The heating element 33 includes a portion 33a that generates heat when power is supplied, a conductive portion 33b that is connected to the electrode portions 32c and 33d, and electrode portions 32c and 33d that are supplied with power via a connector. . The electrode portion 32c is connected to two heating elements 32 (3) and 33 (20), and serves as a common electrode for the heating elements 32 and 33. In addition, a glass layer may be formed on the side facing the insulating substrate 31 on which the heating elements 32 and 33 are printed in order to improve the slidability.

  The common electrode 32 c is connected from the HOT side terminal of the AC power supply 1 via the overheat prevention device 23. The electrode portion 32d is connected to the TRIAC 4 that controls the heating element 32 (3), and is connected to the neutral terminal of the AC power source 1. The electrode portion 33d is electrically connected to the TRIAC 13 that controls the heating element 33 (20), and is connected to the neutral terminal of the AC power source 1.

  The ceramic heater 24 (109c) is supported by the film guide 62 as shown by the insulating substrate 31 in FIG. 61 (109a) is a fixing film made of a cylindrical heat-resistant material, and is externally fitted to a film guide 62 that supports the ceramic heater 24 on the lower surface side. Then, the ceramic heater 24 on the lower surface of the film guide 62 and the elastic pressure roller 63 as a pressure member are pressed against each other with a predetermined pressure against the elasticity of the elastic pressure roller 63 with the fixing film 61 interposed therebetween. Thus, a fixing nip portion having a predetermined width as a heating portion is formed.

  Further, the overheat prevention device 23, for example, a thermostat is in contact with the insulating substrate 31 surface or the protective layer 34 surface of the ceramic heater 24. The thermostat 23 is corrected in position by the film guide 62, and the thermosensitive surface of the thermostat 23 is in contact with the surface of the ceramic heater 24. Although not shown, the temperature detecting element 21 is also in contact with the surface of the ceramic heater 24 in the same manner. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the ceramic heater 24 may have the heating element on the side opposite to the nip part or the heating element on the nip part side. In order to improve the slidability of the film 61, slidable grease may be applied to the interface between the film 61 and the ceramic heater 24.

  FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of the current detection circuit 27, and FIGS. 6 to 8 show schematic operation waveforms of this circuit. A current is passed through the heater (601 in FIG. 6). The current transformer 25 converts the primary current waveform into a voltage waveform on the secondary side. The output from the current transformer 25 is rectified by the diodes 51 and 53 and supplied to the load resistors 52 and 54. The waveform (603) half-wave rectified by the diode 53 is input to the multiplier 56 via the resistor 55. The multiplier 56 outputs a squared waveform (604). The squared waveform is input to the negative terminal of OP-AMP 59 via resistor 57, and reference voltage 91 is input to the positive terminal of OP-AMP 59 via resistor 58, and is inverted and amplified by feedback resistor 60. The The OP-AMP 59 is powered by a single power source.

  The waveform (605) inverted with respect to the reference voltage 91, that is, the output of the OP-AMP 59, is input to the + terminal of the OP-AMP 72.

  In the OP-AMP 72, the OP-AMP 72 controls the transistor 73 so that the voltage difference between the reference voltage and the waveform input to the + terminal and the current determined by the resistor 71 flow into the capacitor 74. The capacitor 74 is charged with the voltage determined by the resistor 71 and the voltage difference between the reference voltage and the waveform input to the + terminal. When the half-wave rectification section by the diode 53 is finished, the charging current to the capacitor 74 disappears. As a result, the voltage value of the capacitor 74 is peak-held, and the voltage of the capacitor 74 is reset by turning on the transistor 75 during the half-wave rectification period of the diode 51 (606).

  The transistor 75 is ON / OFF controlled by a DIS signal (607) output from the comparator IC81 via the resistor 80. A value divided by the resistors 82 and 83 from the control power supply Vcc is input as a reference voltage to the reference terminal of the comparator IC81, and a voltage 90 applied to the capacitor 87 is input to the other terminal. The capacitor 87 is charged with a current flowing from a constant current circuit including a transistor 85, resistors 84 and 86, and other elements not shown. Further, when the transistor 88 is turned on by the DIS signal output from the engine controller 11 (corresponding to 126 in FIG. 1), the voltage charged in the capacitor 87 is reset.

  The DIS signal is turned on after a predetermined time Tdly from the rising edge of the ZEROX signal, and is turned off at the falling edge of the ZEROX signal or immediately before, so that the DIS signal is controlled without interfering with the heater current period of the half-wave rectification period of the diode 53. can do.

  That is, the peak hold voltage of the capacitor 74 becomes an integral value of a half cycle of the square value of the waveform obtained by converting the current waveform to the secondary side by the current transformer 25, and the voltage of the capacitor 74 is supplied to the engine controller 11 as the HCRRT1 signal. Sent out. The reference potential of the current transformer is determined from the reference voltage 91 via the buffer 61.

  FIG. 7 shows a waveform in which noise is superimposed on the ZEROX signal (702). In this state, the ZEROX signal input to the engine controller 11 becomes 703. In this case, even if the control to set the delay at the timing 704 (B) is originally performed, the DIS signal at the timing (A). Will turn on. As a result, the HCRRT signal is turned off at the timing (A), and there is a possibility that the current is erroneously detected.

Next, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show an outline of the sequence for the control of this embodiment.
The engine controller 11 executes processing according to the sequence shown in FIG. Here, description will be made by applying to the signal course of FIG. In S91, the ZEROX signal monitoring process is performed. When the Low level is detected, the process proceeds to S92, and the ZEROX signal High level monitoring process is performed. When the rising edge (Low → High) of the ZEROX signal is detected at the timing (C) in FIG. 8, the process proceeds to S93, and the signal control unit of the engine controller 11 starts the timer count process. In step S94, the level of the ZEROX signal is monitored, and when the low level is detected (timing D), the process proceeds to step S97 to perform reset processing for the timer count operation started earlier, and jumps to step S92. If the Low level is not detected in the level monitoring process in S94, the process proceeds to S95, and it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed with reference to the count value Td of the timer. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the DIS signal is turned on (timing E in FIG. 8). If the predetermined time has not elapsed in S95, the jump process is performed again in S94. When the DIS signal is turned ON at timing E and the ZEROX signal OFF timing (timing F) is reached, the DIS signal is turned OFF.

  The predetermined time set value Td of the timer counter will be described. The program of the engine controller 11 is sequentially executed according to the program described in the ROM. In many cases, the program is loop-processed by the main function or the operating system, and the timing control is performed based on one loop (one round). Alternatively, many microcomputers have a timer interrupt function, and periodic timing control is possible by setting the timer interrupt time. The predetermined time Td referred to in S95 is set to a minimum value by a loop round or the shortest timer interruption time and a set value using these as unit time. The maximum value of Td is the falling edge of the ZEROX signal or the timing immediately before. That is, the maximum value of Td is set to a value that is defined during a half cycle of the maximum frequency of the AC power supply. As described above, by setting the trailing edge of the ZEROX signal or the immediately preceding timing to the maximum value, there is no interference with the heater current period of the half-wave rectification period.

  As described above, when the ZEROX signal is low until the predetermined time Td has elapsed since the high detection of the ZEROX signal, the DIS signal at the correct timing is output by ignoring the low of the ZEROX signal as an influence of power supply noise. can do.

  Although this embodiment is constituted by a positive logic circuit, it can be similarly implemented by a negative logic circuit.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain a signal processing device that outputs a timing signal (DIS signal) that is less affected by power supply noise. By using this signal processing device, a current detection device with high detection accuracy can be obtained. By using this current detection device, it is possible to provide a power control device capable of accurately detecting current and suppressing and interrupting overcurrent with high accuracy. Furthermore, by using this power control device as a heater current supply source of the fixing device, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately suppressing and blocking overcurrent with respect to the heater current of the fixing device.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus that is Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a control and drive circuit of a fixing device in Embodiment 1. Diagram showing outline of ceramic heater Diagram showing schematic configuration of fixing device Circuit diagram of current detection circuit The figure which shows the general operation waveform of the current detection circuit The figure which shows the general operation waveform of the current detection circuit The figure which shows the general operation waveform of the current detection circuit Flow chart showing noise removal sequence in current detection circuit

Explanation of symbols

11 Engine Controller 27 Current Detection Circuit 101 Image Forming Device 109 Thermal Fixing Device

Claims (7)

A signal generator for generating a zero-cross signal by detecting the zero crossing of the AC voltage of the color of the AC power supply,
A signal detector detecting a falling upstream and falling down of the zero-crossing signal generated by the signal generator,
A signal processing unit that outputs a timing signal in response to a rising edge and a rising edge of the zero-cross signal output from the signal detection unit;
The signal processing unit, after a predetermined time has elapsed after falling up the input of the zero-crossing signal in the absence Tei falling down of the zero-crossing signal is inputted, and on the timing signal,
The predetermined time between as the maximum value the maximum duration of a half cycle of the frequency of the AC voltage from the AC power supply, is set within the maximum value signal processing apparatus according to claim Rukoto. A signal generator for generating a zero-cross signal by detecting the zero crossing of the AC voltage from the AC power supply,
A signal detector detecting a falling upstream and falling down of the zero-crossing signal generated by the signal generator,
A signal processing unit that outputs a timing signal according to the rise and fall of the zero-cross signal output from the signal detection unit;
The signal processing unit, after a predetermined time of falling down is later input the zero-cross signal, wherein when the falling upstream of the zero-crossing signal is inputted without Tei, and turns on the timing signal,
The signal processing apparatus is characterized in that the predetermined time is set within the maximum value with a period of a half cycle of the maximum frequency of the AC voltage from the AC power supply as a maximum value. The signal processing device according to claim 1 or 2,
And integrating means for an input current performs integration processing for each half period of one period or each supply frequency of the power supply frequency from the commercial power supply from the commercial power source,
Resetting means for resetting integration processing in the integrating means in response to turning off of the timing signal of the signal processing device;
And a current detection device that outputs the output of the integration means as a current detection output. The current detection device according to claim 3,
The current detector is characterized in that the integrating means integrates a square value of the input current. The current detection device according to claim 3 or 4, and a protection means for suppressing or interrupting current ,
Control means for executing suppression or interruption of the current by the protection means when the output current detected by the current detection device exceeds a predetermined value ;
A power control apparatus comprising: Image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium;
A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus that controls power output to the fixing device based on an output current detected by the power control device according to claim 5. The zero-cross signal, an image forming apparatus according power to claim 6, characterized in that the signal for turning on and off to the fixing device.

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