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Research and Development
About
Environmental Technologies
Induction Heating Fusing Technology
Reduced Power Consumption through Efficient Heating
Induction Heating (IH) Fusing technology, which has greatly helped reduce power consumption of MFPs and copiers, is just one of Konica Minolta's many environmentally sound technologies.
Employment of IH technology for the fuser has decreased power consumption during ready mode.
Background of Development
Breakdown of power consumed by MFPs
Power consumed by Konica Minolta's conventional 65-ppm MFP
The fusing process consumes a large propotion of the power
MFP's use heat is applied to fuse the toner to paper. Of the total power consumed by conventional MFPs, the fusing process accounts for more than 60%.
Konica Minolta therefore has focused research and development on finding ways to reduce power consumption of the fusing process.
Breakdown of power consumed by conventional fusers
Power consumed by Konica Minolta's conventional 65-ppm MFP
Reducing power consumption in the ready mode
In previous models power consumption in the ready (standby and low-power) mode accounted for a large percentage of the power consumed for fuser. This is because the conventional fuser using a halogen lamp requires a longer warm-up time if a certain amount of electricity is not consumed during ready mode.
To put it the other way around, power consumption during the ready mode can be substantially reduced by employing a fusing technology that shortens the warm-up time.
Breakdown of power consumed by fuser
Power consumed by Konica Minolta's 65-ppm MFP
Reduction in power consumption during the ready mode using IH technology
IH technology, well known for its application in induction cooktops, efficiently converts electric power to heat.
Applying IH fusing technology, with its high heating efficiency, to MFPs has allowed us to shorten the warm-up time, resulting in a successful reduction of ready mode power consumption.
How the Technology Works
The halogen lamp generates heat, which is transferred to the roller.
Conventional fuser incorporating a halogen lamp
In conventional fuser the roller is heated with a halogen lamp. This creates substantial energy loss as, in addition to the roller, the halogen lamp itself needs to be heated. This technology is also susceptible to energy loss through leakage.
Under the influence of magnetic flux produced by the coil, the roller itself generates heat.
IH fuser
IH fusing technology minimizes energy losses, since the coils heat the roller directly. In addition, the temperature can be easily controlled by regulating the amount of electric current applied to the coils, making it possible to use the exact amount of energy required without consuming excessive power.
Application to color MFPs and copiers
The bizhub C550 was the first color MFP to which Konica Minolta succeeded in applying IH fusing technology. Realizing a significant reduction in power consumption, the bizhub C550 became the best energy-saving model in the category of color MFPs capable of printing 55 pages per minute.
Based on the new power consumption standards of the International Energy Star Program, revised in April 2007.
The bizhub C550 uses a thin belt for its heating element. The IH coils are installed outside the belt, enabling a shorter warm-up time. By adjusting the magnetic flux at both ends of the roller according to the paper width, the roller can be heated efficiently and without waste.
