US 11,988,990 B2
Image-forming apparatus provided with first sensor detecting temperature and humidity and second sensor disposed separately from the first sensor and detecting temperature
Yusuke Okabe, Nagoya (JP); and Tetsuharu Ube, Nagoya (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/189,664.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-061544 (JP), filed on Apr. 1, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0315011 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G03G 15/20 (2006.01); G03G 21/20 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/206 (2013.01) [G03G 15/2017 (2013.01); G03G 21/203 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1645 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image-forming apparatus comprising:
a main casing comprising:
a first side wall having an exhaust port; and
a second side wall disposed on an opposite side of the first side wall in a prescribed direction;
a photosensitive drum;
a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum;
a heater configured to apply heat to a sheet to which toner is transferred from the photosensitive drum to fix the transferred toner to the sheet;
a first sensor disposed near the first side wall on the same side as the exhaust port with respect to the first side wall and separated from the exhaust port, the first sensor being configured to measure a first temperature and a relative humidity;
a second sensor disposed near the second side wall and separated from the heater, the second sensor being configured to measure a second temperature; and
a controller configured to perform:
(a) calculating an internal temperature on the basis of the second temperature, the internal temperature being an estimated value of a temperature near the developing roller, the calculating comprising:
when a target temperature of the heater is set to a printing temperature:
(a-1) determining whether a temperature increase in the first temperature is greater than or equal to a first prescribed value and a humidity increase in an absolute humidity is greater than or equal to a second prescribed value, the temperature increase in the first temperature indicating an amount of increase in a current first temperature relative to a previous first temperature, the current first temperature being the first temperature last measured by the first sensor, the previous first temperature being the first temperature measured by the first sensor a prescribed time before the current first temperature is measured, the absolute humidity being calculated on the basis of the relative humidity, the humidity increase in the absolute humidity indicating an amount of increase in a current absolute humidity relative to a previous absolute humidity, the current absolute humidity being based on a current relative humidity, the previous absolute humidity being based on a previous relative humidity, the current relative humidity being the relative humidity last measured by the first sensor, the previous relative humidity being the relative humidity measured by the first sensor the previous time before the timing at which the current relative humidity is measured; and
(a-2) correcting, in response to determining in (a-1) that the temperature increase in the first temperature is greater than or equal to the first prescribed value and the humidity increase in the absolute humidity is greater than or equal to the second prescribed value, the internal temperature;
(b) determining whether the internal temperature is greater than a first threshold; and
(c) executing, in response to determining in (b) that the internal temperature is greater than the first threshold, a cool-down process to reduce a temperature inside the main casing.