Control apparatus for energizing heating element

Claim 2

An energization control apparatus comprising: fixing means having a heater for using heat to fix a transferred toner image to a recording sheet; temperature detection means, having an impedance which varies in consonance with a temperature, for detecting a temperature of said fixing means; selection means for alternately selecting a first resistor having a first impedance and a second resistor having a second impedance for connection to said temperature detection means; and abnormality detection means for, when said first resistor is connected to said temperature detection means by said selection means, comparing a value, which is determined from said first resistor and an impedance of said temperature detection means, with a predetermined value to detect a malfunction of said temperature detection means, and for, when said second resistor is connected to said temperature detection means by said selection means, comparing a value, which is determined from said second resistor and said impedance of said temperature detection means, with said predetermined value to detect a malfunction of said fixing means.

Claim 3

An energization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection means includes oscillation means for generating a select signal.

Claim 4

An energization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detection means is a thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient.

Claim 5

An energization control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detection means is provided outside an area through which said recording sheet is passed.

Claim 6

An energization control apparatus comprising: a heating element; energization control means for controlling energization of said heating element; a fixing unit for fixing a transferred toner image to a recording sheet using heat generated by said heating element; a variable impedance element having an impedance characteristic consonant with a temperature and being located opposite said fixing unit; switching means for connecting one of first and second fixed impedance elements to said variable impedance element; generation means for generating one of a first parameter, which is determined by said variable impedance element and said first fixed impedance element, and a second parameter, which is determined by said variable impedance element and said second fixed impedance element, according to a connection state of said switching means; first comparison means for comparing said first parameter produced by said generation means with a first reference value that indicates an abnormality at said variable impedance element; second comparison means for comparing said second parameter produced by said generation means with a second reference value that indicates an abnormal temperature at said fixing unit; and energization stop means for halting, in accordance with results obtained by said first and said second comparison means, the energization at said heating element by said energization control means.

Claim 7

An energization control apparatus comprising: a heating element; energization control means for controlling energization of said heating element; a fixing unit for fixing a transferred toner image to a recording sheet using heat generated by said heating element; a variable impedance element having an impedance characteristic consonant with a temperature and being located opposite said fixing unit; switching means for connecting one of first and second fixed impedance elements to said variable impedance element; generation means for generating one of a first parameter, which is determined by said variable impedance element and said first fixed impedance element, and a second parameter, which is determined by said variable impedance element and said second fixed impedance element, according to a connection state of said switching means; first comparison means for comparing said first parameter produced by said generation means with a first reference value that indicates an abnormality at said variable impedance element; second comparison means for comparing said second parameter produced by said generation means with a second reference value that indicates an abnormal temperature at said fixing unit; and energization stop means for halting, in accordance with results obtained by said first and said second comparison means, the energization at said heating element by said energization control means.

Claim 8

An energization control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said generation means changes said second reference value in consonance with the size of said recording sheet that passes said fixing unit.

Claim 9

An energization control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said generation means reduces said second reference value when said recording sheet that passes said fixing unit is large.

Claim 10

An energization control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said generation means changes said second reference value in consonance with the number of recording sheets that pass said fixing unit within a predetermined period of time.

Claim 11

An energization control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said generation means reduces said second reference value when the number of recording sheets that pass through said fixing unit within a predetermined period of time is increased.

Claim 12

An energization control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first parameter is a voltage that corresponds to a voltage division ratio of a reading for said variable impedance element to a reading for said first fixed impedance element, and said second parameter is a voltage that corresponds to a voltage division ratio of a reading for said variable impedance element to a reading for said second fixed impedance element.

Claim 13

An energization control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first parameter is a current that corresponds to a current division ratio of a reading for said variable impedance element to a reading for said first fixed impedance element, and said second parameter is a current that corresponds to a current division ratio of a reading for said variable impedance element to a reading for said second fixed impedance element.

Claim 14

An energization control apparatus according to claim 6 or 8, wherein said variable impedance element is located at a portion of said fixing unit whereat a recording sheet does not pass.

Claim 15

An energization control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said variable impedance element is a thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient.

Claim 16

An energization control apparatus comprising: a heating element; energization control means for controlling energization of said heating element; an object to be heated by said heating element; temperature detection means, having an impedance which varies in consonance with a temperature, for detecting the temperature of said object; switching means for selectively connecting one of first and second resistors having different impedances to said temperature detection means; and abnormality detection means for, in consonance with a connection condition established by said switching means, distinguishably detecting a malfunction of said heating element and an abnormal temperature of said object to be heated.

Claim 17

An energization control apparatus comprising: a heating element; energization control means for controlling energization of said heating element; an object to be heated by said heating element; temperature detection means, having an impedance which varies in consonance with a temperature, for detecting the temperature of said object; switching means for selectively connecting one of first and second resistors having different impedances to said temperature detection means; and abnormality detection means for, in consonance with a connection condition established by said switching means, distinguishably detecting a malfunction of said heating element and an abnormal temperature of said object to be heated.