Canon developed an Induction Heating (IH) toner-fixing system that uses a fixing roller consisting of a thin-walled metal pipe with a thin mold-release layer coating. Fast heat conduction is ensured by the application of a high-frequency electrical current through a coil built into the roller, which comes in contact with the toner on the surface of the paper. As a result, the technology reduces standby times to one-sixth of previous wait times while cutting energy consumption by about 70% compared with conventional systems. Following a reexamination of the thermal properties of materials and the mechanical characteristics of the technology, Canon achieved an improved roller-holding method and fixing unit structure, making possible the creation of a fixing roller that can produce 500,000 prints before requiring replacement. To ensure stable temperature control, the company also developed a low-loss, high-frequency inverter power supply.
How the IH fixing system works
