QSU, Energy-Saving Technology that Realizes Energy-Saving in Standby
Mode and Quick Recovery from Energy-Saving Mode
According to Ricoh's market research,
most consumers prefer copiers that recover from energy-saving mode
in a shorter time (see pie chart). It also shows that many users of
machines that need a longer time to recover from energy-saving mode
do not utilize an energy-saving function and many users of products
to which QSU technology is introduced make use of the function. If
it takes too long to recover from the energy-saving mode, consumers
will not use the function because they cannot make copies whenever
they need to. That is, a copier/printer that takes longer time to
recover from standby mode consumes extra energy in the mode. Users
of products to which QSU technology is introduced seem to be free
from stress and practice energy conservation unconsciously.
QSU technology incorporated in
Aficio (imagio Neo) series
| (1) |
Ultra-thin shell-fusing roller
In order to realize quick start-up, the fusing roller was thinned
as much as possible to shorten the temperature rise time. |
| (2) |
Twin heaters
Because a thin roller is apt to get cold, the temperature is
carefully and effectively adjusted by using two separately controlled
heaters. |
| (3) |
Low-temperature fixing toner
This toner ensures a fixity that is equal to or higher than
that of conventional toner even at low temperatures and supports
both energy saving and the quick startup function. |
Hybrid QSU: Energy Saving for High-Speed Machines
Hybrid QSU, which is incorporated
into the imagio Neo 752 series, is the industry's first hybrid heat
source. Hybrid QSU is an integration of a next-generation electrical
storage device; capacitor and Ricoh's quick start-up (QSU) technology.
QSU technology makes use of an ultrathin-shell fusing roller, which
is essential for a quick restart, to enable high-speed printing of
75 pages/min. Unfortunately, the heat of the fusing roller is easily
transferred to the paper, which deteriorates printing quality and
speed. To solve this problem, sufficient heat needs to be supplied
to the fusing roller. Ricoh therefore decided to use its quick charging
and discharging capacitor technology. During standby, the capacitor
stored power then restores heat to the fusing roller after the heat
is transferred to the paper during printing. The machines is therefore
able to maintain productivity at 75 pages/min. while requiring only
30 seconds to warm up (1/10 the time of existing machines) and has
an energy consumption efficiency of 117 Wh/h (about 1/2 that of existing
machines), which is the best performance in the high-speed machine
category.
* Capacitors are incorporated only in the 100v machines marketed in Japan.
Enrichment of Energy-Saving Product
Lines
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imagio Neo752 model with optional
SR33V finisher, Z-fold unit type N12 and RT39 PPC tray
|
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In fiscal 2000, Ricoh marketed user-friendly
and energy-saving products, the Aficio 1035/1045 (imagio Neo350/450)
series, in which its original energy-saving technology, QSU was used.
Since then, Ricoh has positively promoted the introduction of such
technology to its copiers and printers. In fiscal 2003, Ricoh marketed
the imagio Neo752/602 series, high-speed multifunctional digital copiers
in which QSU technology was used, and completed a wide-ranging energy-saving
product lineup comprising various machines with productivities of
between 22 and 75 copies/min. Hybrid QSU, the advanced QSU technology,
is used in the imagio Neo 752 series with a copying productivity of
75 copies/min. The imagio Neo752/602 series received the Energy Conservation
Chairman's Prize at the 14th Energy Conservation Grand Prize competition.
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