Image Forming Apparatus Belt Aging Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The initial use of external heating belts in image forming apparatuses often results in a rough inner peripheral surface, leading to inconvenience and potential image defects due to increased belt shifting speed and overshoot, necessitating frequent belt exchanges and potential complete shift errors.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a belt unit that includes an endless belt and a supporting mechanism, where a moving mechanism and controller facilitate the belt's movement between contact and spaced positions, and execute an aging operation by rotating the new belt for a predetermined time to smooth the inner peripheral surface, reducing roughness and preventing complete shift errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a new endless belt is installed for external heating, then the heating function is restored, but the inner peripheral surface is roughened causing belt shifting and overshoot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by rotating the new endless belt at a predetermined speed before actual image forming operations. This preliminary rotation smooths the inner peripheral surface that would otherwise be rough from manufacturing, preventing subsequent belt shifting and overshoot during normal operation. The controller automatically executes this smoothing operation after detecting belt installation, ensuring the belt is properly conditioned before use.
2Productivity
If the endless belt is rotated at high speed for image forming, then productivity is improved, but the rough inner peripheral surface causes complete shift errors
Solution Approach 1:
Before high-speed image forming operations, the controller executes a preliminary rotation of the endless belt at a predetermined speed to smooth the inner peripheral surface. This preliminary conditioning prevents complete shift errors that would occur during high-speed operation with a rough belt surface, ensuring both productivity and reliability are maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of belt rotation speed. Initially, the belt is rotated at a predetermined lower speed for smoothing the inner peripheral surface. After this preliminary operation completes, the belt can then operate at higher speeds for image forming without causing complete shift errors, as the surface has been properly conditioned.
3Productivity
If the endless belt is used continuously, then productivity is maintained, but the rough inner peripheral surface requires frequent belt exchanges
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automatically performs a preliminary rotation operation when a new endless belt is installed, smoothing the inner peripheral surface before continuous use. This preliminary action eliminates the initial roughness that would cause belt shifting and complete shift errors, allowing the belt to be used continuously without frequent exchanges and maintaining productivity over the belt's full lifespan.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The aging operation effectively reduces the surface roughness of the belt, suppressing overshoot and complete shift errors, ensuring stable operation and extending the belt's lifespan by smoothing the inner peripheral surface during the initial stages of use.
Implementation Method 1
a process in which the belt unit with a new endless belt or a new belt unit with a new endless belt is moved to the contact position, and then the new endless belt is rotated for a predetermined time by the first rotatable member
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion that forms a toner image on a recording material, and a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member, which form a nip therebetween in which the toner image, formed on the recording material by the image forming portion, is heated. A belt unit includes an endless belt that externally heats the first rotatable member, and a supporting mechanism rotatably supporting the endless belt. A moving mechanism moves the belt unit so as to be movable between a contact position and a spaced position. In addition, a controller executes a process in which one of the belt unit with a new endless belt and a new belt unit with a new endless belt is moved to the contact position, and then, the new endless belt is rotated for a predetermined time by the first rotatable member.