Image Forming Apparatus Charger Voltage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, simultaneous execution of stop control for the motor and voltage application control to the charger leads to inertial rotation of the image carrier, resulting in wasteful toner consumption and potential deterioration of the image carrier due to varying inertial rotation times, causing either excessive or insufficient stopping times.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a drive controller for stop control and an application controller that stops voltage application to the charger based on the motor current after stop control, using a threshold value to determine the appropriate timing to prevent wasteful toner consumption and image carrier deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If voltage application to the charger is stopped simultaneously with motor stop control, then energy consumption is reduced, but the image carrier rotates by inertia to a region where non-charged region faces the developing member, causing wasteful toner consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by stopping voltage application to the charger before the motor completely stops. Specifically, the control unit stops voltage application to the charger at a timing when a predetermined period has elapsed since motor stop control was executed, ensuring that the charging process is halted in advance of the image carrier's inertial rotation completing its cycle, thus preventing both energy waste and toner waste.
2Loss of substance
If the inertial rotation time of the image carrier is measured in advance and voltage application is stopped after a specific time, then toner consumption is reduced, but the specific time causes excess or deficiency, leading to either wasteful toner consumption or image carrier deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using a predetermined time period (0.5 to 2 seconds) as a controllable parameter to determine when to stop voltage application to the charger. This time parameter is specifically selected to be longer than the inertial rotation time of the image carrier, ensuring that voltage is stopped at the optimal moment regardless of variations in inertial rotation, thus preventing both toner waste and image carrier deterioration.
3Reliability
If voltage application to the charger is stopped too early, then image carrier deterioration is prevented, but non-charged region faces the developing member, causing wasteful toner consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by stopping voltage application to the charger before the motor completely stops. Specifically, the control unit stops voltage application to the charger at a timing when a predetermined period has elapsed since motor stop control was executed, ensuring that the charging process is halted in advance of the image carrier's inertial rotation completing its cycle, thus preventing both energy waste and toner waste.
4Loss of energy
If voltage application to the charger is stopped too late, then charging is performed after rotation stops, but the image carrier is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using a predetermined time period (0.5 to 2 seconds) as a controllable parameter to determine when to stop voltage application to the charger. This time parameter is specifically selected to be longer than the inertial rotation time of the image carrier, ensuring that voltage is stopped at the optimal moment regardless of variations in inertial rotation, thus preventing both toner waste and image carrier deterioration.
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
This approach effectively suppresses image carrier deterioration and wasteful toner consumption by accurately determining the stop timing of voltage application, matching the image forming apparatus's operation state, thereby optimizing the operation stop process.
Implementation Method 1
The charger charges the image carrier to a predetermined first polarity by receiving application of a voltage of the first polarity
Implementation Method 2
The motor rotates the image carrier
Implementation Method 3
the image carrier rotates by inertia after execution of the stop control
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charger, a developing member, a motor, a drive controller, and an application controller. The image carrier is rotatably provided. The charger charges the image carrier to a predetermined first polarity by receiving application of a voltage of the first polarity. The developing member develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier using the toner charged to the first polarity. The motor rotates the image carrier. The drive controller executes stop control for stopping driving of the motor. The application controller stops voltage application to the charger based on a current flowing through the motor after execution of the stop control.