Cleaning Device Fault Detection Using Current And Movement Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately detecting abnormalities in the movement and drive mechanisms of cleaning devices, which can lead to damage if not addressed promptly.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a current detecting portion and movement detecting portion that determines the drive state of the motor based on drive current and movement detection, stopping the motor if the movement detecting portion fails to detect the moving body within a specific time, thereby preventing potential damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If drive control is performed based on movement detecting portion only, then positioning accuracy is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to inability to detect drive source abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two detection methods (movement detecting portion and drive current detection) into a unified control system. The drive control portion integrates position feedback from the movement detecting portion with drive state information from the current detecting portion, creating a redundant system that can detect abnormalities through multiple pathways, thereby improving reliability while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dual feedback mechanisms: position feedback from the movement detecting portion for precise positioning, and drive state feedback from the current detecting portion for reliability monitoring. The drive control portion processes both feedback signals to determine drive state, enabling the system to detect abnormalities in either the movement detecting portion or drive source, thus resolving the reliability issue.
2Reliability
If drive control is performed based on drive current only, then system reliability is improved through abnormality detection, but positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges position-based control (from movement detecting portion) with current-based monitoring (from current detecting portion) in the drive control portion. This combination allows the system to use movement detection for precise positioning while simultaneously using current analysis for reliability monitoring, thus achieving both positioning accuracy and abnormality detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive control portion is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls positioning based on movement detecting portion signals and simultaneously monitors drive state based on current detecting portion signals. This multi-functional design enables the single control portion to maintain positioning accuracy while providing abnormality detection, resolving the contradiction between precision and reliability.
3Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of drive state is performed, then abnormality detection accuracy is improved, but processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The state determination processing portion performs drive state determination periodically or at specific intervals rather than continuously. It determines drive state at key moments (when movement is detected, when cleaning cycles complete, or at predetermined time intervals), which maintains adequate abnormality detection accuracy while significantly reducing the processing load compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial monitoring by focusing detection efforts on critical moments when abnormalities are most likely to manifest (such as during startup, when movement is detected, or at regular intervals). This partial action approach provides sufficient abnormality detection capability without the excessive processing load of continuous full-scale monitoring.
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 solution allows for timely detection of abnormalities in the movement and drive mechanisms, reducing the risk of damage to the cleaning device and simplifying the processing load on the control system.
Implementation Method 1
a current detecting portion configured to detect a drive current of a drive source that supplies a driving force to the moving mechanism
Implementation Method 2
a movement detecting portion configured to detect the moving body at a predetermined specific position
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning device (67) includes a state determination processing portion (752) and an abnormality determination processing portion (753). The state determination processing portion (752), when a movement detecting portion (72) does not detect a moving body (69A, 69B) before a predetermined specific time passes since a start of a drive of a drive source (71), determines a drive state of the drive source (71) based on a detection result of a current detecting portion (74). The abnormality determination processing portion (753) determines that an abnormality has occurred in the movement detecting portion (72) when the state determination processing portion (752) determines that the drive source (71) is being driven, and determines that an abnormality has occurred in the drive source (71) when the state determination processing portion (752) determines that the drive source (71) is not being driven.