Electromagnetic Clutch Speed Synchronization for Thick Paper Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in transporting thick paper, where the difference in sheet transport speed between the registration and fixing rollers can lead to image defects like smudges due to the inability to control individual rotation speeds when using a single driving source.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electromagnetic clutch that stops the rotational driving of the registration rollers at a calculated timing during the transport of thick paper, allowing the heating rollers to maintain a synchronized speed with the registration rollers, thus preventing speed differences and image defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single driving source is used to drive both transport rollers and fixing members, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but the ability to control individual rotation speeds is lost, leading to speed differences and image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the driving system adjustable and responsive. The single driving source can dynamically adjust its output to synchronize the rotation speeds of transport rollers and fixing members, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions while maintaining speed synchronization without requiring multiple independent drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms to monitor and control the rotation speeds of both transport rollers and fixing members. By using sensors and control circuits, the system receives real-time information about speed differences and adjusts the driving source accordingly, ensuring synchronized operation and preventing image defects caused by speed mismatches.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual rotation speeds of transport rollers and fixing members are controlled independently, then sheet transport speed synchronization is maintained, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single driving source that can control multiple components (transport rollers and fixing members) with different functions. This multi-functional driver reduces the overall number of driving components needed while maintaining the ability to synchronize speeds, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost without sacrificing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the driving functions into a single integrated system. By combining multiple driving sources into one unified driver that can control both transport rollers and fixing members, the system reduces the number of separate control mechanisms while maintaining independent speed control capabilities, thus lowering device complexity and cost.
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 effectively prevents image defects by synchronizing the sheet transport speed between the registration and fixing rollers, ensuring consistent image transfer on thick paper, while also reducing the size and manufacturing cost of the apparatus by using a single driving motor for both rollers.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating an electromagnetic clutch that stops the rotational driving of the registration rollers at a calculated timing during the transport of thick paper
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a pair of transport rollers that nip and transport a recording medium; an image forming device that is disposed on the downstream side of the pair of transport rollers in a recording-medium transport direction and forms an image on the recording medium; a pair of fixing members that are disposed on the downstream side of the image forming device in the recording-medium transport direction and fix the image formed on the recording medium while nipping and transporting the recording medium; a single driving source that rotationally drives both the pair of transport rollers and the pair of fixing members; and a releasing device that stops rotational driving of the pair of transport rollers by the driving source at a timing when the recording medium is transported while being nipped both between the pair of transport rollers and between the pair of fixing members.