Fixing Apparatus Cleaning Sheet Mechanism for Stain Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consecutive printing of identical images on sheets with high calcium carbonate content leads to linear stains on the pressure member, which are transferred to the heating member, causing image quality deterioration due to adhesion of sheet dust and fogging toner.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that supplies a cleaning sheet with a cleaning image formed on one surface, facing the pressure member, to the fixing nip when toner images of multiple sheets with overlapping non-image regions are printed, to prevent stain generation and maintain image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sheets with high calcium carbonate content are used to improve whiteness and reduce cost, then sheet cost is reduced and whiteness is improved, but linear stains are generated on the pressure member surface causing image quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of stain conditions on the pressure member before they severely affect image quality. By monitoring the number of sheets processed and detecting early signs of staining, the system proactively initiates cleaning operations before stains become problematic, preventing image quality deterioration while maintaining cost-effective sheet usage
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism that monitors sheet processing counts and detects stain generation on the pressure member. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically determines when cleaning is necessary and activates the cleaning apparatus, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual stain conditions rather than operating on fixed schedules
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning operations are performed frequently to remove stains from the pressure member, then image quality is maintained, but device complexity and operational interruptions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system operates autonomously based on automatically detected stain conditions and sheet processing counts. The controller self-determines when cleaning is necessary and executes the cleaning operation without user intervention, making the system self-managing while maintaining image quality. This reduces operational complexity by eliminating manual monitoring and decision-making
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a sheet from the sheet stack as the cleaning medium itself, discarding this sheet after the cleaning function is performed. This approach avoids the need for separate dedicated cleaning materials or complex cleaning mechanisms, simplifying the overall system while effectively removing stains from the pressure member
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 cleaning sheet effectively removes adhered dust and toner from the pressure roller, suppressing stain formation and maintaining image quality by addressing the issue of image quality degradation caused by consecutive printing of identical images.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing apparatus including a heating member that is heated by a heater
Implementation Method 2
the stains adhere to both surfaces of the sheet
Implementation Method 3
the cleaning sheet with a cleaning image formed on one surface... to prevent stain generation
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing apparatus including a heating member that is heated by a heater and a pressure member that forms a fixing nip between the pressure member and the heating member by pressing the heating member; and a supplier that, when toner images of a plurality of images including non-image regions overlapping each other are consecutively fixed by the fixing apparatus, supplies a cleaning sheet on which a cleaning image is formed on one surface, to the fixing nip in a state where the one surface faces the pressure member, wherein the non-image regions are regions extending along the conveyance direction from an upstream side end in the conveyance direction in an image to a downstream side end in the conveyance direction, and not including a toner image having a length of equal to or more than a first value in the conveyance direction.