Fixing Device Cleaning via Controlled Sheet Feeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming systems face issues with contamination of the fixing device due to unfixed toner during sheet transport jams, leading to potential contamination of subsequent sheets and requiring effective cleaning mechanisms to maintain device integrity.

Innovation Solution

An integrated controller manages a recovery operation that includes counting sheets stopped during a jam, determining if additional sheets are needed for cleaning, and feeding new sheets if the number of remaining sheets is insufficient, ensuring the fixing device is properly cleaned without unnecessary additional sheets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sheets are fed continuously during normal operation, then productivity is maintained, but contamination of the fixing device occurs when jams happen due to unfixed toner

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous sheet feedingVSAvoidfixing device contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting jams early through sensors and automatically stopping sheet feeding before contamination can occur. The controller proactively manages the sheet supply by coordinating between multiple feed sections to prevent unfixed toner from contaminating the fixing device during transport interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the first and second sheet feed sections, managing sheet supply during and after jams. It mediates the transition from continuous feeding to controlled feeding, ensuring the fixing device is protected while maintaining productivity through coordinated operation of multiple feed sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If additional sheets are fed after jam recovery, then the fixing device can be cleaned effectively, but sheet consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing device cleanlinessVSAvoidsheet consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from sensors that detect when the fixing device has been sufficiently cleaned by passing sheets. The controller monitors the cleaning process and stops additional sheet feeding once the predetermined number of sheets have passed through, preventing unnecessary sheet consumption while ensuring reliable cleaning of the fixing device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by feeding a predetermined number of sheets for cleaning purposes only, rather than continuous feeding. This controlled excessive action ensures the fixing device is cleaned adequately without wasting excessive sheets, striking a balance between reliability and resource conservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If sheet feeding is stopped during jams, then contamination is prevented, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidoperation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments sheet feeding into distinct phases: normal continuous feeding, jam detection and stopping, cleaning phase with controlled feeding, and resumption of normal operation. This segmentation allows the system to prevent contamination during jams while maintaining overall productivity through efficient transition between phases and coordinated operation of multiple feed sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic action by alternating between continuous feeding during normal operation and controlled stopping during jams. After recovery, it periodically feeds a predetermined number of sheets for cleaning purposes before returning to continuous operation, maintaining productivity while preventing contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9098044B2Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and image forming method

Publication Date: 2015.08.04 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An image forming system includes a feed section, a transport section, a toner-image forming section, a fixing section, a problem detecting section, and an additional feed section. The feed section feeds a sheet. The transport section transports the sheet fed from the feed section. The toner-image forming section forms a toner image onto the sheet transported by the transport section. The fixing section fixes the toner image formed by the toner-image forming section onto the sheet. The problem detecting section detects a problem in a sheet transport operation. The additional feed section feeds an additional sheet from the feed section toward the fixing section if the number of sheets stopped by the transport section in accordance with detection of the problem by the problem detecting section and subsequently transported toward the fixing section after the sheet transport operation is resumed is smaller than a predetermined number.