Fixing Section Cleaning Control Based on Paper Jam Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses waste time and paper sheets when cleaning the fixing section, as cleaning is performed every time after a paper jam, even if the fixing section is not contaminated.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a control section that determines whether to execute a cleaning mode based on the judgment of a transport stop detecting section, which assesses if the paper sheet is removed towards the upstream or downstream side of the fixing section, thereby preventing unnecessary cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning is performed every time after a paper jam occurs at the fixing section, then image quality deterioration due to contamination is prevented, but time and paper sheets are wastefully consumed when the fixing section is not actually contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a judgment section that analyzes paper jam occurrence patterns and paper removal directions to determine whether the fixing section is actually contaminated. This feedback mechanism prevents unnecessary cleaning operations while ensuring cleaning is performed when contamination is likely, thus maintaining image quality without wasting time
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the paper sheet itself as the cleaning medium, eliminating the need for separate cleaning mechanisms. By intelligently determining when cleaning is necessary based on paper jam analysis, the system avoids unnecessary consumption of paper sheets for cleaning purposes
2Reliability
If cleaning is performed every time after a paper jam occurs at the fixing section, then contamination is prevented, but paper sheets are wastefully consumed when the fixing section is not actually contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The judgment section provides feedback by analyzing whether the paper jam occurred in a location that would cause contamination of the fixing section. Based on this analysis and the paper removal direction, the system intelligently determines whether cleaning is necessary, preventing unnecessary paper sheet consumption while maintaining image quality
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing full cleaning every time a paper jam occurs, the system performs cleaning only partially (only when contamination is likely), based on the judgment of the paper jam location and removal direction. This reduces paper sheet waste while still preventing image quality deterioration when needed
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section which forms an image on a paper sheet by using a developer; a fixing section which includes a rotational axis and rotates around the rotational axis so as to fix the image formed on the paper sheet; a transport mechanism which transports the paper sheet on a paper transport route in a transport direction; a transport stop detecting section which detects a transport stop of the paper sheet; a judgment section which judges to which one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the fixing section in the transport direction the paper sheet is removed after the transport stop is detected by the transport stop detecting section; and a control section which controls the transport mechanism to execute a cleaning mode for cleaning the fixing section based on a judgment result of the judgment section.