Image Forming Alignment via Sheet Shape Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses struggle to accurately align the position of the imaging portion with the image forming portion, leading to misalignment issues that affect the placement of images on sheets.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a sensing method that involves conveying a sensing sheet through a conveyance route, acquiring shape data using an imaging portion, adjusting image positions based on positional relationships, and sensing misalignment by masking and comparing image data to reference positions, allowing for precise alignment adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the imaging portion is used to capture sheet shape data for alignment adjustment, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for multiple processing portions (conveyance, acquisition, adjustment, formation, mask, and sensing processing portions)
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging portion serves multiple functions: it captures the shape data of the sheet for alignment adjustment and also captures image data for formation. By making the imaging portion multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated sensing components, thereby improving positioning accuracy while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the imaging portion to create a copy (image data) of the sheet and its contents. This copied data is then processed through multiple processing portions to determine alignment without requiring additional physical sensing hardware, thus improving measurement precision while managing device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple processing portions are implemented for accurate alignment sensing, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to the complex integration of multiple processing portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple processing functions (conveyance processing, acquisition processing, adjustment processing, formation processing, mask processing, and sensing processing) into an integrated system. This merging approach enables high alignment precision while managing manufacturing complexity by treating the multiple processing portions as a unified system rather than separate components.
3Manufacturing precision
If the imaging portion is positioned upstream of the image forming portion, then the alignment can be performed before image formation, but the area occupied by the imaging portion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the imaging portion upstream of the image forming portion along the conveyance route, utilizing the temporal dimension (sequence of operations) rather than only spatial arrangement. This allows alignment to be performed before image formation without requiring the imaging portion to occupy additional lateral space, thus maintaining compact device footprint while achieving high alignment precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus (100) acquires shape data (X11) indicating a shape of a sensing sheet (SH11) conveyed along a conveyance route (R11), adjusts a position of a first image (Y21) in first image data (Y11) including the first image (Y21) on the basis of a positional relationship between a sheet region (X21) in the acquired shape data (X11) and a first reference position (P11) in the shape data (X10), forms an image based on the adjusted first image data (Y11) on the sensing sheet (SH11), and senses an amount of positional misalignment of an imaging portion (51) to be used to acquire the shape data (X10) by using the sensing sheet (SH11) on which the image has been formed.