Image Forming Apparatus Dynamic Temperature Threshold Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face productivity reduction and faulty cleaning due to toner sticking caused by increased temperature, where existing solutions overly limit operation to prevent toner sticking by maintaining temperatures below the glass transition temperature of the toner.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a control unit that suspends image formation operations based on elapsed time and temperature thresholds, allowing continued operation within a defined temperature range to prevent toner sticking while optimizing productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the temperature of the cartridge is controlled to not exceed the glass transition temperature of the toner, then toner sticking is prevented, but the productivity of printing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the temperature threshold dynamic rather than static. The control unit adjusts the temperature threshold based on the type of image to be printed: for images with a large area ratio of white portions, a lower threshold (first threshold value) is used to prevent toner sticking, while for images with small white area ratios, a higher threshold (second threshold value) is permitted to maintain productivity. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between preventing toner sticking and maintaining printing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter based on image characteristics. By analyzing the white area ratio of the image to be printed, the system selects appropriate temperature thresholds from different ranges. This parameter change approach allows the system to optimize between toner sticking prevention and productivity by matching temperature control to specific printing conditions.
2Reliability
If the temperature of the waste toner container increases, then the viscosity of the toner increases causing sticking, but maintaining low temperature requires excessive operational limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature control parameter based on image characteristics. By calculating the white area ratio of the image to be printed, the system dynamically selects appropriate temperature thresholds. This allows operational flexibility while preventing faulty cleaning, as the temperature limit is adjusted according to actual printing needs rather than applying uniform restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic temperature threshold adjustment based on image analysis. The control unit determines appropriate temperature limits in real-time based on the image's white area ratio, providing operational flexibility while maintaining reliability. This dynamic approach avoids excessive operational limitations while preventing toner sticking in the waste toner container.
3Reliability
If the temperature of the developer container increases, then the toner degrades faster, but strict temperature control reduces printing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting temperature thresholds based on image characteristics. For images requiring less toner (high white area ratio), stricter temperature control is applied to prevent degradation. For images requiring more toner (low white area ratio), higher temperature thresholds are permitted to maintain printing efficiency. This resolves the contradiction between toner degradation prevention and printing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a container that contains a developer, a temperature information acquisition unit that acquires temperature information of the container, and a control unit that controls an image formation operation for forming an image. During the image formation operation, the control unit executes a suspension operation for suspending the image formation operation in the case that t≥toth(toth≠0) is satisfied, where t is defined to be an elapsed time from when a temperature corresponding to the temperature information of the container exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature Tth, and where toth is defined to be an exceeding time threshold value related to a period during which the temperature corresponding to the temperature information of the container remains higher than the threshold temperature Tth.