Image Forming Apparatus Dynamic Speed Control for Heat Damage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses like sublimation and thermal fusion printers, the transfer medium (e.g., ink ribbon) suffers damage due to heat, leading to elongation and potential creases when rewound for forming smaller images, which impairs image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that transports a belt-like transfer medium with multiple transfer material regions, allowing for image formation at reduced speed and lower temperatures when using new regions, and utilizing unused portions at the same or reduced speed, while maintaining consistent heat application per unit area to minimize medium damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the transfer medium is heated at high temperature to form images efficiently, then image formation productivity is improved, but the transfer medium suffers heat damage causing elongation and creases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the image formation speed variable rather than constant. The control unit adjusts the transport speed of the transfer medium dynamically based on the image size being formed. When forming smaller images (second size), the system operates at a slower speed to reduce heat damage, while maintaining higher speeds for larger images (first size) to preserve productivity. This dynamic speed adjustment resolves the contradiction between productivity and heat damage prevention.
2Loss of substance
If the transfer medium is rewound after partial use to form smaller images, then material utilization is improved, but creases occur in the elongated portions impairing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by taking preventive measures before the transfer medium is rewound. The system controls the image formation speed to be slower when forming smaller images, which prevents the transfer medium from undergoing significant thermal elongation in the first place. By preventing the elongation beforehand, the subsequent rewinding operation does not create creases, thus preserving image quality while still allowing reuse of the transfer medium.
3Productivity
If image formation is performed at higher speed for efficiency, then productivity is improved, but heat damage to the transfer medium increases causing elongation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the image formation speed based on the specific task. When forming smaller images (second size), the transport speed is reduced to maintain the dimensional stability of the transfer medium and prevent thermal elongation. When forming larger images (first size), the system operates at higher speeds to maximize productivity. This dynamic control strategy allows the system to optimize both productivity and dimensional stability according to the imaging requirements.
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
This approach effectively reduces heat-induced damage to the transfer medium, preventing creases and maintaining image quality when forming images of varying sizes by adjusting speed and temperature accordingly.
Implementation Method 1
an image forming unit which transfers the transfer materials in sequence by heating the respective transfer material regions and thereby forms on a recording medium an image
Data Source
AI summary
Damage caused to a transfer medium due to heat when partially using transfer material regions is suppressed. An image forming apparatus (1) includes a transporting unit (4A, 4B) which transports a belt-like transfer medium (4) on which transfer material regions (Y, M, C, OP) of a first size respectively corresponding to transfer materials are arranged in a predetermined order in a repeated manner along a longitudinal direction thereof, and an image forming unit (3) which transfers the transfer materials in sequence by heating the respective transfer material regions and thereby forms on a recording medium an image with the first size or an image with a second size which is not larger than one half the first size. When forming an image with the second size, the image forming unit either uses unused portions of transfer material regions that have already been used to form an image with the second size or uses new transfer material regions on the transfer medium. When forming the image with the second size by using the new transfer material regions, the image forming unit performs the image formation at a slower speed than when forming an image with the first size.