Image Forming Apparatus Conveyance Belt Rotation for Uniform Gloss
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Solution Overview
Problem
The uneven gloss on images formed in electrophotographic printers due to temperature differences in the conveyance belt caused by radiant heat from the fixing unit during the image forming process.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a preheating process for the fixing unit and rotating the conveyance belt during standby states to ensure uniform temperature distribution on the belt surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the fixing unit is preliminarily heated to shorten waiting time, then the first print-out time is reduced, but the gloss of the image becomes uneven due to temperature difference in the conveyance belt
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance belt is rotated during the preheating process before image formation to preliminarily distribute heat uniformly across the belt surface, preventing local temperature rises that would cause gloss unevenness when imaging starts
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyance belt continues to rotate during the standby state after preheating completes, maintaining uniform temperature distribution continuously until image formation begins, ensuring gloss uniformity is preserved
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
Reduces the occurrence of gloss unevenness by maintaining consistent surface temperatures across the conveyance belt, resulting in higher image quality.
Implementation Method 1
when the surface temperature of the conveyance belt of the above-described document is locally raised by radiant heat from the heated fixing unit
Implementation Method 2
execute preheating in which the fixing unit is preliminarily heated
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer portion, a fixing unit, a conveyance belt configured to convey a sheet from the transfer portion toward the fixing unit, a driving portion configured to drive the conveyance belt, and a controller configured to control the driving portion. The controller is configured to, in a case of switching the image forming apparatus to a standby state in which the image forming apparatus is ready to start an image forming operation and stands by for input of an image forming job, execute preheating in which the fixing unit is preliminarily heated, and cause the driving portion to rotate the conveyance belt while the preheating is executed.