Image Forming Apparatus Blowing Timing Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, when blowing processing and adjustment processing start uniformly, one process may end before the other, leading to changes in the processing target or its environment, which can affect the quality of the image formed.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a processor that adjusts the start timing of either the blowing or adjustment processing based on their respective times, ensuring that the time gap between the end of the first process and the end of the second process is minimized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If blowing processing and adjustment processing start uniformly, then the processing sequence is simple, but the time gap between completion of one process and start of the other increases, causing changes in processing target state or environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the start timing of blowing processing variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the start timing of blowing processing based on the duration of adjustment processing, ensuring that both processes complete simultaneously. This dynamic timing adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing the time gap without requiring complex additional hardware.
2Loss of time
If blowing processing starts earlier to compensate for longer duration, then the time gap is reduced, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the control unit measure the actual duration of adjustment processing and use this information to determine the optimal start timing for blowing processing. This feedback mechanism ensures that both processes complete simultaneously, minimizing the time gap while maintaining straightforward control logic that does not significantly increase system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a loading unit on which a recording medium on which an image is to be formed is loaded; an image forming unit that forms the image, on which adjustment processing is performed before image formation processing on a recording medium starts; a blowing unit that blows gas onto the recording medium loaded on the loading unit before the image formation processing on the recording medium starts; and a processor that sets, based on adjustment time that is a time in which the image forming unit is adjusted and blowing time that is a time in which the gas is blown, start timing of at least one of blowing start timing that is a timing at which blowing of the gas starts and adjustment processing start timing that is a timing at which the adjustment processing starts.