Image Forming Apparatus Cooling Transfer Material Velocity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face issues with 'inter-sheet adhesion' due to insufficient cooling of transfer materials, leading to quality issues and reduced usability of printed sheets, as existing cooling solutions are either ineffective or overly complex.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a cooling device along the conveying path, controlled by a controller that decelerates the transfer material's conveyance velocity when detected by a first transfer-material detecting device, ensuring effective cooling and preventing inter-sheet adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling methods (cooling roller or duct) are used, then cooling effect is improved, but device complexity or adaptability deteriorates due to space constraints and inability to adapt to every condition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of conveyance velocity to optimize cooling. By dynamically adjusting the velocity at which transfer materials pass through the cooling section, the system achieves effective cooling without requiring complex cooling mechanisms. This parameter change allows the simple cooling section to adapt to different cooling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing conveyance mechanism to serve the cooling function. Instead of adding dedicated complex cooling equipment, the patent makes the conveyance system itself contribute to cooling by controlling the passage time through the cooling section, allowing the system to cool transfer materials using its own operational parameters.
2Temperature
If conveyance velocity is reduced to improve cooling, then cooling effect is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to slower overall processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by reducing velocity only in the specific cooling section where cooling is needed, rather than reducing the velocity throughout the entire conveyance path. This allows targeted cooling without significantly impacting overall productivity, as the transfer material returns to normal velocity after the cooling zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by decelerating transfer materials only partially and only for the duration needed in the cooling section. This partial velocity reduction provides sufficient cooling effect while minimizing the impact on overall processing speed and productivity.
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
The solution effectively prolongs the cooling time of transfer materials, enhancing the cooling effect and preventing inter-sheet adhesion, thereby ensuring high-quality image formation without compromising productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling roller for cooling by conveying a transfer material and absorbing the heat of the transfer material
Implementation Method 2
a blower and a duct for cooling a transfer material on both sides of the transfer material in the width direction
Data Source
AI summary
There is described an image forming apparatus, which forms high quality images free from a phenomenon of inter-sheet adhesion. The image forming apparatus includes a conveyance section to convey the transfer material along a conveying path; a cooling device disposed along the conveying path to cool the transfer material just after the toner image is fixed with heat; a controller-to control the conveyance section and the cooling device; and a first transfer-material detecting device disposed at a position adjacent to and upstream from the cooling device, in order to detect the transfer material coming into the conveying path. When the first transfer-material detecting device detects the transfer material coming, the controller controls the conveyance section to decelerate a conveyance velocity of the transfer material to a decelerated velocity lower than a normal conveyance velocity, so that the transfer material passes through the conveying path at the decelerated velocity.