Image Forming Unit Gloss Control via Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving ideal tone characteristics when the user arbitrarily sets the gloss level, as changes in fixing temperature affect the developing agent adherence, leading to inconsistent image density despite calibration efforts.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus connected to an external image processing apparatus, which includes an image processor and controller, adjusts image forming conditions based on user input for measuring images to generate conversion conditions, ensuring ideal tone characteristics by controlling the image forming unit using both changed and default conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the fixing temperature is changed to adjust gloss level, then the gloss level can be arbitrarily controlled, but the amount of developing agent adhered to changes and tone characteristics become non-ideal
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes image forming conditions (development bias voltage, developing agent concentration) as parameters to compensate for the effect of gloss level adjustments. When gloss level is changed, the controller automatically adjusts other parameters to maintain constant tone characteristics and developing agent adherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses measurement results from sensors to feedback control the image forming conditions. The controller measures the actual tone characteristics and adjusts the developing conditions accordingly to maintain ideal tone characteristics even when gloss level is arbitrarily changed by the user.
2Adaptability or versatility
If calibration is performed with changed image forming conditions, then the measurement result can be obtained under user-set gloss level, but the developing agent adherence amount changes and prevents ideal tone correction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary control of image forming conditions to a reference state before calibration. The controller temporarily sets the gloss level to a reference value and adjusts other conditions to reference values, ensuring consistent developing agent adherence during measurement, then allows user gloss level settings for actual printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary control mechanism that separates the calibration measurement process from the user printing process. The controller acts as an intermediary that manages different condition sets: reference conditions for calibration and user-selected conditions for printing, ensuring both processes can coexist without interference.
3Manufacturing precision
If the image forming apparatus controls image forming conditions based on measurement results, then tone characteristics can be corrected, but the system complexity increases due to multiple condition controls
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions: it controls image forming conditions for printing, manages calibration processes, adjusts developing conditions based on measurement results, and coordinates between the image forming apparatus and external image processing apparatus. This multi-functionality consolidates complexity into a single control unit rather than requiring separate control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image processor performing image processing to image data, an image forming unit forming an image on a sheet based on the image data, and a controller changing an image forming condition of the image forming unit based on user information, in a case where a first measuring image is formed by the image forming unit to generate a first conversion condition for image data conversion in image processing to be performed by an external image processing apparatus, controlling the image forming unit based on the changed image forming condition, and in a case where a second measuring image is formed by the image forming unit to generate a second conversion condition for image data conversion in image processing to be performed by the image processor, controlling the image forming unit based on a default image forming condition.