Image Forming Apparatus Intermediate Transfer Member Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining image quality due to variations in environmental conditions and recording medium properties, leading to image unevenness and decreased adjustment accuracy, especially when using low-rigidity media that can cause unstable behavior and affect optical sensor detection.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes an image forming unit, a detection unit, and a controller to assess the recording medium's properties and adjust the image forming conditions based on the detection results, determining whether to use the recording medium for image adjustment by forming a test image and evaluating its basis weight, surface properties, and color, thereby stabilizing image adjustment accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a test image is formed on a recording medium for calibration, then real-time image adjustment is enabled, but image adjustment accuracy decreases when the recording medium has low rigidity or non-uniform surface properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate transfer member as a mediator between the image forming unit and the recording medium. The test image is formed on this intermediate member with stable properties, which then transfers the image to various recording mediums. This intermediary approach allows real-time calibration while maintaining measurement accuracy, as the intermediate transfer member provides a stable platform for test image formation regardless of the recording medium's rigidity or surface properties.
2Measurement precision
If the optical sensor is kept at a predetermined distance from the recording medium to achieve detection accuracy, then sensor detection accuracy is improved, but unstable behavior of low-rigidity recording medium causes wave actions that prevent proper detection
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate transfer member serves as a stable intermediary platform that supports the test image during detection. By forming the test image on this rigid intermediate member rather than directly on the flexible recording medium, the system eliminates wave actions and unstable behavior caused by low-rigidity media. The optical sensor can then reliably detect the test image at the predetermined distance without interference from medium instability.
3Ease of manufacture
If toner is transferred from the image bearing member to the recording medium during the transfer step, then image formation is achieved, but non-uniform surface property of the recording medium causes non-uniform toner adhesion and image unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate transfer member acts as a controlled intermediary between the image bearing member and the recording medium. The test image is first formed on this intermediate member under controlled conditions, ensuring uniform toner adhesion. The intermediate member then transfers this uniformly formed image to the recording medium, decoupling the image formation process from the variable surface properties of the recording medium.
4Ease of manufacture
If pressure is applied in the fixing step to fix transferred toner on the recording medium, then image fixation is achieved, but non-uniform pressure application results in image unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
By forming the test image on the intermediate transfer member before final transfer to the recording medium, the patent separates the fixation process from the variable recording medium. The intermediate member provides a consistent surface for uniform pressure application during fixing, eliminating the image unevenness caused by non-uniform pressure on variable recording medium surfaces.
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 enables stable image adjustment accuracy by selecting suitable recording media and optimizing image forming conditions, preventing image unevenness and maintaining productivity by ensuring accurate detection and correction of tone characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The test image is generally detected by an optical sensor such as an image density sensor or a chromaticity sensor
Implementation Method 2
the image of the printed matter or the test image is formed by electrostatically transferring a developer such as toner (hereinafter, simply referred to as "toner") from the image bearing member to the recording medium (transfer step)
Implementation Method 3
fixing the transferred toner on the recording medium by a fixing step
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a cassette to store a recording medium, an image forming unit to form an image on an image bearing member based on an image forming condition, a transfer unit to transfer the image onto the recording medium conveyed from the cassette, and a reading unit to read a test image formed on the recording medium by the image forming unit. A controller controls the image forming unit to form the test image while the image forming unit is forming a plurality of images, controls the image forming condition based on a reading result of the test image by the reading unit, and obtains information related to basis weight of the recording medium in the cassette. In a case where the information does not satisfy a forming condition for forming the test image, the test image is not formed.