Image Forming Apparatus Load Compensation for Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, misregistration occurs due to changes in load and movement speed when contact and separation units come into and out of contact with movable bodies, leading to waste and potential misregistration during color registration processes, especially when using continuous sheets or transport belts.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with plural image forming units and a contact and separation unit that changes load in a manner opposite to its position change, using a speed maintaining function to stabilize the movement speed of the intermediate transfer belt or sheet, thereby reducing misregistration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If color registration is performed on a continuous sheet by stopping transportation, then waste of recording material is reduced, but the movement speed of the intermediate transfer body changes causing misregistration
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer body based on the contact state of the second transfer roller. When the second transfer roller separates from the intermediate transfer body during color registration, the rotational speed is increased to compensate for the reduced load, maintaining consistent linear speed and preventing misregistration
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes the rotational speed parameter of the intermediate transfer body according to the contact state of the second transfer roller. By detecting whether the second transfer roller is in contact or separated, the system adjusts the rotational speed parameter to maintain stable linear speed throughout the color registration process
2Adaptability or versatility
If a transfer roller is separated from a recording material when changing the number of colors, then unused image engines are isolated, but the movement speed of the recording material changes causing misregistration
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational speed of the transport belt based on the contact state of transfer rollers. When transfer rollers corresponding to unused colors are separated, the rotational speed is adjusted to compensate for the load change, maintaining consistent linear speed of the recording material
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit modifies the rotational speed parameter of the transport belt according to which transfer rollers are in contact or separated. This parameter adjustment ensures that the linear speed of the recording material remains stable even when the number of active colors changes
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes image forming units forming images, a movable body moving along a path extending in a direction in which the image forming units are arranged while the images are sequentially formed on the movable body or on a recording material transported by the movable body so as to be superposed with one another, a contact and separation unit moving to a contact position at which the contact and separation unit is in contact with the movable body and to a separation position at which the contact and separation unit is separated from the movable body and changing a load applied to the moving movable body as a position of the contact and separation unit is changed, and a change unit changing the load in a manner opposite to a change in the load upon a change in the position of the contact and separation unit.