Image Forming System Sensor Warm-Up Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming devices face productivity delays due to the need to stop or slow down material conveyance for accurate recording material characteristic detection, which is not effective when material characteristics change, such as during job transitions or when the recording material is replaced.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system that detects recording material characteristics using a medium sensor during the fixer's warm-up phase, allowing for concurrent detection and setting of image forming conditions without interrupting the printing process, even when material characteristics differ from previous jobs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the recording material conveyance is stopped or slowed down for accurate characteristic detection by the medium sensor, then the detection precision is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to waiting time and delayed printing start
Solution Approach 1:
The fixer executes a warm-up process before the actual image forming job starts. During this warm-up period, the medium sensor detects the recording material characteristics in advance. This preliminary detection allows the system to prepare the appropriate fixing temperature and other image forming conditions before printing begins, eliminating the need to stop or slow down conveyance during the actual printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyance of the recording material continues at normal speed throughout the process without interruption. The medium sensor detects characteristics while the material is moving through the conveyance path, allowing continuous operation. The detected characteristics are then used to set the image forming conditions, maintaining continuous useful action without productivity loss.
2Manufacturing precision
If the fixing target temperature is determined after recording material characteristic detection is completed, then the fixing accuracy is improved, but the waiting time increases and delays the start of printing
Solution Approach 1:
The medium sensor detects recording material characteristics during the fixer warm-up period before the image forming job starts. Based on this detected characteristic, the controller determines the appropriate fixing target temperature in advance. This preliminary determination of fixing temperature eliminates waiting time during the actual printing process while ensuring accurate temperature settings for the specific recording material being used.
3Reliability
If the recording material conveyance is stopped for detection, then the detection reliability is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to interruption of the printing process
Solution Approach 1:
The recording material conveyance continues without interruption while passing through the detection region of the medium sensor. The sensor detects characteristics of the moving material, ensuring detection reliability even during continuous conveyance. This approach maintains uninterrupted printing operations while still achieving reliable characteristic detection, thus preserving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system includes: a conveyor that conveys a recording material along a conveyance path; a detector that is disposed on the conveyance path and detects a characteristic of the recording material; a fixer that fixes a toner image formed on the recording material; and a hardware processor that: causes the detector to detect the characteristic during a warm-up of the fixer with respect to an image forming job, and based on the characteristic, sets an image forming condition in the image forming job.