Image Forming Apparatus Control for Show-Through-Free Density Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image stabilization controls in image forming apparatuses fail to account for environmental fluctuations and show-through effects during double-sided printing, leading to inaccurate detection of image density and compromised image quality.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus forms a test image on one surface of a sheet without forming it on the opposite surface, creating a blank area to prevent show-through, and uses a reader to accurately detect image density on both sides, adjusting the image forming conditions accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a detection image is formed on both sides of recording paper to detect image density, then the image density on both surfaces can be detected, but the detection accuracy is degraded due to show-through of the user image from the opposite surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection process into separate operations for front surface and back surface. The detection image formation is segmented into two distinct steps: first forming the detection image on the front surface, then forming it on the back surface after the user image has been printed on the front surface. This segmentation allows the reader to read the back surface detection image without interference from the front surface user image, thereby eliminating show-through influence and improving detection accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the detection image is formed on the first surface only, then the show-through influence is avoided, but the image density on the second surface cannot be detected for stabilization control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first printing the user image on the front surface of the recording paper, and only after that, forming the detection image on the back surface. This preliminary printing of the user image on the front surface ensures that when the back surface detection image is subsequently read, there is no user image on the front surface to cause show-through interference. This sequence of operations enables both accurate detection and double-sided detection capability.
3Measurement precision
If conventional image stabilization control is used, then the image density can be detected before transfer, but environmental fluctuations during transfer process cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by reading the detection image after the transfer process has been completed. The reader reads the detection image from the recording paper, and based on the read results, the image forming conditions are adjusted. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect and control environmental fluctuations that occur during the transfer process, thereby improving image quality stability. The control is performed using the image density detected from the detection image formed on the recording paper, ensuring that all processes including transfer are accounted for.
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
This approach enables high-accuracy detection of image density during double-sided printing, stabilizing image quality by minimizing the influence of show-through and environmental fluctuations, ensuring appropriate image forming conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a reader configured to convey the sheet, and read a test image on the sheet while the sheet is conveyed
Implementation Method 2
read a test image on the sheet while the sheet is conveyed
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming method performed in an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet includes receiving image data, and in a case where a first image is formed in a first area on a first surface of the sheet, a first test image for adjusting an image forming condition is formed in a second area on the first surface of the sheet and a second image is formed on a third area, corresponding to the second area, on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the sheet, deleting, in the image data, image data that corresponds to the third area of the second surface. In addition, an image is formed based on the image data in which the image data that corresponds to the third area was deleted.