Image Position Adjustment in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining precise alignment and transport stability of continuous recording media, leading to misregistration issues due to deviations in mounting angles and nip part deformations, which increase costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a transfer unit, fixing unit, position adjusting image detector, and controller to stabilize the transport state of continuous recording media by adjusting the position of the fixing members and transfer unit, ensuring accurate image transfer and fixation after stabilizing the media transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high-precision engineering is applied to ensure precise alignment and transport stability, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the fixing members and transfer unit movable rather than fixed. The fixing members can move in the widthwise direction to adjust to transport deviations, and the transfer unit can move in the transport direction to compensate for misalignment. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to maintain precision without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while preserving alignment precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If the transfer unit and fixing members are made movable to adjust position, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing the positions of the fixing members and transfer unit to vary within certain ranges. The fixing members can be positioned at different locations in the widthwise direction, and the transfer unit can be positioned at different locations in the transport direction. This flexibility in parameter selection enables the system to compensate for manufacturing deviations and achieve precise image transfer without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, thus improving precision while controlling complexity.
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 solution reduces misregistration and enhances image quality by stabilizing the transport state of the continuous paper, improving precision and reducing the need for high-cost precision engineering in the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The transfer unit is disposed in the image forming apparatus so as to be contactable to and separable from an image carrier and transfers an image formed on the image carrier to a continuous recording medium
Implementation Method 2
The fixing unit fixes the image transferred to the continuous recording medium by sandwiching the continuous recording medium between first and second fixing members
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. A transfer unit is disposed in the image forming apparatus to be contactable to and separable from an image carrier and transfers an image on the image carrier to a continuous recording medium. A fixing unit fixes the image on the continuous recording medium by sandwiching it between first and second fixing members. The first and second fixing members are disposed in the image forming apparatus to be contactable to and separable from each other. The position adjusting image detector detects a position adjusting image on the image carrier. A controller performs control so that the first and second fixing members contact each other and the image carrier and the transfer unit contact each other and thereafter so that the position adjusting image is detected by the position adjusting image detector after a transport state of the continuous recording medium is stabilized.