Image Quality Adjustment in Electrophotographic Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming systems, fluctuations in environmental conditions and photoreceptor durability lead to unstable image quality, with existing image quality adjustment functions often not being executed, resulting in deteriorated image quality over time.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and method that includes forming a pattern image for quality adjustment in the marginal areas of a recording medium, reading this image, and using the results to determine the execution order of jobs based on the presence or absence of image quality adjustment settings, ensuring that image quality adjustments are performed without disrupting productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image quality adjustment is forcibly performed when not executed for a predetermined period, then image quality deterioration is prevented, but productivity is lowered due to job interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion determines the execution order of jobs in advance by considering the presence/absence of image quality adjustment settings. It proactively schedules image quality adjustment jobs before they are urgently needed, preventing image quality deterioration without interrupting the normal job flow. This preliminary planning ensures that image quality maintenance is integrated into the job execution schedule rather than being imposed as an interruption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If image quality adjustment function is designated ON for each job, then image quality can be adjusted when needed, but the function may not be executed on recording media without marginal parts, resulting in inconsistent image quality adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the reading result of the pattern image as feedback to determine whether image quality adjustment should be performed. The control portion reflects this reading result on image quality adjustment and uses it to make informed decisions about job execution order. This feedback mechanism ensures that image quality adjustment is performed based on actual measured conditions rather than just preset designations, improving reliability while maintaining adaptability.
3Productivity
If jobs with image quality adjustment OFF are executed continuously, then productivity is maintained, but image quality deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion periodically determines the execution order of jobs to ensure that image quality adjustment jobs are executed at appropriate intervals. By considering the presence/absence of image quality adjustment settings for each job, the system creates a periodic pattern where image quality maintenance jobs are interspersed among regular jobs, preventing continuous execution of jobs without adjustment while maintaining overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming portion configured to form a pattern image for image quality adjustment in a marginal part other than an image forming region of a recording medium, a reading portion configured to read the pattern image for image quality adjustment formed on the recording medium, and a control portion configured to reflect a reading result by the reading portion on image quality adjustment and determine an execution order of jobs corresponding to presence/absence of the image quality adjustment set for each job.