Double-Sided Inkjet Printer Dry Time Control via Jam Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing double-sided inkjet image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately setting the dry time for ink droplets on recording sheets, leading to potential bleed-through and degradation of image quality due to factors like sheet type, temperature, and humidity, resulting in incorrect feeding times.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a detecting unit to monitor sheet jamming and a control unit that sets the dry time based on previous sheet data, ensuring accurate timing for reversing the sheet and completing double-sided printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fixed dry time is set for double-sided printing, then the printing process can proceed systematically, but the ink may not be fully dried leading to bleed-through and image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed dry time setting to a dynamic adjustment mechanism. The dry time is automatically extended when a jam is detected during the first conveying operation, allowing the ink to dry properly before the second conveying operation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the dry time to actual printing conditions rather than using a predetermined fixed value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the jam detection result from the first conveying operation to adjust the dry time setting for subsequent operations. When a jam is detected, the system feeds this information back to extend the dry time, ensuring proper ink drying. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn from past operations and optimize drying time, preventing bleed-through while maintaining efficient printing.
2Reliability
If the dry time is extended to ensure complete ink drying, then image quality improves, but the printing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts dry time based on actual conditions rather than using a consistently extended fixed time. By detecting jams during the first conveying operation, the system only extends dry time when necessary, preventing unnecessary delays in normal operations while ensuring adequate drying time when quality issues arise.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism ensures that extended dry time is applied selectively based on jam detection results. The system learns from each operation and adjusts future dry time settings accordingly, optimizing the balance between image quality and printing speed by avoiding consistently prolonged drying periods when they are not needed.
3Productivity
If the dry time is shortened to increase printing speed, then productivity improves, but ink bleed-through occurs and image quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic adjustment to optimize dry time for each operation based on detected conditions. Rather than using a uniformly short dry time for speed, the system extends drying time selectively when jams indicate insufficient drying, thereby maintaining high productivity while preventing quality degradation through condition-based adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback from jam detection enables the system to identify when ink has not dried sufficiently and adjust subsequent dry time settings accordingly. This prevents systematic under-drying that would cause bleed-through, while avoiding unnecessary extensions that would reduce productivity, thus optimizing the balance between speed and quality.
4Reliability
If jam detection is implemented to improve dry time setting accuracy, then image quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing jam detection functionality already present in the printing apparatus to improve dry time setting. Rather than adding a separate sensing system, the invention repurposes the existing jam detection mechanism to provide feedback for dry time adjustment, thereby improving accuracy without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The jam detection system serves dual purposes: its original function of detecting paper jams and the additional function of providing feedback for dry time optimization. This multi-functionality allows the system to improve dry time setting accuracy without adding dedicated new components, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving the desired improvement.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus and a method are provided. The apparatus includes an image forming unit that discharges ink; a transfer unit that performs a first conveying operation of conveying the sheet in a state in which a first surface thereof faces the image forming unit, and a second conveying operation of conveying the sheet in a state in which a second surface thereof faces the image forming unit after the first conveying operation; a detecting unit that detects a jam of the sheet subjected to the second conveying operation; a setting unit that sets a dry time for drying the ink; and a control unit that controls the transfer unit to start the second conveying operation after the dry time has elapsed after the first conveying operation, wherein the setting unit sets the dry time for a current sheet based on the detection result of a previous sheet.