Inner Roller Position Adjustment for Transfer Nip Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses using intermediary transfer belts, the variability in recording material rigidity leads to productivity losses due to the need to adjust the secondary transfer portion's position and shape for different paper types, especially during mixed jobs where both adjustable and non-adjustable materials are processed.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a position changing mechanism for the inner roller, controlled by a controller that adjusts the position based on acquired information about the recording material's thickness and surface properties, allowing for optimized transfer nip positioning for various paper types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the position of the secondary transfer portion is adjusted for different recording material thicknesses, then the transfer quality and feeding properties are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the position changing mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The inner roller is made movable along the circumferential direction of the intermediary transfer belt, allowing dynamic adjustment of the secondary transfer portion position. This enables the system to adapt to different recording material thicknesses by changing the relative position between the inner roller and outer roller, thereby improving transfer quality without requiring multiple fixed-position mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the secondary transfer portion is changed by adjusting the circumferential position parameter of the inner roller. By varying this parameter according to the recording material thickness, the system optimizes transfer quality for different materials while using a single adjustable mechanism rather than multiple fixed mechanisms
2Reliability
If the inner roller position is changed for each recording material type, then the feeding and transfer properties are optimized, but the productivity decreases due to adjustment time required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the recording material thickness and surface properties before the image forming process. Based on this preliminary information, the controller pre-adjusts the inner roller position to the appropriate setting, ensuring optimal feeding and transfer properties from the start of each job without requiring mid-job adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The acquiring portion detects the recording material characteristics (thickness and surface properties) and provides feedback to the controller. The controller then adjusts the inner roller position based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop system that automatically optimizes the transfer portion position for the specific recording material being used
3Manufacturing precision
If the secondary transfer portion position is optimized for thick paper, then the collision and jumping-up defects are reduced, but the separation property for thin paper deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different local settings (inner roller positions) according to the specific recording material type. For thick paper, the inner roller is positioned to prevent collision and jumping-up defects. For thin paper, the inner roller is positioned at a different location to ensure proper separation from the intermediary transfer belt. This local optimization for different material types resolves the contradiction between image quality and separation property
4Reliability
If the transfer nip position is adjusted for thin paper, then the separation property is improved, but the collision defects for thick paper increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements location-specific optimization by adjusting the inner roller position according to the recording material type. When thin paper is detected, the inner roller is positioned to maximize separation property. When thick paper is detected, the position is changed to prevent collision and jumping-up defects. This conditional local optimization ensures both separation property and image quality are maintained for their respective material types
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 enhances the feeding and transfer properties of the recording material, reducing image defects and productivity losses by dynamically adjusting the transfer nip position according to the material's characteristics, thereby improving the mixed job efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an inner roller (inner secondary transfer roller) which is one of a plurality of stretching rollers for stretching the intermediary transfer belt
Implementation Method 2
a voltage of a polarity opposite to a charge polarity of toner is applied to the outer roller, (or a voltage of the same polarity as the charge polarity of the toner is applied to the inner roller) so that the toner image is secondary-transferred from the intermediary transfer belt onto the recording material in the secondary transfer portion
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a belt, an inner roller, an outer member, an inner roller position changing mechanism, an acquiring portion, and a controller. In a case that information acquired by the acquiring portion shows that first and second recording materials are coated paper, the controller controls a position changing mechanism so that a position of the inner roller when a toner image is transferred onto the second recording material is changed to a second position. In a case that the information acquired by the acquiring portion shows that the first and second recording materials are plain paper, the controller controls the position changing mechanism so that the position of the inner roller when the toner image is transferred onto the second recording material is maintained at a first position.