Intermediate Feeding Roller Speed Control via Pulse Motor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in synchronizing the sheet feeding speed of intermediate feeding rollers with regist rollers, leading to misalignment and increased costs due to the need for complex clutch mechanisms to achieve multiple feeding speeds, which are difficult to control efficiently, especially with short sheet intervals.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus equipped with a drive controller and a feeding speed information acquisition section that allows the intermediate feeding roller to operate at at least three different speeds, using a pulse motor to synchronize sheet feeding speeds without increasing costs, thereby reducing misalignment and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a clutch mechanism is used to drive the intermediate feeding roller, then multiple sheet feeding speeds can be realized, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiple sheet feeding speedsVSAvoidclutch mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical clutch mechanism with an electronic control system using a pulse motor. The drive controller adjusts the rotation speed of the pulse motor based on detected sheet feeding speeds from other rollers, eliminating the need for mechanical clutches while achieving multiple feeding speeds through electronic speed control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the pulse motor (rotation speed) to achieve multiple sheet feeding speeds. By controlling the pulse motor to rotate at different speeds corresponding to sheet supply speed, process speed, and ADU speed, the system achieves versatility without mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a clutch mechanism is used to drive the intermediate feeding roller, then multiple sheet feeding speeds can be realized, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiple sheet feeding speedsVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive mechanical clutch mechanisms with a more cost-effective electronic control system using a pulse motor and drive controller. This substitution reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining the capability to achieve multiple sheet feeding speeds through electronic speed regulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If clutch connection and stop are performed with short sheet intervals, then sheet feeding efficiency increases, but misalignment in feeding speed causes roller surface wear and sheet jamming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet feeding efficiencyVSAvoidroller surface wear and sheet jamming

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the drive controller detects the sheet feeding speed from other rollers and adjusts the pulse motor speed accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures synchronized feeding speeds between rollers, preventing misalignment that would cause wear or jamming while maintaining high sheet feeding efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the intermediate feeding roller's speed dynamic by allowing it to adjust its rotation speed based on real-time detection of other rollers' speeds. This dynamic speed adjustment ensures continuous synchronization during high-speed operation with short sheet intervals, preventing mechanical wear and sheet jamming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7370863B2Duplex image forming apparatus with feeding roller with at least three different speeds

Publication Date: 2008.05.13 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus is capable of suppressing occurrence of a problem caused by misalignment of the feeding speed at the time of delivery and receipt in the intermediate feeding roller with a simple configuration without increasing costs. The image forming apparatus includes a drive controller that controls the drive speed of an intermediate feeding roller that performs skew correction for the sheet, and a feeding speed information acquisition section that acquires information relating to the feeding speed of the sheet to be fed to the intermediate feeding roller. The drive controller drives the intermediate feeding roller at least three different speeds based on the information relating to the feeding speed acquired by the feeding speed information acquisition section.