Movable Inner Roller Transfer Nip Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently transferring toner images onto various types of recording materials, leading to issues like paper jams and image defects due to differences in material rigidity, requiring adjustments in the secondary transfer nip width, which increases motor load and costs during mixed jobs.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a moving mechanism for the inner roller to change the position of the transfer nip, a contact and separation mechanism for the outer roller, and a controller to manage these operations, allowing for optimal transfer nip positioning and separation during mixed jobs, reducing motor load and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the width of the secondary transfer nip is changed to improve transfer properties for different recording materials, then transfer properties are improved, but the motor load and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the secondary transfer nip width adjustable through a moving mechanism. The movable roller can change its position to dynamically adjust the nip width according to different recording material types, allowing the system to adapt rather than requiring multiple fixed configurations. This resolves the contradiction by enabling transfer property optimization without permanently increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical dimension of the secondary transfer nip width to optimize transfer properties for different recording materials. By changing this geometric parameter through the movable roller mechanism, the system achieves improved transfer reliability without requiring fundamentally different device architectures, thus avoiding excessive motor load and complexity.
2Productivity
If the position of the transfer nip is adjusted to optimize transfer for various recording materials, then transfer efficiency is improved, but the apparatus complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by providing a movable roller that can adjust the transfer nip position along the rotational direction of the intermediary transfer belt. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to optimize transfer efficiency for different recording materials without requiring multiple separate transfer mechanisms, thereby improving productivity while controlling apparatus complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing a single transfer mechanism with adjustable parameters that can handle multiple types of recording materials. The movable roller enables one apparatus to perform the function of multiple fixed configurations, achieving multi-functionality that improves transfer efficiency across different materials without proportionally increasing apparatus complexity and cost.
3Device complexity
If a fixed secondary transfer nip width is used, then the device structure is simple, but transfer properties deteriorate for certain recording materials like thin paper
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by making the secondary transfer nip width a variable parameter rather than a fixed value. The movable roller mechanism allows adjustment of this geometric parameter to match the specific requirements of different recording materials, thereby improving transfer properties for challenging materials like thin paper while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
4Reliability
If the inner roller position is changed to adjust transfer nip position, then transfer properties for different materials improve, but the motor load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a movable roller mechanism that can adjust the transfer nip position. This dynamic adjustment allows optimization of transfer properties for different recording materials while using a relatively simple mechanical structure that minimizes motor load compared to more complex actuation systems.
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
The solution improves transfer properties for diverse recording materials by minimizing motor load and costs, enhancing the apparatus's efficiency and reliability during mixed job operations.
Implementation Method 1
an inner roller which is one of a plurality of stretching rollers for stretching the intermediary transfer belt
Implementation Method 2
an outer roller which is provided in a position opposing the inner roller while nipping the intermediary transfer belt between itself and the inner roller
Implementation Method 3
a secondary transfer voltage of a polarity opposite to a charge polarity of toner is applied to the outer roller, so that the toner image on the intermediary transfer belt is secondary-transferred onto the recording material
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus employs a constitution in which, in a case that a relative position between an inner roller and an outer member with respect to a circumferential direction of the inner roller is changed in a period after a preceding recording material passes through a transfer portion and until a recording material subsequent to the preceding recording material reaches the transfer portion during execution of a job for forming and outputting images on a plurality of recording materials, a controller controls a position changing mechanism and a contact and separation mechanism so that a separating operation for separating the outer roller from a belt is performed and then the above-described relative position is changed.