Optical Scanning Device Temperature Control for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temperature differences among optical scanning devices in image forming apparatuses cause scan position shifts, leading to inefficiencies in image formation, particularly when transitioning from single-color to multi-color image formation, as it takes time to adjust and synchronize the temperatures of unused devices.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a job receiver, executor, discriminator, temperature condition judger, and adjuster that detects temperature differences and adjusts the rotational speeds of optical scanning devices to reduce temperature disparities by slowing down the active device and speeding up unused devices after a single-color image formation, ensuring quicker transition to multi-color image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the rotational polygon mirror of the one optical scanning device is stopped after the image forming operation is finished, then the temperature of the one optical scanning device is likely to decrease, but when an image forming operation is performed next using that one optical scanning device, it may take time to accelerate the rotating speed of the rotational polygon mirror to a predetermined rotating speed suitable for the image forming operation from a stopped state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining the rotational polygon mirror in a ready state (rotating at a standby speed) rather than stopping it completely after image formation. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the next image forming operation is required, the mirror can be quickly accelerated to the required operating speed without the delay of starting from a complete stop, thus reducing the time loss while still allowing temperature management.
2Temperature
If the rotational polygon mirrors of the other unused optical scanning devices are rotated at a rotating speed slower than a predetermined rotating speed suitable for an image forming operation during a single-color image forming operation, then the temperature of the one optical scanning device is less likely to decrease, but it may take time to sufficiently reduce temperature differences among the respective optical scanning devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the rotation speed parameter of the unused optical scanning devices. Instead of maintaining a fixed slow speed, the system optimizes the rotation speed to balance two competing requirements: keeping the speed slow enough to minimize heat generation that would prevent temperature equalization, but fast enough to ensure that temperature differences among devices are reduced within an acceptable time frame. This optimized parameter setting resolves the contradiction between maintaining temperature and reducing temperature differences efficiently.
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 effectively reduces temperature differences among optical scanning devices, minimizing scan position shifts and enabling faster initiation of subsequent image forming operations by optimizing temperature adjustment processes.
Implementation Method 1
each image forming unit deflects laser light output from a light source by a scanning lens made using optical resin with good optical properties after reflecting the laser light by a rotational polygon mirror which is driven and rotated
Implementation Method 2
each image forming unit deflects laser light output from a light source by a scanning lens made using optical resin with good optical properties
Implementation Method 3
laser light output from a light source
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of optical scanning devices, a job receiver, a job executor, an image discriminator, a temperature condition judger and a temperature adjuster. When a formation-target image is a single-color image and an image to be formed next is a multi-color image, the temperature adjuster drives a motor of one optical scanning device at a second rotating speed slower than a rotating speed during an image forming operation and drives motors of unused optical scanning devices at a third rotating speed faster than the second rotating speed if a temperature condition is satisfied upon the completion of an image forming operation of the single-color image.