Optical Scanning Temperature Sensing for Toner Image Defect Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rise in temperature of the developing device causes defects in toner images formed on the image bearing member in image forming apparatuses, without effectively addressing this issue while maintaining manufacturing cost.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the developing device and a control unit to adjust the optical scanning device and developing device operations based on detected temperatures, thereby controlling developing voltage and emission timings to prevent image defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a temperature sensor and control unit are added to monitor and adjust developing device temperature, then image quality is improved by preventing toner image defects, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor placed in the optical scanning device's casing serves dual purposes: it monitors the optical scanning device temperature for laser beam control and simultaneously detects developing device temperature through thermal conduction via the shared casing structure. This multi-functional approach enables image quality protection without adding dedicated temperature monitoring components for the developing device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the temperature monitoring function for both the optical scanning device and developing device into a single integrated system. The control unit processes temperature data from one sensor placement point to regulate both devices, merging what would traditionally require separate monitoring systems into one unified control architecture.
2Reliability
If temperature monitoring and control systems are implemented, then toner image defects are prevented, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor in the optical scanning device casing performs multiple monitoring functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate temperature sensors in both the optical scanning device and developing device. This reduces component count and manufacturing cost while maintaining image quality through comprehensive temperature management.
3Device complexity
If the temperature sensor is placed inside the optical scanning device casing, then developing device temperature can be detected without additional sensors, but the optical scanning device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The optical scanning device casing acts as a thermal intermediary, conducting heat from the developing device to the temperature sensor. This indirect measurement approach allows the sensor to detect developing device temperature without direct contact, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving accurate temperature monitoring through the casing's thermal conduction properties.
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
Suppresses image defects and maintains manufacturing cost by accurately controlling temperature-related operations in the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature in the casing
Implementation Method 2
The control unit controls the optical scanning device on a basis of the temperature in the casing, the temperature in the casing being detected by the temperature sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An optical scanning device includes a light source unit, a polygonal mirror, a scanning lens, a casing, and a temperature sensor. The light source unit is configured to emit a laser beam. The polygonal mirror is configured to reflect the emitted laser beam from the light source unit by being rotated about a rotation axis extending in an upper-and-lower direction, whereby a peripheral surface of an image bearing member is scanned in a main scanning direction. The scanning lens is configured to form the laser beam reflected by the polygonal mirror into an image on the peripheral surface of the image bearing member. The casing is configured to house the light source unit, the polygonal mirror, and the scanning lens. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature in the casing. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the developing device.