Continuous Paper Speed Control for Transfer Alignment and Wrinkle Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face defects such as fixing wrinkles, transfer deviations, or color shifts due to variations in the surface speed of the image carrier and conveyance speed of paper, which are not adequately addressed by existing control methods.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a conveyor, speed detector, and hardware processor that adjusts the conveyance speed of continuous paper based on information about the paper and job details to ensure the conveyance speed reaches a target value, using correction values to account for paper thickness, friction coefficient, and transfer pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the conveyance speed of paper is increased to match the surface speed of the image carrier, then transfer alignment improves, but fixing wrinkles may occur due to paper loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyance speed adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the conveyance speed based on detected variations in the surface speed of the image carrier, allowing the system to optimize the speed ratio between paper and image carrier to prevent both transfer misalignment and fixing wrinkles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of conveyance speed based on detected variations in image carrier surface speed. By adjusting the conveyance speed parameter in response to detected speed variations, the system maintains optimal synchronization between paper and image carrier without causing paper loosening or transfer defects.
2Manufacturing precision
If the conveyance speed of paper is too high relative to the surface speed of the image carrier, then transfer alignment improves, but color shift and transfer deviation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using a speed detection roller to detect the surface speed of the image carrier and feed this information back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the conveyance speed based on this feedback, ensuring accurate transfer alignment without excessive speed that would cause color shift or transfer deviation.
3Measurement precision
If the outer diameter of the speed detection roller varies, then speed detection accuracy deteriorates, but conveyance speed control precision improves when compensation is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary correction mechanism where the control unit applies correction values to compensate for variations in the speed detection roller's outer diameter. This intermediary correction step allows the system to maintain accurate conveyance speed control despite manufacturing variations in the detection roller.
4Measurement precision
If the thickness of the paper is relatively large, then the detected conveyance speed becomes inaccurate, but appropriate speed control is achieved through correction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary correction by pre-setting correction values that account for the relationship between paper thickness and speed detection accuracy. Before actual conveyance speed control, the system selects appropriate correction values based on paper thickness, thereby compensating for detection errors in advance and achieving accurate speed control.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus may include a conveyor conveying continuous paper. The apparatus may also include a speed detector that contacts the continuous paper conveyed by the conveyor to detect a conveyance speed of the continuous paper. The apparatus may also include a hardware processor that controls the conveyor based on a detection result detected by the speed detector so that the conveyance speed of the continuous paper reaches a target value. The hardware processor may adjust the target value based on at least one of information about the continuous paper and information about a job.