Photoconductor Drum Rotation Control for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in determining optimal sheet feed timing due to variations in ambient and heating roller temperatures, leading to unnecessary rotation of the photoconductor drum before the leading edge of the sheet arrives, which results in inefficient energy usage and potential image quality issues.
Innovation Solution
The controller in the image forming apparatus is configured to start the rotation of the photoconductor drums only after a predetermined standby time has elapsed from the start of the heating member's rotation, ensuring that the preliminary rotation process is completed before the sheet arrives, thereby minimizing unnecessary drum rotation. This standby time differs between monochrome and multicolor modes to account for varying processing requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the preliminary rotation process is started earlier to ensure completion before sheet arrival, then the reliability of image formation is improved, but unnecessary photoconductor drum rotation occurs resulting in increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the photoconductor drum rotation status changeable based on real-time conditions. The controller dynamically adjusts the drum rotation state between rotating and stopped based on whether the preliminary rotation process is needed, rather than maintaining continuous rotation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable image formation only when necessary while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing the preliminary rotation process (rotating the photoconductor drum a predetermined number of times) in advance before sheet feed, but only when required by the printing conditions. The controller determines whether this preliminary rotation is necessary based on the current state, and if so, executes it before the sheet arrives. This ensures reliability when needed while avoiding unnecessary preliminary rotations that would waste energy.
2Productivity
If the photoconductor drum is kept rotating continuously to ensure readiness, then the productivity of the printing process is improved, but energy consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by making the photoconductor drum rotate periodically only when necessary for the preliminary rotation process, rather than continuously. The controller activates the drum rotation in periodic intervals corresponding to the number of rotations needed (e.g., 2-10 rotations) before sheet feed, then stops it. This maintains productivity by ensuring the drum is ready when needed while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous rotation.
3Reliability
If the sheet feed timing is advanced to accommodate temperature variations, then the reliability of image quality is improved, but the photoconductor drum rotates unnecessarily longer causing energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the controller continuously monitor the actual sheet feed timing and compare it with the predetermined standby time. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts whether the photoconductor drum should perform preliminary rotation and for how long. If the sheet arrives earlier than expected, the controller reduces or eliminates preliminary rotation to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. If the sheet arrives later, the controller ensures adequate preliminary rotation for image quality. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by optimizing both image quality and energy efficiency based on real-time conditions.
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 approach ensures that the photoconductor drums are rotated only when necessary, reducing energy consumption and ensuring that the image forming process begins optimally, thus improving the efficiency and quality of the printing process by synchronizing the drum rotation with the sheet arrival.
Implementation Method 1
a fuser motor is activated to start rotation of a heating roller (heating member) at a time when the temperature of a fuser assembly has reached a fuser motor rotation permissible temperature
Data Source
AI summary
In an image forming apparatus, upon receipt of a printing instruction, a controller starts rotation of a heating member, starts rotation of a photoconductor drum when a standby time has elapsed from a time of the start of the rotation of the heating member, starts conveyance of a sheet after the start of the rotation of the photoconductor drum, and forms a toner image on the sheet after the start of the conveyance of the sheet. The controller is configured to be operated in one of selectable modes including a multicolor mode in which a toner image is formed using both of toner of a first color and a second color and a monochrome mode in which a toner image is formed using toner of the second color only. The standby time adopted in the monochrome mode is longer than the standby time adopted in the multicolor mode.