Photoreceptor Drum Lubricant Applicator Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining the appropriate lubricant consumption on a photoreceptor drum when the printing process speed changes, leading to either premature lubricant exhaustion or insufficient application, which can result in inadequate protection of the drum and associated components.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a latent image carrier whose rotational speed adjusts based on printing speed, incorporating a lubricant applicator that maintains a consistent speed difference between the photoreceptor drum and the applicator, ensuring the lubricant is applied at an optimal rate regardless of process speed changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the photoreceptor drum rotational speed is increased to match higher printing process speeds, then the printing productivity is improved, but the lubricant application rate becomes insufficient leading to inadequate protection
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant applicator's rotational speed is dynamically adjusted based on the photoreceptor drum's rotational speed. The applicator rotates faster than the drum, and when the drum speed increases for high-speed printing, the applicator speed is proportionally increased to maintain the same relative application rate, ensuring consistent lubricant protection across varying printing speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the rotational speed parameter of the lubricant applicator in response to changes in the photoreceptor drum speed. By maintaining a constant speed ratio relationship, the lubricant application rate per unit area remains constant regardless of the absolute printing speed, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability
2Quantity of substance
If the lubricant applicator speed is increased to match higher photoreceptor speeds, then the lubricant application rate is maintained, but the relative speed difference between applicator and drum decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains a constant proportional relationship between the applicator speed and drum speed. When the drum speed increases, the applicator speed increases by the same proportion, preserving both the relative speed difference and the lubricant application rate. This parametric scaling resolves the contradiction by ensuring that the speed differential remains sufficient for effective application while maintaining appropriate lubricant quantity
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier whose rotational speed changes depending on a printing speed of an image onto a sheet, an applicator that applies a lubricant to a surface of the latent image carrier, and a hardware processor that causes a surface of the applicator to move such that a difference between a first moving speed and a second moving speed is within a certain range, the first moving speed being a speed at which the surface of the latent image carrier moves, the second moving speed being a speed at which the surface of the applicator moves.