Pickup Roller Speed Control for Noise Reduction in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses experience increased operational noise due to faster paper feeding speeds, which results in collisions between the paper and the registration roller, leading to undesirable noise levels.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a pickup roller that feeds paper to the registration roller at a slower second feeding speed, with a shorter pickup period, controlled by a power control unit and actuator mechanism, to reduce noise by adjusting the pickup and registration roller speeds and intervals, satisfying the relationship T2=T1−(A/V2−A/V1), where T1 and T2 are the initial and adjusted pickup periods, and V1 and V2 are the initial and adjusted feeding speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the paper feeding speed is increased to improve printing speed, then the productivity is improved, but the operational noise increases due to paper collision with the registration roller
Solution Approach 1:
The paper feeding process is divided into two distinct stages with different speed characteristics: a pickup stage where the pickup roller moves at a slower second feeding speed to gently grasp and transport paper, and a registration stage where the registration roller operates at the faster first feeding speed corresponding to printing speed. This segmentation allows each component to operate at its optimal speed, reducing noise during pickup while maintaining high productivity during registration and printing.
2Device complexity
If the pickup roller operates at the same speed as the registration roller, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operational noise increases due to synchronized paper collision
Solution Approach 1:
The pickup roller is equipped with independent speed control mechanisms, including a pickup motor and power control unit that can adjust the roller's rotational speed. The control unit receives signals to operate the pickup roller at a slower second feeding speed during pickup operations, and can switch to matching the registration roller's first feeding speed when synchronization is needed. This dynamic speed adjustment capability allows the system to reduce noise during pickup while maintaining simplicity during synchronized operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A paper feeding mechanism, an image forming apparatus employing the same and a paper feeding method thereof are disclosed. In an image forming apparatus capable of performing the printing operations at a particular printing operation that calls for a particular corresponding reference paper feeding speed, a reduction in the paper feeding noise may be achieved by providing a pickup roller operable at pickup/feeding speed that is slower than the reference feeding speed called for by the particular printing speed and a registration roller operable at the reference feeding speed. In addition, the pickup period at which the pickup roller picks up successive sheets of paper may be shortened to account for the slower operating speed of the pickup roller.