Registration Sensor Guidance for Color Shift Correction in Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately superimposing toner images due to color shifts caused by shifts in positional accuracy, drum diameter, and optical system errors, leading to frequent errors and increased operator workload during adjustment operations.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus equipped with a registration corrector and information presenter, utilizing a registration sensor to detect color shift amounts and store measurement data, and provide operation assistance information to operators when errors occur, reducing the need for comprehensive component checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If registration correction is performed for each color shift type, then color shift accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The registration correction is segmented into six independent correction types (main scanning direction, sub-scanning direction, overall magnification, partial magnification, skew, and bow). Each correction type can be adjusted separately through dedicated adjustment mechanisms, allowing precise control of color shift while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular correction approaches
2Reliability
If comprehensive component checks are performed during adjustment, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a registration sensor that detects the actual position of registration patterns and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback enables automatic calculation of color shift amounts and generation of adjustment guidance information, allowing operators to perform targeted adjustments without time-consuming comprehensive checks while maintaining high reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis by automatically detecting registration pattern positions and calculating color shift amounts. The control unit generates adjustment guidance information that directs operators to specific components needing adjustment, enabling the system to serve itself in diagnosing and guiding repairs, thereby reducing operator workload and adjustment time
3Measurement precision
If color shift measurement is performed multiple times, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of registration pattern positions using the registration sensor before final measurement. The control unit calculates preliminary color shift amounts and generates adjustment guidance information in advance, allowing operators to perform targeted adjustments that reduce the number of repeated measurements needed while maintaining high precision
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a hardware processor that functions as a registration corrector and an information presenter; and a first storage. With a registration sensor, the registration corrector detects a formation manner of a registration pattern of each color formed on the intermediate transfer belt, and corrects a color shift amount of each color based on a detection result. The first storage stores measurement data of the color shift amount of each color measured by the registration corrector. The information presenter presents operation assistance information to the operator based on the measurement data stored in the first storage when the registration corrector indicates an error.