Rotary Sensor Cleaning Mechanism for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in effectively cleaning the reading surface of image sensors, which can lead to erroneous detection of sheet edges due to foreign matter attachment.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a rotary body with a background portion and a cleaning portion, where the background portion faces the image sensor during print jobs and the cleaning portion, equipped with brush bristles, comes into contact with the sensor's reading surface when not in use to remove foreign matter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cleaning mechanism is installed to face the image sensor reading surface, then the reading surface can be cleaned effectively, but the space required for installing the cleaning mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the background portion and cleaning portion into a single rotary body that rotates to bring different surfaces into contact with the image sensor reading surface. This merging eliminates the need for separate cleaning mechanism installations, reducing the overall space required while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a rotary body that can rotate between a first rotational position (for background imaging) and a second rotational position (for cleaning). This dynamic configuration allows the same component to serve multiple functions at different times, optimizing space utilization while ensuring reliable cleaning of the reading surface.
2Reliability
If the rotary body rotates during print job execution, then the cleaning portion can clean the reading surface, but the background portion cannot face the image sensor for accurate sheet edge detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by rotating the rotary body to the cleaning position only when no print job is being executed, and keeping it at the background position during print jobs. This periodic switching ensures that cleaning operations do not interfere with sheet edge detection accuracy while maintaining regular cleaning of the reading surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs cleaning as a preliminary action before print jobs start or after they complete. By cleaning the reading surface in advance (when the rotary body rotates to the second position during idle periods), the system ensures the reading surface is clean before sheet edge detection is needed, preventing detection errors without compromising measurement precision during actual printing.
3Reliability
If foreign matter is detected on the reading surface during print job execution, then the print quality may be affected, but stopping to clean during printing causes loss of productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs cleaning as a preliminary action during idle periods before print jobs start or after they complete. By proactively cleaning the reading surface when the rotary body rotates to the second position during non-printing times, the system prevents foreign matter from affecting print quality while avoiding any interruption to printing operations, thus maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates foreign matter detection capability that provides feedback about the reading surface condition. When foreign matter is detected during idle periods, the system triggers cleaning operations. This feedback mechanism ensures print quality is maintained by detecting and addressing contamination issues without causing productivity loss, as the detection and cleaning occur outside of active printing operations.
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 solution allows for accurate sheet edge detection during print jobs while ensuring the reading surface of the image sensor is cleaned periodically, preventing foreign matter-induced errors.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning portion (63) configured to come into contact with the reading surface (47) of the image sensor (45)
Implementation Method 2
cleaning portion, equipped with brush bristles, comes into contact with the sensor's reading surface to remove foreign matter
Data Source
AI summary
The image forming apparatus transfers an image onto a surface of a sheet at a transfer position on a conveying path. A pair of conveying rollers convey the sheet to the transfer position. The image sensor reads the sheet upstream of the transfer position. The rotary body is disposed to face the image sensor with the conveying path interposed therebetween. The rotary body includes a background portion configured to face a reading surface of the image sensor when the rotary body is at a first rotational position, and a cleaning portion configured to come into contact with the reading surface of the image sensor when the rotary body is at a second rotational position.