Secondary Transfer Voltage Control via Primary Interference Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses with intermediate transfer systems face interference between currents flowing through primary and secondary transfer portions, leading to defective toner image transfer and increased apparatus size and cost due to grounding requirements.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes a controller to determine the transfer voltage for the secondary transfer member by sensing the current or voltage during a test voltage application, and temporarily stopping voltage application to the primary transfer member during this process, thereby reducing current interference without increasing apparatus size or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If grounding places are provided between primary and secondary transfer portions to avoid current interference, then current interference is reduced, but apparatus size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller stops voltage application to the primary transfer member before secondary transfer ATVC is performed, preventing current interference in advance. This timing control approach eliminates the need for physical grounding places while avoiding current interference between the two transfer portions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If grounding places are provided between primary and secondary transfer portions to avoid current interference, then current interference is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller stops voltage application to the primary transfer member before secondary transfer ATVC is performed, preventing current interference in advance. This timing control approach eliminates the need for physical grounding places while avoiding current interference between the two transfer portions.
3Measurement precision
If ATVC is performed with primary transfer voltage applied to ensure accurate current measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but current interference occurs causing defective transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The controller stops voltage application to the primary transfer member before secondary transfer ATVC is performed, preventing current interference in advance. This ensures that accurate current measurement can be performed without interference, and subsequent transfer operations proceed reliably without defective transfer.
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 effectively reduces current interference between primary and secondary transfer portions, preventing defective toner image transfer while maintaining apparatus efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing portion configured to sense a current that flows through the secondary transfer member, or the voltage that has been applied
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a sensing portion configured to sense a current that flows through a secondary transfer member, or a voltage that has been applied; and a controller configured to perform an operation to determine a transfer voltage to be applied to the secondary transfer member in secondary transfer, on a basis of a result of sensing performed by the sensing portion at a time when a test voltage has been applied to the secondary transfer member in non-image formation, and the controller performs, in the operation, controlling a first application portion and a second application portion not to apply the voltage to a primary transfer member during a period of applying the test voltage to the secondary transfer member.