Sheet-Type Image Forming Speed Control for Image Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses struggle to balance productivity and image quality, particularly when handling papers with varying stiffness and basis weights, leading to uneven images and reduced productivity in image-quality priority modes.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a controller that determines and adjusts image forming speeds based on sheet type and user input, allowing for operation in productivity or image-quality priority modes, and includes a memory to store data for different modes and sheet types, enabling flexible speed settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If image forming speed is reduced to maximize image quality, then image quality is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different image forming speeds for different sheet types (plain paper, thick paper, coated paper) within the same basis weight category. For example, among 80 gsm papers, plain paper uses a higher speed than coated paper, optimizing image quality for each specific paper type rather than using a uniform speed for all papers of the same weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts image forming speed based on detected sheet properties (basis weight and surface property). The controller automatically selects appropriate speeds from stored correspondence data, enabling the system to adapt its operation mode in real-time according to the actual paper being processed, balancing image quality and productivity dynamically.
2Manufacturing precision
If image forming speed is set according to highest stiffness paper, then image unevenness is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to unnecessarily low speed for other papers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by establishing separate image forming speed settings for each combination of basis weight and surface property (plain, thick, coated). This allows each paper type to receive an optimized speed setting tailored to its specific characteristics rather than applying a conservative uniform speed to all papers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the paper types into distinct categories based on surface properties (plain paper, thick paper, coated paper) within each basis weight group. This segmentation enables the system to apply different image forming speeds to different segments, optimizing both image quality and productivity for each segment rather than treating all papers uniformly.
3Productivity
If higher image forming speed is used for papers with lower stiffness, then productivity is improved, but image unevenness may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameter (image forming speed) based on the detected sheet properties. The controller stores correspondence data linking sheet types to optimal speeds and automatically adjusts the speed parameter during operation, allowing the system to optimize both productivity and image quality by matching speed to paper characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet based on a mode selected from a plurality of modes having different image forming speeds, a memory to store first data for a first mode included in the plurality of modes, the first data indicating a correspondence for the first mode between a type of the sheet and the image forming speed, and second data for a second mode included in the plurality of modes, the second data indicating a correspondence for the second mode between a type of the sheet and the image forming speed, and a display. A controller determines a first image forming speed for the first mode from the first data based on the type of the sheet, and determines a second image forming speed for the second mode from the second data.