Steering Roller Tilt Stabilizes Intermediary Transfer Belt
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses using an intermediary transfer belt, fluctuations in the behavior of the belt during changes in the position or attitude of the secondary transfer portion lead to paper jams and image defects, particularly with varying recording materials, and result in color misregistration due to alignment deviations.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a tiltable steering roller and a position changing mechanism that adjusts the relative position of the inner and outer rollers to stabilize the belt's behavior, controlled by a controller to maintain optimal alignment and attitude during the printing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the position of the secondary transfer portion is changed to adapt to different recording materials, then the adaptability is improved, but the stability of the belt behavior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the steering roller tiltable and the inner roller position-adjustable, allowing the secondary transfer portion position to be dynamically changed according to recording material thickness. This enables the system to adapt to different materials (thin paper, thick paper) while maintaining stable belt behavior through coordinated control of the steering angle and inner roller position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters (steering roller angle, inner roller position) to adapt the secondary transfer portion position to different recording materials. By controlling these parameters in coordination, the system achieves both adaptability to different materials and stability of belt behavior during the process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the inner roller position is changed to adjust the secondary transfer portion position, then the adaptability is improved, but the alignment stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control where the controller monitors the position changes of the inner roller and steering roller, and adjusts them in coordination to maintain proper alignment. This feedback mechanism ensures that when the inner roller position is changed for adaptability, the alignment precision is restored through corresponding steering roller adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary alignment adjustment by changing the steering roller position before or during the inner roller position change, ensuring that alignment precision is maintained throughout the process of adapting to different recording materials.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the steering roller is tilted to change the belt position, then the adaptability is improved, but the stability of the belt attitude deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the steering roller tiltable to dynamically adjust the belt position according to recording material thickness. The controller coordinates the tilting action with inner roller position adjustment, allowing the system to adapt to different materials while maintaining stable belt attitude through synchronized control of both mechanisms.
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 stabilizes the behavior of the intermediary transfer belt, reducing paper jams and image defects, and minimizes color misregistration by ensuring consistent alignment and attitude, thereby improving productivity and image quality across different types of recording materials.
Implementation Method 1
a secondary transfer voltage of a polarity opposite to a charge polarity of toner is applied to the outer roller, so that the toner image is secondary-transferred from the intermediary transfer belt onto the recording material in the secondary transfer portion
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming portions; a rotatable endless belt; a plurality of stretching rollers including an inner roller and a steering roller; an outer roller; a steering mechanism; a position changing mechanism; and a controller. In a case that a changing operation for changing a position of the inner roller is performed by the position changing mechanism during execution of a job for forming the toner images on a plurality of recording materials, the controller controls the steering mechanism so that a tilting operation for tilting the steering roller in a predetermined amount in interrelation with the changing operation is executed.