Drive Motor Overcurrent Prevention in Toner Conveyance Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, toner aggregation during transportation can lead to drive motor overload and overcurrent issues, as existing systems take time to detect motor rotation cessation, allowing potential overcurrent flow before determination and necessitating improved processing for stopping the drive motor.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a control part that generates control signals based on drive motor rotational speed, executing determination processing to stop the drive motor before overcurrent occurs, utilizing a toner conveyance system with a rotating blade driven by a drive motor and a control part to manage toner conveyance and prevent motor overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drive motor is stopped only after determining rotation cessation within a predetermined time, then the motor has sufficient time to come to a complete stop, but overcurrent may flow through the motor before the determination is made
Solution Approach 1:
The control part monitors the current value in advance and stops the drive motor when the current value exceeds the threshold, before the motor actually stops rotating. This preliminary detection and action prevents overcurrent flow that would otherwise occur after rotation cessation detection, resolving the contradiction between timely protection and allowing complete stop.
Solution Approach 2:
The control part continuously monitors the current value as feedback and compares it against a threshold value. When the current exceeds the threshold, the system immediately stops the motor, creating a closed-loop control that prevents overcurrent conditions rather than reacting after the fact.
2Reliability
If the drive motor stops immediately when toner aggregation is detected, then overcurrent is prevented, but the motor may stop before completing its rotation cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The control part uses real-time current monitoring as feedback to detect toner aggregation conditions. By continuously comparing the current value against the threshold, the system can identify aggregation early and respond appropriately, balancing motor protection with operational continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (motor current) from normal operation to a protected state when the current exceeds the threshold. This parameter-based control allows the motor to complete rotation cycles under normal conditions while providing immediate protection when aggregation causes current increase.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a toner storage part, a toner conveyance part, a drive motor and a control part. The image forming part forms an image on a sheet using a toner. The toner storage part stores the toner replenished to the image forming part. The toner conveyance part conveys the toner. The drive motor generates a drive force by which the toner conveyance part conveys the toner. The control part generates a control signal for controlling the drive motor, based on information showing a rotational speed of the drive motor. The control part executes a determination processing for determining whether a driving of the drive motor is stopped, based on the control signal.