Toner Discharge Device Using Intermediate Transfer Body Patches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing consumables discharge methods in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses and multifunction machines are inefficient in forcibly discharging a sufficient amount of toner in a short time without lowering printing throughput.
Innovation Solution
A consumables discharge device that uses an image carrier and intermediate transfer body to form patches in strategically adjusted regions based on the size and direction of the recording medium, allowing for efficient toner discharge by adjusting the patch printing region in the gap and end regions of the intermediate transfer body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If patch image is formed in gap region between image forming regions, then toner discharge effectiveness is improved, but printing throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the width direction (lateral dimension) of the intermediate transfer body by forming patch images in the gap regions between adjacent image forming regions. This dimensional approach allows toner discharge without extending the conveyance direction time, thus maintaining printing throughput while achieving effective toner discharge through alternative spatial utilization.
2Quantity of substance
If patch image is formed on both end regions of intermediate transfer body, then toner discharge coverage is improved, but sufficient toner discharge in short time is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the utilization of both end regions and gap regions of the intermediate transfer body for patch image formation. By merging multiple discharge locations (both ends + gap regions), the system achieves comprehensive toner discharge across the entire transfer body surface, maximizing discharge amount within a single pass and reducing the time required for sufficient toner removal.
3Device complexity
If patch printing region is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different recording medium sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the patch printing region based on the detected size of the recording medium. The system varies the patch image formation positions and/or sizes according to different paper sizes, optimizing toner discharge effectiveness for each medium type while maintaining a relatively simple control mechanism through automated size-based parameter adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a consumables discharge device that discharges toner via an image carrier and an intermediate transfer body including a patch forming unit that forms a patch in a patch printing region to be formed on the intermediate transfer body via the image carrier by using the toner discharged from a developer tank after adjusting a range of the patch printing region in one or both of a gap region existing between image forming regions adjacent to each other of the intermediate transfer body and both end regions adjacent to both ends of an image forming region in a width direction of the intermediate transfer body, based on one or both of a size and a direction of a recording medium to be printed as input information.