Image Forming Apparatus Toner Misalignment Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses with multiple units, accurately adjusting misalignment between toner images from different units is challenging, leading to potential print quality issues due to plate misalignment and registration errors.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with multiple image forming sections and secondary transfer units, utilizing a processor to execute modes for checking misalignment using charts and adjusting values to correct toner image alignment between units and within units, allowing for precise adjustment of toner image alignment on a recording medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple image forming units are used to form toner images, then productivity and color capability are improved, but misalignment between units occurs causing plate misalignment and registration errors
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent intermediate transfer belt is introduced as a mediator between multiple image forming units and the final transfer medium. Each image forming unit transfers its toner image to this common intermediate belt, which then sequentially transfers all images to the final medium. This intermediary structure synchronizes and aligns images from different units, resolving the misalignment problem while maintaining multi-unit productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If adjustment mechanisms are added to correct misalignment, then alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a simplified transfer belt system. Instead of using multiple adjustment mechanisms for each image forming unit, the system uses a single intermediate transfer belt that naturally synchronizes image positions through its sequential transfer process, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining alignment accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate adjustment procedures are performed for each image forming unit, then alignment precision is improved, but adjustment time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alignment function into the intermediate transfer belt system itself. Instead of performing separate adjustment procedures for each image forming unit, the belt's sequential transfer mechanism inherently aligns all images in a single integrated process, reducing both adjustment time and operational complexity while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a plural image forming units each having a plural image forming sections, and an intermediate transfer body on which toner images formed by the plural image forming sections are primarily transferred; a plural secondary transfer units that are provided corresponding to the plural the image forming units, and secondarily transfer the toner images of the intermediate transfer body to a recording medium; and a processor configured to: in response to an instruction for adjusting misalignment of the toner images, execute a mode in which a first chart for checking amounts of misalignment between a toner image formed by a reference image forming section and the toner images formed by another image forming section, for each image forming unit, and a second chart for checking amounts of misalignment between toner images formed by the reference image forming sections of the plural image forming units are secondarily transferred to the recording medium and output, and an input of a first adjustment value for adjusting misalignment for each image forming unit, read from the first chart, and an input of a second adjustment value for adjusting misalignment between the image forming units, read from the second chart, are received.