Toner Image Overhang Detection Before Sheet Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses lack the capability to determine whether a to-be-transferred toner image will stick out from the contact area of the image-carrying member when the formation target image is moved within the image data, leading to potential image quality issues.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a movement processing portion to move the formation target image within the image data and a determination processing portion to assess if the to-be-transferred toner image will stick out from the contact area, with a cutout processing portion to trim excess images and an addition processing portion to include test images for verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the formation target image is moved within the image data to adjust image position, then image positioning flexibility is improved, but the risk of toner image sticking out from contact area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage positioning flexibilityVSAvoidtoner image sticking out risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The determination processing portion calculates whether the to-be-transferred toner image will stick out from the contact area before the actual transfer process occurs. This preliminary determination allows the system to prevent potential sticking out issues in advance by adjusting image position or notifying the user, rather than discovering the problem after transfer has occurred.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If no determination process is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but image quality issues occur due to un detected toner image overhang

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetermination process complexityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical/mechanical inspection methods with an information-processing-based determination system. Instead of using physical sensors or mechanical measurement devices to detect toner image position, the system uses computational processing of image data to calculate and determine whether the toner image will stick out, thereby achieving precise control without adding complex physical determination mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250328101A1Image forming apparatus capable of determining whether or not to-be-transferred toner image will stick out from contact area of image-carrying member with sheet, and determination method

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an image-carrying member, a transfer portion, a movement processing portion, and a determination processing portion. The image-carrying member conveys a toner image including a to-be-transferred toner image. The transfer portion transfers the to-be-transferred toner image onto a sheet that comes into contact with the image-carrying member. The movement processing portion causes a formation target image corresponding to the to-be-transferred toner image, that is included in image data used for forming the toner image, to move within the image data. The determination processing portion determines whether or not the to-be-transferred toner image that is based on the moved formation target image will stick out from a contact area of the image-carrying member that comes into contact with the sheet.