Image-Forming Toner Transfer With Contact-Area Stick-Out Detection
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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.
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 determine if the to-be-transferred toner image will stick out from the contact area, with a cutout processing portion to trim the image if necessary, and an addition processing portion to include test images for verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the formation target image is moved within the image data toward an end portion side, then the image positioning flexibility is improved, but the risk of the toner image sticking out from the contact area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The determination processing portion performs preliminary determination before image transfer to check whether the to-be-transferred toner image will stick out from the contact area. This advance checking prevents unreliable transfers by identifying potential issues before they occur, allowing the system to adjust or reject problematic images proactively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the determination processing portion provides information about whether the toner image will stick out, which then feeds back to control whether the transfer should proceed. This closed-loop control ensures that only suitable images are transferred, maintaining reliability while allowing positioning flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If the formation target image is moved within the image data, then the image layout control is improved, but the capability to determine stick-out condition is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The determination processing portion calculates and determines whether the toner image will stick out from the contact area before the actual transfer process. This preliminary determination involves comparing the positioned image coordinates with the contact area boundaries, enabling easy layout control while maintaining accurate stick-out detection capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus (100) includes an image-carrying member (26), a transfer portion (27), a movement processing portion (52), and a determination processing portion (53). The image-carrying member (26) conveys a toner image including a to-be-transferred toner image. The transfer portion (27) transfers the to-be-transferred toner image onto a sheet that comes into contact with the image-carrying member (26). The movement processing portion (52) causes a formation target image (X11) corresponding to the to-be-transferred toner image, that is included in image data (X10) used for forming the toner image, to move within the image data (X10). The determination processing portion (53) determines whether or not the to-be-transferred toner image that is based on the moved formation target image (X11) will stick out from a contact area (RE13) of the image-carrying member (26) that comes into contact with the sheet.