Intermediate Transfer Belt Density Measurement Without Roller Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face a decrease in processing speed due to the need for process control operations, which involve forming and reading toner patches on an intermediate transfer belt, and the detachment and reattachment of the second transfer roller cause shaking and inefficiencies, especially when switching between printing and image quality adjustment operations.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed with an intermediate transfer belt supported by rollers, where toner images are formed and transferred onto the belt while the transfer roller remains in contact, allowing for the formation of shorter toner image rows that can be read without detaching from the belt, thus preventing shaking and maintaining processing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the second transfer roller is detached from or brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt during process control, then the intermediate transfer belt is shaken, but this causes a considerable decrease in processing speed of the print job
Solution Approach 1:
The second transfer roller is detached from the intermediate transfer belt in advance, before the process control operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that the intermediate transfer belt remains stable during toner patch formation and density measurement, eliminating shaking that would compromise measurement precision. By preparing the system beforehand, the patent resolves the contradiction between achieving accurate measurements and maintaining processing speed.
2Measurement precision
If the process control is carried out between printing on sheets, then image quality can be adjusted, but a wait time occurs until printing on the next sheet is started
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables process control operations to be performed without interrupting the continuous printing workflow. By detaching the second transfer roller beforehand and maintaining it in the detached state during process control, the system allows density measurement and image quality adjustment to occur seamlessly without requiring the roller to repeatedly attach and detach. This continuous operation eliminates wait times while preserving image quality control capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If the toner patch rows are formed on the intermediate transfer belt, then image quality adjustment can be performed, but the intermediate transfer belt must not be shaken during formation
Solution Approach 1:
The second transfer roller is detached from the intermediate transfer belt before the toner patch rows are formed. This preliminary detachment prevents the roller from causing shaking during the formation process, ensuring that the toner patches are deposited accurately and uniformly on the intermediate transfer belt. The stable conditions during formation enable precise density measurements and effective image quality adjustment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables efficient image quality adjustment without waiting for the transfer roller to detach and reattach, thereby reducing the overall processing time and maintaining print job speed even during process control operations.
Implementation Method 1
forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor
Implementation Method 2
exposure light source which exposes the photoreceptor
Implementation Method 3
a bias voltage which causes the toner image to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the sheet of recording paper is applied to the second transfer rollers
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes image forming sections for respective colors, the image forming sections facing an outer surface of an intermediate transfer belt on an outward path. A transfer roller is provided on a returning path and is movable to a contact position where the transfer roller is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt or to a detachment position where the transfer roller is detached from the intermediate transfer belt. A density sensor is provided for detecting a density of toner image on the intermediate transfer belt. In an image quality adjustment operation, image forming sections form a toner image row on the intermediate transfer belt, and the density sensor measures densities. A length of the toner image row is smaller than a length of the intermediate transfer belt between the endmost photoreceptor drum on the downstream side and the transfer roller.