Transfer Belt Moisture Control for Rapid Warm-up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image formation apparatuses face delays in starting image formation due to long warm-up times when recovering from a long power-off state in high-temperature, high-humidity environments, as the transfer belt takes time to dry, affecting image quality and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An image formation apparatus with a first heating unit powered externally when the main power is off and a second heating unit used when the power is on, along with a humidity detection unit and control unit to efficiently control heating of the transfer belt, ensuring it is ready for operation quickly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating is started after power supply in high-temperature high-humidity environment, then moisture in transfer belt is removed, but warm-up time becomes long (1-2 hours) and image formation start is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The first heating unit performs preliminary heating of the transfer belt during the power-off state, removing moisture before the apparatus is powered on. This preliminary action reduces the moisture content in the transfer belt in advance, so that when power is supplied, the heating required is minimal and image formation can start quickly without the long 1-2 hour warm-up period.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating action continues across the power-off and power-on states through the use of two heating units. The first heating unit operates during power-off to remove moisture, and the second heating unit takes over or assists when power is on, ensuring continuous moisture removal without interruption. This continuity eliminates the need to restart heating from scratch after power supply, significantly reducing warm-up time.
2Reliability
If transfer belt is heated continuously to remove moisture, then image quality is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first heating unit performs the energy-intensive moisture removal task during the power-off state when no imaging is occurring. This preliminary action eliminates the need for prolonged heating after power-on, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating operation is divided into periodic phases: intensive heating during power-off state by the first heating unit, and minimal or no heating required after power-on by the second heating unit. This periodic action pattern reduces total energy consumption compared to continuous heating, while still achieving the necessary moisture removal for quality images.
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
Enables rapid start-up of image formation after a long power-off state by pre-heating the transfer belt using the first heating unit when power is off and controlling humidity with both heaters when power is on, reducing warm-up time and maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating unit to which power is supplied directly from outside when power of the apparatus is off; a second heating unit used in heating control when the power of the apparatus is on
Implementation Method 2
a humidity detection unit configured to detect humidity inside the apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
An image formation apparatus having a recording medium held between a photosensitive drum and a transfer belt and transferring a toner image from the photosensitive drum to the recording medium includes: a first heating unit to which power is supplied directly from outside when power of the apparatus is off; a second heating unit used in heating control when the power of the apparatus is on; a humidity detection unit configured to detect humidity inside the apparatus; and a control unit configured to, when the power of the apparatus is on, heat the transfer belt by controlling the first heating unit and the second heating unit on the basis of output of the humidity detection unit, wherein the transfer belt is heated by the first heating unit when the power of the apparatus is off.