Transfer Belt Rotation Stabilization for Image Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses using the electrophotographic method face challenges in enhancing image quality due to variations in the rotation period of the intermediate transfer belt, which can lead to misalignment and poor image formation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a configuration with an image forming unit, a transfer portion, an endless transfer belt, driving roller, and a measurement unit that adjusts the timing of developer image formation based on the rotation period of the transfer belt, ensuring the circumferential length of the transfer belt is a natural number multiple of the driving roller's length, thereby stabilizing the rotation period and improving image alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the circumferential length of the transfer belt is not a natural number multiple of the driving roller length, then the rotation period varies causing misalignment, but increasing the precision of length matching increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of transfer belt circumferential length to be a natural number multiple of the driving roller circumferential length. This parameter change ensures that the rotation period of the transfer belt is stabilized and synchronized with the driving roller, eliminating misalignment issues without requiring complex control mechanisms or additional components.
2Manufacturing precision
If the rotation period of the transfer belt is not stabilized, then image alignment deteriorates, but adding measurement and control systems increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the transfer belt circumferential length to be a natural number multiple of the driving roller length during manufacturing. This preliminary setup ensures synchronized rotation periods without requiring real-time measurement or active control systems during operation, thereby maintaining image alignment precision while avoiding increased device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a developer image, a transfer portion that transfers the developer image to a transfer object, an endless transfer belt that rotates passing between the image forming unit and the transfer portion, a driving roller that drives the transfer belt to rotate, a plurality of marks provided on the transfer belt and arranged in a rotating direction of the transfer belt, a measurement unit that measures a rotation period of the transfer belt using the plurality of marks, and a controller that adjusts a timing at which the image forming unit forms the developer image, based on a measurement result of the rotation period measured by the measurement unit. A circumferential length L of the transfer belt in the rotating direction has a length based on a natural number multiple of a circumferential length m of the driving roller.