Intermediate Transfer Belt Velocity Control via Toner Patch Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, color misregistration occurs due to variations in the peripheral velocity of the intermediate transfer belt, leading to reduced image quality and increased costs due to the need for frequent unit replacements and high running costs.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a rotary member, where toner patch patterns are formed and detected to calculate displacements, allowing for control of the peripheral velocity of the rotary member or image bearing members to minimize color misregistration without reducing yield, by forming first and second toner patch patterns under different contact states of the developing devices with the image bearing members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the peripheral velocity of the intermediate transfer belt is increased to improve transfer efficiency, then the transfer efficiency is improved, but color misregistration occurs due to velocity variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs registration detection sensors to detect the positions of toner patches on the intermediate transfer belt, and a control device adjusts the timing of toner image formation based on the detection results. This feedback mechanism compensates for velocity variations of the intermediate transfer belt, maintaining color registration accuracy while allowing the belt to operate at optimized velocities for transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter of toner image formation on the intermediate transfer belt based on detected velocity variations. By adjusting when toner images are formed relative to the belt position, the system compensates for velocity fluctuations, ensuring accurate color registration while maintaining high transfer efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If registration detection sensors are used to correct color misregistration, then color misregistration is reduced, but the difference in peripheral velocity between detection phase and actual operation remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent forms toner patches on the intermediate transfer belt under controlled conditions before actual image formation, and uses these patches to detect velocity characteristics. This preliminary detection allows the system to pre-adjust timing parameters for subsequent image formation, compensating for velocity differences between detection and operation phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates toner patches that replicate the conditions of actual image formation on the intermediate transfer belt. These patches serve as proxies for detecting belt velocity characteristics, allowing the system to model and compensate for velocity variations without directly measuring them during actual operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the belt driving torque is increased to maintain belt velocity, then velocity stability is improved, but the frictional force between belt and drums increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses registration detection sensors to detect toner patch positions, which reflect intermediate transfer belt velocity. The control device adjusts the timing of toner image formation based on these detections, creating a feedback loop that compensates for velocity variations without requiring increased driving torque, thus avoiding increased frictional forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter of toner image formation to compensate for belt velocity variations. By adjusting when images are formed relative to belt position, the system maintains velocity stability effects without increasing driving torque or frictional force.
Data Source
AI summary
In the case where a peripheral velocity of photosensitive drums differs from a peripheral velocity of an intermediate transfer belt, the peripheral velocity of the intermediate transfer belt or the peripheral velocity of the photosensitive drums is corrected. The velocity of the intermediate transfer belt is transiently varied in an image forming operation. Accordingly, a plurality of tonner patch patterns including toner patches are formed on the intermediate transfer belt, and the difference in peripheral velocity between the intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive drums is estimated based on a difference between the displacements in the tonner patch patterns.