Vacuum Conveyance Valve Control for Wrinkle-Free Media Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image forming apparatuses face issues with insufficient suction force at the start of a print job leading to conveyance failures or printing failures due to weak attachment of recording media, and increasing suction force can cause wrinkles.

Innovation Solution

A conveyance device with a valve that divides the air channel into open and closed spaces, controlled by a hardware processor to manage suction force dynamically, ensuring appropriate attachment of recording media by opening the valve when the media blocks suction holes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If suction force is increased to prevent conveyance failure at the start of print job, then attachment reliability is improved, but wrinkle formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidwrinkle formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the suction force adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically changes the suction force based on the conveyance state: using lower suction force during normal conveyance to prevent wrinkles, and switching to higher suction force when the recording medium is detected at the start of print job to ensure reliable attachment. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between attachment reliability and wrinkle prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of suction force magnitude based on operational conditions. By detecting whether the recording medium is present at the suction hole and adjusting the suction force accordingly, the system optimizes attachment reliability when needed while preventing wrinkles during normal operation. This parameter change approach allows the system to adapt to different states and resolve the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If suction holes are opened to atmosphere when no recording medium is placed, then device complexity is reduced, but suction force becomes insufficient at start of print job

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidconveyance reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element - the controller - that manages the suction hole states. The controller receives signals from the recording medium detection unit and intermediates between the suction holes and the atmosphere by selectively opening or closing them based on operational requirements. This intermediary control mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling complex control functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using the recording medium detection unit to monitor the state of the conveyance surface and feeding this information back to the controller. The controller then adjusts the suction hole opening/closing state based on this feedback, ensuring appropriate suction force is applied only when needed. This feedback mechanism enables reliable conveyance while maintaining manageable device complexity through automated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If continuous suction is applied from front end to rear end of recording medium, then conveyance stability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyance stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by selectively activating suction force based on the position and state of the recording medium. Rather than continuous suction, the system periodically applies suction only when the recording medium is detected at the suction hole, particularly at the start of print job. This periodic activation maintains conveyance stability when needed while reducing energy consumption during normal operation, resolving the contradiction between stability and energy usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Ensures instantaneous and suitable suction force for recording media attachment, preventing conveyance and printing failures while avoiding wrinkles, even during single-sided and double-sided printing.

Implementation Method 1

a suction section that suctions air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

a valve that divides the air channel into an open space containing the suction hole and a closed space containing the suction section when the valve is closed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow control:

Data Source

PatentUS20250381785A1Conveyance device, image forming apparatus and computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

Disclosed is a conveyance device including: a conveyance section that conveys a recording medium; an air channel that communicates between a suction hole provided on a conveyance surface of the conveyance section and a suction section that suctions air; a valve that divides the air channel into an open space containing the suction hole and a closed space containing the suction section when the valve is closed; and a hardware processor that controls attachment of the recording medium onto the conveyance surface. The hardware processor opens the valve when the recording medium blocks the suction hole.