Web Winding Abnormality Detection in Image Formers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face issues with image quality deterioration due to abnormalities in the web winding mechanism, particularly when the winding roller fails to rotate, leading to inadequate toner collection and hot offset toner adhering to subsequent recording media.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a contact member and a variable resistor to detect changes in resistance, allowing the control unit to adjust the motor's rotation based on the web's outside diameter, ensuring accurate winding and reporting abnormalities, thus preventing image quality degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the winding roller rotates to wind up the web, then the web is accurately wound up, but if the winding roller does not rotate due to abnormality, then the web is not wound up and toner collection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors the resistance value from the variable resistor and compares it against expected ranges. When the resistance indicates the web is not being wound up properly, the control unit generates a warning signal to alert the user, enabling timely detection and response to winding abnormalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical monitoring of the winding roller with an electrical sensing system. The variable resistor converts the mechanical state of the web winding into an electrical signal (resistance value), which the control unit then interprets to detect abnormalities, substituting mechanical detection with electrical measurement.
2Measurement precision
If the contact member follows the outside surface of the web, then the resistance changes accurately with web diameter, but if the web diameter is large, then the resistance change becomes less sensitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the variable resistor's property where resistance changes as the contact member moves along the web's outside surface. This parameter change (resistance) serves as an indirect measurement of web diameter, allowing the control unit to infer web size without direct measurement mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the control unit monitors resistance continuously, then abnormalities are detected timely, but if monitoring is not implemented, then abnormalities go undetected and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives continuous feedback from the variable resistor and immediately responds by generating warning signals when abnormalities are detected, enabling real-time monitoring and timely response to winding issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis through the variable resistor and control unit, automatically detecting winding abnormalities without external intervention. The system monitors its own operation and alerts users to issues, eliminating the need for separate monitoring systems.
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 solution ensures accurate web winding and timely detection of winding roller abnormalities, reducing the likelihood of image quality deterioration by maintaining consistent toner collection and preventing hot offset issues.
Implementation Method 1
a variable resistor (225) disposed so as to be able to change a resistance in accordance with a position of the contact member (221)
Implementation Method 2
a motor (240) configured to rotate the winding roller (214) to wind up the web (212)
Implementation Method 3
The heating rotary member (201) is rotated and applies heat to the unfixed toner
Implementation Method 4
the pressing rotary member (202) presses the heating rotary member (201)
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a heating rotary member and a pressing rotary member. The pressing rotary member and the heating rotary member form a fixing nip portion and are configured to apply heat and pressure to a toner image carried on a recording medium at the fixing nip portion, thereby fix the toner image onto the recording medium. The image forming apparatus further includes a winding roller configured to wind up a web used to collect toner that is not fixed to the recording medium, a motor configured to rotate the winding roller, a contact member configured to contact an outside surface of the web wound around the winding roller, a variable resistor disposed so as to be able to change a resistance in accordance with a position of the contact member, and a control unit configured to control an amount of rotation of the motor.