Wet-type Image Forming Apparatus Carrier Liquid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses using a wet-type developer, achieving an appropriate balance of carrier liquid in the toner layer to prevent offset and ensure good fixing performance is challenging due to variations in carrier liquid infiltration into the recording paper during the transfer process.
Innovation Solution
A wet-type image forming apparatus equipped with a measuring device to assess the amount of carrier liquid infiltrated into the recording medium before fixing and an adjusting device to regulate the carrier liquid in the toner layer, using a pre-fixing unit to adjust the heating conditions based on the measurement, ensuring the carrier liquid is within an optimal range for preventing offset and achieving effective fixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the fixing temperature is set high, then offset is prevented, but toner does not fuse properly when carrier liquid amount is small
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter dynamically based on the measured carrier liquid amount. The control unit adjusts the fixing temperature according to the actual carrier liquid content in the toner layer, allowing optimal fixing temperature selection for each specific condition rather than using a fixed high temperature that causes offset.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a feedback control system where the carrier liquid amount measurement result is fed back to the control unit, which then adjusts the fixing temperature accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the fixing temperature is optimized based on real-time carrier liquid content, preventing both offset and poor fixing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the amount of carrier liquid in the toner layer is small, then offset is prevented, but fixing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention dynamically adjusts the fixing temperature parameter based on the measured carrier liquid amount. When carrier liquid amount is small, a lower fixing temperature is applied; when carrier liquid amount is large, a higher fixing temperature is applied. This resolves the contradiction by adapting the temperature parameter to the actual carrier liquid conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from the carrier liquid amount measurement to determine the appropriate fixing temperature. The control unit receives measurement data and automatically selects the optimal temperature, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring consistent fixing quality regardless of carrier liquid variations.
3Reliability
If the amount of carrier liquid in the toner layer is large, then fixing performance is improved, but offset occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fixing temperature parameter based on carrier liquid amount measurements. When the carrier liquid amount is large, the control unit applies a higher fixing temperature to ensure proper fusion. When carrier liquid amount is small, a lower temperature is used to prevent offset, thus resolving the contradiction through adaptive parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism measures the actual carrier liquid content and feeds this information to the control unit, which then selects the appropriate fixing temperature. This ensures that when carrier liquid is abundant, sufficient heat is applied for proper fixing, while when carrier liquid is scarce, the temperature is reduced to prevent offset.
4Ease of operation
If only temperature adjustment according to paper type is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but carrier liquid amount control precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the manual or simple temperature-adjustment mechanism with an automated measurement and control system. A carrier liquid amount measurement unit quantitatively measures the carrier liquid content, and a control unit automatically adjusts the fixing temperature based on this measurement, substituting complex manual control with automated sensor-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces feedback control where the carrier liquid amount is measured and used to automatically adjust the fixing temperature. This feedback loop achieves precise carrier liquid amount control without requiring manual intervention, maintaining ease of operation while dramatically improving control precision.
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 allows for precise control of the carrier liquid in the toner layer, preventing offset and ensuring high-quality fixing performance by accurately adjusting the amount of carrier liquid, thereby enhancing image formation quality.
Implementation Method 1
In the development and transfer process, toner is moved by the effect of an electric field in a toner layer containing the carrier liquid and the toner
Implementation Method 2
voltage is applied by a transfer roller from the back side of the recording paper conveyed to a position opposing the photoconductor to form an electric field between the photoconductor and the recording paper. The electric field causes the toner image to be electrostatically adsorbed on the recording paper
Implementation Method 3
the toner image formed on the recording paper is heated and pressed by a fixing device, whereby the transferred toner image is fixed on the recording paper
Data Source
AI summary
An infiltration amount measuring unit is provided to measure the amount of carrier liquid infiltrated in recording paper. An output signal of the infiltration amount measuring unit is input to a control device to be used to calculate a voltage supplied to a heat source (heater) in a pre-fixing unit. A signal of a paper temperature measuring unit is input to the control device, which determines whether a target temperature is reached. The control device estimates the amount of carrier liquid in a toner layer based on the information from the infiltration amount measuring unit. Then, the pre-fixing unit is controlled such that the amount of carrier liquid in the toner layer falls within an appropriate range, based on the estimation result of the amount of carrier liquid.