Printing system and printing apparatus using continuous recording sheet, and conveyance control method of continuous recording sheet

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a printing unit that forms a toner image on the continuous recording sheet;
• a conveying unit that conveys the continuous recording sheet at a reference speed in the printing unit;
• a fixing-conveying unit that conveys the continuous recording sheet and fixes the toner image adhered to the continuous recording sheet;
• a buffer unit that buffers slack in the continuous recording sheet, the slack being generated because of a difference in conveyance between the conveying unit and the fixing-conveying unit;
• a buffer amount sensor that detects a buffer amount of the buffer unit when conveyance of the continuous recording sheet has stopped, the buffer amount corresponding to the slack in the continuous recording sheet;
• a determining unit that determines a brake force applied to the fixing-conveying unit a next time conveyance of the continuous recording sheet is to be stopped, based on the buffer amount of the buffer unit, the determining unit determining the brake force based on a position of the buffer unit, the brake force being different for different positions of the buffer unit, and the determining unit determining a standard brake force when the buffer unit is at a neutral position, which is when a braking distance of the conveying unit is equal to a braking distance of the fixing-conveying unit and when a standard load is applied to the fixing-conveying unit, determining a greater brake force than the standard brake force when the buffer unit is at a lower position from the neutral position, and determining a smaller brake force than the standard brake force when the buffer unit is at an upper position from the neutral position;
• and
• a conveyance control unit that controls, when conveyance of the continuous recording sheet is stopped the next time, the fixing-conveying unit to stop the conveyance of the continuous recording sheet by the determined brake force.

A conveyance control method implemented by a printing apparatus that includes

• a printing unit that forms a toner image on the continuous recording sheet;
• a conveying unit that conveys the continuous recording sheet at a reference speed in the printing unit;
• a fixing-conveying unit that conveys the continuous recording sheet and fixes the toner image adhered on the continuous recording sheet;
• a buffer unit that buffers slack in the continuous recording sheet, the slack being generated because of a difference between conveyance by the conveying unit and conveyance by the fixing-conveying unit;
• a buffer amount sensor that detects a buffer amount of the buffer unit when conveyance of the continuous recording sheet has stopped, the buffer amount corresponding to the slack in the continuous recording sheet;
• and
• a determining unit that determines a brake force applied to the fixing-conveying unit a next time conveyance of the continuous recording sheet is to be stopped, based on the buffer amount of the buffer unit,
• the conveyance control method comprising:
• detecting the buffer amount of the buffer unit when conveyance of the continuous recording sheet has stopped, the buffer amount corresponding to the slack in the continuous recording sheet;
• determining the brake force applied to the fixing-conveying unit the next time the conveyance of the continuous recording sheet is to be stopped, based on the buffer amount of the buffer unit, the determining determines the brake force based on a position of the buffer unit, the brake force being different for different positions of the buffer unit, and the determining determines a standard brake force when the buffer unit is at a neutral position, which is when a braking distance of the conveying unit is equal to a braking distance of the fixing-conveying unit and when a standard load is applied to the fixing-conveying unit, determines a greater brake force than the standard brake force when the buffer unit is at a lower position from the neutral position, and determines a smaller brake force than the standard brake force when the buffer unit is at an upper position from the neutral position;
• and
• performing, when the conveyance of the continuous recording sheet is stopped the next time, control to stop the conveyance of the continuous recording sheet by the determined brake force.