Image forming apparatus, sheet conveyance control method, and sheet conveyance control device

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of image forming, in particular to an image forming device, a sheet conveying control method and a sheet conveying control apparatus. The image forming device provided by the present application comprises a first conveying path, a second conveying path, an imaging assembly, a flipping assembly and a control assembly, the first conveying path is provided with a first position, the second conveying path is provided with a second position, and the control assembly is configured to synchronously make a previous sheet convey along the second conveying path at the second position of the second conveying path and make a subsequent sheet convey along the first conveying path at the first position of the first conveying path based on a control command if the sheet at the second position does not leave the first joint point. Compared with the prior art, the present application can avoid the collision of the sheets on the two paths at the joint position, ensure that the previous sheet does not collide with the subsequent sheet after being flipped by the flipping assembly, and effectively prevent the collision jam phenomenon caused in the double-sided printing process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of image forming technology, and more particularly to a processing box and an image forming apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Image forming equipment can perform functions such as printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. In daily office work, double-sided printing or double-sided copying is one of the more commonly used functions. Current image forming equipment generally has two sheet transport paths internally. In one path, the printing sheet is provided from the sheet storage box, transported by a conveyor to the image forming unit to form an image, and then fixed by a fixing unit on the corresponding single side of the printing sheet. Finally, it is discharged by the paper ejector. The other transport path is connected to the paper ejector of the first path. After single-sided printing is completed, the printing sheet is flipped by a flipping structure in the paper ejector and fed into the other transport path. The other transport path re-transports the printing sheet before the image forming unit of the first path, where it is transported by a conveyor to continue the imaging and fixing process on the other side of the printing sheet, and finally discharged by the paper ejector.

[0003] However, during continuous duplex printing, since the sheet feeding process on the previous and subsequent transport paths is independent, controlled by different transport drives and detected by different sensors, if there is a deviation in the paper feeding timing of one of them, the other may collide with it during the path switching process, resulting in a paper jam. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides a processing box and an image forming apparatus to solve the problem that sheets located on two different transport paths are prone to collision during continuous double-sided printing in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, comprising:

[0006] The first transmission path is used to convey sheets from the sheet supply device;

[0007] An imaging component is disposed on the first transmission path to form an image on the sheet on the first transmission path;

[0008] The second transmission path has a first engagement point upstream of the first transmission path along the transmission direction of the sheet, and a second engagement point downstream of the first transmission path along the transmission direction of the sheet. The first engagement point is located downstream of the imaging component in the first transmission path, and the second engagement point is located upstream of the imaging component in the first transmission path along the transmission direction of the sheet.

[0009] A flipping component is disposed on the first transmission path and located downstream of the imaging component, for flipping the sheet on the first transmission path and transmitting it to the second transmission path;

[0010] A conveying assembly for conveying sheets in the first and second transport paths;

[0011] The image forming apparatus further includes a control component configured to synchronously transmit a previous sheet at a second position along the second transmission path and a subsequent sheet at a first position along the first transmission path based on control commands.

[0012] Wherein, the first position and the second position are configured such that when the latter piece at the first position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the first transmission path and the former piece at the second position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the second transmission path, the former piece has left the first junction point when the latter piece arrives at the first junction point, and the latter piece has left the second junction point when the former piece arrives at the second junction point.

[0013] Compared with existing technologies, this image forming apparatus has at least the following advantages: a first position is set on the first transport path and a second position is set on the second transport path. These two positions serve as alignment points for two sheets in the sheet transport path within the apparatus. Because, under these two positions, when the two sheets located at the first and second positions depart simultaneously, the sheet at the second position will leave the first joint point before the sheet at the first position reaches the first joint point, thus avoiding collisions at the first joint point. Similarly, under these two positions, when the two sheets located at the first and second positions depart simultaneously, the sheet at the first position will leave the second joint point before the sheet at the second position reaches the second joint point, thus avoiding collisions at the second joint point. Therefore, by setting alignment points on the first and second transport paths based on the above scheme, the problem of collisions between sheets on the two paths at the joint point can be avoided, ensuring that the previous sheet will not collide with the subsequent sheet after reaching the flipping component and being flipped, effectively preventing paper jams caused by collisions during double-sided printing.

[0014] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, the control component is configured to: before synchronously transmitting the preceding sheet at a second position along the second transmission path and transmitting the following sheet at a first position along the first transmission path, if the preceding sheet arrives at the second position earlier than the following sheet, then the conveying component stops transmitting the preceding sheet to wait for the following sheet to arrive at the first position; or if the following sheet arrives at the first position earlier than the preceding sheet, then the conveying component stops transmitting the following sheet to wait for the preceding sheet to arrive at the second position.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, the control component is configured such that: when a rear sheet located at the first position and a front sheet located at the second position are simultaneously conveyed along their respective transmission directions, if the front sheet located at the second position has not left the first joint point, then the first time the rear sheet is conveyed to the first joint point in the first transmission path is greater than or equal to the second time the front sheet is conveyed to leave the first joint point in the second transmission path, and

[0016] If the next sheet at the first position has not left the second joint point, then the third time in which the previous sheet is transmitted to the second joint point in the second transmission path is greater than or equal to the fourth time in which the next sheet is transmitted to leave the second joint point in the first transmission path.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, the control component is configured to: if the preceding sheet in the second position has not left the first joint point, then make the distance between the tip of the following sheet in the first position and the first joint point greater than or equal to the distance between the tail of the following sheet in the second position and the first joint point, and

[0018] If the next sheet in the first position has not left the second joint point, then the distance between the tip of the previous sheet in the second position and the second joint point is greater than or equal to the distance between the tail of the previous sheet in the first position and the second joint point.

[0019] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, the first time refers to the time when the tip of the subsequent sheet arrives at the first joint point from the first position, and the second time refers to the time when the tail of the preceding sheet leaves the first joint point after the tip has arrived at the second position; and

[0020] The third time refers to the time when the tip of the preceding sheet arrives at the second joint point from the second position, and the fourth time refers to the time when the tail of the following sheet, after the tip has arrived at the first position, leaves the second joint point.

[0021] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, the image forming apparatus further includes a fixing component disposed on the first transmission path and located between the imaging component and the first junction point.

[0022] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, when the types or sizes of sheets transported in the first transmission path and / or the second transmission path are different, the position of the first position on the first transmission path and / or the position of the second position on the second transmission path will also be different.

[0023] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, a first sensor is provided at the first position, which is triggered when the sheet arrives at the first position, and a second sensor is provided at the second position, which is triggered when the sheet arrives at the second position.

[0024] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, the first transmission path has a correction roller located between the imaging component and the second junction point, with the first position disposed at the correction roller.

[0025] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible design, the control component is configured to synchronously transport a preceding sheet at a second position along the second transport path and a subsequent sheet at a first position along the first transport path based on control commands, including:

[0026] The control component is configured to receive a readiness signal for image processing in the imaging component, and based on the readiness signal, synchronously transmit a previous sheet at a second position along the second transmission path and transmit a subsequent sheet at a first position along the first transmission path.

[0027] Secondly, the present invention provides a sheet conveying control method applied in an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an imaging component, a flipping component, a first conveying path, and a second conveying path. The imaging component is disposed on the first conveying path and forms an image of the sheet on the first conveying path. The flipping component is located downstream of the imaging component on the first conveying path and is used to flip and convey the sheet on the first conveying path to the second conveying path. The second conveying path has a first engagement point upstream of the sheet conveying direction that engages with the first conveying path, and a second engagement point downstream of the sheet conveying direction that engages with the first conveying path. Furthermore, along the sheet conveying direction, the first engagement point is located downstream of the imaging component in the first conveying path, and the second engagement point is located upstream of the imaging component in the first conveying path.

[0028] The method includes:

[0029] The first sheet is conveyed to the second position of the second transmission path, and the second sheet is conveyed to the first position of the first transmission path.

[0030] Based on control commands, the preceding sheet is synchronously moved to the second position and the following sheet is moved to the first position along the corresponding transport direction.

[0031] Wherein, the first position and the second position are configured such that when the latter piece at the first position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the first transmission path and the former piece at the second position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the second transmission path, the former piece has left the first junction point when the latter piece arrives at the first junction point, and the latter piece has left the second junction point when the former piece arrives at the second junction point.

[0032] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, before synchronously moving the preceding sheet to the second position and the following sheet to the first position along the corresponding transport direction based on control commands, the method further includes:

[0033] If the previous piece of material has reached the second position before the next piece of material has reached the first position, the previous piece of material shall wait at the second position.

[0034] If the next piece of material has reached the first position before the previous piece of material has reached the second position, the next piece of material waits at the first position.

[0035] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, when the types or sizes of sheets transported in the first transmission path and / or the second transmission path are different, the positions of the first position on the first transmission path and / or the positions of the second position on the second transmission path are also different.

[0036] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, when the rear sheet located at the first position and the front sheet located at the second position are simultaneously conveyed along their respective transmission directions, if the front sheet located at the second position has not left the first joint point, then the first time the rear sheet located at the first position is conveyed to the first joint point is greater than or equal to the second time the front sheet located at the second position leaves the first joint point, and

[0037] If the next sheet at the first position has not left the second joint point, then the third time when the previous sheet at the second position is transmitted to the second joint point is greater than or equal to the fourth time when the next sheet at the first position leaves the second joint point.

[0038] In conjunction with the second aspect, if the preceding sheet located at the second position has not left the first joint point, then the first movement amount of the following sheet located at the first position transmitted to the first joint point is greater than or equal to the second movement amount of the preceding sheet located at the second position leaving the first joint point, and

[0039] If the second sheet located at the first position has not left the second joint point, then the third movement amount of the first sheet located at the second position to the second joint point is greater than or equal to the fourth movement amount of the second sheet located at the first position leaving the second joint point.

[0040] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, the first time refers to the time when the tip of the subsequent sheet arrives at the first joint point from the first position, and the second time refers to the time when the tail of the preceding sheet leaves the first joint point after the tip has arrived at the second position; and

[0041] The third time refers to the time when the tip of the preceding sheet arrives at the second joint point from the second position, and the fourth time refers to the time when the tail of the following sheet, after the tip has arrived at the first position, leaves the second joint point.

[0042] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, a first sensor is provided at the first position, which is triggered when the sheet arrives at the first position, and a second sensor is provided at the second position, which is triggered when the sheet arrives at the second position.

[0043] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, the first transmission path has a correction roller located between the imaging component and the second junction point, with the first position set at the correction roller.

[0044] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, the step of synchronously transmitting the preceding sheet at a second position on the second transmission path and the following sheet at a first position on the first transmission path along the corresponding transmission direction based on control commands includes:

[0045] The system receives an image processing readiness signal from the imaging component and, based on the readiness signal, synchronously transmits the previous sheet at a second position along the second transmission path and the next sheet at a first position along the first transmission path.

[0046] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, before conveying the preceding sheet to the second position of the second transport path and the following sheet to the first position of the first transport path, the method further includes:

[0047] During double-sided printing, it is determined whether the transmission of the next sheet on the first transmission path is started before the image formation process of the second side is performed on the previous sheet.

[0048] If so, then the first sheet is transmitted to the second position of the second transmission path and the second sheet is transmitted to the first position of the first transmission path.

[0049] If not, the previous sheet is transferred from the second transmission path to the first transmission path and the image forming process of the second side is performed.

[0050] Thirdly, the present invention provides a sheet conveying control device applied in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including an imaging component, a flipping component, a first conveying path, and a second conveying path. The imaging component is disposed on the first conveying path and forms an image of the sheet on the first conveying path. The flipping component is located downstream of the imaging component on the first conveying path and is used to flip and convey the sheet on the first conveying path to the second conveying path. The second conveying path has a first engagement point upstream of the sheet conveying direction that engages with the first conveying path, and a second engagement point downstream of the sheet conveying direction that engages with the first conveying path. Along the sheet conveying direction, the first engagement point is downstream of the imaging component in the first conveying path, and the second engagement point is upstream of the imaging component in the first conveying path. The sheet conveying control device includes:

[0051] The first judgment module is configured to determine whether a sheet exists at a first position on the first transmission path;

[0052] The second judgment module is configured to determine whether a sheet exists at the second position on the second transmission path;

[0053] The control module, based on the judgment results of the first judgment module and the second judgment module, synchronously causes the previous piece of material at the second position to be conveyed along the second transmission path and the next piece of material at the second position to be conveyed along the first transmission path based on the control command.

[0054] Wherein, the first position and the second position are configured such that when the latter piece at the first position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the first transmission path and the former piece at the second position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the second transmission path, the former piece has left the first junction point when the latter piece arrives at the first junction point, and the latter piece has left the second junction point when the former piece arrives at the second junction point.

[0055] Fourthly, the present invention also provides an electronic device, comprising:

[0056] At least one processor; and

[0057] At least one memory that is communicatively connected to the processor;

[0058] The memory contains program instructions that can be executed by the processor, and the processor can execute the sheet conveying control method as described in the second aspect embodiment by calling the program instructions.

[0059] Fifthly, the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein when the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the sheet conveying control method as described in the second aspect embodiment.

[0060] Other features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will be set forth in the following description, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the embodiments of the invention. The objects and other advantages of embodiments of the invention are realized and obtained in accordance with the structures particularly pointed out in the description and the drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0061] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0062] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a sheet conveying control method provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a sheet conveying control method provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 3 A flowchart of a sheet conveying control method provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a sheet conveying control method according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an image forming apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the sheet conveying control device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] Figure label:

[0070] 1 Image forming apparatus, 2 First transmission path, 3 Second transmission path, 4 Imaging assembly, 5 Fixing assembly, 6 Flip assembly, 7 Control assembly, 8 Conveying assembly, 9 Sheet supply box;

[0071] 11 First joint point, 12 Second joint point, 21 First position, 31 Second position;

[0072] 10 electronic devices, 20 processors, 30 program instructions, 40 memory;

[0073] 310 First judgment module, 320 Second judgment module, 330 Control module.

[0074] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0075] To better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0076] It should be understood that the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0077] The terminology used in the embodiments of this invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” as used in the embodiments of this invention and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0078] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0079] It should be noted that the directional terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" described in the embodiments of the present invention are used to describe the angles shown in the accompanying drawings and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, in the context, it should be understood that when it is mentioned that an element is connected "upper" or "lower" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element "upper" or "lower," or indirectly connected to the other element "upper" or "lower" through an intermediate element.

[0080] The structure of the image forming apparatus provided in the present invention will be described below, and specific embodiments thereof will be described.

[0081] Please see Figures 1 to 6 In a first aspect embodiment, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus for double-sided printing of sheet material. The apparatus has a first transmission path and a second transmission path internally. The first transmission path is used for single-page printing imaging, and the second transmission path is used for double-page printing imaging. In this embodiment, the first transmission path originates from a sheet material supply device and sequentially passes through an imaging component, a fixing component, and a paper output component. The second transmission path branches off from the first transmission path, with its starting connection point between the fixing component and the paper output component, and its output connection point between the paper tray and the imaging component. A flipping component is also provided on the first transmission path. The flipping component is located downstream of the imaging component along the transmission direction of the sheet material in the first transmission path, and is used to feed the sheet material after single-sided printing into the second transmission path.

[0082] Therefore, the specific double-sided printing process is as follows: the sheet is fed from the sheet supply device via the paper feed roller, the conveying component transports the sheet to the imaging component, the imaging component forms an image inside it and then transfers the image to the first side of the sheet via the transfer component, the image on the first side is then fixed by the fixing component, the flipping component flips the fixed sheet and sends it into the second transport path, the second transport path, under the conveying action of the conveying component, causes the sheet to be fed back into the first transport path, at this time the sheet is flipped, the imaging component and the fixing component print the second side of the sheet, the sheet after double-sided printing is no longer flipped by the flipping component, and directly enters the paper discharge component for discharge.

[0083] However, during double-sided printing, since the sheet feeding process on the first and second transmission paths is relatively independent, the paper feed is controlled by different feeding drives and different sensors are responsible for detecting the sheet position. If there is a deviation in the paper feeding timing of one of them, the other may collide with it during the path switching process (such as the starting connection point or output connection point mentioned above) and cause a paper jam.

[0084] Based on this, see Figure 5 The image forming apparatus 1 includes a sheet supply box 9, a first transport path 2, a second transport path 3, an imaging assembly 4, a flipping assembly 6, and a conveying assembly 8. Sheets are stacked and stored in the sheet supply box 9. The first transport path 2 transports sheets from the sheet supply box 9. The second transport path 3 has a first engagement point 11 upstream of the first transport path 2 along the sheet transport direction and a second engagement point 12 downstream of the first transport path 3 along the sheet transport direction. Along the sheet transport direction, the first engagement point 11 is downstream of the imaging assembly 4 in the first transport path 2, and the second engagement point 12 is upstream of the imaging assembly 4 in the first transport path 2. The flipping assembly 6 is disposed on the first transport path 2 and located downstream of the imaging assembly 4 along the sheet transport direction, for flipping the sheet on the first transport path 2 and transporting it to the second transport path 3. Furthermore, the conveying assembly 8 transports the sheet in the first transport path 2 and the second transport path 3, enabling the sheet to be transported along the predetermined transport direction in both transport paths.

[0085] The first transmission path 2 has a first position 21, and the second transmission path 3 has a second position 31. The first position 21 and the second position 31 are configured such that when the next piece of material located at the first position 21 starts to be transmitted synchronously along the first transmission path 2 and the previous piece of material located at the second position 31 starts to be transmitted synchronously along the second transmission path 3, the previous piece of material has left the first joint point 11 when the next piece of material arrives at the first joint point 11, and the next piece of material has left the second joint point 12 when the previous piece of material arrives at the second joint point 12.

[0086] In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 also includes a control component 7, which is configured to synchronously transmit the previous sheet at a second position 31 along the second transmission path 3 and the subsequent sheet at a first position 21 along the first transmission path 2 based on control commands.

[0087] According to the image forming apparatus 1 of the first aspect embodiment described above, a first position 21 is provided on the first transmission path 2 and a second position 31 is provided on the second transmission path 3. These two positions serve as alignment points corresponding to the heads of two sheets in the sheet transport path inside the apparatus.

[0088] First, the scenarios where the rear sheet at the first position 31 has left the second joint point 12 and the front sheet at the second position 31 has left the first joint point 11 will be explained. In the first case, when the tail of the rear sheet at the first position 21 has left the second joint point 12, the front sheet at the second position 31 and the rear sheet at the first position 21 will not collide with the rear sheet at the second joint point 12 when they are simultaneously conveyed forward. In the second case, when the tail of the front sheet at the second position 31 has left the first joint point 11, the rear sheet at the first position 21 and the front sheet at the second position 31 will not collide with the front sheet at the first joint point 11 when they are simultaneously conveyed forward.

[0089] It should be further explained that, in the first case, the distance between the first joint point 11 and the second joint point 12 on the first transmission path 2 is long enough and greater than the length of the sheet, so that the first position 21 is set at a position where the distance from the second joint point 12 is greater than or equal to the length of the sheet. At this position, if the tail of the sheet located on the first transmission path 2 and staying at this position detaches from the second joint point 12 or its tail just touches the second joint point 12, it will not conflict with the previous sheet on the second transmission path 3 at the second joint point 12. Similarly, in the second case, if the length of the second transmission path 3 is long enough and greater than the length of the sheet, the second position 31 is set at a position where the distance from the first joint point 11 is greater than or equal to the length of the sheet. At this position, the sheet located on the second transmission path 3 and staying at this position will not conflict with the next sheet on the first transmission path 2 at the first joint point 11.

[0090] The following describes the cases where the tail of the subsequent sheet at the first position 31 has not left the second joint point 12 and the tail of the preceding sheet at the second position 31 has not left the first joint point 11. When the subsequent sheet at the first position 21 and the preceding sheet at the second position 31 are simultaneously transmitted along their respective transmission directions, if the tail of the preceding sheet at the second position 31 has not left the first joint point 11, then the first time when the head of the subsequent sheet at the first position 21 is transmitted to the first joint point 11 is greater than or equal to the second time when the tail of the preceding sheet at the second position 31 leaves the first joint point 11; and if the tail of the subsequent sheet at the first position 21 has not left the second joint point 12, then the third time when the head of the preceding sheet at the second position 31 is transmitted to the second joint point 12 is greater than or equal to the fourth time when the tail of the subsequent sheet at the first position 21 leaves the second joint point 12.

[0091] The control component is configured to perform the steps described above. When the rear sheet located at the first position 21 and the front sheet located at the second position 31 are simultaneously conveyed along their respective transmission directions, the first time when the head of the rear sheet located at the first position 21 is conveyed to the first joint point 11 is greater than or equal to the second time when the tail of the front sheet located at the second position 31 leaves the first joint point 11, and the third time when the head of the front sheet located at the second position 31 is conveyed to the second joint point 12 is greater than or equal to the fourth time when the tail of the rear sheet located at the first position 21 leaves the second joint point 12.

[0092] Based on the above explanation, in the third scenario, because the time it takes for the tip of the second sheet to travel from the first position 21 to the first joint point 11 is longer than the time it takes for the tip of the first sheet to travel from the second position 31 to its tail leaving the first joint point 11, when the two sheets located at the first position 21 and the second position 31 depart simultaneously, the tail of the first sheet at the second position 31 will leave the first joint point 11 before the tip of the second sheet at the first position 21 arrives at the first joint point 11. This avoids the first joint point 11 being... The collision phenomenon at position; similarly, in the fourth case, the third time from the beginning of the first sheet to the second joint point 12 is greater than the time from the beginning of the second sheet from the first position 21 to its end leaving the second joint point 12. Therefore, under the condition that the two sheets located at the first position 21 and the second position 31 start at the same time, the end of the second sheet at the first position 21 will leave the second joint point 12 before the beginning of the first sheet at the second position 31 reaches the second joint point 12, thus avoiding the collision phenomenon at the second joint point 12. Therefore, based on the above scheme, by setting alignment points on the first transmission path 2 and the second transmission path 3, the problem of collision between the sheets on the two paths at the joint position can be avoided, ensuring that the first sheet is aligned with the second sheet at a non-collision position after arriving at the flipping component 6 and being flipped, effectively preventing the head and tail collision between the subsequent sheet and the first sheet.

[0093] In the above four implementation scenarios, the first two implementation scenarios can be combined with the latter two implementation scenarios respectively, and are not independent of each other. In any case, they are within the scope of the present invention. In addition, there may be implementation scenarios where changes in the sheet size may cause the sheet to fall into different positions when aligned at the first position 21 and the second position 23. For example, when the length of the sheet transmitted in the image forming device is short, the end of the sheet may have left the second joint point 12 when the end of the sheet is at the first position 21, or the end of the sheet may have left the first joint point 11 when it is at the second position 31. When the length of the sheet transmitted in the image forming device is long, the sheet may have left the second joint point 12 when it is at the first position 21, or the end of the sheet may have left the first joint point 11 when it is at the second position 31. The application is flexible and is not limited in detail here.

[0094] In embodiments of this application, the control component 7 can be configured to: before synchronously transmitting the previous sheet at the second position 31 of the second transmission path 3 along the second transmission path 3 and transmitting the next sheet at the first position 21 of the first transmission path 2 along the first transmission path 2, if the previous sheet arrives at the second position 31 earlier than the next sheet, then the conveying component 8 stops transmitting the previous sheet to wait for the next sheet to arrive at the first position 21; or if the next sheet arrives at the first position 21 earlier than the previous sheet, then the conveying component 8 stops transmitting the next sheet to wait for the previous sheet to arrive at the second position 31.

[0095] In the above embodiments, due to uncertainties in the sheet conveying control timing or the actual sheet conveying process, conveying speed or distance, the previous sheet and the next sheet may arrive at the first position 21 and the second position 31 asynchronously when conveyed in the two conveying paths, resulting in the following two situations. In one scenario, when the first sheet arrives at the second position 31, the second sheet has not yet arrived at the first position 21. The control component 7, by controlling the conveying component 8, makes the first sheet wait at the second position 31. When the second sheet arrives at the first position 21, it indicates that the two sheets are aligned at their corresponding alignment points, i.e., the first position 21 and the second position 31. Subsequently, when the two sheets are synchronously conveyed at the first position 21 and the second position 31 respectively, there will be no conflict or collision in the first transmission path 2 and the second transmission path 3. In another scenario, when the second sheet arrives at the first position 21, the first sheet has not yet arrived at the second position 31. The control component 7, by controlling the conveying component 8, makes the second sheet wait at the first position 21. When the first sheet arrives at the second position 31, it indicates that the two sheets are aligned at their corresponding alignment points, i.e., the first position 21 and the second position 31. Subsequently, when the two sheets are synchronously conveyed at the first position 21 and the second position 31 respectively, there will be no conflict or collision in the first transmission path 2 and the second transmission path 3.

[0096] Of course, there is also a possibility that the first sheet may arrive at the second position 31 and the second sheet may arrive at the first position 21 simultaneously. In this case, the first and second sheets do not need to wait for a certain period of time to align before being transmitted synchronously. In practical applications, a judgment module can be used to determine that when sheets are found at both positions, it means that the first and second sheets have aligned at the corresponding positions, and thus the two sheets can be transmitted synchronously.

[0097] In another embodiment of this application, the control component 7 may be configured to: if the tail of the preceding sheet located at the second position 31 has not left the first joint point 11, then make the distance between the head of the following sheet located at the first position 21 and the first joint point 11 greater than or equal to the distance between the tail of the preceding sheet located at the second position 31 and the first joint point 11; and if the tail of the following sheet located at the first position 21 has not left the second joint point 12, then make the distance between the head of the preceding sheet located at the second position 31 and the second joint point 12 greater than or equal to the distance between the tail of the following sheet located at the first position 21 and the second joint point 12.

[0098] When the tail of the previous sheet at the second position 31 has not left the first joint point 11, that is, in the third case of the aforementioned embodiment, if the conveying component 8 conveys the sheet at the same speed in the first transmission path 2 and the second transmission path 3, then it is only necessary to ensure that the distance between the head of the next sheet at the first position 21 and the first joint point 11 is greater than or equal to the distance between the tail of the previous sheet at the second position 31 and the first joint point 11. This ensures that the first time taken for the next sheet to be conveyed to the first joint point 11 is greater than or equal to the second time taken for the previous sheet to leave the first joint point 11.

[0099] When the tail of the next sheet at the first position 21 has not left the second joint point 12, that is, in the fourth case of the aforementioned embodiment, if the conveying component 8 conveys the sheet at the same speed in the first transmission path 2 and the second transmission path 3, then it is only necessary to ensure that the distance between the head of the previous sheet at the second position 31 and the second joint point 12 is greater than or equal to the distance between the tail of the next sheet at the first position 21 and the second joint point 12. This can ensure that the first time taken for the next sheet to be conveyed to the first joint point 11 is greater than or equal to the second time taken for the previous sheet to leave the first joint point 11.

[0100] In addition, it should be noted that when the conveying component 8 conveys the sheet at different speeds in the first transmission path 2 and the second transmission path 3, the first time can be guaranteed to be greater than or equal to the second time, and / or the second time can be guaranteed to be greater than or equal to the fourth time, depending on the speed of conveying in the corresponding transmission path and the distance between the sheet at the corresponding position and the corresponding joint point. This will not be described in detail here.

[0101] The first time refers to the time when the tip of the next sheet arrives at the first joint point 11 from the first position 21, the second time refers to the time when the tail of the previous sheet leaves the first joint point 11 after the tip arrives at the second position 31, the third time refers to the time when the tip of the previous sheet arrives at the second joint point 12 from the second position 31, and the fourth time refers to the time when the tail of the next sheet leaves the second joint point 12 after the tip arrives at the first position 21.

[0102] When the types or sizes of sheets transported in the first transmission path 2 and / or the second transmission path 3 are different, the positions of the first position 21 on the first transmission path 2 and / or the second position 31 on the second transmission path 3 are also different.

[0103] See Figure 5 A first sensor can be set at the first position 21 to trigger the first sensor when the tip of the sheet reaches the first position 21, and a second sensor can be set at the second position 31 to trigger the second sensor when the tip of the sheet reaches the second position 31.

[0104] In one embodiment of this application, the image forming apparatus 1 further includes a fixing component 5, which is disposed on the first transport path 2 and located between the imaging component 4 and the first junction point 11. In this arrangement, the fixing component 5 is positioned after the imaging component 4 and before the first junction point 11, and is used to completely fix the image transferred from the imaging component 4 onto the sheet on the corresponding surface of the sheet, completing single-sided printing and preventing the toner constituting the image from detaching during subsequent sheet transport.

[0105] In another embodiment, the first transmission path 2 has a correction roller located between the imaging component 4 and the second junction point 12. The first position 21 is set at the correction roller, so that after the subsequent sheet is corrected at the first position 21, it can wait at the first position 21 until the previous sheet is aligned at the second position 31, and then it can be transmitted synchronously based on the control command.

[0106] Furthermore, the control component 7 is configured to, based on control commands, cause the preceding sheet to be conveyed at a second position 31 along the second transport path 3 and to cause the following sheet to be conveyed at a first position 21 along the first transport path 2, including:

[0107] The control component 7 is configured to receive a ready signal for image processing in the imaging component 4, and based on the ready signal, synchronously transmit the previous sheet at a second position 31 along the second transmission path 3 and transmit the next sheet at a first position 21 along the first transmission path 2.

[0108] In a second aspect, this application also provides a sheet transport control method applied in an image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an imaging component 4, a flipping component 6, a first transport path 2, and a second transport path 3. The imaging component 4 is disposed on the first transport path 2 and forms an image on the sheet on the first transport path 2. The flipping component 6 is located downstream of the imaging component 4 on the first transport path 2 and is used to flip the sheet on the first transport path 2 and transport it to the second transport path 3. The second transport path 3 has a first engagement point 11 upstream of the first transport path 2 along the transport direction of the sheet, and a second engagement point 12 downstream of the first transport path 2 along the transport direction of the sheet. The first engagement point 11 is located downstream of the imaging component 4 in the first transport path 2, and the second engagement point 12 is located upstream of the imaging component 4 in the first transport path 2.

[0109] The image forming apparatus further includes a control component, based on which see... Figure 1 The method includes:

[0110] 100, causing the previous sheet to be conveyed to the second position of the second transmission path, and causing the next sheet to be conveyed to the first position of the first transmission path;

[0111] 200, based on control commands, synchronously move the previous sheet to the second position and the next sheet to the first position along the corresponding transport direction.

[0112] The first position and the second position are configured such that when the next sheet at the first position starts to be transmitted along the first transmission path and the previous sheet at the second position starts to be transmitted along the second transmission path, the previous sheet has left the first junction point when the next sheet arrives at the first junction point, and the next sheet has left the second junction point when the previous sheet arrives at the second junction point.

[0113] In one embodiment, when the tail of the sheet at the first position has left the second joint point and the tail of the previous sheet at the second position has left the first joint point, if the sheets at the first and second positions are transmitted synchronously along the corresponding transmission paths, there will be no conflict between the two sheets at the first joint point and / or the second joint point.

[0114] In another embodiment, when the rear sheet located at the first position and the front sheet located at the second position are simultaneously conveyed along their respective transmission directions, if the tail of the front sheet located at the second position has not left the first joint point, the first time when the head of the rear sheet located at the first position is conveyed to the first joint point is greater than or equal to the second time when the tail of the front sheet located at the second position leaves the first joint point; and if the tail of the rear sheet located at the first position has not left the second joint point, the third time when the head of the front sheet located at the second position is conveyed to the second joint point is greater than or equal to the fourth time when the tail of the rear sheet located at the first position leaves the second joint point.

[0115] Unlike existing technical solutions, this application sets corresponding alignment start points on the first and second transmission paths. At the alignment start point, after the previous sheet and the next sheet are transmitted synchronously, since the time it takes for one sheet to arrive at the corresponding joint point is longer than the time it takes for the other sheet to leave the joint point, the two sheets will not collide when they are transmitted in the first and second transmission paths, thereby eliminating the problem of sheet conflict caused by timing deviation.

[0116] The method further includes, before synchronously moving the preceding sheet to the second position and the following sheet to the first position along the corresponding transport direction based on control commands:

[0117] If the previous piece of material has reached the second position before the next piece of material has reached the first position, the previous piece of material waits in the second position; if the next piece of material has reached the first position before the previous piece of material has reached the second position, the next piece of material waits in the first position.

[0118] Based on this, regardless of whether the first sheet arrives at the second position earlier or the second sheet arrives at the first position earlier, the alignment of the two sheets at the first and second positions can be achieved by controlling the first sheet to wait for the other sheet to arrive at its corresponding position.

[0119] Correspondingly, to implement the above control method, refer to Figure 2 The logic control steps corresponding to computer program control are as follows:

[0120] S101, control the rear sheet located on the first transmission path to be conveyed to the first position, and control the front sheet that has been flipped by the flipping component and entered the second transmission path to be conveyed to the second position, and then proceed to step S201;

[0121] In step S101, when there are two sheets spaced apart on the transmission path, the latter sheet is the sheet supplied later and the former sheet is the sheet supplied earlier. The former sheet is placed in front of the latter sheet. In the above process, the former sheet is first transmitted along the first transmission path and forms an image through the imaging component. Then, it is flipped by the flipping component and sent into the second transmission path. Under the control of the printing command, the latter sheet is supplied after the former sheet. The latter sheet is synchronously controlled to be transmitted to the first position of the first transmission path, and the former sheet is transmitted to the second position of the second transmission path in preparation for subsequent transmission.

[0122] S102, determine whether the next piece on the first transmission path is in the first position, and determine whether the previous piece on the second transmission path is in the second position. If not, return to S101. If both are in the corresponding first and second positions, proceed to S103.

[0123] In the above judgment, if either the next piece or the previous piece fails to meet the requirement of arriving at the corresponding position, it means that the ready condition is not met, and it is necessary to return to step S101 to continue to transfer the next piece and / or the previous piece to the corresponding position.

[0124] S103, based on printing commands, controls the synchronous transport of the next sheet and the previous sheet along the corresponding transport direction.

[0125] That is, in S103, after the next sheet and the previous sheet are ready and waiting at their respective positions, they receive a command to continue printing and are transported forward by the conveying component. The next sheet is transported along the first transmission path and the previous sheet is transported along the second transmission path, ensuring that the two sheets do not interfere with each other during the transmission process.

[0126] Furthermore, in another embodiment of this application, if the tail of the preceding sheet located at the second position has not left the first joint point, and the tail of the following sheet located at the first position has not left the second joint point, then the first movement amount of the tail of the following sheet located at the first position transmitted to the first joint point is greater than or equal to the second movement amount of the tail of the preceding sheet located at the second position leaving the first joint point; and if the tail of the following sheet located at the first position has not left the second joint point, then the third movement amount of the tail of the preceding sheet located at the second position transmitted to the second joint point is greater than or equal to the fourth movement amount of the tail of the following sheet located at the first position leaving the second joint point. Comparing the movement amount from the alignment position to or from the corresponding joint point, at the same sheet conveying speed, when the corresponding distance condition is met, the first time is necessarily greater than the second time, and the third time is necessarily greater than the fourth time. Furthermore, the control of the first, second, third, and fourth times can also be influenced by the conveying speed of the conveying components on the first and second transmission paths. With equal corresponding movement amounts, a faster speed results in a shorter time, thus controlling the conveying time of the sheet material on the corresponding transmission path and meeting the collision-free requirement. Extending this further, by combining the movement amount and speed, the corresponding motion time can be calculated using the time calculation formula. As long as this motion time meets the requirements of this application, it falls within the scope of this application.

[0127] In one embodiment, the first time refers to the time when the tip of the following sheet arrives at the first joint point from the first position; the second time refers to the time when the tail of the preceding sheet leaves the first joint point after the tip arrives at the second position; and the third time refers to the time when the tip of the sheet arrives at the second joint point from the second position; and the fourth time refers to the time when the tail of the following sheet leaves the second joint point after the tip arrives at the first position. By calculating the arrival time at the joint point for the tip and the departure time for the tail, conflicts between the tip and another sheet when the tip arrives at the corresponding joint point can be avoided, preventing head-to-tail collisions.

[0128] In one embodiment, a first sensor is provided at a first position, which is triggered when the sheet material arrives at the first position. A second sensor is provided at a second position, which is triggered when the sheet material arrives at the second position. The first sensor is used to sense whether sheet material is present at the first position, and the second sensor is used to sense whether sheet material is present at the second position. Both sensors can be considered as ready sensors in the double-sided printing process, determining whether the corresponding sheet material has arrived at the corresponding alignment position. The first and second sensors can adopt the same structure. In this embodiment, both the first and second sensors include a movable trigger part disposed on the corresponding transmission path. When the sheet material arrives at the corresponding first or second position, it pushes against the trigger part to trigger the sensor located outside the transmission path, thereby realizing sheet material detection.

[0129] In another embodiment, the first and second positions can be determined by timing. For example, a sensing element can be set on the conveying roller on the first transmission path or at the junction of the second and first transmission paths. Based on the paper feeding speeds within the first and second transmission paths, when the sheet passes the corresponding sensing element, the latter sheet arrives at the first position after a preset time, and the former sheet arrives at the second position after a preset time, allowing both sheets to wait simultaneously at their respective positions. Furthermore, the sensing element for the first position can also be positioned anywhere on the first transmission path before the first position, and similarly, the sensing element for the second position can also be positioned anywhere on the second transmission path before the second position. Of course, the sensing element for the second position can also be positioned anywhere on the first and second transmission paths during double-sided printing, between the first and second positions, achieving the aforementioned technical effects. Furthermore, the first and second positions can also be determined by the sheet transport control timing inside the image forming device to determine the position of the sheet during the double-sided printing process, and to align the front and rear sheets between the corresponding first and second positions. This application does not limit the method of determining the sheet in the first and second positions.

[0130] In another embodiment, a correction roller is located on the first transmission path between the imaging component and the second junction point, and a first position is set at the correction roller. Since the sheet will stop on the correction roller during the correction process to align its position in the transmission direction and prevent image transfer deviation, using the position of the correction roller as the first position saves on sensors, reduces control costs, and facilitates control of the transmission path within the image forming apparatus.

[0131] Alternatively, the first position can be located after the alignment roller. When the alignment roller receives a continue conveying signal and causes the sheet to continue forward along the first conveying path from that position, it can reach the first position within a first preset time calculated after the alignment roller starts, based on the distance between the alignment roller and the first position and the conveying speed of the sheet within the first conveying path. Similarly, since the second position is on the second conveying path, it must be located after the flipping component. When the flipping component receives a flipping signal and causes the sheet to flip and enter the second conveying path, it can reach the second position within a second preset time calculated based on the distance between the flipping component and the second position and the conveying speed of the sheet within the second conveying path, based on the distance between the flipping component and the second position and the conveying speed of the sheet within the second conveying path, it can reach the second position within a second preset time calculated after the flipping path receives the flipping signal and flips for transport.

[0132] Thus, the aforementioned embodiments can all achieve the waiting of the next sheet in the first position and the waiting of the previous sheet in the second position, and the judgment control method can be a combination of the above methods, or other implementation methods, which are not limited here.

[0133] In one embodiment, synchronously transmitting a preceding sheet at a second position on the second transmission path and a following sheet at a first position on the first transmission path along corresponding transmission directions based on a printing command includes: receiving an image processing readiness signal from the imaging component, and transmitting the preceding sheet at the second position on the second transmission path along the second transmission path and the following sheet at the first position on the first transmission path along the first transmission path based on the readiness signal. The image processing readiness signal refers to the paper feed readiness command sent by the imaging component when it completes image preparation work based on the printed image. The timing control of the image forming device body accurately transfers the image to the corresponding position on the sheet. Setting the readiness signal before the following and preceding sheets begin transmission facilitates orderly control of the sheet transmission within the device body and effectively achieves an accurate printing process.

[0134] In another embodiment, before conveying the preceding sheet to a second position on the second transport path and the following sheet to a first position on the first transport path, the method further includes:

[0135] During double-sided printing, it is determined whether the transmission of the next sheet on the first transmission path is started before the image formation process of the second side is performed on the previous sheet.

[0136] If so, then the first piece of material is transmitted to the second position of the second transmission path and the second piece of material is transmitted to the first position of the first transmission path.

[0137] If not, the previous sheet is transferred from the second transport path to the first transport path and the image forming process for the second surface is performed.

[0138] Based on this, the sheet control method provided in the second aspect embodiment includes the following steps:

[0139] 400, control the conveying component to make the current sheet move along the first conveying path, and determine whether the current sheet has a previous sheet;

[0140] 500, if a previous sheet exists, the current sheet waits at the first position on the first transmission path, and the previous sheet waits at the second position on the second transmission path.

[0141] 600, when the current sheet is in the first position and the previous sheet is in the second position, the current sheet and the previous sheet continue to be conveyed forward;

[0142] Specifically, when the next sheet located at the first position (i.e., the current sheet) and the previous sheet located at the second position are simultaneously conveyed along their respective transmission directions, the tail of the previous sheet has left the first joint point when the head of the next sheet arrives at the first joint point, and the tail of the next sheet has left the second joint point when the head of the previous sheet arrives at the second joint point.

[0143] In one embodiment, when the tail of the rear sheet at the first position has left the second joint point and the tail of the front sheet at the second position has left the first joint point, if the sheets at the first and second positions are conveyed simultaneously, there will be no conflict between the two sheets at the first and second joint points.

[0144] Specifically, when the rear sheet located at the first position and the front sheet located at the second position are simultaneously conveyed along their respective transmission directions, if the tail of the front sheet located at the second position has not left the first joint point, the first time when the head of the rear sheet located at the first position is conveyed to the first joint point is greater than or equal to the second time when the tail of the front sheet located at the second position leaves the first joint point; and if the tail of the rear sheet located at the first position has not left the second joint point, the third time when the head of the front sheet located at the second position is conveyed to the second joint point is greater than or equal to the fourth time when the tail of the rear sheet located at the first position leaves the second joint point.

[0145] Based on the above control methods, refer to Figure 4 The logic control steps corresponding to computer program control are as follows:

[0146] S201, control the conveying component to make the current sheet start and move along the first transmission path, and determine whether there is a previous sheet in front of the current sheet. If there is, proceed to S202; if not, proceed to S207.

[0147] The trigger point for the current sheet can be the sheet supply device, or it can be another position located before the second engagement point, pushed forward by the paper feed roller or the conveyor roller. Determining whether a previous sheet exists in front of the current sheet can be based on the aforementioned process to determine whether a previous sheet has been provided, or on the load on the corresponding conveyor roller on the conveying assembly, or by using sensors along the transmission path; all of these methods are within the scope of this application.

[0148] S202, control the conveying component to move the current sheet to the first position and move the previous sheet to the second position, and proceed to S203 and S204 respectively;

[0149] If the previous sheet and the current sheet have not arrived at the corresponding second and first positions, during the sheet feeding process in the image forming device, both are transmitted along the corresponding transmission path so that they can stay at the alignment position.

[0150] S203, determine whether the current sheet has reached the first position; if not, continue to move the current sheet toward the first position.

[0151] S204, determine whether the previous piece has reached the second position. If not, continue to move the previous piece toward the second position.

[0152] S205, when the current sheet reaches the first position and the previous sheet reaches the second position, make the current sheet and the previous sheet wait and align at the alignment position, and proceed to S206.

[0153] S206, based on the printing command, controls the conveying component to make the current sheet and the previous sheet continue to be conveyed synchronously along the corresponding conveying path;

[0154] S207 causes the current sheet to continue moving forward along the transport path of the double-sided printing process.

[0155] Under the above control process, the sheet material can be transported in an orderly manner inside the image forming device, ensuring the accuracy of sheet image printing and preventing paper jams caused by sheet collisions during continuous double-sided printing.

[0156] In another embodiment, see [reference] Figure 6 This application also provides a sheet conveying control device, disposed in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect embodiment of this application, comprising:

[0157] The first judgment module 310 is configured to determine whether a sheet exists at a first position on the first transmission path;

[0158] The second judgment module 320 is configured to determine whether a sheet exists at the second position on the second transmission path;

[0159] The control module 330, based on the judgment results of the first judgment module 310 and the second judgment module 320, synchronously causes the previous piece of material at the second position to be transported along the second transmission path and the next piece of material at the first position to be transported along the first transmission path based on the control command.

[0160] The first judgment module 310 and the second judgment module 320 are used to determine whether the sheet on the corresponding transmission path has reached the alignment point. After alignment, the control module 330 can control the sheet at the two alignment points to continue to be transmitted forward to prevent sheet collision.

[0161] In another embodiment, see Figure 7 This application also provides an electronic device 10, comprising:

[0162] At least one processor 20; and

[0163] At least one memory 40 is communicatively connected to the processor 20;

[0164] The memory 40 contains program instructions 30 that can be executed by the processor 20. The processor 20 can execute the sheet transport control method as described in the third and / or fourth aspect embodiments by calling the program instructions 30.

[0165] In another embodiment, this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the sheet transport control method as described in the third and / or fourth aspects of the embodiments.

[0166] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium may be any combination of one or more computer-readable media. A computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example,—but not limited to—an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media (a non-exhaustive list) include: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or flash memory, optical fiber, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage device, magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. In this document, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that contains or stores a program that may be used by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0167] Computer-readable signal media may include data signals propagated in baseband or as part of a carrier wave, carrying computer-readable program code. Such propagated data signals may take various forms, including—but not limited to—electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or any suitable combination thereof. Computer-readable signal media may also be any computer-readable medium other than computer-readable storage media, capable of transmitting, propagating, or transmitting programs for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0168] The program code contained on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including—but not limited to—wireless, wire, optical fiber, RF, etc., or any suitable combination thereof.

[0169] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0170] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0171] Any process or method description in the flowchart or otherwise herein can be understood as representing a module, segment, or portion of code comprising one or more executable instructions for implementing custom logic functions or processes, and the scope of preferred embodiments of the invention includes additional implementations in which functions may be performed not in the order shown or discussed, including substantially simultaneously or in reverse order depending on the functions involved, as should be understood by those skilled in the art to which embodiments of the invention pertain.

[0172] In the embodiments provided by this invention, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0173] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

[0174] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, The image forming apparatus includes: A first transmission path is used to transport a sheet from a sheet supply device, and a first position is provided on the first transmission path; An imaging component is disposed on the first transmission path to form an image on the sheet on the first transmission path; A second transmission path has a second position, and an upstream position along the transmission direction of the sheet has a first engagement point that engages with the first transmission path, and a downstream position along the transmission direction of the sheet has a second engagement point that engages with the first transmission path. Furthermore, along the transmission direction of the sheet, the first engagement point is located downstream of the imaging component in the first transmission path, and the second engagement point is located upstream of the imaging component in the first transmission path. A flipping component is disposed on the first transmission path and located downstream of the imaging component, for flipping the sheet on the first transmission path and transmitting it to the second transmission path; A conveying assembly for conveying sheets in the first and second transport paths; The image forming apparatus further includes a control component configured to synchronously transmit a previous sheet at a second position along the second transmission path and a subsequent sheet at a first position along the first transmission path based on control commands. Wherein, the first position and the second position are configured such that when the latter piece at the first position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the first transmission path and the former piece at the second position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the second transmission path, the former piece has left the first junction point when the latter piece arrives at the first junction point, and the latter piece has left the second junction point when the former piece arrives at the second junction point.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control component is configured to: before synchronously transmitting the previous sheet at a second position along the second transmission path and transmitting the subsequent sheet at a first position along the first transmission path, if the previous sheet arrives at the second position earlier than the subsequent sheet, then the conveying component stops transmitting the previous sheet to wait for the subsequent sheet to arrive at the first position; or if the subsequent sheet arrives at the first position earlier than the previous sheet, then the conveying component stops transmitting the subsequent sheet to wait for the previous sheet to arrive at the second position.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control component is configured such that when a rear sheet located at the first position and a front sheet located at the second position are simultaneously conveyed along their respective transmission directions, if the front sheet located at the second position has not left the first junction point, then the first time the rear sheet is conveyed to the first junction point in the first transmission path is greater than or equal to the second time the front sheet is conveyed to leave the first junction point in the second transmission path. If the next sheet at the first position has not left the second joint point, then the third time in which the previous sheet is transmitted to the second joint point in the second transmission path is greater than or equal to the fourth time in which the next sheet is transmitted to leave the second joint point in the first transmission path.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The control component is configured to: if the preceding sheet at the second position has not left the first joint point, then make the distance between the tip of the following sheet at the first position and the first joint point greater than or equal to the distance between the tail of the following sheet at the second position and the first joint point. If the next sheet in the first position has not left the second joint point, then the distance between the tip of the previous sheet in the second position and the second joint point is greater than or equal to the distance between the tail of the previous sheet in the first position and the second joint point.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first time refers to the time when the tip of the next sheet arrives at the first joint point from the first position, and the second time refers to the time when the tail of the previous sheet leaves the first joint point after the tip of the sheet arrives at the second position. as well as The third time refers to the time when the tip of the preceding sheet arrives at the second joint point from the second position, and the fourth time refers to the time when the tail of the following sheet, after the tip has arrived at the first position, leaves the second joint point.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing component, which is disposed on the first transmission path and located between the imaging component and the first junction point.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the types or sizes of sheets transported in the first transmission path and / or the second transmission path are different, the positions of the first position on the first transmission path and / or the positions of the second position on the second transmission path will also be different.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first sensor is provided at the first position, which is triggered when the sheet arrives at the first position. A second sensor is provided at the second position, which is triggered when the sheet arrives at the second position.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first transmission path has a correction roller located between the imaging component and the second junction point, and the first position is set at the correction roller.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control component is configured to synchronously transmit a preceding sheet at a second position along the second transmission path and a subsequent sheet at a first position along the first transmission path based on control commands, including: The control component is configured to receive a readiness signal for image processing in the imaging component, and based on the readiness signal, synchronously transmit a previous sheet at a second position along the second transmission path and transmit a subsequent sheet at a first position along the first transmission path.

11. A sheet conveying control method, applied in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising an imaging component, a flipping component, a first conveying path, and a second conveying path, the imaging component being disposed on the first conveying path and forming an image of the sheet on the first conveying path, the flipping component being located downstream of the imaging component on the first conveying path and used to flip the sheet on the first conveying path and convey it to the second conveying path, the second conveying path having a first engagement point upstream of the sheet conveying direction and engaging with the first conveying path, and a second engagement point downstream of the sheet conveying direction, wherein along the sheet conveying direction, the first engagement point is located downstream of the imaging component in the first conveying path, and the second engagement point is located upstream of the imaging component in the first conveying path. Its features are, The first transmission path has a first position, and the second transmission path has a second position; the method includes: The first sheet is conveyed to the second position of the second transmission path, and the second sheet is conveyed to the first position of the first transmission path. Based on control commands, the preceding sheet is synchronously moved to the second position and the following sheet is moved to the first position along the corresponding transport direction. Wherein, the first position and the second position are configured such that when the latter piece at the first position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the first transmission path and the former piece at the second position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the second transmission path, the former piece has left the first junction point when the latter piece arrives at the first junction point, and the latter piece has left the second junction point when the former piece arrives at the second junction point.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Before synchronously moving the preceding sheet to the second position and the following sheet to the first position along the corresponding transport direction based on control commands, the method further includes: If the previous piece of material has reached the second position before the next piece of material has reached the first position, the previous piece of material shall wait at the second position. If the next piece of material has reached the first position before the previous piece of material has reached the second position, the next piece of material waits at the first position.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, When the types or sizes of sheets transported in the first transmission path and / or the second transmission path are different, the positions of the first position on the first transmission path and / or the positions of the second position on the second transmission path will also be different.

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, When the rear sheet located at the first position and the front sheet located at the second position are simultaneously conveyed along their respective transmission directions, if the front sheet located at the second position has not left the first joint point, then the first time at which the rear sheet located at the first position is conveyed to the first joint point is greater than or equal to the second time at which the front sheet located at the second position leaves the first joint point, and If the next sheet at the first position has not left the second joint point, then the third time when the previous sheet at the second position is transmitted to the second joint point is greater than or equal to the fourth time when the next sheet at the first position leaves the second joint point.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, If the preceding sheet at the second position has not left the first joint point, then the first movement amount of the following sheet at the first position transmitted to the first joint point is greater than or equal to the second movement amount of the preceding sheet at the second position leaving the first joint point, and If the second sheet located at the first position has not left the second joint point, then the third movement amount of the first sheet located at the second position to the second joint point is greater than or equal to the fourth movement amount of the second sheet located at the first position leaving the second joint point.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The first time refers to the time when the tip of the next sheet arrives at the first joint point from the first position, and the second time refers to the time when the tail of the previous sheet leaves the first joint point after the tip of the sheet arrives at the second position. as well as The third time refers to the time when the tip of the preceding sheet arrives at the second joint point from the second position, and the fourth time refers to the time when the tail of the following sheet, after the tip has arrived at the first position, leaves the second joint point.

17. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, A first sensor is provided at the first position, which is triggered when the sheet arrives at the first position. A second sensor is provided at the second position, which is triggered when the sheet arrives at the second position.

18. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The first transmission path has a correction roller located between the imaging component and the second junction point, and the first position is set at the correction roller.

19. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method of synchronously transmitting the preceding sheet at the second position on the second transmission path and the following sheet at the first position on the first transmission path along the corresponding transmission direction based on control commands includes: The system receives an image processing readiness signal from the imaging component and, based on the readiness signal, synchronously transmits the previous sheet at a second position along the second transmission path and the next sheet at a first position along the first transmission path.

20. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Before conveying the preceding sheet to the second position of the second transport path and the following sheet to the first position of the first transport path, the method further includes: During double-sided printing, it is determined whether the transmission of the next sheet on the first transmission path is started before the image formation process of the second side is performed on the previous sheet. If so, then the first sheet is transmitted to the second position of the second transmission path and the second sheet is transmitted to the first position of the first transmission path. If not, the previous sheet is transferred from the second transmission path to the first transmission path and the image forming process of the second side is performed.

21. A sheet conveying control device, applied in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising an imaging component, a flipping component, a first conveying path, and a second conveying path, the imaging component being disposed on the first conveying path and forming an image of a sheet on the first conveying path, the flipping component being located downstream of the imaging component on the first conveying path and used to flip the sheet on the first conveying path and convey it to the second conveying path, the second conveying path having a first engagement point upstream of the sheet conveying direction and engaging with the first conveying path, and a second engagement point downstream of the sheet conveying direction, wherein the first engagement point is located downstream of the imaging component in the first conveying path, and the second engagement point is located upstream of the imaging component in the first conveying path, characterized in that... The first transmission path has a first position, and the second transmission path has a second position; The sheet conveying control device includes: The first judgment module is configured to determine whether a sheet exists at a first position on the first transmission path; The second judgment module is configured to determine whether a sheet exists at the second position on the second transmission path; The control module, based on the judgment results of the first judgment module and the second judgment module, synchronously causes the previous piece of material at the second position to be conveyed along the second transmission path and the next piece of material at the first position to be conveyed along the first transmission path based on the control command. Wherein, the first position and the second position are configured such that when the latter piece at the first position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the first transmission path and the former piece at the second position starts to be transmitted synchronously along the second transmission path, the former piece has left the first junction point when the latter piece arrives at the first junction point, and the latter piece has left the second junction point when the former piece arrives at the second junction point.

22. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: At least one processor; as well as At least one memory that is communicatively connected to the processor; The memory contains program instructions that can be executed by the processor, and the processor can execute the sheet conveying control method as described in any one of claims 11 to 20 by calling the program instructions.

23. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the sheet conveying control method as described in any one of claims 11 to 20.

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