Continuous Paper Image Forming Apparatus Common Blank Period
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems, when multiple jobs are printed on continuous paper with images arranged in the conveyance direction, it is challenging to efficiently cut the paper without cutting images, especially when jams occur, leading to increased workload and paper wastage due to varying image and blank lengths across different jobs.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that acquires and arranges jobs to set a common blank forming period where blanks between images coincide, allowing for efficient cutting by adjusting blank lengths and using identification marks to facilitate jam recovery and paper handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If images are arranged in the width direction of continuous paper to reduce blank areas, then paper utilization is improved, but cutting positions become difficult to determine without cutting images
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit pre-calculates and determines common blank forming periods where blanks from multiple jobs coincide, then arranges images accordingly before printing. This preliminary arrangement ensures that blank positions are predictable and cutting can be performed without cutting images.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the arrangement parameters by adjusting blank lengths between images in different jobs to create coinciding blank positions. By modifying the blank length parameters, the system creates predictable cutting positions where multiple job blanks align, enabling clean cuts without cutting images.
2Productivity
If multiple jobs with varying image and blank lengths are printed simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but jam recovery becomes complex requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-arranges multiple jobs to have coinciding blank positions calculated in advance. When a jam occurs, the predetermined common blank positions serve as reliable cutting points, simplifying jam recovery by providing clear, pre-calculated positions where paper can be cut without damaging images.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically calculates and determines common blank forming periods and arranges jobs accordingly without requiring manual intervention. This automation enables the system to self-manage the complexity of multi-job coordination, providing automatic cutting position determination that simplifies operator tasks during jam recovery.
3Manufacturing precision
If blank lengths between images are adjusted to create common blank periods, then cutting precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it calculates common blank forming periods, determines optimal blank lengths, arranges multiple jobs, and identifies cutting positions. By consolidating these functions into a single control unit, the system achieves high cutting precision without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically adjusts blank length parameters between images in different jobs to create coinciding blank positions. This parameter adjustment approach achieves precise cutting positions through computational methods rather than mechanical complexity, maintaining cutting precision while managing device complexity through software-based solutions.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image forming apparatus which acquires a plurality of jobs for repeatedly arranging images having widths smaller than a width of a continuous paper in a conveyance direction of the continuous paper, sets information for arranging the acquired jobs in a width direction of the continuous paper, forms images based on the set information, and sets a common blank forming period at which blanks among images appearing at different periods in each job coincide with each other between the jobs in the conveyance direction and forms a common blank.