Sheet Conveyance Speed Control During Purge in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in stably discharging paper sheets remaining after a paper jam, as the difference between sheet conveyance speed and process conveyance speed can cause paper sheets to be folded or crumpled, leading to potential re-jams during the purging process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an image forming apparatus with a conveying unit that conveys paper sheets at a first speed to the image forming unit and a second speed within the unit, with a control unit managing the conveyance speeds to match the second speed during purging, ensuring equal speeds for both conveyance to and within the image forming unit, and optionally adjusting speeds based on paper type or image fixation status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sheet conveyance speed is used during purging, then the purging process can be completed quickly, but the paper sheet may be folded or crumpled causing re-jams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyance speed adjustable and adaptive. The control unit dynamically changes the conveyance speed from the original sheet conveyance speed to a controlled speed that matches the process conveyance speed during the purging process. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to prevent paper folding and crumpling while still completing the purging task efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the conveyance speed parameter during the purging process. The control unit changes the conveyance speed from the sheet conveyance speed to a speed equal to the process conveyance speed. This parameter change ensures that the bottom edge of the paper sheet is not pushed excessively, preventing folding and crumpling while maintaining purging efficiency.
2Reliability
If the process conveyance speed is used during purging, then paper folding and crumpling is prevented, but the purging process takes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically adjusts the conveyance speed based on the purging process requirements. By making the speed adjustable and changing it from the original sheet conveyance speed to a controlled speed matching the process conveyance speed, the system achieves both paper integrity and reasonable purging efficiency without being constrained to a single fixed speed.
3Speed
If the clutch mechanism is activated to convey the paper sheet at the process conveyance speed, then the bottom edge of the paper sheet is conveyed at the sheet conveyance speed, but the paper sheet may be folded or crumpled
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors the purging process and provides feedback control over the conveyance speed. By continuously monitoring and adjusting the conveyance speed to match the process conveyance speed, the system prevents paper folding and crumpling that would occur with uncontrolled high-speed conveyance of the bottom edge.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a paper sheet; a conveying unit configured to convey the paper sheet to the image forming unit at a first conveyance speed and convey the paper sheet in the image forming unit at a second conveyance speed; a trouble detecting unit configured to detect a trouble; and a control unit configured to control the conveyance of the paper sheet in the conveying unit and the image formation on the paper sheet in the image forming unit, wherein, when the trouble detecting unit detects a trouble from the paper sheet being conveyed, and the control unit controls the conveying unit to perform a purging process to discharge a troubled paper sheet to the outside of the apparatus, the control unit controls a conveyance speed to be equal to the second conveyance speed.