Defective Page Detection and Selective Reprint Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses lack efficient mechanisms to differentiate and handle defective pages during reprinting, leading to inefficiencies in the reprint process.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a memory to store identifiers for defective pages and associated print jobs, with processing circuitry that determines whether a print job is for reprinting and controls the ejection of sheets to specific destinations, printing defective pages on a separate medium, and ejecting it to the original destination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing image forming apparatuses use conventional reprinting mechanisms, then the structure remains simple, but the reprint process efficiency is low and user workload is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the print job into individual pages and identifies defective pages through inspection. The system then separates defective pages from non-defective pages, processing them differently - defective pages are reprinted while non-defective pages are ejected. This segmentation approach enables selective reprinting, improving efficiency without requiring complete reprocessing of all pages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary inspection of printed pages to identify defects before the reprinting process begins. By pre-inspecting and storing information about defective pages (including their positions and job identifiers), the system prepares the data needed for selective reprinting. This preliminary action avoids the need for manual inspection during the reprint process, automating the identification of pages requiring reprocessing.
2Ease of operation
If manual removal and replacement of defective pages is required, then the apparatus structure remains simple, but user workload and time required for reprinting increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the image forming apparatus automatically identifies defective pages through inspection, determines which pages need reprinting, and executes the reprinting process without user intervention. The system uses stored inspection results and job identifiers to automatically select and reprocess only the defective pages, eliminating the need for users to manually remove and replace sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where inspection results are stored and referenced during the reprinting process. The system uses the inspection data (defective page identifiers and positions) to provide feedback control during reprinting, automatically adjusting which pages are reprocessed. This feedback loop enables the system to learn from the initial printing quality and automatically correct defects without manual intervention.
3Loss of substance
If all pages are reprinted during reprinting, then the process is simple to implement, but material waste and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the defective pages from the complete print job for reprocessing. By identifying and isolating defective pages through inspection and storing their identifiers, the system extracts only the necessary portions for reprinting while leaving non-defective pages alone. This extraction approach minimizes material waste by avoiding unnecessary reprocessing of good pages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by treating different pages differently based on their quality status. Defective pages receive full reprinting treatment while non-defective pages are ejected as-is. This localized approach to quality management ensures that reprinting resources are allocated only where needed, reducing overall material consumption and processing waste.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a memory and processing circuitry. The memory stores an identifier for identifying a defective page and an identifier for identifying a print job that includes the defective page. The processing circuitry determines whether print job data is data of a print job to be reprinted and determines whether a page included in a conveyance medium conveyed is a defective page, based on the identifier for identifying the defective page. The processing circuitry also performs control to eject a first conveyance medium including a page not determined to be defective to a first ejection destination, eject a second conveyance medium including a defective page to a second ejection destination, print an image of the defective page on a third conveyance medium, and eject the third conveyance medium on which the image is printed to the first ejection destination.