Duplex Printing Conveyance Path for Long Sheets

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in performing automatic duplex printing on long sheets without compromising the durability of the apparatus, as the side paths required for duplex printing can weaken the structural rigidity and durability of the device.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a conveyance path, a flipping conveyance path with a side path and a re-feeding path, and a hardware processor that controls the conveyance, draw-in, and re-feeding operations to enable automatic duplex printing without deteriorating the apparatus' durability by carefully managing the movement of sheets through the conveyance path and flipping conveyance path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a side path is introduced to enable duplex printing on long sheets, then automatic duplex printing capability is improved, but the structural rigidity and durability of the apparatus deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduplex printing capabilityVSAvoidstructural rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying path is segmented into a main conveyance path and a separate flipping conveyance path with side path and re-feeding path. This segmentation allows the side path to be isolated as a functional component, enabling duplex printing capability while the main case structure retains its structural integrity and rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A flipping roller pair is introduced as an intermediary mechanism in the side path to rotate and flip the long sheet. This intermediary component enables the sheet to be redirected from the side path back to the conveyance path, achieving duplex printing without requiring the side path to bear the full structural load, thus preserving apparatus durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a side path is introduced to enable duplex printing on long sheets, then automatic duplex printing capability is improved, but the durability of the apparatus deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduplex printing capabilityVSAvoidapparatus durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying path is segmented into a main conveyance path and a separate flipping conveyance path with side path and re-feeding path. This segmentation allows the side path to be isolated as a functional component, enabling duplex printing capability while the main case structure retains its structural integrity and rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A flipping roller pair is introduced as an intermediary mechanism in the side path to rotate and flip the long sheet. This intermediary component enables the sheet to be redirected from the side path back to the conveyance path, achieving duplex printing without requiring the side path to bear the full structural load, thus preserving apparatus durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a long side path is used to handle long sheets for duplex printing, then duplex printing functionality is improved, but the space occupied and structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelong sheet handling capabilityVSAvoidconveyance path complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying path is segmented into a main conveyance path and a separate flipping conveyance path with side path and re-feeding path. This segmentation allows the side path to be isolated as a functional component, enabling duplex printing capability while the main case structure retains its structural integrity and rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side path extends in the height direction of the image forming apparatus rather than expanding the footprint in the horizontal plane. This dimensional change allows the long sheet to be routed through a vertical side path and re-fed through the re-feeding path, achieving long sheet handling capability without proportionally increasing device complexity or occupying excessive horizontal space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10511735B2Image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an image former, a conveyance path, a flipping conveyance path, a conveying mechanism and a hardware processor. The flipping conveyance path includes a side path connecting a first branch point in a downstream of the conveyance path to a junction in an upstream of the conveyance path and a re-feeding path connecting a second branch point in the side path to a re-feeding point in an upstream of the conveyance path. The hardware processor controls the conveying mechanism to perform (i) a conveyance operation to convey the sheet along the conveyance path, (ii) a draw-in operation to draw the sheet with the image into the side path, and (iii) a re-feeding operation to convey the sheet in a reverse direction to re-feed the flipped sheet from the re-feeding point to the conveyance path.