Duplex Printing Memory Management via Dynamic Sheet Count Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed duplex printing in image forming apparatuses faces memory restrictions, limiting other functions due to increased memory usage when printing multiple sheets on the first side, leading to potential paper jam retry issues.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a storage section, printing section, detection section, and changing section that adjusts the number of sheets to be printed on the first side during duplex printing in response to concurrent memory usage requests, allowing for efficient memory management and reduced restrictions on other functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of sheets N to be successively printed on the first side is increased to improve printing speed, then the productivity of duplex printing is improved, but the amount of memory used increases which restricts other functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the value of N (number of sheets to print on first side) variable rather than fixed. The control section dynamically adjusts N based on real-time memory availability and concurrent operation requirements. This allows the system to optimize between printing speed and memory consumption adaptively, resolving the contradiction between productivity and memory usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter N from a constant to a variable that can be adjusted based on system conditions. By monitoring memory usage and concurrent operation requests, the system modifies the printing batch size parameter to balance speed and resource consumption, directly addressing the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If the print data for the first side is retained in memory until the printing on the second side is completed to prepare for retry process, then the reliability for paper jam retry is improved, but the amount of memory occupied increases restricting other functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively retaining print data in memory based on system conditions. Instead of always retaining all first-side data until second-side completion, the system retains data only when memory is sufficient and retry capability is needed, while releasing memory when other functions require it. This partial retention strategy balances reliability and memory availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the data retention period and memory allocation based on concurrent operation requests and memory status. The control section monitors system state and modifies retention behavior accordingly, allowing the system to adapt between maintaining retry capability and freeing memory for other uses.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a storage section configured to store data; a printing section configured to perform duplex printing of the data stored in the storage section, the duplex printing including printing N sheets on first sides thereof and subsequently printing M sheets on second sides thereof, wherein M is equal to or smaller than N; a detection section configured to detect a request for storing data in the storage section; and a changing section configured to change the value of N into a smaller value during the duplex printing, in response to the detection of the request for storing data based on a function which uses the storage section concurrently with an operation of the duplex printing.