Duplex Printing Sheet Size Detection and Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-speed duplex printing apparatuses fail to appropriately convey sheets of varying sizes, leading to potential collisions and errors during printing, as they assume pre-set sheet sizes and cannot adapt to actual sheet sizes conveyed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sensor to measure the length of sheets in real-time and a controller to determine the eligibility for high-speed duplex printing based on sheet combinations, allowing for dynamic conveyance control to either continue or halt duplex printing, and adjust the printing process to avoid collisions by ejecting sheets if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the printing apparatus controls sheet conveyance based on pre-set sheet sizes, then the feeding operation can be optimized for specific sheet dimensions, but the apparatus cannot adapt when actual sheet sizes differ from the pre-set sizes, leading to conveyance errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensors detect the actual sheet size during conveyance and the control unit adjusts the conveyance control based on this real-time information. This allows the system to adapt to varying sheet sizes while maintaining high-speed duplex printing operations, resolving the contradiction between productivity and conveyance accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static pre-set sheet size configurations to dynamic sheet size detection and adaptation. The control unit dynamically adjusts conveyance parameters based on actual sheet dimensions detected during the printing process, enabling the system to handle different sheet sizes without sacrificing printing speed or conveyance accuracy.
2Device complexity
If the printing apparatus uses fixed sheet size settings, then the control system remains simple, but it cannot handle variations in sheet size caused by user errors or automatic sheet feeding from different trays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the printing apparatus automatically detects sheet sizes using sensors and adjusts conveyance control without requiring manual intervention or complex user input. The system self-adapts to different sheet sizes, handling variations caused by user errors or automatic sheet feeding from different trays, thereby increasing adaptability without significantly increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical pre-set sheet size configurations with sensor-based detection and electronic control. Instead of relying on physical settings for different sheet sizes, the system uses sensors to detect actual sheet dimensions and electronically adjusts conveyance parameters, simplifying the control system while enhancing adaptability to various sheet sizes.
3Speed
If the printing apparatus conveys sheets without real-time size detection, then the conveyance process is faster, but collisions may occur when sheets of different sizes are conveyed simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sensor feedback to detect sheet size in real-time during conveyance and adjusts conveyance control to prevent collisions between sheets of different sizes. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain high conveyance speeds while preventing harmful interactions such as sheet collisions, resolving the contradiction between speed and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary detection of sheet size before conveyance begins and uses this information to pre-adjust conveyance parameters. By detecting sheet sizes in advance and preparing appropriate conveyance control settings beforehand, the system prevents potential collisions while maintaining fast conveyance speeds, addressing both the speed requirement and collision prevention need.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus comprising: a printing section including a conveyer, a reconveyer, and a printer; a sensor; a determination section; and a controller. The determination section determines whether a pair of the first sheet and the second sheet is eligible for the high-speed duplex printing based on the combination of the length of the first sheet and the length of the second sheet before the second sheet conveyed by the reconveyer. The controller controls the printing section to convey the first sheet and the second sheet to the reconveyer when the pair of the length of the first sheet and the second sheet is eligible for the high-speed duplex printing, and controls the printing section to eject at least one of the first and the second sheet when the pair of the length of the first and the second sheets is not eligible for the high-speed duplex printing.