Duplex Printing Speed via Sheet Overlap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face limitations in improving printing speed during duplex printing, particularly when handling multiple print jobs, as the existing conveyance controls do not optimize the printing order effectively to minimize sheet conveyance intervals.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus incorporates a controller that manages the feeding and reconveying of sheets to optimize the printing order by feeding the first sheet of a successive job while printing the preceding job, allowing the last sheet of the preceding job to be discharged as the first sheet of the successive job is in the feeding or reconveying path, thereby reducing conveyance intervals and enhancing printing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional conveyance control (2416 or 2461) is used for duplex printing, then printing speed is improved by shortening intervals between conveyed sheets, but further improvement in printing speed is limited when successively printing multiple print jobs
Solution Approach 1:
The controller feeds the first sheet of the successive job from the sheet tray in advance while printing the preceding job is still in progress. This preliminary action allows the first sheet of the successive job to be positioned in the feeding path or reconveying path before the last sheet of the preceding job is discharged, thereby reducing the conveyance interval and improving printing speed when successively printing multiple jobs
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous sheet conveyance by overlapping the printing process of the preceding job with the feeding process of the successive job. The first sheet of the successive job is fed and processed continuously without waiting for the preceding job to complete, ensuring that the image forming apparatus operates at full capacity throughout the printing sequence
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming engine, a sheet tray, a discharge tray, a main body including the image forming engine, a feeding path, and a reconveying path configured to reconvey a sheet which an image has been formed on one side thereof to the feeding path, and a controller. The controller is configured to, when successively printing a preceding job whose page count is three or more and a successive job whose page count is two or more in duplex printing, feed a first sheet while printing the preceding job and print an image corresponding to the successive job on one side of the first sheet, and discharge a last sheet of the preceding job in a state where the first sheet which the image has been formed on the one side thereof is in the feeding or reconveying path.