Duplex Sheet Conveyance Control for Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently forming images on both sides of a sheet while maintaining a compact size, as long sub-conveyance paths can lead to collisions between sheets and reduced productivity due to wasted time during conveyance.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a control unit that manages the conveyance path by reversing the direction of sheets after the trailing end of one sheet has passed through a branch point, allowing the leading sheet to wait in the sub-conveyance path and then move downstream before the next sheet reaches, thereby shortening the sub-conveyance path and preventing collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a long sub-conveyance path is provided to allow a large number of sheets to wait, then the productivity is improved, but the size of the image forming apparatus will increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of sheet conveyance by adjusting the conveyance speeds and stopping positions of sheets in the sub-conveyance path. The control unit dynamically manages the timing and position of each sheet based on real-time conditions, allowing efficient use of a shorter physical path length while maintaining high productivity through multiple sheet circulation.
2Productivity
If a long sub-conveyance path is provided to allow a large number of sheets to wait, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that coordinates the complex interactions between multiple sheets, conveyance paths, and processing units. Rather than requiring complex mechanical structures to manage sheet flow, the control unit uses intelligent scheduling and timing control to manage the circulation of sheets through the sub-conveyance path, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sheets are conveyed through a sub-conveyance path, then images can be formed on both sides of sheets, but collisions may occur between leading and trailing ends of sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary actions by predicting sheet positions and adjusting conveyance timing before collisions can occur. It controls the conveyance unit to stop or slow down sheets at appropriate positions in the sub-conveyance path, ensuring that leading ends and trailing ends of adjacent sheets do not collide during the duplex printing process, thereby maintaining reliable sheet handling.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. A reverse unit pulls in the sheet from a main conveyance path and reverses a conveyance direction of the sheet to feed the sheet to a sub-conveyance path. A control unit causes a conveyance unit to convey a first sheet that is waiting to the main conveyance path after a trailing end of a second sheet that has been fed from a feeding unit and follows the first sheet has passed through a merging point, and moves a trailing end of the first sheet downstream of a branch point before the second sheet reaches the branch point.