Dynamic Conveyance Interval Control for Double-Sided Printing Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face difficulties in printing on both sides of recording materials without causing jams, especially when dealing with varying types and sizes, as they struggle to manage conveyance intervals effectively, leading to reduced usability due to waiting materials colliding in the double-sided conveyance path.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a system with a first and second conveyance unit, a calculation unit, and a control unit to calculate and manage conveyance intervals, ensuring that recording materials do not wait in the reverse unit, allowing for simultaneous double-sided printing on multiple materials without jams, by calculating the maximum waiting time and adjusting the timing of conveyance to prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If recording materials are conveyed at fixed intervals in a conventional configuration, then printing on both sides can be performed, but sheet jamming occurs when waiting materials collide in the double-sided conveyance path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyance interval variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the conveyance interval of recording materials from the cassette based on the type of recording material (thin paper, plain paper, thick paper) and image formation conditions. This dynamic adjustment prevents sheet jamming by ensuring adequate spacing while maintaining high productivity through optimized intervals for different material types.
2Reliability
If the conveyance interval is widened to prevent sheet jamming, then reliability improves, but productivity decreases due to longer waiting times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the conveyance interval parameter according to recording material type and image formation conditions. For thin paper, a shorter interval is used; for thick paper requiring higher fixing temperature, a longer interval is applied. This parameter optimization prevents sheet jamming while minimizing waiting time losses by using the shortest safe interval for each specific condition.
3Productivity
If images are continuously fixed onto small-sized recording materials, then productivity is maintained, but temperature rise in the end portion of the fixing device occurs requiring wider conveyance intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by introducing periodic pauses or extended intervals in the conveyance of small-sized recording materials through the fixing device. The control unit detects when small-sized materials are being continuously processed and automatically widens the conveyance interval to allow the fixing device end portion to cool down periodically, preventing temperature rise while maintaining overall productivity through optimized scheduling.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes first and second conveyance and calculation units, a reverse unit, a control unit, an image forming unit, and a stack unit to stack sheets. A recording material is conveyed from the stack unit to the image forming unit. The recording material is conveyed reversely, and is conveyed to a double-sided conveyance path and to the image forming unit. Without causing a recording material to wait in the reverse unit, a first recording material is conveyed from the stack unit, then a second recording material is conveyed, and subsequently a third recording material is conveyed. A conveyance interval time and a maximum waiting time are calculated. When the conveyance interval time exceeds the maximum waiting time, the second recording material conveyance starts at timing based on a waiting time after conveyance of the first recording material, and the third recording material conveyance starts at a timing.