Image Forming Apparatus Folding Line Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in optimizing the placement of folding lines on paper to prevent overlap with image content when folding, leading to potential obstacles in reading and aesthetics when paper is accommodated in envelopes.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus includes a fold-setting unit and a positional-relationship-adjusting unit that recognize folding patterns and adjust the positions of folding lines and printing data to avoid overlap with image content, allowing for precise control over folding lines and image placement to ensure clear output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If folding lines are set according to standard paper and envelope sizes, then the paper can be properly accommodated in envelopes, but folding lines may overlap with image content causing readability issues and aesthetic problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper accommodation in envelopeVSAvoidfolding line overlap with image content

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the image content and folding line positions before printing. The control unit calculates the positions of folding lines based on paper and envelope sizes, then预先 determines whether these folding lines will overlap with image content. This preliminary action allows the system to adjust folding line positions or image layout in advance, preventing overlap issues before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors the positional relationship between folding lines and image content. When overlap is detected, the system provides feedback to adjust either the folding line positions or the image layout, ensuring that the final output has no overlapping elements. This feedback loop maintains the adaptability for envelope accommodation while eliminating the harmful overlap effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If user manually adjusts folding line positions to avoid image overlap, then readability is improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage readabilityVSAvoidfolding line position adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically calculating optimal folding line positions and detecting potential overlaps with image content. The control unit autonomously adjusts folding line positions or image layout without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service capability maintains high image readability while eliminating the operational complexity and time consumption associated with manual adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically changes parameters such as folding line positions and image layout coordinates to optimize the output. The control unit modifies these parameters based on the detected overlap conditions, ensuring readability is maintained while avoiding manual parameter adjustment by the user. This automated parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between readability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If automatic adjustment of folding lines is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding line position adjustmentVSAvoidcontrol system for position adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the envelope size input interface and the folding line position calculation engine. By integrating multiple functions into a single control unit, the system achieves automatic folding line adjustment without proportionally increasing overall device complexity. The universal control unit handles input, calculation, and output coordination, maintaining ease of operation while managing complexity efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the functions of envelope size input, paper size specification, folding line calculation, and image layout adjustment into an integrated control process. The control unit combines these previously separate operations into a unified automated workflow, reducing the number of separate components needed while achieving automatic adjustment. This merging approach improves ease of operation without creating a proportionally complex device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10315881B2Image forming apparatus that forms and outputs images on a medium

Publication Date: 2019.06.11 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Provided is an image forming apparatus that easily performs the work of adjustment so that folding lines do not become an obstacle when looking at an image that is formed on paper after the paper has been folded. A printing-data-input unit that printing data for printing the image is inputted to. A fold-setting unit recognizes a folding pattern, and positions of folding lines on the paper that are used in that folding pattern. A positional-relationship-adjusting unit adjusts at least one of the positions of the folding lines and the printing data so that portions in the image that are not blank and the folding lines do not overlap on the paper. An output unit, after adjustment by the positional-relationship-adjusting unit, forms an image on the paper, and outputs the paper.