Image Former Load Control Using Cover-Closure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming devices face issues when users move the main body during load operations like warm-up after maintenance, potentially affecting various adjustment controls.
Innovation Solution
An image forming device with a controller that sets an initial load operation state to permitted and switches to suppressed when the cover is closed, using a cover opening/closing sensor to manage load operations effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the load operation is permitted during cover opening/closing, then the operational flexibility is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to risk of movement during warm-up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the load operation state changeable based on cover position. The controller dynamically switches between permitted and suppressed states for load operations depending on whether the cover is detected as open or closed, allowing the system to adapt its operational characteristics to current physical conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from the cover opening/closing sensor to control the load operation state. The sensor provides real-time information about cover position to the controller, which then adjusts the permitted/suppressed state accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to physical state changes.
2Reliability
If the load operation is suppressed when cover is closed, then the reliability is improved by preventing movement issues, but the productivity deteriorates due to interrupted warm-up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring the cover to be in the open position before initiating load operations such as warm-up. This preliminary condition check ensures that the device is in the correct physical state before starting operations that could be affected by movement, preventing reliability issues before they occur.
3Ease of operation
If the main body is moved during maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved for maintenance access, but the reliability worsens due to potential movement during subsequent load operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the cover position as an intermediary indicator to infer the physical state of the main body. Rather than directly detecting whether the main body has been moved, the system uses the cover opening/closing sensor as an intermediary to determine if the device is in a stable state suitable for load operations, indirectly addressing the movement issue.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming device includes a main body including an image former, a storage that stores a setting related to whether a predetermined load operation of the image former is to be set to a permitted state or a suppressed state, a cover provided at the main body in an openable and closable manner, a cover opening/closing sensor that detects an open/closed state of the cover, and a controller that controls the image former and the cover opening/closing sensor. The controller sets an initial state of the load operation to the permitted state in which the load operation is to be permitted, and when the cover opening/closing sensor detects that the cover is changed from being open to being closed, the controller switches the load operation to the suppressed state.