Image Forming System Conveying Stop Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems, conveying abnormalities like jams can cause recording materials to deform near heat-generating units, limiting the positions where they can be stopped, leading to incomplete retraction and hindered automatic purge processes.
Innovation Solution
An image forming system with abnormality detection and determination units that assess the number of recording materials and their positions, allowing for discharge and stopping at alternative post-processing apparatuses downstream, ensuring all materials can be retracted without deformation, even when traditional stopping positions are restricted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the recording material is stopped at a predetermined position to avoid heat-generating units, then the recording material deformation is prevented, but the space for retraction is reduced and some recording materials cannot be retracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the stopping decision from a single-position constraint to a multi-dimensional evaluation considering the number of recording materials, their positions, and multiple possible stopping locations. The control unit determines stopping positions dynamically based on the count of recording materials in the conveying path, allowing materials to be stopped at different positions (including upstream positions) rather than a fixed predetermined position, thus resolving the contradiction between preventing deformation and enabling complete retraction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the recording material is stopped away from the fixing apparatus, then heat-induced deformation is avoided, but the available stopping space is limited relative to the entire conveying path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic stopping position determination rather than a fixed predetermined position. The control unit adjusts the stopping position based on the number of recording materials currently in the conveying path. When fewer materials are present, materials can be stopped at positions closer to the fixing apparatus; when more materials are present, stopping positions are adjusted upstream. This dynamic approach maximizes the utilization of available stopping space while continuously preventing heat-induced deformation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables complete retraction of recording materials and facilitates automatic purge by identifying and utilizing alternative stopping positions, ensuring effective system operation despite positional limitations.
Implementation Method 1
a unit that generates heat such as a fixing apparatus
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming system determines whether there is any recording material that is being conveyed in an image forming apparatus and that cannot be stopped at a predetermined position defined so as to avoid a location that causes a deformation of the recording material, when the conveying abnormality of the recording material is detected. Also, the image forming system determines whether there is any post processing apparatus in which the recording material can be stopped at an upstream side with respect to the post processing apparatus where the conveying abnormality occurs. Further, the image forming system discharges the recording material that cannot be stopped at the predetermined position in the image forming apparatus to a post processing apparatus at a downstream side with respect to the image forming apparatus and stops the recording material in the post processing apparatus.