Image Forming Apparatus Creaser Control for Single-Pass Duplex Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming systems require multiple feeding operations and increased load on output materials when performing crease processing on both front and back surfaces of a sheet, leading to longer processing times and user workload, as they often lack the capability to execute simultaneous crease processing on both surfaces.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a crease processing determination unit, function determination unit, and control unit that assesses the need for crease processing on both surfaces and adjusts the processing surface based on sheet attributes, allowing for efficient surface selection and processing optimization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If crease processing is performed on both front and back surfaces of a sheet by separate feeding operations, then complete crease processing coverage is achieved, but processing time and user workload increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrease processing coverageVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple crease processing operations into a single feeding operation by coordinating the creasing mechanism to process both front and back surfaces simultaneously. The control unit manages the creasing blade to apply creases to the front surface during the first pass and to the back surface during the same feeding operation, eliminating the need for separate feeding operations and reducing processing time while maintaining complete crease processing coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary positioning and coordination of the sheet and creasing mechanism before the feeding operation begins. The control unit pre-configures the creasing blade positions and timing to ensure that both front and back surface creases are applied in one pass, eliminating the need for subsequent re-feeding operations and reducing overall processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If crease processing is performed on both front and back surfaces by separate feeding operations, then complete crease processing coverage is achieved, but the number of feeding operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrease processing coverageVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple crease processing operations into a single feeding operation by coordinating the creasing mechanism to process both front and back surfaces simultaneously. The control unit manages the creasing blade to apply creases to the front surface during the first pass and to the back surface during the same feeding operation, eliminating the need for separate feeding operations and reducing processing time while maintaining complete crease processing coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple feeding operations are performed for crease processing, then all necessary creases are applied, but load on the sheet increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrease processing completenessVSAvoidload on sheet

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9946205B2Image forming apparatus with creaser control, control method thereof, printing system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 CANON KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus determines whether crease processing at a plurality of portions set on the sheet includes crease processing on two, front and back surfaces of the sheet; determines, if it is determined that crease processing includes crease processing on the two surfaces of the sheet, whether a connected post-processing apparatus that performs crease processing on a sheet can perform crease processing on the two, front and back surfaces of the sheet by one feeding; and controls, if it is determined that the connected post-processing apparatus cannot perform crease processing on the two surfaces by one feeding, to change, to one of the front and back surfaces of the sheet based on attribute information of the sheet, a surface to be processed in crease processing at the plurality of portions.