Image Forming Apparatus Jam Clearance Light Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, it is difficult to distinguish between light-emitting members indicating recording medium supply operations and those indicating a jammed recording medium, leading to potential erroneous operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a first light-emitting unit on the recording medium setting unit and a second light-emitting unit near the operating member for removing a jammed recording medium, with distinct light emission patterns to differentiate between supply and jam indications, utilizing different wavelengths and emission cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a light-emitting member is used to indicate recording medium supply operation, then it becomes possible to prevent the recording medium trays from being drawn by mistake, but it becomes difficult to distinguish between supply indication and jam indication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different colors to light-emitting members for different indications: a first light-emitting member (e.g., blue) indicates recording medium supply operation, while a second light-emitting member (e.g., red) indicates a jammed recording medium. This color differentiation allows users to easily distinguish between supply and jam indications, preventing erroneous operations while maintaining clear visual feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different light emission patterns to distinguish between types of indications. The first light-emitting member may emit light in a periodic or blinking pattern to indicate supply operation, while the second light-emitting member uses a different periodic pattern or continuous emission to indicate jam conditions. This temporal differentiation complements color coding and enhances distinguishability.
2Loss of information
If multiple light-emitting members are used to indicate different statuses, then it becomes possible to provide comprehensive operational information, but it increases the complexity of the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses light-emitting members that can serve multiple functions through different control modes. The same physical light-emitting component can indicate supply operation, jam conditions, or different stages of paper removal by varying its emission pattern, color, or timing. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of separate light-emitting members needed while maintaining comprehensive information delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent places light-emitting members at specific locations where they can indicate particular operational states: one near the recording medium supply area and another near the jammed medium location. Each light-emitting member is optimized for its local function, providing clear, context-specific information without requiring a complex array of indicators throughout the entire device.
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
This solution allows users to easily differentiate between the two types of light-emitting members, preventing incorrect operations and ensuring that jammed recording media are properly addressed without interrupting supply operations.
Implementation Method 1
a first light-emitting unit that emits light in a first wavelength while the recording media are being conveyed
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a first light-emitting unit, a second light-emitting unit, and a remaining-recording-medium detector. The first light-emitting unit is arranged on an outer surface of a recording medium setting unit on which recording media are set, and emits light while the recording media are being conveyed from the recording medium setting unit. The second light-emitting unit is arranged on or near an operating member that is to be operated when a recording medium jammed in a main body of the image forming apparatus is removed. The remaining-recording-medium detector detects presence or absence of a recording medium remaining in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The second light-emitting unit emits light when the operating member needs to be operated, based on a result of detection by the remaining-recording-medium detector. The first light-emitting unit and the second light-emitting unit emit light in different manners.