Image Forming Apparatus Paper Jam Guidance via Sensor Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses with guidance display functions for clearing paper jams struggle to provide appropriate guidance when jams occur at undetectable locations, and the increased use of dedicated sensors and cameras raises costs.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes an operation acceptor, a transporter, an image former, a paper detector, a display, and a controller. The apparatus displays a user-selectable image showing the paper jam status based on the paper detector's results, allowing for efficient guidance on clearing jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of dedicated sensors and cameras is increased to detect jams at all locations, then the detection coverage is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The paper detection sensors originally designed for detecting paper presence are made multi-functional by utilizing their detection results for both paper detection and jam detection purposes. The controller interprets specific detection patterns (e.g., paper detected at certain locations while not detected at other locations) as indicators of jam conditions, allowing existing sensors to serve multiple functions without requiring additional dedicated jam detection devices.
2Loss of information
If jam detection is expanded to cover all locations, then the guidance accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically installing sensors at every possible jam location, the system creates a virtual model of the paper transport path and paper flow patterns. The controller uses detection results from existing sensors to infer the state of paper at locations where no physical sensor is present, effectively copying the detection capability across the entire transport path through logical inference rather than physical replication.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sequential display of multiple jam processing guidance screens is used, then comprehensive guidance is provided, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of detection results to determine the most likely jam location and condition before the user views the guidance. Based on this pre-analysis, the display presents the most relevant guidance information first, rather than requiring users to sequentially navigate through multiple screens. The guidance is pre-organized and pre-filtered according to the detected jam pattern, allowing users to quickly find and follow the appropriate clearing instructions.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: an operation acceptor; a transporter transporting paper along a transport path; an image former forming an image on the paper on the basis of image data; a paper detector detecting a transport status of the paper on the basis of detection results of paper detection sensors provided at various locations on the transport path; a display; a storage storing a predetermined image showing an assumed jam status of the paper and predetermined guidance for clearing the jam status of the paper when a jam occurs while the paper is transported; and a controller. When the jam occurs while the paper is transported, the controller displays, in a user-selectable manner, a predetermined image showing the paper jam status according to the detection result of the paper detector. When the operation acceptor accepts a selection operation, the controller displays the guidance for clearing the paper jam status.