Image Forming Apparatus Jammed Paper Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming apparatuses, when a recording material is jammed, users may attempt to restart the transport without removing the jammed material, leading to repeated stoppages, as the system lacks a mechanism to verify the complete removal of the jammed material before resuming operation.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a transport section, a grasping section to assess the remaining material situation, a reception section to input the number of removed sheets from the user, and a start section to initiate transport only after verifying the complete removal of the jammed material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the image forming apparatus displays the number of recording materials remaining and stops transport, then the user can see the jammed material count, but the user may attempt to restart transport without removing the material, causing repeated stoppages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about remaining recording materialsVSAvoidcontinuous operation of transport

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where it compares the number of recording materials detected by sensors with the number of materials the user reports removing. This feedback loop ensures that transport restarts only when the actual remaining material count matches the user's removal report, preventing repeated stoppages while maintaining accurate information display

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Before allowing transport to restart, the system performs a preliminary verification step by comparing sensor-detected material counts with user input. This preliminary action confirms that all jammed materials have been removed before changing the transport state from stopped to running, ensuring reliable continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the system automatically restarts transport without verifying material removal, then operation is faster, but repeated stoppages occur due to remaining jammed material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of operation resumptionVSAvoidavoidance of repeated stoppages

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system requires more than just a simple restart command - it performs a partial verification process by comparing sensor data with user input about removed materials. This partial action (verification step) is necessary to prevent repeated stoppages, and the system efficiently handles this verification to minimize impact on overall productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20240228205A9Image forming apparatus and information processing system

Publication Date: 2024.07.11 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a transport section that transports a recording material, a grasping section that grasps a remaining situation of a recording material remaining in a transport path through which the recording material is transported by the transport section, a reception section that receives, from a user, an input of the number of removed sheets of recording material removed from the transport path by the user in a case where the transport of the recording material by the transport section is stopped, and a start section that starts the stopped transport by the transport section based on the number of removed sheets input by the user.