Image Forming Apparatus Media Setting Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses do not effectively manage inconsistencies in the setting of recording media between previous and current printing jobs, leading to potential printing issues such as paper jams or incorrect media usage.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a recording medium accommodation portion that senses opening and closing, stores information about previously used media, and compares current settings with stored information to alert users of inconsistencies before executing a job, ensuring accurate media usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the image forming apparatus uses the currently set paper information without verification, then the printing process can proceed quickly, but printing errors may occur due to inconsistent media settings between previous and current jobs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidprinting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by detecting whether the paper tray is open and comparing paper information before the printing job starts. This advance check prevents printing errors caused by inconsistent media settings while maintaining efficient printing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by detecting the paper tray state and comparing current paper information with previously stored information. This feedback mechanism identifies inconsistencies and prevents printing errors, ensuring reliable printing while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the image forming apparatus adds verification steps to check paper information consistency, then printing reliability improves, but the printing process becomes slower

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting accuracyVSAvoidprinting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The verification of paper information consistency is performed preliminarily before the printing job starts. By checking whether the paper tray is open and comparing paper information in advance, the system ensures printing accuracy without adding time to the actual printing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback to compare current paper information with previously stored information only when necessary (when the paper tray is detected as open). This selective verification maintains high printing accuracy while minimizing impact on printing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the image forming apparatus stores and compares paper information from previous printing jobs, then printing errors are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a simple copy of the paper information from the previous printing job and stores it for comparison. This copying approach enables detection of media inconsistencies without requiring complex analysis or additional hardware, maintaining system simplicity while improving printing consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The comparison mechanism provides feedback on whether the current paper information matches the previously stored information. This simple feedback system detects inconsistencies and prevents printing errors without adding significant complexity to the device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If the image forming apparatus checks for paper tray opening status, then media inconsistency detection accuracy improves, but the sensing system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsensing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The paper tray itself provides the detection function through its open/closed state. The sensing portion simply detects whether the tray is open or closed, using the tray's own position as the detection mechanism. This self-service approach achieves high detection accuracy without requiring complex sensing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a simple binary state copy (open/closed) of the paper tray status rather than measuring complex physical parameters. This simplified copying approach achieves sufficient detection accuracy for determining whether paper information verification is needed while keeping the sensing system simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11656812B2Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing image forming program for reducing inconvenience of printing with inconsistent setting of recording medium

Publication Date: 2023.05.23 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a recording medium accommodation portion that accommodates a recording medium, a storage portion that stores information about the recording medium that is accommodated in the recording medium accommodation portion and previously printed, a sensing portion that senses opening and closing of the recording medium accommodation portion, a comparison portion that compares currently set setting information about the recording medium with the information about the recording medium stored in the storage portion on a condition that the sensing portion senses that the recording medium accommodation portion is not open between previous printing and current printing, and an output portion that outputs a comparison result of the comparison portion.