Image Forming Apparatus Medium Supply Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses, such as multifunction peripherals (MFPs), face inefficiencies in starting the primary supply of printing media before completing drawing data creation, which can delay printing processes and reduce speed.
Innovation Solution
The MFP configuration includes a control unit that manages a medium supply unit to perform a primary supply before completing drawing data creation, allowing the printing unit to start preparing for printing immediately, and a secondary supply that begins after data preparation is finished, optimizing the timing for improved printing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the primary supply starts before completion of drawing data creation, then printing speed is improved, but the system must handle complex timing coordination between data creation and media supply
Solution Approach 1:
The primary supply unit starts supplying the printing medium before the drawing data creation is completed. This preliminary action allows the medium to be ready at the printing unit earlier, reducing waiting time and improving printing speed without compromising the quality of printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors the creation status of drawing data and the supply status of the printing medium, dynamically adjusting the timing and speed of the primary supply to ensure synchronization between data readiness and medium arrival, thereby managing the complexity of timing coordination.
2Loss of time
If the primary supply starts prior to drawing data creation completion, then the printing process can start sooner, but determining band-used colors becomes more frequent increasing process load
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of band-used colors during the drawing data creation phase, before the primary supply starts. This preliminary analysis reduces the need for repeated determinations during the printing process, lowering the process load while enabling earlier printing start.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit performs color determination for all bands in advance, even those that may not be immediately needed, to avoid repeated determinations. This excessive action in the preparation phase reduces the overall process load during the printing phase.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus (10) according to one aspect of the disclosure includes a printing mechanism (24), a drawing data creating circuit (17a), a medium supply circuit (17b), and a charging circuit (17c). The medium supply circuit (17b) is adapted to perform: a primary supply supplying the printing medium (90) to a specific position; and a secondary supply supplying the printing medium (90) from the specific position to the printing mechanism (24). When the band-used color fixed as color by the drawing data creating circuit (17a) exists, the medium supply circuit (17b) is adapted to start the primary supply prior to completion of creating all the bands of the drawing data by the drawing data creating circuit (17a). When the band-used color fixed as color by the drawing data creating circuit (17a) exists, the charging circuit (17c) is adapted to perform the charging process in a case, where the color for use is color, in starting the primary supply.