Image Forming Apparatus Relay Section for Long Sheet Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently transporting and processing long sheets, as existing systems often struggle to manage the longer length of the sheets during the transport and post-processing stages, leading to issues like sagging and catching.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates an upper and lower ejection roller pair, a relay section with an ejection tray, and a post-processing section with a reception roller and compile tray, along with a controller that adjusts the transport path to support long sheets by creating a specific transport region with varying heights and surfaces to prevent sagging and catching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If long sheets are transported using a standard placing part designed for normal size paper, then the apparatus can handle standard paper sizes, but the long sheets will sag and catch during transport and post-processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay section positioned above the standard transport path, creating a vertical dimension change. Long sheets are diverted upward to the relay section's ejection tray, which provides extended support length. This dimensional change allows the system to handle long sheets without modifying the original horizontal transport path designed for standard paper sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay section acts as an intermediary component between the ejection rollers and the post-processing section. It includes transporting rollers that move sheets horizontally and an ejection tray that supports sheets vertically, mediating the transition for long sheets and preventing them from sagging or catching in the standard transport path.
2Reliability
If the relay section is added to support long sheets, then transport stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay section is designed to serve multiple functions: it transports sheets horizontally via transporting rollers, supports sheets vertically on the ejection tray, and diverts long sheets from the main transport path. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller automatically determines whether incoming sheets are long sheets based on their dimensions and directs them to the relay section without user intervention. The system self-adjusts the transport path, eliminating the need for manual configuration or additional control interfaces, thus keeping the operational complexity low despite the added hardware.
3Reliability
If long sheets are diverted to the relay section, then sagging and catching are prevented, but transport time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay section's transporting rollers and ejection tray are integrated into the continuous sheet transport flow. Sheets move continuously from the ejection rollers through the relay section to the post-processing section without stopping or requiring repositioning. This continuous action minimizes additional transport time while ensuring long sheets remain supported throughout the journey.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an upper ejection roller and a lower ejection roller that are disposed vertically side by side in an apparatus body and transport a recording material, a relay section that is disposed at an upper part of the apparatus body and further transports the recording material transported from the lower ejection roller and that places the recording material transported from the upper ejection roller on an upper surface of the relay section, a post-processing section that is disposed on a side surface of the apparatus body, receives the recording material via the relay section, and performs post-processing, and a controller that performs a control such that the recording material is transported from the upper ejection roller to the upper surface of the relay section in a case where the recording material is a long sheet.