Image Forming Apparatus Automatic Resumption Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses experience repeated sheet jams due to mechanical failures, leading to suspended prints and wastage of sheets and developing agent, as existing systems do not effectively address the underlying causes of jams.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a dual control system that initiates print jobs and determines whether an automatic resumption mode is set, allowing for automatic restart or user-controlled stop of print jobs to prevent repeated jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic resumption is enabled after sheet jam, then print productivity is maintained, but repeated jams cause material waste and operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors sheet conveyance status through sensors and provides feedback to the control unit. When a jam is detected, the control unit receives feedback about the jam location and type, then determines whether to resume or stop the print job based on this feedback information, preventing repeated jams and material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit determines in advance whether to enable automatic resumption before the print job continues. By making this determination beforehand based on jam analysis, the system prevents repeated jams and material waste that would occur if automatic resumption were always enabled.
2Loss of time
If print job is automatically resumed after jam release, then operational continuity is improved, but fundamental jam causes are not addressed leading to repeated jams
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from jam detection sensors to inform the control unit about the nature and location of jams. This feedback enables the control unit to make intelligent decisions about resumption, addressing fundamental causes rather than blindly resuming all jobs, thereby reducing jam recurrence while maintaining operational continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the resumption decision based on real-time conditions. Rather than a fixed automatic resumption policy, the control unit dynamically determines whether to resume or stop based on the specific jam circumstances, balancing operational continuity with reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical failure causes sheet jam, then print quality is affected, but without control intervention sheets and developing agent are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives feedback about mechanical failures and their impact on image transfer quality. Based on this feedback, the system determines whether to stop the print job to prevent wasting sheets and developing agent on defective transfers, thereby protecting manufacturing precision while reducing material loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by stopping the print job before defective transfers occur. When mechanical failures are detected that would affect image transfer quality, the control unit preemptively stops the job, preventing the waste of sheets and developing agent that would result from attempting to transfer images under faulty conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
When a sheet P is jammed after start of a print job, it is determined whether an automatic resumption mode for automatically resuming the print job is set. When a determination result of this determination is affirmative, the print job is resumed after the jam is released. When the determination result is negative, the print job is stopped.