Image Forming Apparatus Reversing Device Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems require a relay device to reverse the front and back sides of a recording medium, leading to increased system size and reduced productivity due to the need for additional components and complex conveyance paths.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a conveyor, image forming device, and reversing device that temporarily stores and reverses the recording medium, allowing it to be ejected to an output tray or post-processing apparatus with the image facing down or up, eliminating the need for a separate relay device and simplifying conveyance paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a relay device is disposed in midway on the conveyance path to reverse the recording medium, then the front side and back side of the recording medium can be reversed, but the size of the image forming system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reversing device is integrated into the image forming apparatus, merging the reversing function with the existing apparatus structure. The path temporarily stores the recording medium and allows it to be conveyed onto the output tray, eliminating the need for a separate relay device and reducing overall system size.
Solution Approach 2:
The output tray is disposed above the image forming device, utilizing vertical space to temporarily store the recording medium. This dimensional arrangement allows the reversing function to be incorporated without increasing the horizontal footprint of the system.
2Ease of operation
If a relay device is used to reverse the recording medium, then the front and back sides can be reversed, but productivity decreases due to additional components and complex conveyance paths
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the reversing device into the image forming apparatus, the conveyance path is simplified and the number of components is reduced. This eliminates the need for additional relay devices and complex switching mechanisms, thereby improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reversing function is extracted from the separate relay device and incorporated into the image forming apparatus itself. This extraction eliminates the need for the relay device and its associated complexity, allowing for more efficient processing.
3Productivity
If the output tray is disposed above the image forming device, then the recording medium can be temporarily stored and conveyed with the image facing down, but the conveyance path becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The output tray is positioned above the image forming device, utilizing the vertical dimension to temporarily store the recording medium. This arrangement allows the recording medium to be conveyed with the image facing down, improving productivity while the path structure remains manageable through vertical integration.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus (1000) includes a conveyor (100F3), an image forming device (102, 100F1), and a reversing device (100F2). The conveyor (100F3) conveys a recording medium. The image forming device (102, 100F1) forms an image on the recording medium. The reversing device (100F2) reverses the recording medium in the image forming apparatus after the image forming device (102, 100F1) forms the image. The image forming device (102, 100F1) performs image formation from a first page of recording media when the image forming device (102, 100F1) performs the image formation on one side of the recording media. The image forming device (102, 100F1) performs image formation from a last page of recording media when the image forming device (102, 100F1) performs the image formation on one side of the recording.