Image Forming Apparatus RFID Tag Processing Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses cannot visually distinguish sheets on which RFID tag processing has failed from those on which it has succeeded, making it difficult for operators to identify failed tag processing.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a wireless tag communication device, an image forming mechanism, and a controller that adjusts the secondary transfer bias based on the success of RFID tag processing, allowing for different image transfer settings when tag processing is successful or unsuccessful.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image forming apparatus discharges sheets with failed tag processing to a different destination, then the separation of successful and failed sheets is improved, but the visual identification of failed sheets by operators deteriorates because the sheets cannot be distinguished by appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by forming images with abnormal density characteristics on sheets where tag processing has failed. The controller detects tag processing failures and responds by forming images with abnormal density (either abnormally high or abnormally low density) on the affected sheets. This creates a visual distinction between successfully processed sheets (normal density) and failed sheets (abnormal density), enabling operators to easily identify and separate failed sheets without requiring different discharge destinations or complex detection systems.
2Ease of operation
If the image forming apparatus uses different discharge destinations for successful and failed tag processing, then the handling of processed sheets is improved, but the operational complexity increases as operators must manage multiple discharge locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the discharge system by using visual density changes on the sheets themselves as the primary differentiation mechanism. Instead of requiring complex multi-destination discharge systems, the controller forms images with abnormal density on failed sheets, allowing all sheets to be discharged to a single location while still enabling easy visual identification and manual separation by operators. This reduces device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables operators to easily visually identify sheets on which RFID tag processing has failed by transferring images at abnormal densities, distinguishing them from successfully processed sheets.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless tag communication device configured to communicate with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag
Implementation Method 2
an image forming mechanism configured to form an image on a medium and transfer the image from the medium to the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a communication device configured to communicate with a wireless tag of a sheet, an image forming mechanism configured to form an image and transfer the image to the sheet according to a control value, and a controller configured to: receive a job for printing an image on a sheet and performing tag processing on the tag, control the communication device to perform the tag processing on the tag, determine whether the processing has completed properly, upon determining that the processing has completed properly, control the image forming mechanism to form the image and transfer the image to the sheet according to a first control value, and upon determining that the processing has not completed properly, control the image forming mechanism to form the image and transfer the image to the sheet according to a second control value.