Image Forming Apparatus Selective Sheet Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face reduced throughput due to the need to execute inspection processing on all printed sheets, which can be time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus is equipped with a dual inspection mode: one where inspection is performed on all sheets and another where it is performed only on selected sheets, allowing for adjustable inspection intervals based on user settings through a user interface, enabling the apparatus to optimize inspection processing and maintain throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inspection processing is executed on all sheets, then image formation failure detection reliability is improved, but throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by executing inspection processing on only some sheets rather than all sheets. The control unit determines whether to execute inspection based on predetermined conditions, such as when a specific number of sheets have been printed since the last inspection or when certain error patterns are detected. This selective inspection approach maintains adequate detection reliability while reducing the overall inspection load and preserving throughput.
2Measurement precision
If inspection processing is executed on all sheets, then detection precision is improved, but inspection time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by conducting inspection processing at predetermined intervals rather than continuously on every sheet. The control unit uses counters to track the number of sheets printed since the last inspection and executes inspection only when the counter reaches a predetermined value. This periodic approach maintains detection precision for identifying systematic issues while significantly reducing cumulative inspection time.
3Manufacturing precision
If inspection processing is executed on all sheets, then quality control is improved, but processing speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the inspection processing conditional and adaptive rather than static and uniform. The control unit dynamically determines whether to execute inspection based on real-time conditions, such as detected error patterns, sheet counters, and operational states. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain quality control when necessary while speeding up processing when conditions permit, optimizing the balance between manufacturing precision and processing speed.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, a reading unit for reading the image on the sheet and an inspection unit for inspecting whether an image formation failure has occurred by comparing the image read by the reading unit with a reference image registered in advance. The image forming apparatus executes the inspection with the inspection unit in a first inspection mode or a second inspection mode. The first inspection mode is a mode in which the inspection unit executes the inspection on all sheets on which the image is formed by the image forming unit. The second inspection mode is a mode in which the inspection unit executes the inspection on some of the sheets on which the image is formed by the image forming unit, and the inspection unit does not execute the inspection on the other sheets.