Image Forming Apparatus Sheet Conveyance Error Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-functional peripherals face issues with data read errors from hard disc drives during image processing, leading to incomplete or mixed printing outputs, where pages with and without errors are discharged together, causing user confusion and incorrect collection of output products.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a detection unit that stops sheet conveyance when a read error is detected, preventing the discharge of improperly printed sheets and ensuring only completed pages are output, using a control method that manages sheet conveyance and error handling to separate correctly and incorrectly printed pages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sheet conveyance continues after a read error is detected, then the productivity is maintained, but the reliability deteriorates because improperly printed sheets are discharged mixed with correctly printed sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit checks for read errors before the sheet conveyance is completed, allowing the system to stop the conveyance unit in advance to prevent defective sheets from being discharged. This preliminary detection and interruption mechanism ensures that only properly printed sheets are output, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity by catching errors before they result in mixed discharge.
2Reliability
If the sheet conveyance is stopped when a read error is detected, then the reliability is improved by preventing discharge of improperly printed sheets, but the productivity deteriorates due to interruption of the printing process
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit provides real-time feedback on read errors during the sheet conveyance process. When a read error is detected, this feedback triggers the control unit to stop the conveyance unit, preventing defective sheets from being discharged. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain high reliability by ensuring only properly printed sheets are output, while the interruption is minimized to only when necessary.
3Loss of information
If all sheets are discharged regardless of errors, then the productivity is maintained, but the loss of information increases because users cannot distinguish between correctly and incorrectly printed sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates sheets with read errors from the normal discharge flow by stopping the conveyance unit when errors are detected. This extraction prevents defective sheets from being mixed with correctly printed sheets, ensuring that users receive only properly printed output. The separation mechanism eliminates information loss about printing status while minimizing impact on overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores image data, an obtaining unit that obtains the stored image data, a printing unit that prints an image generated from the obtained image data on a sheet, a conveyance unit that conveys a sheet contained in a containing unit to the printing unit and conveys the sheet on which the image has been formed external to the image forming apparatus, and a detection unit that detects that the obtaining unit did not obtain the stored image data, where the conveyance unit stops conveyance of the sheet based on the detection by the detection unit during the conveyance of the sheet.