Image Forming Apparatus Sheet Overlap Control via Coded Data Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face performance issues due to high CPU load and time consumption in determining overlapping areas between sheets during preceding feeding, especially when analyzing image data on a pixel-by-pixel basis.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and method that calculates the overlapping amount between sheets by obtaining coded data for both the leading and trailing ends of sheets, using compression methods like JBIG or JPEG, to efficiently determine the blank areas and control sheet feeding for optimal overlap, thereby reducing CPU load and processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image data is developed in memory as a bitmap and pixel-by-pixel calculation is performed to obtain overlapping area, then measurement precision of blank area is improved, but processing time increases significantly and CPU load becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for overlapping area calculation from the image data. Instead of processing all pixel data, it identifies and uses only the boundary information or key coordinate data that defines the image extent, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining calculation precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image data processing into distinct stages: first extracting boundary information, then calculating overlapping areas based on these boundaries. This segmentation avoids the need for pixel-by-pixel processing while preserving the precision needed for accurate overlapping area determination.
2Measurement precision
If image data is developed in memory as a bitmap and pixel-by-pixel calculation is performed, then measurement precision of blank area is improved, but CPU load becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential boundary information from image data, avoiding the need to load and process entire bitmaps into memory. This extraction approach maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing CPU load and memory requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation from full bitmap data to simplified boundary coordinates or extent parameters. This parameter transformation reduces the data volume that CPU must process while preserving the information needed for precise overlapping area calculation.
3Productivity
If conventional methods are used to determine overlapping areas, then image formation can proceed, but throughput is reduced due to time consumption in calculation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary extraction of boundary information from image data before the main overlapping area calculation. By preparing the essential data in advance in a simplified format, it enables faster subsequent processing and improves overall image formation throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pixel-by-pixel processing approach with a more efficient computational method that operates on boundary coordinates or extent parameters. This substitution significantly reduces calculation time while maintaining the accuracy needed for proper sheet overlapping control.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is configured to form an image on a sheet on the basis of image data, and the apparatus obtains, on the basis of image data that has been coded, a first blank amount on a leading end side of a succeeding sheet coming after a preceding sheet, and obtains a second blank amount on a trailing end side of the preceding sheet on the basis of the image data that has been coded. Controlling is performed to feed the succeeding sheet to cause the succeeding sheet to overlap with the preceding sheet by the length corresponding to a blank amount being the smaller of the first blank amount and the second blank amount, and to form an image.