Image Forming Apparatus Sheet Feeding Schedule Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses experience reduced productivity due to excessive intervals between sheets when using multiple sheet storage units, and the interrupt function leads to prolonged waiting times for printed products when multiple print reservations are present.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a determining unit to schedule sheet feeding for pages from different storage units based on their conveyance paths and permits printing of interrupt job pages before completing the first job, canceling sheet feed reservations to expedite interrupt job execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sheets are fed sequentially from multiple sheet storage units with different distances to the transfer unit, then all sheets can be printed, but the intervals between sheets become excessively long, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit issues sheet feed instructions in advance before the actual printing process. When it is determined that a sheet from a distant storage unit will be needed for the N+1th page, the feed instruction is issued beforehand, allowing the sheet to be positioned and ready before the printing cycle begins, thus preventing excessive intervals between sheets
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the sheet feed timing based on the distance from each sheet storage unit to the transfer unit. Sheets from farther storage units are fed earlier than sheets from nearer units, creating a dynamic scheduling system that optimizes the timing of sheet feeding to maintain continuous printing operations
2Productivity
If the interrupt function is used to execute a different job while interrupting the current job, then the user can quickly acquire printed products, but the sheet for the interrupt job is not fed until all print-reserved sheets are fed, causing long waiting times
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit issues sheet feed instructions for interrupt jobs in advance, before the interrupt job actually starts executing. By determining ahead of time that a sheet is needed for an interrupt job and issuing the feed instruction beforehand, the system ensures the sheet is ready when the interrupt job begins, eliminating the delay of waiting for all print-reserved sheets to be fed first
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus has first and second sheet storage units, where a second sheet conveyance path is longer than a first sheet conveyance path, and includes a determining unit and a permitting unit. When a sheet stored in the first sheet storage unit is for printing of a Nth page included in a first job and a sheet stored in the second sheet storage unit is for printing of a N+1th page included in the same first job, the determining unit determines a feeding schedule in which the N+1th page sheet feeding is initiated before the Nth page sheet feeding is initiated. When an issued instruction is issued to perform a second job by interrupting the first job after determining the feeding schedule, the permitting unit permits printing of a page included in the second job before the printing of the N+1th page included in the first job.