Image Forming Apparatus Speed Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face productivity issues due to delay processes that slow down print operations to prevent temperature-related issues, leading to decreased productivity and potential re-delays from increased temperature rises.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that initially processes print jobs at a high speed and switches to a lower speed upon detecting specific temperature conditions, using an estimator to determine the shortest processing time among candidate speeds, thereby optimizing print time and preventing excessive temperature rises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If print operation is executed at high speed to improve productivity, then productivity increases, but temperature in the apparatus increases causing thermal deterioration and image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary estimation of print time at different processing speeds before actually executing the print job. By calculating expected print times in advance for multiple candidate speeds, the system can select the optimal initial speed that prevents temperature-related delays without actually experiencing the temperature rise first. This preliminary analysis allows proactive speed selection rather than reactive delay insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the initial processing speed based on estimated print times rather than using a fixed high speed. The estimator evaluates multiple candidate speeds and the determiner selects the optimal speed dynamically, creating a flexible system that adapts to prevent temperature issues while maximizing productivity. This dynamic approach replaces the static high-speed operation with conditional speed selection.
2Temperature
If delay process is executed to prevent temperature rise, then temperature control is improved, but print operation productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reactively inserting delays when temperature thresholds are exceeded, the system performs preliminary estimation of total print time at different speeds. By calculating expected print times in advance, the system proactively selects an initial speed that prevents temperature-related delays from occurring in the first place, thereby maintaining productivity while achieving temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of temperature rise into a beneficial selection criterion. By using temperature control requirements as the basis for selecting the optimal initial processing speed, the system transforms what would normally be a productivity-reducing constraint into a guide for achieving better overall print time. The speed selection that would normally be seen as limiting is actually optimized to prevent delays.
3Productivity
If sheet transfer intervals are shortened to reduce delay impact, then productivity improves, but temperature rise increases causing re-delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary estimation of print time considering different initial speeds and their impact on temperature accumulation. By evaluating the relationship between processing speed, sheet transfer intervals, and temperature rise in advance, the system selects an initial speed that inherently prevents the need for additional delays, even with shortened transfer intervals. This preliminary analysis avoids the cycle of shortening intervals followed by re-delays.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus executes a print job at an initial processing speed and switching the initial processing speed to a delayed processing speed lower than the initial processing speed upon detecting occurrence of a specific condition under which continuing the print job at the initial processing speed is determined not possible. The image forming apparatus acquires a print job targeted to be executed; estimates a processing time to be taken to complete the target print job at each of a plurality of processing speeds selected as candidates for the initial processing speed; and determines, as the initial processing speed, one of the candidate processing speeds that corresponds to the shortest processing time among the processing times estimated by the estimator.