Image Forming System Dynamic Stop Position Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming systems struggle to reduce waste sheet when an image reading device is present, as stopping the last image after passing through the fixing section prevents the image reading device from reading the last image, thereby rendering the waste paper suppression mode ineffective.
Innovation Solution
The image forming system includes a hardware processor that controls the conveyance of the continuous recording medium to set the stop position of the last image. When multiple print jobs are printed on one continuous medium, the stop position is set between the image reading section and the winding section. When only a single print job is printed, the stop position is set closer to the winding section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the last image is stopped right after passing through the fixing section to reduce waste sheet, then waste sheet is reduced, but the image reading device cannot read the last image
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the stop position of the last image based on whether image reading is required. When image reading is needed, the stop position is set at the winding position; when not needed, it is set right after the fixing section. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between reducing waste sheet and enabling image reading.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of stop position based on the reading requirement. By switching between two discrete stop position values (winding position vs. position after fixing section), the system optimizes both waste reduction and image reading functionality.
2Loss of information
If the last image is stopped at the winding device to enable image reading, then the last image can be read, but waste sheet increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects the stop position based on the reading requirement. When reading is required, it stops at the winding device; when not required, it stops after the fixing section to minimize waste. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between image reading and waste reduction.
3Loss of substance
If the stop position is set between the image reading section and the winding section for multiple print jobs, then waste sheet is reduced and image reading is enabled, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the print job queue status and image reading requirements to determine the optimal stop position. The control unit receives information about whether multiple print jobs are scheduled and adjusts the conveyance stop position accordingly, resolving the contradiction between waste reduction and system complexity through intelligent feedback-based control.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image forming system that includes a conveyance section, an image forming section, an image reading section, a winding section, and a hardware processor. The hardware processor controls, when a plurality of print jobs is printed on one continuous recording medium held in the image forming system, conveyance by the conveyance section such that a stop position of a last image of a preceding print job on the continuous recording medium is to be a first stop position between the image reading section and the winding section, and controls, when printed on the one continuous recording medium is not a plurality of print jobs, the conveyance by the conveyance section such that the stop position of the last image on the continuous recording medium is to be a second stop position that is closer to the winding section than the first stop position.