Image Forming Apparatus Transport Path Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming systems face challenges in efficiently managing the transportation of sheets between different printing operations, such as double-side and single-side printing, leading to potential sheet collisions and interruptions due to overlapping transport paths.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a network of diverging and reverse transport paths, along with switching gates and rollers, to ensure non-overlapping transport routes for sheets, allowing for seamless switching between double-side and single-side printing operations without sheet collisions by utilizing separate and diverging transport paths for reverse and ejection directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single shared transport path is used for both forward and reverse sheet transportation, then the device complexity is reduced, but sheet collisions and interruptions occur due to overlapping transport paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport path configurationVSAvoidsheet transportation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transport system is segmented into separate forward and reverse transport paths. The forward path transports sheets from the image forming section to the ejection portion, while the reverse path transports sheets from the reverse transport portion back to the image forming section. This segmentation eliminates path overlap and prevents sheet collisions, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and transportation reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a spatial dimension separation by creating distinct transport routes for forward and reverse operations. Instead of using the same one-dimensional path for bidirectional transport, the system employs separate paths that diverge and converge at different points, adding spatial differentiation to eliminate conflicts between opposing sheet flows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If separate non-overlapping transport paths are used for reverse and ejection directions, then sheet collisions are prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet transportation continuityVSAvoidtransport path configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transport paths are designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall system complexity. The first transport path serves both as the forward transport route and as part of the reverse transport route when sheets need to be returned to the image forming section. This universal design allows the system to maintain separate non-overlapping paths while reusing existing components, thereby reducing the net increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If the reverse transport path overlaps with the ejection path, then the device structure is simplified, but sheet collisions occur during successive printing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport path layoutVSAvoidsheet collision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the reverse transport function from the ejection path by creating a dedicated reverse transport path that is separate from the ejection path. The reverse transport portion retrieves sheets from the first ejection portion and transports them back through a distinct route, removing sheets from the ejection path during reverse operations. This extraction eliminates the harmful factor of sheet collisions while maintaining a manageable device structure through strategic path routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9932193B2Image forming apparatus, recording medium transporting device, and image forming system

Publication Date: 2018.04.03 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a reverse transport portion that transports the recording medium in a reverse direction, which is opposite to a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported to the reverse transport portion from the image forming section, a first ejection portion to which the recording medium is ejected and that is disposed on a downstream side of a second transport path in the transport direction, the second transport path diverging from a first transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the image forming section to the reverse transport portion, and a reverse transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the reverse transport portion to the image forming section, the reverse transport path not overlapping a third transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the image forming section to the first ejection portion.