Image Forming Apparatus Tray Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users find the movement of discharge trays in conventional image forming apparatuses to be inconvenient due to the time required to move trays to the recording sheet discharge position, especially for small numbers of sheets or copies.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a controller that determines whether to move trays based on pre-set copy and sheet values, keeping the tray stationary if the values are low, and moving it only when necessary to optimize tray movement time and user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If trays are moved to the recording sheet discharge position for every image forming job, then recording sheets can be discharged to the intended tray, but the time required for tray movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller changes the operational parameter of tray movement based on the copy value parameter. When the copy value exceeds the threshold, the tray is moved to the discharge position; when it does not, the tray remains stationary. This parameter-based conditional operation resolves the contradiction by adapting tray movement to the actual discharge requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts tray movement behavior based on real-time job parameters (copy value). The tray positioning strategy changes from static (always move) to dynamic (move only when necessary), optimizing the balance between discharge convenience and time consumption for different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If trays are moved frequently to accommodate small copy values, then sheets can be discharged to designated trays, but unnecessary tray movement occurs reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the copy value as a control parameter to determine tray movement. By setting a threshold value, the system adapts its behavior: for small copy values below the threshold, the tray remains stationary maintaining high productivity; for larger values above the threshold, the tray moves to provide the needed discharge flexibility.
3Loss of time
If the tray is kept stationary for small copy values, then tray movement time is reduced, but the ability to discharge to intended trays is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between two discharge modes based on the copy value: stationary tray mode for small values (minimizing time loss) and movable tray mode for large values (maximizing discharge convenience). This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing the appropriate mode for each operating condition.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine (1) has an image former (200) for forming an image on a recording sheet. Movable trays are provided for receiving the recording sheets. A job manager (104) stores information concerning the tray for receiving the recording sheet, and a moving mechanism (605) moves the tray to a recording sheet discharge position according to information stored the job manager (104). An input device (11) allows an operator to input a copy value corresponding to the number of copies of the recording sheets to be discharged in an image forming job, and a tray moving controller (106) for controlling the moving mechanism (605) to move the tray if the copy value inputted from the input device (11) is higher than a predetermined copy value and to keep the tray from moving if the copy value is equal to or lower than the predetermined copy value.