Inserting Sheet Feeding Control for Image Forming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming systems experience productivity deterioration due to waiting times caused by confirming the presence of inserting paper, especially when the remaining amount on the tray is low, leading to inefficiencies in the feeding process.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a controller that manages a second feeding portion with multiple supporting portions and a detection mechanism to alternate the feed source for inserting sheets, ensuring that the presence of inserting sheets is confirmed before feeding, thereby reducing waiting times and improving productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If post-presence/absence-detection operation is used to confirm inserting paper presence, then feeding accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by moving the second inserting sheet to a position where its trailing edge is downstream of the detection position before feeding the first inserting sheet. This advance preparation allows the detection portion to confirm presence earlier, reducing waiting time while maintaining accurate detection-based feeding control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the timing and position of inserting sheets based on real-time detection results. The controller coordinates the movement of multiple inserting sheets at different stages, optimizing the feeding sequence to minimize idle time while ensuring accurate presence confirmation before each feed operation.
2Reliability
If multiple inserting sheets are processed sequentially with presence confirmation, then feeding reliability is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning of the second inserting sheet downstream of the detection position before the first inserting sheet is fed. This advance preparation enables parallel processing where detection and positioning occur concurrently, reducing total time consumption while maintaining reliable presence confirmation for each sheet.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by overlapping the detection and positioning operations for multiple inserting sheets. While the first sheet is being fed, the second sheet is simultaneously positioned in preparation for its turn, ensuring that the feeding process continues without idle gaps while maintaining accurate detection-based control.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system includes a first feeding portion configured to feed a recording sheet, an image forming portion, a sheet conveyance path, a second feeding portion configured to feed an inserting sheet from any of a plurality of supporting portions including a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion, a detection portion, and a controller. The controller is configured to execute, during execution of a process of feeding a first inserting sheet from the first supporting portion to the sheet conveyance path, a movement processing of moving a second inserting sheet supported on the second supporting portion to a position where a trailing edge of the second inserting sheet is placed downstream in a sheet conveyance direction of a detection position of the detection portion and thereafter stopping the second inserting sheet.