Overlapped Sheet Feeding Control for Printing Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing apparatuses that perform overlapped feeding face challenges in maintaining proper feeding alignment due to variations in sheet bending or warpage, especially when handling different types of sheets.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus equipped with a control unit that manages overlapped feeding by comparing the length of succeeding sheets to threshold values specific to each sheet kind, ensuring proper alignment and notification in case of deviations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If overlapped feeding is implemented to improve printing efficiency, then productivity increases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to sheet bending and warpage variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidfeeding alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit dynamically adjusts the feeding amount parameter based on detected sheet length variations. When a sheet is detected to be shorter than the standard length, the system automatically reduces the feeding amount for subsequent sheets to compensate, thereby maintaining proper overlapping alignment despite sheet dimensional variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the sheet length detection unit continuously monitors sheet dimensions, and the control unit uses this information to adjust feeding parameters in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures that feeding alignment is maintained despite variations in sheet bending or warpage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the printing apparatus handles various sheet kinds to improve adaptability, then adaptability increases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to different bending characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet kind compatibilityVSAvoidoverlapped feeding accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system adapts feeding parameters based on detected sheet characteristics. Different sheet kinds with different bending properties result in different detected sheet lengths, triggering automatic adjustment of feeding amounts to maintain consistent overlapping alignment across various sheet types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet length detection unit and adaptive control mechanism serve multiple functions: they detect sheet presence, measure sheet length variations, identify sheet kind characteristics, and adjust feeding parameters accordingly. This multi-functional approach enables the system to handle diverse sheet kinds while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250033379A1Printing apparatus and computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 CANON KK

AI summary

A printing apparatus capable of performing printing on a plurality of kinds of sheets, comprising a print unit configured to perform printing on a sheet, a feed unit configured to feed a sheet toward the print unit, and a control unit configured to, in a case of successively performing printing on a plurality of sheets by the print unit, control the feed unit to perform overlapped feeding in which a succeeding sheet is fed such that a trailing end portion of a preceding sheet and a leading end portion of the succeeding sheet overlap, wherein, in a case of executing the overlapped feeding, the control unit makes a predetermined notification based on a comparison result of a length of the succeeding sheet with a threshold value corresponding to a sheet kind of the succeeding sheet.