Post-Processing Apparatus Wireless Tag Sheet Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming systems, wireless tags (RF tags) often fail due to heat and pressure applied during the fixing process, leading to failed information writing, and even when they do not fail, successful and unsuccessful writing can result in mixed sheets at the discharge destination, causing confusion.
Innovation Solution
A post-processing apparatus with a receiving portion, determination portion, and paper discharge control portion that distinguishes between successful and unsuccessful information writing on wireless tags, directing sheets to separate discharge portions to prevent mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If heat and pressure are applied in the fixing portion to fix the toner image, then the toner image is properly fixed on the sheet, but the wireless tag may fail due to the heat and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sheet handling process into separate paths based on wireless tag writing results. Sheets are segmented into successful writing sheets and unsuccessful writing sheets, which are then discharged to different destinations. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the fixing process to proceed normally (maintaining toner image quality) while separately managing sheets with failed wireless tags to maintain overall system reliability.
2Loss of information
If information writing to the wireless tag is attempted, then the sheet can be identified and tracked, but confusion is caused at the discharge destination when successful and unsuccessful writing sheets are mixed together
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary determination portion that reads the wireless tag to verify writing success before the sheet reaches the final discharge destination. This intermediary step acts as a mediator between the writing process and the discharge process, separating sheets based on writing success and directing them to appropriate discharge portions. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the information writing function while preventing confusion at the discharge destination through automated classification.
3Device complexity
If a single discharge destination is used for all sheets, then the discharge process is simple, but sheets with successful and unsuccessful information writing are mixed together causing confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic discharge control system that adjusts the discharge process based on real-time determination of wireless tag writing status. The discharge control portion dynamically selects between different discharge portions based on the writing success information obtained from the determination portion. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining information about writing status while adaptively managing the discharge process complexity only when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A post-processing apparatus of an embodiment discharges a sheet determined that writing of information to a wireless tag provided in the sheet is successful to a first paper discharge portion, and discharges a sheet determined that writing of information to a wireless tag provided in the sheet fails to a second paper discharge portion different from the first paper discharge portion.